Gold & Precious Metals ETFs in Australia
📅 Data to 30 Sep 2026Physical gold and precious metals ETFs, plus funds investing in gold and silver miners. There are 17 gold & precious metals ETFs listed in Australia, holding $16.2bn between them. *Funds with at least $20m AUM.
Which ETFs give you the most exposure?
| ETF | Fund and how it gets exposure | Exposure | MER | 1Y | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOLD | Global X Physical GoldPhysical gold | 100% | 0.40% | +1.7% | $5.8bn |
| PMGOLD | Perth Mint GoldPhysical gold | 100% | 0.15% | +1.9% | $2.4bn |
| QAU | Betashares Gold Bullion Currency Hedged ETFPhysical gold (currency hedged) | 100% | 0.59% | +6.3% | $1.2bn |
| GXLD | Global X Gold Bullion ETFPhysical gold | 100% | 0.15% | +1.9% | $766m |
| GLDN | iShares Physical Gold ETFPhysical gold | 100% | 0.18% | +1.8% | $458m |
| NUGG | VanEck Gold Bullion ETFPhysical gold | 100% | 0.25% | +1.8% | $248m |
| GHLD | Global X Gold Bullion (Currency Hedged) ETFPhysical gold (currency hedged) | 100% | 0.35% | +5.7% | $240m |
| MNRS | Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETFGold miners (indirect) | 90% | 0.57% | +13.9% | $256m |
| GDX | VanEck Gold Miners ETFGold miners (indirect) | 86% | 0.53% | +10.5% | $1.5bn |
| ETPMPM | Global X Physical Precious Metal Basket Structured ABasket of all four metals | mix varies | 0.44% | +4.7% | $131m |
| ETF | Fund and how it gets exposure | Exposure | MER | 1Y | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETPMAG | Global X Physical Silver Structured APhysical silver | 100% | 0.49% | +22.0% | $1.4bn |
| ETPMPM | Global X Physical Precious Metal Basket Structured ABasket of all four metals | mix varies | 0.44% | +4.7% | $131m |
| SLVM | Global X Silver Miners ETFSilver mining companies | not published | 0.65% | – | $90m |
| ETF | Fund and how it gets exposure | Exposure | MER | 1Y | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MNRS | Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETFGold and silver miners | 90% | 0.57% | +13.9% | $256m |
| GDX | VanEck Gold Miners ETFGold and silver miners | 86% | 0.53% | +10.5% | $1.5bn |
| MVR | VanEck Australian Resources ETFResources fund, part in gold miners | 26% | 0.35% | +24.9% | $836m |
| OZR | State Street SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources ETFResources fund, part in gold miners | 19% | 0.34% | +32.7% | $285m |
| QRE | Betashares Australian Resources Sector ETFResources fund, part in gold miners | 18% | 0.34% | +32.2% | $460m |
| XMET | Betashares Critical Minerals ETFResources fund, part in gold miners | 17% | 0.69% | +26.2% | $140m |
| EX20 | Betashares Australian Ex-20 Portfolio Diversifier ETFShare fund with some gold miners | 14% | 0.25% | −4.5% | $676m |
| MVE | VanEck S&P/ASX MidCap ETFShare fund with some gold miners | 13% | 0.45% | −1.5% | $499m |
| VSO | Vanguard MSCI Australian Small Companies Index ETFShare fund with some gold miners | 13% | 0.30% | −0.1% | $1.2bn |
| VETH | Vanguard Ethically Conscious Australian Shares ETFShare fund with some gold miners | 11% | 0.16% | −4.6% | $651m |
| SMLL | Betashares Australian Small Companies Select ETFShare fund with some gold miners | 11% | 0.39% | +4.3% | $369m |
| IESG | iShares Core MSCI Australia ESG ETFShare fund with some gold miners | 10% | 0.09% | −3.0% | $607m |
| SLVM | Global X Silver Miners ETFSilver mining companies (holdings not published) | not published | 0.65% | – | $90m |
Exposure is the share of the fund in that metal. Physical funds hold the metal itself (100%). For mining and resources funds it is the share of the fund in gold and silver mining companies, which move with metal prices but also with their own costs and management, so it is indirect exposure. The basket fund (ETPMPM) holds all four metals; check the issuer for its current mix. Miner shares are a best-endeavours match from published holdings and may be understated.
| Compare | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOLD | Global X Physical Gold | Global X | 0.40 | 5.8bn | Commodities | −3.2 | 1.7 | 104.8 | 144.5 | 28/03/2003 | |
| PMGOLD | Perth Mint Gold | Perth Mint | 0.15 | 2.4bn | Commodities | −3.5 | 1.9 | 106.1 | 147.4 | 29/12/2010 | |
| GDX | VanEck Gold Miners ETF | VanEck | 0.53 | 1.5bn | International shares | −7.5 | 10.5 | 209.5 | 223.6 | 26/06/2015 | |
| ETPMAG | Global X Physical Silver Structured A | Global X | 0.49 | 1.4bn | Commodities | −5.6 | 22.0 | 142.2 | 185.7 | 30/01/2009 | |
| QAU | Betashares Gold Bullion Currency Hedged ETF | Betashares | 0.59 | 1.2bn | Commodities | −5.7 | 6.3 | 111.6 | 116.9 | 04/05/2011 | |
| MVR | VanEck Australian Resources ETF | VanEck | 0.35 | 836m | Australian shares | −3.7 | 24.9 | 40.2 | 90.3 | 16/10/2013 | |
| GXLD | Global X Gold Bullion ETF | Global X | 0.15 | 766m | Commodities | −3.4 | 1.9 | – | – | 01/05/2024 | |
| QRE | Betashares Australian Resources Sector ETF | Betashares | 0.34 | 460m | Australian shares | −4.6 | 32.2 | 43.9 | 84.4 | 15/12/2010 | |
| GLDN | iShares Physical Gold ETF | iShares | 0.18 | 458m | Commodities | −3.2 | 1.8 | – | – | 01/11/2023 | |
| OZR | State Street SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources ETF | State Street (SPDR) | 0.34 | 285m | Australian shares | −5.1 | 32.7 | 43.8 | 83.8 | 13/04/2011 | |
| MNRS | Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF | Betashares | 0.57 | 256m | International shares | −8.4 | 13.9 | 230.7 | 200.0 | 29/07/2016 | |
| NUGG | VanEck Gold Bullion ETF | VanEck | 0.25 | 248m | Commodities | −3.1 | 1.8 | 105.1 | – | 07/12/2022 | |
| GHLD | Global X Gold Bullion (Currency Hedged) ETF | Global X | 0.35 | 240m | Commodities | −6.1 | 5.7 | – | – | 31/03/2025 | |
| ETPMPM | Global X Physical Precious Metal Basket Structured A | Global X | 0.44 | 131m | Commodities | −4.8 | 4.7 | 88.1 | 99.7 | 30/01/2009 | |
| SLVM | Global X Silver Miners ETF.. | Global X | 0.65 | 90m | International shares | −8.8 | – | – | – | 29/01/2026 | |
| ETPMPT | Global X Physical Platinum Structured A | Global X | 0.49 | 79m | Commodities | −3.1 | −0.7 | 69.6 | 78.9 | 30/01/2009 | |
| ETPMPD | Global X Physical Palladium | Global X | 0.49 | 17m | Commodities | −9.6 | −10.1 | −12.5 | −34.5 | 30/01/2009 |
Gold ETFs explained: bullion, miners and currency hedging
Gold ETFs on the ASX come in two main types. Physical (bullion) ETFs hold real gold bars in a vault, so their price tracks the gold price. Gold miner ETFs hold shares in mining companies, which tend to rise and fall more sharply than gold itself because miners' profits are leveraged to the gold price.
Gold is priced in US dollars. An unhedged gold ETF tracks gold in Australian dollars, so a falling Aussie dollar adds to returns. A currency hedged fund removes that effect and tracks the US-dollar gold price. Silver, platinum and broader precious metals ETFs are also available.
The 5 largest gold and precious metals ETFs by funds under management are GOLD ($5.8bn), PMGOLD ($2.4bn), GDX ($1.5bn), ETPMAG ($1.4bn), QAU ($1.2bn). The cheapest established fund is PMGOLD at 0.15% a year, and the best performer over the past year was OZR at +32.7%. Fees range from 0.15% to 0.65%, with a median of 0.40%. Data to 30 September 2026.
Popular choices include GOLD (Global X Physical Gold, $5.8bn, MER 0.40%), PMGOLD (Perth Mint Gold, $2.4bn, MER 0.15%), GDX (VanEck Gold Miners ETF, $1.5bn, MER 0.53%). Use the table above to sort by fee, size or return, or compare the top three side by side.
Gold ETF FAQs
What is the best gold ETF in Australia?
There is no single best gold ETF: it depends on what you want it to do. By size, the largest is GOLD (Global X Physical Gold, $5.8bn). The cheapest with at least $20m in assets is PMGOLD at 0.15% a year. Over the past year the best performer was OZR at +32.7%, but past returns are not a reliable guide to the future. Compare fees, size, what the fund holds and whether it is currency hedged before choosing.
How many gold and precious metals ETFs are there in Australia?
There are 17 gold and precious metals ETFs listed in Australia, holding $16.2bn between them (data to 30 September 2026).
What fees do gold and precious metals ETFs charge?
Management fees (MER) range from 0.15% to 0.65% a year, with a median of 0.40%. On a $10,000 investment, that median works out to about $40 a year.
Physical gold ETF or gold miners ETF?
A physical gold ETF tracks the price of gold bullion. A gold miners ETF owns mining companies, which carry business risk and usually move more than gold in both directions. Physical gold is the more direct exposure.
Do gold ETFs pay dividends?
Physical gold ETFs generally pay no distributions, because gold produces no income. Gold miner ETFs may pay small distributions from the companies' dividends.
Is gold hedged or unhedged better?
Neither is better in every market. Unhedged gold tends to cushion Australian investors when the Aussie dollar falls, which often happens in a crisis. Hedged gold isolates the gold price itself.