Gold panning around reefton?

Hi everyone got a family holiday in reefton waitangi weekend, wondering if slab hut Creek is worth a look for a day out with the kids or are there other places that might be better for a look with a pan.
Cheers

We have found bits of colour at Slab Hut, we have done better with a sluice box rather than pans.
Try going upstream or down a bit the river section at the campground gets a hammering at times.
Awesome pizza oven there to cook lunch in too.
Nobles creek up off Waipuna road if you have 4wd, get into the creek via the tunnels. Not a fossicking area but there gold in the creek still. It is an old Chinese and French mining settlement area (Napoleons Hill). Also accessible from Ahaura via Orwell Creek Road (paid 4WD access through private farmland)
There is tunnel remains and also a small cemetery you drive past if accessing Nobles Creek/Napoleons hill from this side.
Fossicking areas at Moonlight Creek, Nelson Creek, and Shamrock creek aren't too far away for a nosey too if you have the time.

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Originally Posted by ROKTOY

We have found bits of colour at Slab Hut, we have done better with a sluice box rather than pans.
Try going upstream or down a bit the river section at the campground gets a hammering at times.
Awesome pizza oven there to cook lunch in too.
Nobles creek up off Waipuna road if you have 4wd, get into the creek via the tunnels. Not a fossicking area but there gold in the creek still. It is an old Chinese and French mining settlement area (Napoleons Hill). Also accessible from Ahaura via Orwell Creek Road (paid 4WD access through private farmland)
There is tunnel remains and also a small cemetery you drive past if accessing Nobles Creek/Napoleons hill from this side.
Fossicking areas at Moonlight Creek, Nelson Creek, and Shamrock creek aren't too far away for a nosey too if you have the time.

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Thanks for all the info think we will grab a pan and keep it reasonably simple. Hopefully if we find a piece it will keep them interested for mor than half an hour :)

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Originally Posted by Mr300WSM

Thanks for all the info think we will grab a pan and keep it reasonably simple. Hopefully if we find a piece it will keep them interested for mor than half an hour :)

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Have plenty of bug repellant hot milo and warm towels on hand, the water is pretty chilly up there

A trip into big river is worthwhile too, lots of old mining buildings and a hut you can 4wd to.

Have a look on here in the search thing I know Tussock had a thread going about this. That’s if you can stomach his ramblings;)

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....rchid=19571504

went in there over christmas, the track is in good nick took a suzuki jimny, hilux and MU in. there is a mongrel tree fallen over half way in that would make life difficult if you had a tent on the roof