Diamantina

Yes, it's already pretty warm here. Yesterday, temperatures reached 30.9 C in Greymouth on the South Island's West Coast. That's 87F. I'm glad you've planned on using sunscreen, but you should also buy some insect repellent.

If you'll be self-catering while traveling around, you might want to pick up a chiller bag to protect your food (especiallly dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, butter, etc.) as you drive from place to place in this warm weather, expecially as you might be getting out to take some short walks or to look around, take photos, etc. You can buy a chiller bag from one of the two main large supermarket chains, New World or Countdown, for $5.

Beginning this year, egg-laying chicken can no longer be held in cages (battery chickens), so this has created a egg shortage. This has caused egg prices to rise, which also means higher prices for products made with eggs, such as many baked good and most ice creams. if you want to buy eggs and have trouble finding them, try stopping in at local farmers markets, where farmers sell directly to consumers.

3Gnhgirl

Hello Diamantina, Once again you are helping me with good suggestions for what will help our trip go smoothly. We will be buying some items here so we don't have to pack them and can buy more than the 3oz allowed by TSA. " you should also buy some insect repellent". I was browsing in the Countdown store you kindly referenced and noticed that the insect spray i would buy would be the "Off". Do you favor another?
Also, I looked for the Manuka Honey and needed to do some more reading about all the numbers on the label. So, while the store, Countdown, does sell certified Manuka honey it is advised to buy in a health food store or local farm stand or farmers market. What MGO # do you recommend? Love the term, "add to trolley".
I am keeping an eye on the temps where we are headed and will enjoy the higher temps since our temps range 6 to 10 Celsius range and not much snow.
Ta.

Diamantina

I initially wrote a more detailed response, but my laptop froze and I lost my words. Hence, this will be shortened.

Is this the OFF product you were looking at? It's sold at both New World and Countdown supermarkets.

The active ingredient is Picaridin. Both supermarkets also sell an insect repellent containing DEET made by the Australian brand Aerogard.

At the end of the above row you'll notice a NZ-made plant-based brand called Goodbye Sandfly. I've not tried it.

The aqua-colored pump spray bottle is Aerogard's plant-based spray. You might notice Countdown was selling the OFF spray for $10 and New World (above) has is on sale for $8.79--and it's sold out.

When I need to pack an insect repellent, I take a tiny pump spray of Picaridin and a large pump spray of Repel Lemon Eucalyptus oil. I also have zip off pants and a long blouse with roll up sleeves that have both been treated with Permethrin. I bought both on sale at Kathmandu. They're made of lightweight, quick-dry fabrics.

Did you want to buy a manuka honey for daily use for its taste, that is, to sweeten beverages and food? Or did you want one with potentially medicinal properties and rated pollen count? If the latter, yes, these manuka honeys will be graded according to their UMF or MGO, sometimes their MG. It's confusing. This company's website gives an explanation of these ratings. You might also see multifloral written on some manuka honeys.

I bought a couple of these to send to a friend in the US: You'll see it says UMF10, MGO 261. Sorry, I took these photos with my mobile and didn't know what I was doing; this one's out -of-focus.
You can find this Arataki honey at both Countdown and New World supermarkets.
To my surprise, I wasn't allowed to post them to the US. It must be a new regulation because I've send honey overseas many times before. But travelers are still alllowed to take honey in their luggage when they leave New Zealand. .

But I bought them on sale for $20 each. I like the Arataki brand (their Rewarewa honey is one of my favorites for daily use). I also like the brand Airborne. Arataki and Airborne can be found in supermarkets; they're large honey companies. I also regularly buy local honeys. Some are sold at our local New World, others at the Otago Farmer's Market or at our local natural foods store (where they sell organic raw honey in bulk). You might also see signs along the road advertising honey for sale. I used to see 'honesty boxes" selling honey along the roadside. But I think these are slowly becoming a thing of the past due to growing theft. It's a pity.

It's been warm and sunny in Dunedin, temperatures in the high 70s (fahrenheit). It's been even warmer inland, high 80s.

Diamantina

I forgot to mention, I had to order my insect repellents from Amazon, but now Picaridin and Lemon Eucalyptus oil repellents are available in NZ. The Aerogard plant-based has lemon eucalyptus oil. I've also made my own repellent using lavender oil, lemon eucalyptus oil and cintronella oil in a carrier oil. I think the best thing is to cover up, but if it's really warm and you're expending a lot of energy, you might not want to cover up. I think I've also gotten lucky. When I'm with my husband, the NZ sandfly seems to prefer him over me.

At least the NZ sandfly doesn't carry disease, they're just a nuisance and their bites can be uncomfortable. Did I provide you with this link?

3Gnhgirl

Well, some more good suggestions for insect repellent for my shopping list, good to know. Actually, I really like walking the aisles of “foreign “ grocery stores and discovering new products that are unique and fun to eat. I am intrigued by the hokey pokey ice cream and candy.

I will be covered from head to toe with sunscreen, hat and sunglasses as I look at the sun and burn….
💦 water, how is the quality? Should we buy bottled?

As for the Manuka honey, it will be gifts for family, casual use. But if I can find some with the higher MGO count for low key medical purposes, I will buy it.

I will be spraying Permethrin on my hiking pant/shorts, long and a short sleeve shirt to fight the bugs…

I think your photos in the store were fine and again, I truly appreciate all the time you have taken to help me.

mlgb

No just use a refillable bottle. If there is a need to boil it would be in very few rural agricultural areas and signs would be posted. I doubt you will run into that. PS One thing I wish I had brought was a takeout coffee mug. Also, if you like to have a few plastic bags for things like snacks and sandwiches and storing wet gear, bring some.

I have never found the natural repellents to be as effective but they do smell better and don't melt plastic. For insect repellent I like the sealed DEET packets such as the OFF brand. You can put one in your daypack and use it if the bugs are out without making a mess of things. RiteAid and other US retailers carry them but check online first to be sure they are in stock.

Diamantina

When I was last in the US in November 2019, I noticed that the Manuka honey at Trader Joe's was cheaper than the Manuka honey I could find in Dunedin supermarkets. Thought this might not be the case any longer. But when it comes to gifts, it's the thought that counts, right? By the way, Australia also produces and exports Manuka honey. As I said in an earlier post, I usually bring my friends Rata honey because they're not likely to find it in the US. I also like Pohutakawa honey, but it's hard to find and become expensive. These two honeys are similar in taste to Hawaii's Lehua honey (when I lived in the US, I bought this from our local Costco). Rata, pohutakawa, lehua are all in the genus Metrosideros. Honeys derived from these flowers taste sweet and floral.

One of my friends prefers strong, unusual-tasting, not so sweet honeys, so I posted him NZ Beechwood Honeydew honey, which has a more resiny, earthy taste.The bees collect the honeydew secreted by insects that live in the beech forests of the South Island. He loved it. He also loved the Tasmania Leatherwood honey that I sent him from Australia. I find them both unappealing.

If you want a Manuka honey with a higher UMF, I'd go for UMF 10 and above.

You can also find many toiletries containing honey, such as honey soaps, lotions, etc.. I like this Dunedin-made honey soap, but there are plenty of other products out there. The bar soaps are easier to pack than honey and not as heavy..

I've also gifted gloves and wraps made of merino-possum, and lightweight baby clothes made of 100% merino wool. The possum-merino blend becomes a super-soft material. Don't buy possum-merino socks, as they're not as durable. Unfortunately, most of my friends and relatives live in the non-mountainous regions of California, or Tuscon, or Spain, or New Caledonia, so I doubt they've been able to get much use out of these woolen goods. But your friends and family in New Hampshire might.

NZ chocolate has also proved to be a popular gift. But chocolate from anywhere has proved to be a popular gift.

Good idea about the reusable coffee mug, mlgb. 3Gnhgirl, maybe you can find an attractive insulated souvenir coffee mug after you arrive in NZ. I travel with a small thermos.

I don't think you have to go to the trouble of spraying your clothes with Permethrin. I just happened to find some deeply discounted already-Permethrin-treated pants and top at one of my local outdoor shops, which have come in handy. Have you sprayed Permethrin on your clothes before? If not, it can be a bit of hassle and, as I recall, I had to be very careful to keep the spray and any residue it might leave well away from my two cats. You want to spray in a well-ventilated area. But the time, it was worth it as I was going to areas with a risk of malaria. But, as I said, no such worries in NZ.

Water is fine out of the tap. In the bush, as mlgb noted, if the water out a tap is not potable, it will say so. As you'll probably be walking part of the Abel Tasman track, have a look at this page, scroll down to "How much water should I bring?" A popular Wanaka hike is that to Roy's Peak. People often start out early as it's a long hike, forgetting that the day might get much warmer. Some people start off in the dark in order to see the sunrise from Roy's Peak. A couple of my friends, a doctor and a nurse, both experienced and avid hikers who live in Tucson (so they well-understand hiking in the heat), had to help a Roy's Peak hiker starting to suffer from dehydration; he hadn't brought enough water with him. Luckily, in summer, Roy's Peak is busy, lots of people. If planning a long hike, you might want to read these links:
https://hikingnewzealand.com/blog/ho...ake-on-a-hike/
https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...kes-gear-list/

3Gnhgirl

The suggestions of a refillable coffee mug, insect repellent and wipes are all duly noted. We do realize the importance of water when hiking and always have our water bottles filled. We were in Palm Springs last January and due to the heat, the Park Rangers were not letting people go into the area without a bottle of water bottle. And I drink water all day.

ok, I was shocked by the prices of Manuka honey being better in the US. Crazy. Never heard of or seen the material combination of possum- merino blend is what??? Not opossum?

I have decided on a good pair of Merrill hiking sneakers, regular sneakers and closed toe Teva sneakers for footwear. That should cover rainy, hot and cool weather. Reapplied silicon to both pairs of sneakers to keep dry.

Diamantina

Things might have changed on the US vs. NZ manuka prices, as this was back in November 2019--and it was Trader Joe's. Still, you might want to keep a mental note of US prices.

Not the same as opossum, but common brushtail possum, which (in my opinion) is a far prettier animal than the opossum. It was was introduced from its native Australia to NZ in mid-19th century for the fur trade. Now there are estimated 47 million possums in NZ, down from a possible high of 50 to 70 million in the 1980s. They are considered a pest. In Australia, they are a protected native species. Here's one of the companies that sells merino-possum knitwear. Mainly the blend is merino wool and possum fur, but sometimes other materials can also be included in the blend, such as silk.

Your footwear sounds perfect.

3Gnhgirl

Diamantina, thank you for the lead on the new fibers for me to think about, saw the prices and that was in US dollars....my daughter is into Fashion for her job and I will pas this Huge nugget of information to her. Even though she is "up" on the latest trends, I'm pretty sure she won't have heard of that combination.
I did check the current prices of Manuka honey at Trader Joe's, another shocker, same or better than NZ. And if I want to avoid weight of jars, I will look for other items.
Thanks for the "thumbs up" on the footwear, I have the cleanest soles around!
Pretty soon I can watch a 10 day forecast for weather for flying, our departure is getting close and I am so excited.