A friend just got back from a month-long trip to Australia (mid-Oct to mid-Nov) and said that she was bothered by flies in Sydney and points south. She didn't remember any at the beginning in Cairns. I was wondering about their habits (when they usually show up and where they are usually a problem) since we didn't see/feel any when we were there in July. I had heard of them in the Red Center especially, but not of being a problem in Sydney. We are planning a lot of hiking in FNQ this trip (Oct. 2007) and wondering what kind of anti-fly things are recommended if they are a problem then. Thanks!
Sally in Seattle, a sunny day today for a change

Just buy some Rid & if they're around, put some on. End of problem

There was a day a few weeks back when the flies nearly carried me off (nomean feat, I tell you!)

But that's uncommon - and unpredictable. There's no obvious season.

There's another thread on this somewhere recently.

Sally-
Buy mosquito head nets at any sporting goods store in your area. They handle the flies very well, are lightweight and very easy to pack!

Sally, you'll look a bit odd wandering around the streets of Sydney with a fly net - Orlando is of course, speaking in jest.

Truly, I lived in Sydney for 40 years, flies in numbers turn up sometimes and most times they don't. They don't bite, just a bit of a nuisance now and then.

Cairns is relatively fly-free which is a blessing since just about every other insect finds the place irresistible. In bugdom terms, ants seem to be the main worry here with tourists anyway, screens don't stop them, they can bore through concrete, they are attracted to food left about but also love to invade homes en masse when there's a threat of impending heavy rain. Have just done a quick insect check around my place in Cairns - one fly inside; a rather sad looking cricket, two rhinoceros beetles on verandah(now there's a bug) lying on backs and waving legs in air and a swarm of native bees (harmless) outside back door. But our house geckoes do a terrific job in keeping the insect multitudes down. And as mentioned in a recent similar post, green tree frogs make short work of cockroaches.

Here's a link to the earlier discussion:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34898990

If all goes well we should be in Australia in December 2007. People keep mentioning flies but we are not going to let them spoil our holiday! Am I right to assume that IF there are lots of flies in Uluru we will be able to buy fly nets in the shops there?...or should we put fly nets on our Christmas lists for this year???

MietteMeg-

Pat Woolford can correct me if I am mistaken about this, but there WILL be flies at Uluru in December!

You can buy fly nets in the shops, but you can also bring mosquito head nets from the U.S. (approximately $5), in advance, (as not to lose valuable sightseeing time looking for them once you decide you need them.

And yes, I was jesting about needing them in Sydney.

Orlando, you were kidding? I already bought a hat with those corks hanging off plus netting. LOL If we get flies, we'll just get expert with the Australian salute. At least they aren't the bloodsucking kind.
Sally in Seattle

Hi Sally!

Just back from Oz (and seeing Pat and her husband as well), and I can tell you for a fact that the flies were out in force in Sydney while I was there at the end of October!

Obviously, this is some sort of "payback" -- I had a client last year who took me to task for not warning her about it -- and my response was "huh?" because I'd been in Sydney lots of times and never saw so much as a fly.

They were awful! I was told as it gets warmer they show up; that it was because they'd had a dry year....

And, as Pat said, you would look a bit odd wandering around Sydney with a flynet; however, my after 2 days of doing the Aussie salute, my husband wanted to buy one of the cork hats you've got -- I told him I'd be crossing to the other side of the street.

Regards,

Melodie