We will be in Te Anau for 1 night, Nov 1, then taking an overnight cruise on Milford Sound the next day. I am EXTREMELY sensitive to chemicals (body lotion, sun screens, soap etc) and am afraid I will break out if I use a DEET product. I can wear long pants and socks (maybe gloves). Will my face be protected from the sand flies if I put the repellent on my clothes?

I have visions that my face will be attacked and I will spend the remainder of the trip looking like I have measles.

How vicious are these insects? Please help. Thanks

Sandflies are nasty, vicious little creatures. (Just take a look at the replica in the building where the cruise boats dock.) However, if you wear long pants, socks and a long sleeved shirt, you should be OK. I hiked and slept two nights out on the Hollyford Track one January and my arms and legs were covered with bites even though I was wearing the strongest insect repellent you could buy in Te Anau. BUT, I did not get bitten at all on my face.

Sandfly protection in New Zealand
Sandflies – in wetter areas of New Zealand sandflies can be pests, but are effectively controlled by use of an insect repellent.
The West Coast of the South Island and the Fiordland area has sandflies that will “eat you alive”. These New Zealand tiny sandflies are not generally lethal but they are very annoying.
You must be prepared with protection or the little flies will drive you mad.

There are some simple things you can do to avoid the tiny itchy bites.
1. Cover your skin; Cover your arms and legs with long sleeve garments
2. Wear a hat; Always wear a hat (sandflies don’t really go for your face)
3. Cover yourself in Botanica; this is the best Sandfly repellent as it has natural ingredients and does not contain the Deet chemical.
4. Put Botanica on your hat; Cover your hat in Botanica
5. Take your vitamin B; Sandflies don’t like vitamin B
6. Eat Marmite or Vegemite; Marmite and Vegemite the table spreads contain vitamin B. Some of this on your morning toast might also help. You would have to eat a lot of this to make it your only form of defence
7. Avoid wearing dark colours; Sandflies go for dark colours


Botaniac has natural products and is available at health food stores and some Pharmacies (drug stores). Botanic is available in a spray on or roll on and with sunscreen. It is a white bottle with a blue lid. Botaniac smells nice.

http://www.newzealandatoz.com/nationalparks.php

Sandflies are definitely pesky buggers.

I'm not a fan of insect repellent, but have had to use it a few times in NZ to combat the sandflies. I've found that if I keep moving, I get fewer bites. I've also found that sandflies like my husband alot more than me. In six trips to the SI, I've only been bitten a few times and never on the face (however, we tend to travel outside the summer months, which is a big factor).

Sandflies are found near sand and at the edges of the forests. We've never had a problem with them while on the water, just while near the water's edge.

According to the following site, you can prevent bites by consuming lots of Vitamin B1 and avoiding too much fruit, especially bananas.

http://www.gatewaytonz.co.nz/FAQanswers.asp?answer=28

How about a headnet? They worked for us at Uluru.

Hi Judy,

sandflies are EVIL.

Equally evil is Glenn's recommendation to protect yourself by eating Vegemite or Marmite -- Glenn...you must be RAISED on that stuff...

we Americans (I have yet to meet one, but I'm sure someone will post telling me I'm wrong) cannot do that, even to avoid the dreaded sandflies! That's too much to ask!

Judy, there are these new "coils" that you can buy at Bed Bath and Beyond - look stylish and not reek of Deet! Now, do they work? Another travel agent I was on a trip with in the Cooks swore by them; I bought some but haven't put them to the test yet - coming up shortly!

They're resemble those places where you check in and get a rubbery thingie for around your wrist with your room or pool key on?

You might want to check them out prior to the trip and see if you have a reaction. Sorry I can't give first hand info,but I'm trying them out myself shortly!

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie & Kiwi Specialist

Melodie -

I hear ya on the Vegemite and Marmite -definitely an acquired taste! Maybe Judy should try spreading the stuff on her skin to repel the sandflies instead???

I am trying desparately to resist the urge to say something snide about vegemite, so I'll just say I'll take my Vit b by pill, thank you.
I don't recall the flies being a problem once you are out on the water, like melnQ8 says. The walk from the parking lot over to the terminal at Milford was along water's edge and through a marshy area with a lot of brackish water. Heaven for the little critters. The weather was cold so we definately had long sleeves, pants, hats, etc. Don't remember having a problem coming at my face. My wife is very sensitive also, and won't put DEET on, she also had no sand fly problem.
We did use the net at Uluru, but those flies are different, a little bigger, and went after the moisture in the eyes or sweat on your face and forehead. They live in the desert and the poor little things are thirsty.

Years ago we began consuming Vit B several weeks prior to our trip. We swear by it as an effective deterrent to mosquitos, flies, etc. But, I think doesn't work for everyone.
Good luck.

Couldn't help but see your query and sympathize as I am headed to NZ in December and am prone to bug bites and sensitive to DEET.

Will I be dealing with sandflies through the entire West Coast (Wanaka, Hotika, Fox) or just Fiordland? And do they stick to the trails/coast or is this an issue even in the towns (Te Anau)? Educate me.

Anywhere on the west coast on the beaches and around streams or wet areas. All the way from Karamea to Bluecliffs Beach. Generally when you are east of the Southern Alps they are not as much of an issue. I react strongly to the nasty creatures, to the point where I have to stock up on antihistamine creams and pills, as well as DEET. They do swarm around your face a bit but not anything like they way they want to go for your ankles. Do not ever make the mistake of taking your socks off to wring the water out. We did see some tourists wearing nets but I don't know if they will keep them away because they are so tiny.

redpen -

Walking tracks aren't usually a problem unless there's sand and/or wet soggy spots. Tracks are actually a good place to seek refuge, but you'll definitely encounter beaches along coastal tracks. Suggest you run for cover when you do.

I've personally never had a problem with sandflies IN town, with the exception of a visit to Stewart Island, where the monsters hung out at the food store, no doubt attracted by the surrounding sand.

Thanks to everyone for your ideas but I must admit that I am now more anxious about the upcoming exposure to these insects. I will pack a tube of Cortaid to help with itching if I am attacked. If there is a mosquito, it will always bite me so I know I will be a sure target for sand flies also.

I will go to Bed Bath and Beyond today to see if I can find the coils Melody mentioned.

Should I purchase a bottle of repellent at the pharmacy Te Anau in addition to the 95% DEET I already have?

The DEET works just fine. I have also read that you really don't need the 100% version but it definitely works.

Any tracks that are in the upper elevations, alpine and subalpine, were alright, but as soon as you are in the forest cover with soggy mud bits they are there. I think everyone gets bitten, it's just that some people react more strongly to the bites. I brought some Benadryl tabs as well as a stronger antihistamine cream and was glad that I had.

We'll be in Te Anu in April...will we have to worry about sand flies then? Or are they purely a summer problem?

Idaho -

I suspect sandflies can be a problem year round, but personally, it's not been that big a deal for us.

We visited the SI in April last year and we only encountered sandflies on Stewart Island and in the carpark of the Dart Track near Glenorchy. Once we got out of the carpark, we had no sandfly issues until we reached a small beach. Otherwise, our two week SI trip was pretty much sandfly free.

We've never encountered sandflies in our five visits to the glaciers regardless of the time of year, and in our two visits to Milford Sound at different times of year, we were swarmed both times - particuarly on the walk from the carpark to the boat and while waiting to board the boat. Once on the boat, we had no problems, but we were so bundled up against the cold, that we wouldn't have noticed anyway.

Judy - Don't let the sandflies discourage you - yes, they are a problem in SOME areas, but they certainly won't ruin your trip. Take the precautions previously mentioned, (wear thick socks too) and you'll be fine.

Judy: Suggestion. I don't think this is a huge problem except around marshy areas and wet forests. When you get to Te Anau, go to the well stocked pharmacy and ask what chemicals to arm thyself with. They were very helpful to me on a minor health issue. The pharmacist came out from behind the counter and really helped me. Almost like a doctor. They can probably help you more than we can. Like above though, don't despair. They're not universally found.

Forewarned is forearmed.

Pharmacists in NZ can indeed sell certain "pharmacy medicines" that are prescription-only in the US. Zyrtec or Allegra are suggested for bug bite itching, but at a fairly high dosage. If you are sensitive to bug bites and chemicals I think it is best to bring something that you have tried before. Since I react so strongly to the bites, I asked my own pharmacist before I left.

Captain Cook got it right: "The most mischievous animal here is the small, black sandfly which are exceedingly numerous and are so troublesome that they exceed everything of the kind I ever met with, wherever they light they cause swelling and such an intolerable itching that it is not possible to refrain from scratching and at last ends in ulcers like the small pox."

Well, living in North Queensland where we're supposed to breed every bug and dangerous creature known to humanity (its a wonder our children survive), I still have never encountered the ferocity of the "sandflies" around Lake Manapouri, SI, NZ in November. Buzzing and face biting yes. But would a Kiwi here enlighten me, are they really sandflies? These things were a hell of a lot bigger than the miniscule little things we call sandflies, which do pack a punch, they were more like biting flies?

Thanks for the encouragement but I must admit that I am dreading the walk from the car park to the Milford boat terminal. According to the extended weather forecast, the high might be in the 40s so I will definitely be covered up. I could even wear the hood on my parka if that would help. I don't understand why someone suggested a hat.?? I cannot take any oral medication (even vitamins) because I end up with severe insomnia but I will take along an topical antihistamine--and stop by the pharmacy in Te Anau to be extra prepared.

Judy: I applaud your daring-do. In NZ they might say, good on ya, mate. They have a wonderful go-for-it attitude about all things. I love it.

Optimism: If it's cold wet and rainy at Milford, that will tend to suppress the little devils. You might then enjoy the short little walk. Lots of bird life to enjoy. Also, it will put the waterfalls in motion. I think I recall there are only two permanent waterfalls, so rainy weather brings the splendor of many falls. You will love it.
Have fun!