Donnybrook State Forest
Donnybrook State Forest is in the mineral-rich belt between Emmaville and Torrington, some of the richest gem country in New South Wales. Tin, topaz, quartz and a long list of other minerals come out of this district, and the forest sits among the private and reserve fossicking spots the area is known for.
Region
New England
Nearest access
Between Emmaville and Torrington
Elevation
1,060 m
Forest permit
$27.50 / 12 mo
The forest boundary
The gold outline is the legal edge of Donnybrook State Forest, drawn from the NSW state forest estate. It is the forest boundary, not the fossicking area. Some compartments inside it are closed for logging, safety or the environment, so check the Forestry Corporation map before you go.
Boundary: NSW Dedicated State Forests estate, Forestry Corporation of NSW and Spatial Services. Satellite: © Mapbox, © Maxar.
What to look for here
This is the heart of New England gem country. Sieve the creek gravels for tin, topaz, quartz and a long list of minerals, and call at the Emmaville museum for the local run-down.
Getting there
Between Emmaville and Torrington, off the roads north-west of Glen Innes. Emmaville is the nearest village.
Open on the Dig Here mapThe permit, in short
Fossicking in any NSW State forest needs one Forestry Corporation permit: $27.50 for 12 months, valid state-wide, through Service NSW. Hand tools only, one cubic metre of ground in any 48 hours, fill your holes, and carry the permit. Without one, fossicking in a forestry area can draw a court penalty of up to $2,200.
Out in the forest
It sits high on the tablelands, cold in winter with frost and fog, and cool even through summer. It is a working forest, and the country is rough, so a few things to keep in mind.
It is a working forest
Logging, harvesting and hazard-reduction burns all happen here, and compartments close at short notice. Give machinery room, obey the signs, and do not drive around a closed gate.
Old workings
The goldfields left unmarked shafts, adits and collapsed ground. Do not walk up to a hole or climb in. The ground around an old working can give way under a boot.
Cold and snow
At about 1,060 m this is alpine-edge country. Frost, fog and even snow come through in winter, and nights are cold in any season. Carry warm layers and a plan that does not depend on a creek flat.
Reception drops out
Mobile coverage fails in gullies and under canopy. Download the map before you leave town, and do not rely on a phone for the way back.
Fossicking districts nearby
The closest gazetted fossicking districts to Donnybrook State Forest. Inside a district you do not need an exploration licence holder's consent, which the forest permit does not cover.
More New South Wales fossicking
See every state forest and all seventy gazetted districts, with the rules in plain words.
Back to the NSW guide