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Special Interest Tourism
Metal Detecting and Treasure Hunting 69 Digs with 69 Tours
Metal Detecting and Treasure Hunting
Special interest tourism (SIT) refers to travel experiences designed around a specific passion, hobby, or niche interest rather than general sightseeing. It focuses on personal enrichment and engagement, where travellers seek deeper connections through activities that align with their lifestyle, interest or curiosity.
69 Tours has innovatively tapped into the SIT market by developing 69 Digs, a specialised adventure product for metal detecting and treasure hunting enthusiasts. This experience transforms a hobby into a structured tourism adventure, blending exploration, history, and outdoor recreation.
69 Digs isn’t just about finding treasure — it’s about experiencing the joy of exploration and connecting with history in a hands-on way. By combining education, adventure, and sustainability, 69 Tours has created a model SIT product that is best suited to travellers seeking something more meaningful than conventional tourism, as well as metal detectorists and treasure hunters who want to build on their skills and experience through connection with a specialist in this field.
Key features of 69 Digs adventures:
- Authentic experiences;
- Immersive locations;
- Purpose-driven travel;
- Sustainability;
- Hands-on discovery;
- Expert guidance;
- Education and skill development;
- Keep your finds.
Key Features
69 Digs
Authentic Experiences
Find real treasure, interact with the local environment and learn about the region's history.
Keep your finds!
Rare and unique adventure opportunity.
Sustainability
69 Digs emphasises responsible exploration and sustainable treasure hunting practices.
Each dig tells a story about the region’s past, linking tourism with heritage preservation and helping to create a cultural connection.
Purpose Driven Tours
Tour itineraries are motivated by the metal detecting and treasure hunting theme taking into account the specific characteristics and needs of participants.
Adventures are hosted in scenic, historically rich landscapes, offering both natural beauty and historical intrigue making them very immersive locations.
Expert Guidance
Participants learn detection techniques, artifact identification, and responsible recovery practices from skilled guides.
Develop your skills through education and mentoring.
Participants use professional metal detecting equipment to uncover coins and relics, turning curiosity into tangible finds and hands on discovery.
Locations and Availability
Your host is Peter Solanikow, founder of 69 Tours, and creator of 69 Digs adventures.
Peter is an internationally experienced treasure hunter and metal‑detecting guide who offers immersive, hands‑on detecting adventures for travellers, hobbyists, curious explorers and adventurers. His availability throughout the year varies depending on location, seasonal travel, and professional commitments.
Melbourne, Australia (Home Base – Most of the Year)
Peter resides in Melbourne, and this is where he is most consistently available.
- He offers guided metal‑detecting experiences across Melbourne and surrounding regions.
- Available most of the year, except during his annual overseas travel period (May–August).
- Melbourne sessions are ideal for guests seeking personalised, flexible, and locally informed treasure‑hunting adventures.
Sydney, Australia (Summer Visits – December to February)
Peter knows Sydney extremely well, having visited regularly for many decades.
- He travels to Sydney annually during the Australian summer, sometime between December and February.
- Guests can book Sydney‑based metal‑detecting experiences during this window.
- His familiarity with the city makes these sessions rich in local insight and exploration.
Poland (May – August Each Year)
Every year, Peter travels to Poland beginning in May and remains there until late August.
- During this period, he is available for treasure‑hunting experiences across various Polish regions and surrounding countries.
- Ideal for travellers exploring Europe during the summer months.
- His international experience allows him to adapt sessions to local history, terrain, and cultural context.
Global Travel (Available Upon Request)
Peter is available to travel internationally for private bookings.
- With appropriate arrangement and payment, he can travel to most destinations worldwide.
- Ideal for special events, private expeditions, tourism operators, or collaborative projects.
- His broad experience ensures he can tailor treasure‑hunting adventures to diverse environments and guest interests.
Important Note: No Precious Metal Prospecting
Peter does not offer precious metal experiences in fields, rivers, or geological sites and does not conduct gold prospecting activities. His expertise focuses on urban metal detecting adventures and treasure hunting.
Treasure Hunt 101
Discover the thrill of treasure hunting with an adventure designed especially for youngsters, families, and anyone curious about trying metal detecting for the first time.
Explore a beautiful beach while searching for hidden treasures buried beneath the sand. It’s a fun and memorable way to enjoy the coastline, take in beautiful bay and ocean views, and experience the excitement of uncovering something unexpected.
This experience blends fun, adventure, learning, and sightseeing. Guided by an experienced treasure hunter, you’ll be introduced to the basics of metal detecting, learn how to use the equipment, and develop the skills needed to find your own buried items. Best of all — you get to keep whatever you find.
A perfect first step into the world of metal detecting and treasure hunting.
Summary
- Duration of about 2 hours.
- Fully flexible start time.
- Budget priced, short activity.
- One locations to plunder.
- Best suited for beginners.
- For ages 6 and over.
Inclusions
- Pick-up and drop-off*;
- Private transportation;
- Personal coach;
- Non-alcoholic drinks;
- Equipment hire;
- Equipment use workshop;
- Lucky charm coin.
* Within 3km radius of the CBD.
Pricing
Child (6 - 17)
$50Adult
$75Family (2 children + 2 adults)
$200Group (4 adults)
$275Larger Group (5 or more)
QuoteMinimum booking: 2 adults
Itinerary
Pick-up
Travel
Workshop
Treasure Hunt
Round Up
Travel
Drop-off
You’ll learn to use modern, effective metal‑detecting equipment that’s simple, lightweight, and perfect for beginners — including very young adventurers. Your experienced guide will walk you through the strengths and limitations of different tools on the market and offer practical, unbiased advice on what to buy, where to buy it, and how much to invest in a setup that suits your treasure‑hunting goals.
We use equipment from a variety of manufacturers and are not affiliated with any brand, so you can feel confident that all recommendations are honest, experience‑based, and tailored to your needs.
You’ll also be taught how to identify the areas with the highest potential for exciting finds, along with smart strategies to help you detect more effectively and make the most of your time on the beach.
Urban Treasure Hunt
Experience even more fun, adventure, excitement, and hands‑on learning with the Urban Treasure Hunt. This extended and more comprehensive version of Treasure Hunt 101 includes practical workshops, skill‑building sessions, and exploration of an additional location for even greater treasure‑hunting potential.
You’ll learn about the fascinating history of Australian coins and be guided through the process of safely and effectively cleaning silver coins. These skills prepare you for the final, more challenging site — a location where you may uncover old Australian coins, including silver coins, hidden beneath the surface.
Enjoy a longer adventure, explore more diverse environments, and sharpen your detecting techniques as you search multiple city spots for buried treasure. Think of it as a deeper dive into urban detecting. And of course — you keep everything you find.
Summary
- Duration of up to 4 hours.
- Fully flexible start time.
- Two locations to plunder.
- For ages 13 and over.
- Physically demanding activity.
- Unique urban activity!
Inclusions
- Pick-up and drop-off*;
- Private transportation;
- Personal coach;
- Non-alcoholic drinks;
- Equipment hire;
- Equipment use workshop;
- Silver coin cleaning tutorial;
- Lucky charm coin.
* Within 3km radius of the CBD.
Pricing
Child (13 - 17)
$100Adult
$200Family (2 children + 2 adults)
$500Group (4 adults)
$700Larger Group (5 or more)
QuoteItinerary
Pick-up
Travel
Workshop
Treasure Hunt
Travel
Workshop
Treasure Hunt
Travel*
Treasure Hunt
Travel
Drop-off
* This tour is flexible in terms of how many locations are to be explored. If one of the first two locations proves to be lucrative and participants are happy to continue hunting there for a longer period, then it’s possible to limit the hunt to only two locations and explore each of these more thoroughly.
Urban Treasure Hunt Challenge
The Urban Treasure Hunt Challenge has been designed for the more experienced treasure hunter and metal detectorist so that they can utilise their skills and experience under various scenarios.
The Urban Treasure Hunt Challenge is an adventure where the outcome is not measured by time, instead, it is measured against set challenges that are agreed upon by participants.
This experience blends fun, adventure, learning, and sightseeing. Guided by an experienced treasure hunter, you’ll be introduced to the basics of metal detecting, learn how to use the equipment, and develop the skills needed to find your own buried items. Best of all — you get to keep whatever you find.
The perfect adventure to challenge yourself and apply your skills and experiences to learn your strenghts and identify your metal detecting weaknesses.
Summary
- No fixed duration.
- Fully flexible start time.
- Undefined locations to plunder.
- For ages 16 and over.
- Physically demanding activity.
- Unique adventure activity!
Inclusions
- Pick-up and drop-off*;
- Private transportation;
- Non-alcoholic drinks;
- Equipment hire;
- Equipment use workshop;
- Lucky charm coin.
* Within 3km radius of the CBD.
Example Challenges
- Number of total coins to find.
- Number of predecimal coins to find.
- Number of silver coins to find.
- Set dollar value of spendable coins.
- Find a specific artifact e.g. military.
- A combination of the above.
Pricing
Child (16 - 17)
QuoteAdult
QuoteFamily (2 C + 2 A)
QuoteGroup (4 adults)
QuoteLarger Group (5 or more)
QuoteTravel Planning
for the independent traveller
For as little as $49.95 we can ensure your travel plan is realistic and optimal for your travel needs. We know Australia well, and there could be small details which you may not have considered, or locations and places that you may not know about. With our input you might want to add these to your travel itinerary.
If, on the other hand, you have no idea about what to see or do, then we can help you by developing a basic travel plan, or one that is comprehensive with details about locations, accommodation and transport options in different parts of Australia.
We think paying as little as $49.95 to get expert advice to get you closer to an ideal holiday is a great investment.
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Features
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Features
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Features
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