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Metal Detecting Laws in Tasmania

By the LuckyFind team Sourced from official state and Commonwealth rules
Sources checked October 7, 2026 ~6 min read

Tasmania has some of the clearest metal detector rules in Australia, and most of them say no. You may not even carry a detector onto reserved land such as national parks and conservation areas, or into a Crown land public reserve, without a written authority. Gold prospectors can get a five-year Prospecting Licence, private land works with the owner's permission, and anything Aboriginal stays exactly where you found it.

Can I detect in Tasmania?

The short answer for each kind of land. Tap a card for the detail and the rule’s own words.

Open in many areas without a permitPermit, registration, or designated beaches onlyProhibited or effectively closed

The rules, land by land

National parks & reserves

Prohibited

Tasmania bans metal detectors on all reserved land, which covers national parks, state reserves, conservation areas and the other reserves the Parks and Wildlife Service manages. It is an offense even to bring one onto reserved land or have one with you, unless the managing authority has granted an authority.

  • reserved land covers every class declared under the Nature Conservation Act 2002: national parks, state reserves, nature reserves, game reserves, conservation areas, nature recreation areas, regional reserves, historic sites, private sanctuaries and private nature reserves (Schedule 1)
  • penalty up to 20 penalty units (National Parks and Reserves Management Regulations 2019 reg 5(10))
  • exception: a detector in a vehicle moving on a road that does not end on reserved land (reg 5(11))
  • no offense if you hold and follow an authority: a written authority from the managing authority, or an activity permitted by the management plan or in a designated area (reg 26)
  • no published general authority for detecting was found
  • Crown land public reserves outside the parks system have a similar ban (Crown Lands Regulations 2021 reg 19(8))
What the rule says
“A person must not – (a) bring a metal detector onto any reserved land; or (b) have possession of a metal detector on any reserved land.”

Digging

Prohibited

Digging on Tasmanian reserved land is an offense without an authority: the regulations bar digging up or removing sand, gravel, clay, rock or minerals.

  • penalty up to 20 penalty units (reg 5(2))
  • authorities under reg 26 and 28 are the only way around it
What the rule says
“A person must not, on any reserved land – ... (c) interfere with, dig up, cut up, collect or remove any sand, gravel, clay, rock or mineral or any timber, firewood, humus or other natural substance.”

Keeping finds

Prohibited

On Tasmanian reserved land you may not remove or even disturb a coin, a brick, glass, ceramics, an Aboriginal relic or any other object of historical or archaeological interest. The regulation names coins outright.

  • penalty up to 50 penalty units (reg 5(4))
  • public reserves under the Crown Lands Act have the same rule, unless you hold an authority (Crown Lands Regulations 2021 reg 19(3))
What the rule says
“A person must not, on any reserved land – (a) remove, damage, deface or disturb any brick, glass, coin, masonry, ceramics, Aboriginal relic or any object of architectural, archaeological, historical or scientific interest”

State forests & Crown land

Permit required

Prospecting with a metal detector in Tasmania needs a Prospecting Licence from Mineral Resources Tasmania, valid for 5 years. License-free fossicking is limited to the eleven declared fossicking areas, and metal detectors are not allowed in those.

  • Prospecting Licence: explore for minerals to less than 2 meters deep with hand-held instruments, including metal detectors, outside the declared fossicking areas, on conditions set by the Director of Mines; apply at Service Tasmania (prescribed fee)
  • declared fossicking areas: no license needed, but metal detectors are not permitted
  • check Mineral Resources Tasmania's interactive map: it shows the land tenure and whether prospecting is allowed, not allowed or needs permission
  • mining leases, exploration and retention licenses: the tenement holder's permission
  • reserved land (parks and reserves): detectors banned without an authority
  • Crown land public reserves: no bringing or possessing a detector without an authority from the managing authority (Crown Lands Regulations 2021 reg 19(8))
  • searching for coins or relics is not prospecting; no Crown land rule permitting it was found
What the rule says
“This is an activity that may be conducted in many locations around Tasmania by anyone with a prospecting licence. Prospecting means to explore for minerals to a depth of less than 2 metres below the surface of the Earth, or of any pre-existing excavation, by means of a hand-held instrument including metal detectors.”

Beaches

Varies by site

Whether you can detect on a Tasmanian beach depends on whose land it is. Beaches in parks and reserves, and in Crown land public reserves, are off limits to detectors without a written authority. For beaches on other land we found no rule, so check the tenure first.

  • reserved land: no bringing or possessing a detector without an authority (National Parks and Reserves Management Regulations 2019 reg 5(10))
  • Crown land public reserves: the same, with an authority from the reserve's managing authority (Crown Lands Regulations 2021 reg 19(8)); penalty up to 5 penalty units
  • shipwrecks at least 75 years old are protected above or below the high-water mark; report a find to the Heritage Council within 30 days (Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995 ss 64, 72)
  • beaches on other land: no rule found
What the rule says
“Except in accordance with an authority, a person must not – (a) bring a metal detector into a public reserve; or (b) have a metal detector in the person’s possession in a public reserve.”

Council parks

Varies by site

Council parks follow each council's by-laws. No statewide Tasmanian rule names metal detecting in council parks, but Crown land public reserves that councils manage fall under the state ban on detectors without an authority.

  • councils may make by-laws on anything within their functions (Local Government Act 1993 s 145(1))
  • a council-managed public reserve on Crown land: no detector without an authority (Crown Lands Regulations 2021 reg 19(8))
  • no council by-law naming detectors was read; ask the council
What the rule says
“A council may make by-laws in respect of any act, matter or thing for which a council has a function or power under this or any other Act.”

Private land

Permit required

On private land in Tasmania you need the owner's permission: Mineral Resources Tasmania says so for prospectors, and entering or staying on land without the consent of the owner or occupier is an offense.

  • entering, moving onto or remaining on land without the consent of the owner, occupier or person in charge, without reasonable or lawful excuse, is an offense (Police Offences Act 1935 s 14B(1))
  • a Prospecting Licence does not replace the landowner's permission
  • the Aboriginal Heritage Act applies on private land too
What the rule says
“Permission to enter private land for the purpose of prospecting must be sought from the land owner.”

All land: heritage law

Digging

Permit required

Digging on Crown land to search for Aboriginal relics needs a permit from the Minister, and works on a place listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register, including excavation, need heritage approval.

  • 'relic': an artifact or other object made by the original inhabitants of Australia or their descendants, or bearing signs of their activities, that is of significance to the Aboriginal people of Tasmania (Aboriginal Heritage Act 1975 s 2(3))
  • penalty for digging on Crown land to search for a relic: up to 1,000 penalty units for an individual (s 14(1C))
  • registered places: 'works' include any excavation or change to the natural condition or topography of land, and heritage works need heritage approval (Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995 ss 3, 35)
  • no general protection for unregistered historic sites was found in the Act
What the rule says
“no person shall, otherwise than in accordance with the terms of a permit granted by the Minister on the recommendation of the Director – ... (f) cause an excavation to be made or any other work to be carried out on Crown land for the purpose of searching for a relic.”

Digging

Permit required

Shipwrecks at least 75 years old are protected in Tasmania wherever they lie, under or above water and above or below the high-water mark, together with any maritime relic. Disturbing one needs the Heritage Council's approval, and finding one must be reported within 30 days.

  • 'shipwreck' includes a shipwreck site and any maritime relic (Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995 s 3)
  • applies to shipwrecks at least 75 years old and registered shipwrecks, under or above the water and above or below high-water mark (s 64)
  • penalty up to 10,000 penalty units (s 66(1))
  • report a shipwreck you find to the Heritage Council within 30 days (s 72)
  • wrecks in Australian waters beyond the state's limits: Commonwealth Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018
What the rule says
“A person must not undertake any activity which is likely to result in the physical disturbance or change to the fabric or condition of a shipwreck without the Heritage Council's approval.”

Keeping finds

Prohibited

An Aboriginal relic in Tasmania must stay where it was found: removing one without a Minister's permit is an offense, a relic found on Crown land belongs to the Crown, and every find must be reported.

  • inform the Director or an authorized officer as soon as practicable after finding a relic (s 10(3))
  • a relic found or abandoned on Crown land is the property of the Crown (s 11(1))
  • penalties up to 5,000 penalty units for an individual who knew it was a relic, or 1,000 if reckless or negligent (s 14(1A), (1B))
  • no selling relics or taking them out of Tasmania (s 14(1)(d), (e))
  • on reserved land and public reserves, coins and other objects of historical interest may not be removed either
What the rule says
“no person shall, otherwise than in accordance with the terms of a permit granted by the Minister on the recommendation of the Director – ... (c) remove a relic from the place where it is found or abandoned”

Parks Australia places

Prohibited

Metal 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

Prohibited

Digging 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

Prohibited

Nothing 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 required

Historic 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 required

You 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.

Please read: this is general information for detectorists, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by individual park, city, and agency. We cite the official sources below, but always confirm the current rule with the specific land manager before you detect — and when in doubt, ask first. Sources checked October 7, 2026; see the source notes for scope.

Parks, reserves and the detector ban

The National Parks and Reserves Management Regulations 2019 say a person must not “bring a metal detector onto any reserved land” or have one there. The only exception is a detector in a vehicle driving through on a road that does not end on reserved land. The same regulations bar digging up sand, gravel, rock or minerals and removing or disturbing “any brick, glass, coin, masonry, ceramics, Aboriginal relic” or other object of historical interest, so even a stray coin stays put.

Crown land public reserves outside the parks system follow the Crown Lands Regulations 2021, which ban bringing or possessing a metal detector in a public reserve without an authority. In both regimes a land manager can grant a written authority, but we found no published authority for hobby detecting.

Aboriginal relics, heritage places and shipwrecks

The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1975 protects relics, objects made by or bearing signs of Tasmania’s Aboriginal people, on any land. Removing one from where it was found, damaging it, selling it or digging on Crown land to search for relics all need a Minister’s permit, a relic found on Crown land belongs to the Crown, and every find must be reported as soon as practicable. Penalties reach thousands of penalty units.

The Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995 protects places on the Tasmanian Heritage Register, where excavation counts as works that need heritage approval. It also protects shipwrecks at least 75 years old, including any maritime relic, under or above water and above or below the high-water mark. Disturbing one needs the Heritage Council’s approval, and finding one must be reported within 30 days.

Prospecting, beaches, councils and private land

Mineral Resources Tasmania defines prospecting as exploring for minerals with hand-held instruments “including metal detectors”, and it needs a Prospecting Licence, issued for five years through Service Tasmania. Its map shows where prospecting is allowed. License-free fossicking is limited to the declared fossicking areas, and metal detectors are not permitted there.

Beaches depend on tenure: a beach in a park, reserve or public reserve is off limits to detectors without an authority, and for other beaches we found no rule, so check who manages the land. Council parks follow each council’s by-laws, and none we know of names detectors. On private land, get the owner’s permission; entering land without the owner’s or occupier’s consent is an offense under the Police Offences Act 1935.

Sources

Official and statutory sources this page is based on (source check: October 7, 2026):

Checked the National Parks and Reserves Management Regulations 2019, Crown Lands Regulations 2021, Mineral Resources Tasmania's prospecting and fossicking pages, the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1975, Historic Cultural Heritage Act 1995, Police Offences Act 1935 and Local Government Act 1993 on October 7, 2026. The Nature Conservation Act 2002 and National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002 were read for the meaning of reserved land. No council by-laws were read.

Keep your permitted Tasmania spots organized

Once you’ve confirmed where you’re allowed to hunt, LuckyFind helps you make the most of it — track your route on the map, log each find with its location, and revisit your saved hunt records. LuckyFind does not verify land access or grant detecting permission. Free for iPhone and Android.

New to LuckyFind? Follow the first-hunt checklist, then learn how to record a hunt and add finds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a metal detector in Tasmanian national parks?
No. Regulation 5(10) of the National Parks and Reserves Management Regulations 2019 bans bringing a metal detector onto any reserved land or having one there, unless you hold an authority from the managing authority. The only exception is a detector in a vehicle on a through road.
Do I need a license to prospect with a metal detector in Tasmania?
Yes. Mineral Resources Tasmania says prospecting, which includes using metal detectors, needs a Prospecting Licence, issued for five years. License-free fossicking is allowed only in the declared fossicking areas, and metal detectors are not permitted there.
Can I metal detect on Tasmanian beaches?
It depends on the land. Beaches in parks and reserves, and in Crown land public reserves, are off limits to detectors without a written authority. We found no rule for beaches on other land, so check the tenure first. Old shipwrecks and maritime relics are protected above and below the high-water mark.
Can I keep a coin I find in a Tasmanian reserve?
No. The reserves regulations bar removing or disturbing any coin, brick, glass, ceramics, Aboriginal relic or other object of historical interest on reserved land, and Crown land public reserves have the same rule.
What should I do if I find an Aboriginal relic in Tasmania?
Leave it where it is and report it. The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1975 requires you to inform the Director or an authorized officer as soon as practicable, removing a relic without a Minister's permit is an offense, and a relic found on Crown land belongs to the Crown.

Find more, remember where

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