Best sandfliy repellent?

[Watertank]

I'm about to head off to New Zealand to tramp in the South Island. Last time I was there I was bitten to within an inch of my life by sandflies. On my way home I bought some Skin Technology 25% Picardin insect repellent. I am wondering whether this is the best repellent against sandflies or should I go for the DEET solution? I would prefer to go with the pinardin option but the sandflies were soooo bad I will try anything this time.
thanks

[Strider]

Google revealed this

http://www.goodbyesandfly.co.nz/

[RonK]

Never tried picardin but DEET works.
I don't like repellants and prefer to stay covered up if practicable.
But I do suggest you take some Paraderm Plus in your first aid kit. It's an antiseptic cream which contains an anesthetic, and it's great for relieving the maddening itch when you do get bitten.

[icefest]

I recall reading a journal article that stated that DEET and (p)icaridin are equally powerful insect repellents.
The WHO seems to prefer it.

[stry]

Bushmans.

I'm always concerned about what these things might do to my sleeping bag (and my body), but so far no problems.

[icefest]

Bushmans.
I'm always concerned about what these things might do to my sleeping bag

Dissolves some plastics (like rayon and spandex).

Not hugely dangerous to humans though there is some risk of some allergies and seizures with high doses.

[whynotwalk]

Google revealed this

http://www.goodbyesandfly.co.nz/

We used this on our last trip to the South Island. Quite effective, smell is almost pleasant, and there's none of the nastiness of DEET. But the best thing you can do is cover up as much as possible; wear lighter-coloured clothing; and don't stay still for too long. Your most susceptible spots are usually your wrists, ankles and ears. One final tip: don't scratch any bites!! If your bites get infected (from bacteria already on your skin, and spread into the bite by scratching), they can last for weeks.

Enjoy NZ!

cheers

Peter

[wayno]

Dimp used to be the repellent of choice, its not made any more, it came down to the toluene content that repelled them, but that's also what disolves a lot of plastics, and that's what was in deet as well, and its not healthy for your skin.
I just cover up if they are that bad or do tramps that are higher up. cant remember the last time I used repellent that much, a lot of the huts that have problems have mesh windows on them. sandflies tend to keep low to the ground and go after the ankles and legs mainly and they don't live at altitude, once you're up to a thousand metres they aren't a problem. and sandflies sleep at night.
just go with whatever is in the local shops close to where you're tramping that the pharmacist or outdoor shops recommend if you still want to use it.
unlike mozzies, sandflies are a lot easier to kill once they've landed on you. pack some ointment to soothe any bites.
and if you ever go to okarito, I give them the record for having the biggest sandflies with by far the most painful bite..

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

DEET works on sandflies but is *&%$#! awful stuff. A lot NZ locals I've spoken to swear by the natural oil-based stuff (which I assume is akin to the "goodbye sandfly" stuff mentioned above), although some have said it isn't very effective.

[Watertank]

Thanks for the replies, I will venture into the woods and the hills with the picardin and also take some of the natural stuff, fingers crossed, and yes it will take some cream in case of bites.

[Gadgetgeek]

I've had good luck with vics vaporub on the bites BEFORE they are scratched. when I've applied it, the little red spots went away after a couple hours. the ones that had been scratched still made me insane for days.

[north-north-west]

Ice is the best afterbite treatment.

[Nuts]

A local at Poona on the Fraser Coast suggested urinating on yourself. Yeah, right, you first! When we reached the island another local insisted beer helped, 'if not' he said, 'keep drinking' lol. I eventually covered up to go fishing in the evenings, including gloves. Windy weather seems to calm them.

[walkon]

Mum makes a home brew for the Sandflies in Sth Gippsland. It's mainly baby oil, a tad of detol and tea tree oil. Works a treat. I can get the exact measurements of you like, we have used it for years and you have no problems with deet and the like.

[neilmny]

I'd like to see the recipe thanks Walkon.

[RonK]

A local at Poona on the Fraser Coast suggested urinating on yourself. Yeah, right, you first! When we reached the island another local insisted beer helped, 'if not' he said, 'keep drinking' lol. I eventually covered up to go fishing in the evenings, including gloves. Windy weather seems to calm them.

Hehe - well I'm familiar with Poona sandflies, and I can tell you those tiny have nothing on NZ sandflies.

[Watertank]

Thanks for all the replies - I'm now in NZ - and yes despite my efforts I've been bitten! Only a few bites but they are horrible.. Lucky the beauty of the Kepler track makes it worthwhile... I'm using Telfast and creams to reduce the pain... I must be tasty to sand flies - my partner who didn't use deterrent is unscathed .

[whitefang]

I was there a few weeks ago. The sandflies at Iris Burn were horrible! Though I still managed to get bit less there than I did at Oturere Hut on the Tongariro Northern Circuit.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Though I still managed to get bit less there than I did at Oturere Hut on the Tongariro Northern Circuit.

Didn't know they had sandflies up there, but might be wrong (although it was pretty cold when I was there so they might not have been around)? Definitely agree re Iris Burn though... they're shocking there.

[skog]

Bushmans for me. I have tried a few other varieties but always go back to bushmans

[Watertank]

Yes it was Iris Burn sand flies that got me.

[whitefang]

I didn't realise theu were up there either, but they got me good. It was real warm and sunny and the hut is quite close to a stream.

[Isis]

Dose up on Vitamin B, Vegimite. Before and during trip

[wayno]

Dose up on Vitamin B, Vegimite. Before and during trip

I know people who've tried that, didnt work, its hard enough getting the insect repellent to put them off. leave a gap anywhere and they'll still get you...

[dagsands]

Realise op has already completed trip - but for what it's worth, good old tropical strength aerogard roll on worked for us. If we were a bit slow (I.e. After a swim) just popped stingose straight on. Ate vegemite every day (not on purpose for sandflies - it's just something I do!)
Feel sorry for people who have allergic reactions
Hope you enjoyed your trip regardless!!

[sim1oz]

The sandflies were ferocious at Iris Burn but I was ready and protected. They got me at Motorau after swimming as I didn't cover up fast enough. They also got me when paddling on Doubtful Sound - I was completely unprepared for them then and couldn't swat them away fast enough without tipping over. We didn't find the Goodbye Sandfly stuff very effective, but I suspect it's a mix of an individual's body chemistry and the repellant used. Next time I'll use the Picardin on exposed areas. Unfortunately, I must have scratched plenty of the bites in my sleep and they are still burning and itching three weeks later.

[wayno]

i wouldnt consider the sandflies on the kepler to be much of a problem at all compared to further west, where if you sit still in the open, you're history, some places it's like being stung.......

[NathanaelB]

Nothing saved me. I was drained of every last drop of blood. The West Coast sandflies (Austrosimulium ungulatum) are worse, they leave me with tiny fluid-filled blisters a few days later which take a week to fade. Horrible.

[sim1oz]

Thanks, Wayno, I've made a note never to go further west... (Does that include the Dusky track? It looked rather fun when we drove over Wilmot Pass)

[wayno]

Thanks, Wayno, I've made a note never to go further west... (Does that include the Dusky track? It looked rather fun when we drove over Wilmot Pass)

the dusky is a very hard track and the sandflies are in large numbers.