18-year-old Dillon Thom said the nugget was a rare piece with quartz entangled in it from the reef.
Anthony and his son Dillon, who have a bach in the region, document their gold-hunting adventures on social media under the name The Sluicers.
Their online presence has gained significant attention, with some videos racking up millions of views.
“The amount of people that have messaged me and said they’ve been inspired to have trips over to New Zealand and the West Coast from overseas to find gold is crazy,” he added.
“We’ve had guys come from Switzerland, Sweden, the UK, Australia, the US, and Canada all to find some gold thanks to the videos. It’s such an epic community and hobby in one of the most beautiful spots in the world.”
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