Ground near you

Yes — this is a designated prospecting area. Carry a current Miner's Right and you can detect and dig by hand across the park, outside the fenced reference areas.

• ✓Miner's Right covers you on all of this Crown land
• ✓Hand tools only — no sluicing, no machinery
• !Backfill every hole before you move on
• ✕Reference areas and the campground are fenced off and closed

Rules summarised from Parks Victoria and Earth Resources guidance. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.

Yes — state forest open to prospecting with a Miner's Right. Vehicle tracks close after heavy rain, so check the seasonal closures before you commit.

• ✓Miner's Right required, valid across the forest
• !Seasonal track closures run June to October
• ✕No detecting inside the old mine workings — they are unstable

Rules summarised from Parks Victoria and Earth Resources guidance. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.

Yes — prospecting is allowed with a Miner's Right across most of the park.

• ✓Miner's Right required
• !Stay 20 m clear of watercourses
• ✕Nature conservation zones are excluded

Rules summarised from Parks Victoria and Earth Resources guidance. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.

Yes, on the historic reserve with a Miner's Right. The township itself is heritage-listed and off limits.

• ✓Miner's Right required
• ✕Township and heritage precinct closed

Rules summarised from Parks Victoria and Earth Resources guidance. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.

Only in part. The eastern block needs written consent from the land manager on top of your Miner's Right, and the gorge floor is closed.

• !Written land-manager consent required for the east block
• ✓Miner's Right still required
• ✕Gorge floor and river bed closed

Rules summarised from Parks Victoria and Earth Resources guidance. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.

Restricted. Detecting is permitted only in the marked prospecting zone west of the township, by application.

• !Apply to Parks Victoria before you go
• ✕Township, cemetery and courthouse grounds are closed

Rules summarised from Parks Victoria and Earth Resources guidance. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.

Yes, with conditions. Bayside Council allows detecting on the wet sand outside patrol hours. The cliff face and the Cerberus wreck zone are protected.

• ✓Wet sand and foreshore open outside 9am–5pm in summer
• !Fill holes immediately — council will pull the permission
• ✕Cliff base and the HMVS Cerberus wreck zone are protected

Rules summarised from Bayside City Council local law. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.

Yes, with conditions. Hobsons Bay allows detecting on the beach; the adjacent coastal reserve and saltmarsh are not included.

• ✓Beach and wet sand open year round
• ✕Coastal reserve, dunes and saltmarsh excluded

Rules summarised from Hobsons Bay City Council local law. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.

No. Warrandyte is a state park with protected historic mining relics — detecting and digging are prohibited, Miner's Right or not.

• ✕Prospecting prohibited across the whole park
• ✕Removing relics is an offence under heritage law
• ✓Nearest legal ground: Wombat State Forest, 45 min north

Rules summarised from Parks Victoria park regulations. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.

No. City of Melbourne parks are closed to metal detecting, and much of the inner city sits on registered heritage ground.

• ✕Council parks and gardens are closed to detecting
• ✕Registered heritage places carry heavy penalties

Rules summarised from City of Melbourne local law. Last checked 12 Aug 2026.