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Prospecting Guide

Explore Great Western Woodlands

★★★☆☆ Good Medium

Less explored region with excellent potential for new discoveries. Focus on granite outcrops and greenstone contacts.

180K oz
Annual Production
Medium
Difficulty
340 km to Hyden
Distance from Perth

About Great Western Woodlands

The Great Western Woodlands is WA's last frontier for gold prospecting. This vast wilderness — the largest remaining temperate woodland on Earth — covers an area larger than Tasmania and remains largely unexplored for gold. The geological indicators are promising: greenstone belts, granite-greenstone contacts, and the same rock types that host gold deposits further north. For the adventurous prospector seeking genuine virgin ground and potential new discoveries, this is the place.

Top Locations

Best Prospecting Areas

The top locations to find gold in the Great Western Woodlands region.

1

Hyden

Famous for Wave Rock but surrounding areas have untested gold potential in greenstone units.

Great Western Woodlands
2

Lake King

Remote area with scattered historical workings and unexplored greenstone contacts.

Great Western Woodlands
3

Ravensthorpe

Known for nickel and copper but gold occurrences in surrounding greenstone belts.

Great Western Woodlands

Key Facts

  • Largest remaining temperate woodland on Earth
  • Largely unexplored for gold — genuine discovery potential
  • Same rock types as major goldfields further north
  • Area larger than Tasmania
  • Conservation values — practice strict Leave No Trace
Need to Know

Practical Information

What to know before heading to Great Western Woodlands.

Terrain

Dense eucalyptus woodland, the largest temperate woodland on Earth. Sandy soils with granite outcrops.

Best Season

April to October

Water Availability

Very limited. Carry all water.

Phone Signal

Very limited to none

Nearest Town

Hyden, Lake King, or Ravensthorpe

Detector Recommendation

Minelab GPX 6000 or Equinox 900. Focus on exposed bedrock and granite contacts.

Gold Types Found Here

✦ Alluvial ✦ Eluvial ✦ Quartz Reef

Historical Notes

"The Great Western Woodlands remain one of WA's least explored regions for gold. Small-scale prospecting has found gold, but systematic exploration has been minimal."

Recommended Equipment for Great Western Woodlands

Minelab GPX 6000 or Equinox 900. Focus on exposed bedrock and granite contacts.

View Full Equipment Guide
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