Cole's Bridge, Turon River
Cole's Bridge carries Turondale Road over the Turon River near Crudine, upstream of Sofala. The Turon was one of the first goldfields in Australia, worked from 1851, and its gravels still give up fine gold. The flat beside the bridge is a long-standing free camp, and people pan and detect along the river here.
Region
Central West
Nearest town
Crudine, upstream of Sofala
Fossicking district
No. 59, Bathurst Regional
Licence
None needed
Where it is
Satellite: © Mapbox, © Maxar. Tap the map to open the spot on Dig Here.
What to look for
Expect fine gold and small flakes rather than nuggets. Work the inside bends, the gravel bars that dry out after a fresh, and the cracks in the bedrock along the edges of the river. The Turon sand pans fairly clean, so a pan and a classifier will show you quickly whether a bar is worth more time.
Getting there
From Sofala, take Hill End Road and turn onto Turondale Road, which crosses the river at the bridge. The camping area is on the river flat beside the crossing. The approach is unsealed and can be rough after rain, so check conditions before taking a caravan in.
Open on the Dig Here mapIs it legal to fossick here?
The bridge sits inside fossicking district 59, Bathurst Regional, so you do not need an exploration licence holder's consent. You still need the right to be on the land. The flat beside the bridge is Crown land used as a public camping area, but much of the river frontage up and down stream is private property. Stay on the public reserve and the river bed in front of it, and do not cross fences without the landholder's permission.
Camping
Free camping on the river flat, with no toilets or drinking water reported. Bring everything you need, including water, and take your rubbish out. Fees and facilities can change, so check the signs on arrival.
Before you go
Flash floods
Rain in the headwaters towards Lithgow can bring the Turon up within hours, even when it is fine at the bridge. Camp well above the river and keep an eye on the water level overnight.
Private land
The reserve is small and the land around it is private. Check where you are on the Dig Here land layer before you walk up or down the river.
Hand tools only
The NSW fossicking rules apply: hand tools, no more than one cubic metre of ground in 48 hours, and fill your holes. No digging into the banks.
Reception drops out
Mobile coverage is patchy in the Turon valley. Download the map before you leave Bathurst or Sofala.
Sources, checked October 2026
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