Welcome Matti.
Nice to see you back Dave. Grew up in Oak Flats what seems like a lifetime ago and now in my 24th residence. Maybe one day , i will have the guts to do what you folk have done but i may not have the years left in me or maybe i do. Stay Safe and a Happy and Holy Easter to all. MackkaLiving the dream!
I did a similar thing to you, except it was a fishing adventure, no van, a swag, an esky, a gas stove, a dihatsu rocky, some mi Gorang and some rod reels and lures.
Left Wollongong, ended up in Darwin, what a blast! Now have, a beautiful daughter , some incredible adventures, some amazing jobs, and met some of the best people along the way! No real hiccups. A few low times, but not terrible, and always found a job along the way. Started as a fishing trip, now I live permanently in Darwin. Lived off grid near Yeppoon for a bit, Whitsunday, Cairns, Cooktown, Torres straight, Nhulunbuy, To Darwin, back down south and back to the NT. Lol.
I guarantee you will get an opportunity along the way. You just need to recognise it, and then make a decision. I was by myself, so it was probably a lot easier.
I love what you are doing, I hope it works out.
As I said, it was fishing for me, and ended up prospecting.
Good write up mate and best wishes for Your Season. MackkaI've read this whole thread and you have been getting some good advise from people who know just how hard it is to actually find GOLD! one comment was you'd be lucky to fund your beer, I think that's over estimating your likely success and would reduce that to milk money.
Getting a Minelab GPX 4500 (5000) if you can will at least give you a fighting chance good to see you were swayed from your first 2 choices as divining rods could have been choice 3
Going to Victoria at this time of year is insane! You're going to be numb & miserable in minus 4-5 degrees every night. You should be heading to QLD now and Victoria in Summer.
I set off from Wollongong to do 2-3 years on the rd with the same dreams as you that was in 2011 (still going 11th year now) difference being I was fully funded (still haven't worked a day and zero government money) & had all the very best equipment available at that time. Sluicing & Panning is a back breaking exercise it's awesome when you get a bit of colour and keeps you going I think the best I have done is about half a gram ($40) for an entire day & that's the best day!
Detecting is a different story 9oz (best day being 1.2oz over 5 bits) last winter in QLD. About 4 months generally 6 days a week from sun up to sundown often in extremely challenging terrain. You'll need safety equipment including a GPS so you can find your car and your way back out of the bush back to camp.
This is a lifestyle for me & I love it & you could too if you don't make huge mistakes early and get totally disheartened. So head North in winter, maybe up to Clermont (no brass monkeys there) you can camp @ the BP for no cost, they even have showers you can use. I'll be there tomorrow night for about 10 days then heading north. (starting my season) have a friend there (Clermont) now in 6 days he's got 24gr.
Last year I was there for 3 days for 14gr be mindful most go there and find zero after 2 weeks or are happy with 2 or 3gr
To cover costs and living including fuel, car servicing and tyres that get shredded you realistically need about half an ounce a week.
FREE camping is a must (download Wikicamps app, it'll cost you less than $10 and will save you $1,000's) but you need to be set up for free camping Power & water being the 2 major hurdles so spend plenty on those two. Solar panels (the bigger the better 300w absolutely the minimum if you have a gas fridge, much more if it's a compressor fridge.
Lithium batteries are so much better it's a no brainer if you can stretch the budget & if you can't WHY ARE YOU GOING?
I'm not trying to turn you off because it's an awesome way to exist just trying to steer you in the right direction.
Good luck
You need lots of this
i may not have the years left in me or maybe i doNice to see you back Dave. Grew up in Oak Flats what seems like a lifetime ago and now in my 24th residence. Maybe one day , i will have the guts to do what you folk have done but i may not have the years left in me or maybe i do. Stay Safe and a Happy and Holy Easter to all. Mackka
yeh not exactly an off Rd set up so Stick to the black stuff (where the gold usually isn't)I don't think I'd venture west in a Disco 3 dragging a 1970's caravan.
If it poo's itself there goes the budgetyeh not exactly an off Rd set up so Stick to the black stuff (where the gold usually isn't)
Enter your email address to join: