Gold ‘Neath the Swingbridge

The Buller River, New Zealand’s longest river at 170km, is proving popular with gold panners from around the globe. “Before you get to the area where gold flakes are found you have to cross the swingbridge across the deep chasm — the longest in New Zealand at 110m long and 17m high,” explains Geena Paul for  Commodity Online. “The land on the other side of the bridge is like an open-air museum of gold prospecting in New Zealand … With a lot of stories flooding the internet on gold digging in Buller River, more and more people are now rushing to this spot in search of the yellow metal.” Payable gold was first found in the Buller River in 1859. The Buller Gorge Swingbridge offers activities including goldpanning, Cometline ride, guided walks and jetboat rides.