PALMER RIVER
The Palmer was the scene of Australia's wildest gold rush. Explore Maytown goldfield history and the rugged tropical landscape of the Palmer River. The gold is still there, but getting to it is the challenge.
Crocodiles & Isolation
The Palmer River is inhabited by **Saltwater Crocodiles**. They are apex predators and inhabit freshwater far inland. Stay away from deep water edges.
Access Warning: The road to Maytown is 4WD only and often impassable in the wet season. This is remote country.
Maytown
The capital of the Palmer field. Now just stone kerbing and ruins in the bush. Camping is permitted at designated areas (check QPWS bookings).
River Bars
The river is wide and rocky. High-grade gold is found in the slate crevices. Because of the crocs, stick to the high dry bars or shallow riffles where you have visibility.
Chinese History
Thousands of Chinese miners worked this field. You will find Chinese coins and artifacts. Leave them in place—they are protected heritage.
Field Tips: Slate Crevicing
The bedrock here is often vertical **slate**. The gold gets trapped deep in the "book leaves" of the slate. Use large screwdrivers and pry bars to open up the slate layers in the dry river bed. The gold is chunky and high purity.
What Your Gold Is Worth
Rough spot-price estimate of your find. Real payout depends on purity, weight, and who you sell to — but this gives you a ballpark before you head home.
This is a rough calculator — purity, refinery fees, and market spread all affect what you actually get. Check current spot prices before selling.
Gold Knowledge Resources
Optional gold-culture references for readers curious about bars, coins, purity and storage language after prospecting. These are third-party resources, not financial advice.
BullionVault
Third-party resource for learning how vaulted physical gold services describe storage, fees and custody.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.BullionStar
Useful for comparing bars, coins, premiums and purity language after learning field testing basics.
Affiliate link. Paystreak may earn a commission; check the provider’s terms.APMEX
Browse mainstream bullion product formats and premiums as gold-culture background, not prospecting advice.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.JM Bullion
Reference catalogue for seeing common retail names, weights and purity markings used on coins and bars.
Retailer reference. No commission tracking is confirmed.The Digger's Code
- Backfill all holes before you leave.
- Pack out all your trash.
- Respect fence lines and gates.
Legal Disclaimer
Land access rights, safety conditions, and public fossicking zones change. You are solely responsible for verifying regulations with local authorities (DOC/Council/BLM) and assessing river safety before visiting. Paystreak.io accepts no liability for injury, fines, or trespassing. Never dig on private land without explicit permission.
✓ Information last verified: January 2026