Fancy finding a $10,000 stone on your next camping trip? Start digging here
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A remote campground has turned into a modern-day treasure hunt.
Families from across the country have started arriving in droves, hoping to strike it lucky.
All it takes is a bit of digging, a glint of luck, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll walk away with a gemstone worth thousands.
O’Briens Creek Campground near Mount Surprise had long attracted gem hunters, but recent discoveries had sparked a new wave of excitement.
During the peak season, campground manager Simon Harrison said travellers often sprinted up to him with a hopeful gleam in their eye and something sparkly in hand.
‘You get the disappointment where they think they’ve got something, and then you get the ones where they’ve got a real good treasure,’ he shared.
The thrill of fossicking had become more than a hobby—families now saw it as part holiday, part high-stakes adventure.
‘People start turning up over Easter…when the weather starts getting cooler, then you get all the fossickers coming out because they don’t want to be digging in the heat,’ Simon said.
Since taking over in 2017, Simon had watched the campground transform from a niche fossicker destination into a lively retreat filled with camper trailers, children with paddle boards, and even yabbying gear.
For a stay at the campground and a fossicking licence—costing just under $10 for individuals or $13 for families—guests could try their luck in the nearby fossicking zone.
And lately, luck had definitely been on their side.
‘We’ve had really good rains the last four years so there’s been a lot of movement in the creek,’ Simon said.
He explained that while topaz remained the most sought-after gemstone, the real jackpot was aquamarine—rarer and, in some cases, far more valuable.
The most impressive find he had seen was a 96-carat aquamarine: ‘perfectly clear, perfectly coloured’, and estimated to be worth around $10,000.
Other stones commonly found in the area included smokey quartz, citrine, amethyst, and the signature big blue topaz for which O’Briens Creek was known.
‘You get the good experiences with the people,’ Simon said.
‘I get the joy of being able to see the stuff as it comes in, and then I post it [online] so everyone else can see it.’
Whether they found a rare gem or not, it seemed campers were leaving with something priceless—a story of adventure, discovery, and maybe a little bit of sparkle.
If you find the idea of uncovering a gemstone thrilling, you're not alone—nature has a way of surprising those who take the time to look.
While O’Briens Creek has become a hotspot for hopeful fossickers, it's not the only place where remarkable finds have emerged after a bit of digging.
In another striking example, one man made an unforgettable discovery after a storm stirred up the soil.
Source: TikTok/betteridge_sapphires
Read more: Unbelievable Discovery: Man Finds Shocking Treasure Buried in Mud After Storm
Would you take your family on a camping trip if there was a chance to dig up $10,000?
Families from across the country have started arriving in droves, hoping to strike it lucky.
All it takes is a bit of digging, a glint of luck, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll walk away with a gemstone worth thousands.
O’Briens Creek Campground near Mount Surprise had long attracted gem hunters, but recent discoveries had sparked a new wave of excitement.
During the peak season, campground manager Simon Harrison said travellers often sprinted up to him with a hopeful gleam in their eye and something sparkly in hand.
‘You get the disappointment where they think they’ve got something, and then you get the ones where they’ve got a real good treasure,’ he shared.
Campers rush to uncover glittering gemstone finds. Image source: O’Briens Creek Campground
The thrill of fossicking had become more than a hobby—families now saw it as part holiday, part high-stakes adventure.
‘People start turning up over Easter…when the weather starts getting cooler, then you get all the fossickers coming out because they don’t want to be digging in the heat,’ Simon said.
Since taking over in 2017, Simon had watched the campground transform from a niche fossicker destination into a lively retreat filled with camper trailers, children with paddle boards, and even yabbying gear.
For a stay at the campground and a fossicking licence—costing just under $10 for individuals or $13 for families—guests could try their luck in the nearby fossicking zone.
And lately, luck had definitely been on their side.
‘We’ve had really good rains the last four years so there’s been a lot of movement in the creek,’ Simon said.
He explained that while topaz remained the most sought-after gemstone, the real jackpot was aquamarine—rarer and, in some cases, far more valuable.
The most impressive find he had seen was a 96-carat aquamarine: ‘perfectly clear, perfectly coloured’, and estimated to be worth around $10,000.
Other stones commonly found in the area included smokey quartz, citrine, amethyst, and the signature big blue topaz for which O’Briens Creek was known.
‘You get the good experiences with the people,’ Simon said.
‘I get the joy of being able to see the stuff as it comes in, and then I post it [online] so everyone else can see it.’
Whether they found a rare gem or not, it seemed campers were leaving with something priceless—a story of adventure, discovery, and maybe a little bit of sparkle.
If you find the idea of uncovering a gemstone thrilling, you're not alone—nature has a way of surprising those who take the time to look.
While O’Briens Creek has become a hotspot for hopeful fossickers, it's not the only place where remarkable finds have emerged after a bit of digging.
In another striking example, one man made an unforgettable discovery after a storm stirred up the soil.
Source: TikTok/betteridge_sapphires
Read more: Unbelievable Discovery: Man Finds Shocking Treasure Buried in Mud After Storm
Would you take your family on a camping trip if there was a chance to dig up $10,000?
