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✅ Legal FossickingOtago Camping December to February
Twelve Mile Creek
Historic gold workings 10km west of Queenstown. Features well-preserved mining relics and tailings from the 1860s rush.
Hand Tools Only
No Permit Required
Public Access
History
Twelve Mile Creek was worked extensively during the Otago gold rush. The remains of water races, stone huts, and tailings piles dot the landscape. The area gives you a sense of how hard life was for the early miners who worked these remote gullies.
Best Spots to Try
- 1Below old tailings deposits
- 2Bedrock crevices in upper creek
Local Tips
Explore the old tailings piles — previous miners didn't have modern techniques and often missed fine gold. The upper reaches are less picked over but require a longer walk. Good spot for metal detecting (hand-held only).