fossicking for sapphires, and the array of other gems and minerals, from zircons to garnet and smoky quartz – its easy, cheap, no licence is required in NSW and it’s something the whole family can enjoy.

Several sites are by streams in attractive bushland settings abounding with wildlife and with camping and pinic facilities. So get a little dirt on your hands … and manybe strike it rich!

The Glen Innes Visitor Centre has a comprehensive guide to fossicking sites, reserves and how to go about finding those gems. This guide also includes information on euipment hire and guided field tours.

HOW TO FOSSICK

What you need: A pair of sieves, coarse and fine, a shovel, pick, bucket, tweezers to pick out gems, plastic container to collect gems, old clothes, gumboots, sunscreen, flyspray, first-aid kit. In some more remote locations you may need to take water.

WHERE TO FIND GEMS

Most sapphires are blue or yellow, but they can be found in a wide range of colours including green and gold and a combination of colours.

You could also encounter other gems such as zircon, black spinel, quartz, topaz, tourmaline … the gems could be found in the sides of creeks as well as in the creek itself.

• Family/Kid-friendly
• Recreation/Leisure
• The Arts

• Free
• $10
• $20
• $30
• $50
• $100
• $100+

• Phone 02 4363 0103