The ACT is not detector-friendly. Parks ACT lists using a metal detector as a prohibited activity in Canberra Nature Park, and you cannot get a fossicking license anywhere in the Territory. For Canberra's urban parks, lake shores and leased land we could not find a rule that names detectors, so the honest advice is to ask first, and to leave anything Aboriginal exactly where it lies.
Can I detect in Australian Capital Territory?
The short answer for each kind of land. Tap a card for the detail and the rule’s own words.
- National parks & reservesProhibitedChecked against the source Oct 7, 2026
- State forests & Crown landProhibitedcovers fossicking: searching for minerals or gemstonesChecked against the source Oct 7, 2026
- BeachesNo verdict yetSource check pending
- Council parksNo verdict yetSource check pending
- Private landNo verdict yetthe Heritage Act 2004 applies on leased land tooSource check pending
- Parks Australia placesProhibitedthe ban does not apply in the Jabiru township in Kakadu (r 12.07(c))Checked against the source Oct 7, 2026
Open in many areas without a permitPermit, registration, or designated beaches onlyProhibited or effectively closed
The rules, land by land
National parks & reserves
ProhibitedParks ACT lists using a metal detector among the prohibited activities in the 39 reserves of Canberra Nature Park. For Namadgi National Park and the ACT's other reserves we found no detector statement, but removing soil, stone or objects of historical interest from any reserve is an offense.
- Canberra Nature Park: 39 nature reserves in and around Canberra, protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014
- Namadgi National Park, the Murrumbidgee River Corridor, Googong Foreshores and Molonglo River Reserve: no detector statement found on their Parks ACT pages; other reserve pages were not read
- in every reserve: removing soil or stone is a strict liability offense, up to 30 penalty units (Nature Conservation Act 2014 s 221); removing an object of historical, archaeological, palaeontological or geological interest, up to 50 penalty units (s 222(4))
- the Conservator can prohibit or restrict activities reserve by reserve through activities declarations (s 256)
- the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra is a Commonwealth reserve, where detectors are banned under Commonwealth law
What the rule says
“Prohibited activities within Canberra Nature Park reserves include: ... using a chainsaw or metal detector”
Digging
ProhibitedDigging in ACT nature reserves is out: Parks ACT lists disturbing or removing rocks or soil as prohibited in Canberra Nature Park, and the Nature Conservation Act makes removing soil or stone from any reserve an offense.
- removing soil or stone from a reserve: strict liability offense, up to 30 penalty units (Nature Conservation Act 2014 s 221)
What the rule says
“Prohibited activities within Canberra Nature Park reserves include: ... disturbing or removing rocks or soil”
Keeping finds
ProhibitedTaking an object of historical or archaeological interest out of an ACT reserve is an offense, and Parks ACT also lists disturbing or removing a heritage object or site as prohibited in Canberra Nature Park.
- up to 50 penalty units, strict liability (Nature Conservation Act 2014 s 222(4), (5))
- damaging or destroying a site or object of historical or archaeological interest in a reserve is also an offense (s 222(2))
- no source found on modern lost property found in reserves
What the rule says
“A person commits an offence if— (a) the person removes an object from a reserve; and (b) the object is of historical, archaeological, palaeontological or geological interest.”
State forests & Crown land
ProhibitedYou cannot get a fossicking license in the ACT, so prospecting for gold or gems with a detector is not available anywhere in the Territory. City Services puts this down to the nature reserves that surround Canberra.
- covers fossicking: searching for minerals or gemstones
- the ACT has no state forests or Crown land in the state sense; land outside reserves is leased or is public unleased land managed by the ACT Government
- no ACT rule was found on detecting for coins or relics on public unleased land outside reserves
- National Land, such as Lake Burley Griffin and Commonwealth Park, is managed by the National Capital Authority
What the rule says
“You cannot obtain a licence to fossick in the ACT. This is mainly due to the ACT being surrounded by nature reserves that are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014.”
Beaches
No verdict yetWe could not confirm an ACT rule for metal detecting on lake or river beaches. The ACT has no ocean coast; Lake Burley Griffin's shores are National Land run by the National Capital Authority, and river beaches inside nature reserves fall under reserve rules.
- Lake Burley Griffin and its foreshore parks: National Land managed by the National Capital Authority (City Services)
- river beaches in reserves: no removing soil or stone (Nature Conservation Act 2014 s 221)
- Booderee National Park on Jervis Bay is a Commonwealth reserve, not ACT land
Council parks
No verdict yetWe could not confirm an ACT rule for metal detecting in Canberra's urban parks. They are public unleased land run by the ACT Government, which needs a permit for uses that exclude the public and an approval for work that interferes with Territory property; neither rule names detectors.
- the ACT Government manages over 6,800 hectares of urban open space, including urban parks, sportsgrounds and playgrounds (City Services)
- a public unleased land permit is needed to use the land in a way that excludes some or all of the public (Public Unleased Land Act 2013 ss 41, 42)
- work on public unleased land, which includes any interference with Territory property, needs a work approval (ss 18 to 20)
- National Land parks such as Commonwealth Park and Kings Park: National Capital Authority
Private land
No verdict yetWe found no ACT statute that makes entering leased land without consent an offense in general, so this rule could not be confirmed from an official source. Treat the leaseholder's permission as essential before you detect.
- the Trespass on Territory Land Act 1932 covers unleased Territory land and land occupied by the Territory (s 4)
- the Crimes Act 1900 trespass offense covers government premises (s 154)
- the Heritage Act 2004 applies on leased land too
All land: heritage law
Digging
Research permits onlyExcavating at or near an Aboriginal place or object, or a place on the ACT Heritage Register, needs an excavation permit from the Heritage Council, and those permits are for systematic archaeological work. Damaging an Aboriginal place or object, which includes disturbing it, is an offense.
- 'archaeological excavation work': excavation done systematically, with archaeological methods, to investigate a place's or object's heritage significance (Heritage Act 2004 s 61E(3))
- causing damage to an Aboriginal place or object is an offense, and 'cause damage includes disturb and destroy' (s 75); the strict liability version carries up to 100 penalty units
- conduct that diminishes the heritage significance of a registered place or object is an offense (s 74)
- Aboriginal object: an object associated with Aboriginal people because of Aboriginal tradition (s 9)
What the rule says
“A person or entity may make an application to the council (an excavation application) for permission to carry out archaeological excavation work at, or near, a registered place or object, or an Aboriginal place or Aboriginal object (a heritage site).”
Keeping finds
ProhibitedAn Aboriginal object found on territory land in the ACT belongs to the Territory unless someone else holds a legal interest in it, and disturbing it is an offense. Report the discovery to the Heritage Council in writing within 5 working days.
- report an Aboriginal place or object you discover, in writing, as soon as practicable; within 5 working days counts (Heritage Act 2004 s 51)
- causing damage, which includes disturbing, to an Aboriginal place or object is an offense (s 75)
- historic objects that are not registered: no ACT ownership or reporting rule found
What the rule says
“An Aboriginal object is owned by the Territory if— (a) the object is located on territory land, and the following apply: (i) another person or entity does not hold a legal interest in the object;”
Parks Australia places
ProhibitedMetal detectors are banned in every Commonwealth reserve, including Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta and Booderee national parks: the regulations make it an offense even to possess one there, let alone use it.
- Commonwealth reserves include Kakadu, Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Booderee, Christmas Island, Pulu Keeling and Norfolk Island national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens and the Australian Marine Parks (managed by the Director of National Parks with Parks Australia)
- using or possessing 'a device for detecting minerals or metal' is an offense of strict liability, up to 30 penalty units (EPBC Regulations r 12.18(1)(e), (7))
- 'fossick' is defined to include using a device or technique for detecting minerals or metal, and fossicking is banned separately (r 12.16(b))
- exception: a detector stowed securely on a vessel passing through, anchored or moored in a marine area (r 12.18(2)(b))
- the ban does not apply in the Jabiru township in Kakadu (r 12.07(c))
- the Director can permit a prohibited activity in principle (r 12.06(1)(c), (2)), and a reserve's management plan can provide for one (r 12.06(1)(a)); no hobby detecting permit process was found
- national parks run by a state or territory follow that state's or territory's own rules
What the rule says
“A person must not use or possess, in a Commonwealth reserve: ... (e) a device for detecting minerals or metal”
Digging
ProhibitedDigging is out in Commonwealth reserves: disturbing or removing sand, stone or other earth materials is an offense, and so is fossicking, which the regulations define to include digging, raking or shoveling to find minerals.
- no introducing, disturbing or removing minerals, clay, sand, stone or other earth materials; no fossicking; up to 50 penalty units (EPBC Regulations r 12.16)
- 'fossick' includes digging, raking or shoveling clay, sand, stone or other earth materials to find mineral materials, and using a panning dish, sieve or sluice (dictionary)
- no excavation in a Commonwealth reserve (r 12.11, strict liability, 50 penalty units)
- same exceptions as other Part 12 offenses: a Director's permit or the reserve's management plan (r 12.06)
What the rule says
“A person must not, in a Commonwealth reserve: (a) introduce, disturb, or remove minerals, clay, sand, stone or other earth materials; or (b) fossick.”
Keeping finds
ProhibitedNothing of heritage value may be moved or kept in a Commonwealth reserve. Possessing or moving 'heritage', which covers objects of archaeological or historic significance, is an offense, and so is removing any object or natural feature.
- 'heritage' includes places, features, structures and objects of aesthetic, archaeological, historic, scientific or social significance (dictionary)
- no damaging, defacing, moving, possessing or interfering with heritage: strict liability, up to 50 penalty units (r 12.13)
- no damaging, removing or interfering with a natural feature or an object, sign or structure (r 12.12)
- scientific research, including archaeological research, needs authorization (r 12.10, r 12.06)
- no source found on handing in modern lost property
What the rule says
“A person must not, in a Commonwealth reserve, damage, deface, move, possess or interfere with heritage.”
Shipwrecks & Commonwealth
Digging
Permit requiredHistoric shipwrecks and sunken aircraft are protected by Commonwealth law once they have been in Australian waters for 75 years. Disturbing one, or removing anything from it or from its archaeological context, needs a permit from the federal environment Minister.
- automatically protected: remains of vessels in Australian waters for at least 75 years, every associated article, and aircraft remains and associated articles in Commonwealth waters for at least 75 years (Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 s 16(1))
- protected whether or not anyone knows where the article is, and even after it has been removed from the water (s 16(2), (3))
- 'Australian waters' covers the territorial sea and beyond, but not waters within the limits of a state, such as many bays, harbors and rivers, where state heritage law applies (s 11)
- penalty: up to 5 years in prison or 300 penalty units, or both (s 30(4)); civil penalty up to 800 penalty units (s 30(6))
- declared protected zones around some wrecks restrict listed conduct without a permit (s 29)
- permits are granted by the Minister (s 23)
What the rule says
“Conduct has an adverse impact on protected underwater cultural heritage if the conduct: (a) directly or indirectly physically disturbs or otherwise damages the protected underwater cultural heritage; or (b) causes the removal of the protected underwater cultural heritage from waters or from its archaeological context.”
Keeping finds
Permit requiredYou may not keep an artifact from a protected shipwreck or sunken aircraft without a permit: having possession, custody or control of protected underwater cultural heritage is itself an offense. Finding an article of archaeological character in Australian waters must be reported within 21 days.
- possession, custody or control without a permit: up to 5 years in prison or 300 penalty units, or both (s 31(1), (4))
- supplying or offering to supply protected underwater cultural heritage also needs a permit (s 32)
- found an article of underwater cultural heritage that appears to be of archaeological character in Australian waters: written notice to the Minister within 21 days, describing it and where it is (s 40)
- protection continues after an article has been removed from the water (s 16(3))
- permits come from the Minister (s 23); the department's own guidance page could not be read (blocked)
What the rule says
“A person contravenes this subsection if the person has possession, custody or control of protected underwater cultural heritage. ... Subsection (1) does not apply if the person has possession, custody or control in accordance with a permit granted under section 23.”
Even where detecting is allowed, archaeological and historic sites are protected, and you must fill every hole and follow posted rules. Always confirm the current rule with the land manager.
Nature reserves and national parks in the ACT
Canberra Nature Park, the 39 nature reserves in and around the city, lists “using a chainsaw or metal detector” among its prohibited activities, right next to disturbing or removing rocks or soil and disturbing or removing a heritage object or site. Parks ACT’s pages for Namadgi National Park and the other reserves do not mention detectors, but the Nature Conservation Act 2014 makes removing soil or stone from any reserve an offense, and removing an object of historical or archaeological interest too.
One more Canberra detail: the Australian National Botanic Gardens is a Commonwealth reserve, where federal law bans even possessing a metal detector.
Heritage law and Aboriginal objects
The Heritage Act 2004 protects Aboriginal places and objects on all land. Causing damage to one is an offense, and the Act says damage “includes disturb and destroy”. An Aboriginal object on territory land is owned by the Territory unless someone else holds a legal interest, and a discovery must be reported to the Heritage Council in writing, within 5 working days to be safe.
Digging at or near an Aboriginal place or a heritage-registered place needs an excavation permit, and those cover only systematic archaeological work. We found no ACT rule on ownership or reporting of historic objects that are not on the heritage register.
Fossicking, lakes, urban parks and leased land
ACT City Services is unusually direct: “You cannot obtain a licence to fossick in the ACT.” So there is no gold prospecting permit to buy here, unlike in New South Wales or Victoria.
We could not confirm rules for the rest. Canberra’s urban parks are public unleased land run by the ACT Government; the Public Unleased Land Act 2013 requires approval for work that interferes with Territory property, but it does not mention detectors. Lake Burley Griffin and its foreshore parks are National Land run by the National Capital Authority. Most other land in the ACT is leased, and we found no ACT statute on entering it without consent, so get the leaseholder’s permission first.
Sources
Official and statutory sources this page is based on (source check: October 7, 2026):
Checked Parks ACT's Canberra Nature Park, Namadgi and other reserve pages, City Services' public land page, the Nature Conservation Act 2014, Public Unleased Land Act 2013, Heritage Act 2004, Trespass on Territory Land Act 1932, Crimes Act 1900 and one reserve activities declaration on October 7, 2026. Rules for urban parks, lake and river beaches and leased land could not be confirmed; the National Capital Authority's lake guide could not be fetched.
- Canberra Nature Park (Parks ACT)
- Nature Conservation Act 2014 (Republication No 35)
- Public land use (City Services)
- Public Unleased Land Act 2013 (Republication No 19)
- Heritage Act 2004 (Republication No 36)
- Trespass on Territory Land Act 1932 (Republication No 9)
- Crimes Act 1900
- Namadgi National Park (Parks ACT)
- Nature Conservation (Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve) Activities Declaration 2015 (No 1), NI2015-281
- Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 (Compilation No. 26)
- National Parks (Parks Australia)
- Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 (Compilation No. 3)
- Possessing, exporting and importing of underwater cultural heritage (the agency site blocks automated checks; read it directly)
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is metal detecting allowed in Canberra Nature Park?
- No. Parks ACT lists using a metal detector among the prohibited activities in Canberra Nature Park reserves, along with disturbing or removing rocks or soil and disturbing or removing a heritage object or site.
- Can I get a fossicking or prospecting license in the ACT?
- No. ACT City Services says you cannot obtain a license to fossick in the ACT, mainly because the Territory is surrounded by nature reserves protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014.
- Can I metal detect in Canberra's urban parks?
- We could not confirm a rule. Urban parks are public unleased land managed by the ACT Government, which needs approval for work that interferes with Territory property, but no rule we found names detectors. Ask City Services before you dig.
- Who owns Aboriginal objects found in the ACT?
- The Territory, if the object is on territory land and nobody else holds a legal interest in it. Disturbing an Aboriginal object is an offense, and a discovery must be reported to the Heritage Council in writing, within 5 working days to be safe.
- Can I metal detect at Lake Burley Griffin?
- We could not confirm a rule. Lake Burley Griffin and its foreshore parks are National Land managed by the National Capital Authority, so ask the Authority first.
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