Bloodsuckers can be a real pain-point during your travels around NZ. And no, I’m not talking about those $20 parking meters at Milford Sound, or the public toilet block in Te Anau that stings you with an entry fee. It’s those tiny specs that float around beautiful places like the Catlins, West Coast, Fiordland, and Golden Bay: dreaded sandflies.

Crazily, entomologists have recorded bite rates of up to 1000-an-hour on New Zealand’s West Coast. 

And I believe it. I remember arriving one afternoon at Kiosk Creek to set up my camper. It took about 30 seconds for a cloud of sandflies to gather and stick to me like a crazy fanclub. The next day, I woke up to swollen, red lumps over my legs that itched 24/7. Let’s just say, these days when I’m in Milford Sound I prefer sheltering in a nice, sealed, room instead…

But, to enjoy 10/10 scenery and those fabulous Fiordland cruises, we all need to brave the outdoors sometime. So, can we do anything about sandflies?

Let’s explore the research on avoiding sandflies and tried-and-tested ways to make your adventure more comfortable.

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Jump to a Section

1. When you get bitten…
   
2. What attracts sandflies?
   
3. How to get rid of sandflies
   
4. My anti-sandfly routine
   
5. Best ways to heal sandfly bites

Bite Biology

What attracts sandflies?

Scientists are still trying to figure it out. Some entomologists think it’s probably our breath (carbon dioxide), scent, or warmth. In other words, things we can’t do much about. But interestingly, sandflies also appear to be more attracted to dark (particularly blue) rather than lighter colours. Also:

• Sandflies are usually most prolific at dawn and dusk, along with warm, overcast days
• They tend to congregate near water and the boundaries of forest clearings
• In my experience, sandflies are usually not a huge problem when you’re enjoying a cruise (e.g. in Doubtful or Milford Sound), although you’ll still get the odd one around. But watch out when you step foot on land!

How do you get rid of sandflies?

The obvious:

• Repellent: make yourself distasteful!
  
• Seal any doors and windows. The holes of fly mesh are usually too large, so you need something finer.
  
• Cover exposed skin – consider a stylish fly veil over your hat.
  
• Move around: sandflies are more likely to find you if you are stationary. In Māori legend, the namu (sandfly) was created to deter people from lingering in the most scenic parts of the country. They’re very affective at that too.

The reasonable:

• Avoid summertime: consider travelling to notorious sandfly hotspots in the cooler months.
  
• Live the nightlife: sandflies can’t see in the dark, but torches/lamps may attract them.
  
• Enjoy bad weather: sandflies are not a fan of the wind and rain.
  
• Some travellers sprinkle white vinegar on their clothes as a repellent.
  
• Avoid sandflies hot spots like running water, forest fringes, & wildlife (e.g. seals & penguins).
  
• Use incense, citronella & eucalyptus candles, or mozzie coils in open areas.

The wacky:

• Banana peel: I haven’t tried this myself. Some recommend rubbing the inside of a banana peel on your hands, legs, and other exposed areas of skin. If this works, please let me know…
  
• Vitamin B: although a lot of websites claim that vitamin B supplementation helps repel mosquitoes, there is actually little evidence to support this.

My Anti-Sandfly Routine

Over the years of braving sandfly territory, I’ve created a low-admin strategy that does the trick for me. It doesn’t 100% guard against bites. I don’t think anything can. But it absolutely helps.

What’s the fastest way to heal sandfly bites?

Been bitten? Welcome to the club. Luckily, there are plenty of ways speed up your recovery.

• Try not to scratch.
  
• Try antihistamine tablets!
  
• Cover bites with cooling aloe vera gel.
  
• Tea tree: a natural anti-bacterial that can speed up the healing process. If you are using pure tea tree oil, make sure you dilute it with water or a carrier oil before applying (1-2 drops per cup of water/carrier oil). Applying tea tree oil undiluted can burn your skin.
  
• Still worried? See a doctor for acute reactions.

Final Thoughts

And there you go! Keep these tips in mind before you plan your next Milford getaway. And if you’re in sandfly territory this very moment, I hope they provide some relief. It’s true that New Zealand is a beautiful country… a country with no real land-based deadly predators (unlike our Aussie cousins). Nobody’s complaining about that. But sandflies might be the next closest thing…

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