Nose to the ground, stars in your eyes, fossicking pick at the ready - it's time to go noodling!  The Opalton area is popular with tourists as a place to "noodle" or "speck" fragments of opal from the surface, or from soil dumps left behind from old workings.  If you are serious about fossicking, known patches of shallow ground such as the old Brilliant Claim area offer a chance to dig and find that outstanding gem.  For advice about fossicking and finding a good stone, talk to the Opalton locals - they're always happy to help!

If you're going to noodle, you will first need a current Fossickers' Licence, issued under the Fossicking Act 1994.  Licences are available for individuals, families, clubs, educational organisations and commercial tourist operators for terms varying from one month to 12 months.  The licence fee varies accordingly.  Fossickers' Licenses are normally valid for the whole of the State of Queensland and can be obtained from Mining Registrars, Local Governments and the Head Office of Queensland's Department of Minerals and Energy.

Before the Fossicking Act, recreational fossickers had to apply for a Prospecting Permit under the Mineral Resources Act.  The Fossicking Act removed this inconvenience, making life easier for hobbyists and tourists who noodle for fun and the occasional lucky find, not for commercial purposes.  The Act also provides specific Designated Fossicking Lands and Fossicking Areas.  As you might expect, a Fossicking Licence includes some restrictions.   First of all, you may use hand tools only - no machinery is permitted.  Hand tools are defined as picks, shovels, hammers, sieves, shakers, electronic detectors and other similar tools.  Secondly, Fossickers aren't permitted to dig below two metres of the natural ground surface of the land, or below half a metre in streams.  Overhangs and tunnels aren't allowed.  Digging on road reserves isn't permitted either, but you can collect from existing exposures.

You many camp in designated fossicking lands for up to one month, although you will need a camping permit.   Permits can be obtained for a small fee from the Winton Office of Queensland's Department of Minerals and Energy.  Due to the remoteness of the area, if you intend camping, ensure you carry adequate supplies of food, water and fuel (remember these are not available at Opalton).  Many experienced outback campers prefer an Australian swag to a tent when it comes to sleeping - it's quick to lay out and offers an unobstructed view of the night sky.  A solar panel is another useful addition to your kit.

To protect the fossicking lands for the future and minimise conflict with other visitors, always follow the fossickers' code of conduct.