Record high gold prices and closed borders have sparked a boom in gold prospecting in Western Australia's Goldfields region, and metal detectors are flying off shelves around the state.
Gold is sitting at $2,824 Australian dollars an ounce in a surge that has been linked to the coronavirus pandemic.
South West business owner Denise Hoskin said people who had never gone into the store had been rushing in with gold fever.
Ms Hoskin said, with borders still closed, West Australians were finding new ways to holiday and experience their own backyard.
She said people were heading as far as Marble Bar in the Pilbara and to popular prospecting locations in the Goldfields.
"We're seeing a big increase in new people … buying lower-end metal detectors for gold prospecting, just to go out and have a try," Ms Hoskin said.
"They're not able to go to Bali or travelling anywhere else, so they're camping out.
"It's nice to see people doing something different for a change, having a different holiday, and spending their money where they live."
Going for gold
Kalgoorlie prospecting store owner Matt Cook and said he had also noticed the surge in interest from newcomers.
"We are getting a lot of new people coming in who are travelling," he said.
"Especially through the last school holidays, we got a lot of people hiring detectors and giving it a go.
"The gold price is so high, so it's a matter of trying your luck."
But he warned there was more to the outback pastime than simply grabbing the equipment, jumping in your car, and heading out to strike gold.
Mr Cook said newcomers needed to understand the rules and regulations before they headed out bush.
"You do need to find out the right way to do it so you're not treading on other people's toes," he said.
"My first advice would be to look into it, do a bit of research, and ring the Department of Mines."
