Licences for fossicking
You’ll need a licence to fossick in Queensland. A fossicking licence allows you to search for and collect fossicking materials by hand for recreational, tourist and educational purposes only.
Follow the conditions on your licence and make sure you always carry it on you when fossicking. You can show an inspector your licence as a hard copy or on a mobile or tablet device.
You can receive an on-the-spot fine or be prosecuted if you break the rules of your fossicking licence.
You don’t need a licence at tourist mines or sites that charge an entry fee.
Treasure hunting and metal detecting
You don’t need a licence to hunt for treasure or lost items using a metal detector. Check with the local council for rules about accessing public beaches and other areas for this purpose.
Licence types
- Individual
- Family (includes licence holder, a spouse, and children, or students under 23 who live at home)
- Club (established for the scientific, education or recreational study of rocks or natural history, eg., a gem or lapidary club)
- Educational organisation (eg., school, college, museum, government department with educational services)
- Commercial tour operator (a person who conducts, offers or arranges commercial tours. Commercial tour licences do not authorise fossicking for fossil specimens)
Licences for clubs, educational organisations and commercial tour operators authorise fossicking for a maximum of 50 people at any one time and place.
If you’re applying for an educational organisation or club licence, check if your organisation already has a licence that you can fossick under.
If you plan on camping while fossicking, you may need to purchase a camping permit.
Licence fees
| Licence type | 1 month | 6 months | 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | Fee 35402 | Fee 35403 | Fee 35404 |
| Family | Fee 35405 | Fee 35406 | Fee 35407 |
| Club | NA | NA | Fee 35408 |
| Educational organisation | Fee 35409 | NA | Fee 35410 |
| Commercial tour operator | Fee 35411 | NA | Fee 35412 |
Buy licence online
For help and technical support when purchasing a fossicking licence online, contact the MyMinesOnline helpdesk:
- Phone: +61 7 3199 8133
- Email: MyMinesOnline@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au
- Make an online enquiry
Buy licence in person
You can purchase your fossicking licence through an authorised agent or from a Mines Assessment Hub.
Authorised agents
Cloncurry Shire
- Mary Kathleen Tourist Park, Cloncurry, Queensland 4824
Croydon Shire
- Croydon Shire Council, Samwell St, Croydon, Queensland 4871
Etheridge Shire
- Simon Harrison, O’Briens Creek Camp Grounds, Mt Surprise, Queensland 4871
Mareeba Shire
- Mareeba Heritage Centre Inc, 345 Byrnes Street, Mareeba Queensland 4880
Cairns Region
- Night Sky Secrets Pty Ltd, Shop 3, 321 Sheridan Street, Cairns North Queensland 4870
Whitsunday Region
- Queensland Government Agent, Collinsville, Queensland 4804
Rockhampton Region
- Mount Morgan Ammo, 69 Morgan Street, Mount Morgan. Queensland 4714
Central Highlands Region
- The Willows Hidden Gem Caravan Park, Willows Gemfields, Queensland 4702
Winton Shire
- Waltzing Matilda Centre, 50 Elderslie Street, Winton, Queensland 4735
Gympie Region
- Cooloola Information Centre, Bruce Hwy Gympie, Queensland 4570
South Burnett Region
- Nanango Visitor Information Centre, Henry St, Nanango, Queensland 4615
Western Downs Region
- Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre, Warrego Hwy, Chinchilla, Queensland 4413
- Warwick Visitor Information Centre, 72 Palmerin Street, Warwick, Queensland 4370
Southern Downs Region
- Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre, 27 Leslie Parade, Stanthorpe, Queensland 4380
Paroo Shire
- Artesian Waters Caravan Park, 1 Blue Bonnet Boulevard, Yowah Queensland 4490