Thread: Sandflies and Fly Camping

Hey guys,

I just watched the latest video from the South Island Rifle Walkers and got inspired to consider fly camping. However. I love my tent seeing I don't get completely thrashed by sandflies. Is the solution to not getting eaten just bug spray or location, time of year, ect...?

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Sandflies aren't a problem . They take day shift. Mozzies take night shift.....

I find if you are tops hunting they aren’t too bad. Down in the valleys is where they are a problem. Pretty sure part of their life cycle needs running water.

Bro im in karamea, the sandflies will either eat you in 60mins or on a bad day carry you away...

Detol mixed with baby oil or a spray called bushmans friend really is your friend.

They wont bite you while your wet but if you wear dark colours they will swarm to you.

When i first got here (approx 3 yrs ago) a local took off his black shirt up the Umere by the river threw it on the ground and the sandflies swarmed on it but not him.

Westcoast isnt the spot for a hammock or not this time of year

Stay away from rivers, streams you should be ok.

True story... camped a night up the Heaphy 30m from river, sandflies found a way into a big tent we had set up, spent the night in full gear, fingerless gloves and camo face masks trying to hide from sandflies and mozzies..

This year has been bad for sandflies, they dont like the wind

Originally Posted by Vault

Stay away from rivers, streams you should be ok.

True story... camped a night up the Heaphy 30m from river, sandflies found a way into a big tent we had set up, spent the night in full gear, fingerless gloves and camo face masks trying to hide from sandflies and mozzies..

This year has been bad for sandflies, they dont like the wind

HaHa been there up mohikanui in 86 no tent but I had balaclava gloves etc and sleeping bag mate had no balaclava so pulled a norseswear sock over his head it was a hot sweaty night middle of feb big mozzies up behind seddonville . WE buried him in 2018 with a pair of socks in case he went back there .

Originally Posted by Vault

Bro im in karamea, the sandflies will either eat you in 60mins or on a bad day carry you away...

Detol mixed with baby oil or a spray called bushmans friend really is your friend.

They wont bite you while your wet but if you wear dark colours they will swarm to you.

When i first got here (approx 3 yrs ago) a local took off his black shirt up the Umere by the river threw it on the ground and the sandflies swarmed on it but not him.

Westcoast isnt the spot for a hammock or not this time of year

Mate Karamea does seem like paradise except for the bugs. Thanks for confirming that. Probably keeps the riff raff away, eh? So if you can't where dark colours do you go light camo?

I'll have a look at the bushmans friend. Some of those bug sprays are pretty nasty. Also can the deer smell the bug repellant?

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bushmans friend has deet in it...it eats plastic,delaminates sunglasses frames etc..but keeps bugs away.
a can of fly spray fixes the inside tent issue..sure you have to carry it..but you sleep unmolested.
I normally do not sleep with hood of sleeping bag done up..but when sandflies are about its done up tighter than a nuns nasty,,,havent noticed any come in the small opening..might be the farts and bad breath going out keeps them at bay.
my bivy bag closes completely leaving mesh panel for ventilation....

Originally Posted by Rn-85

Mate Karamea does seem like paradise except for the bugs. Thanks for confirming that. Probably keeps the riff raff away, eh? So if you can't where dark colours do you go light camo?

I'll have a look at the bushmans friend. Some of those bug sprays are pretty nasty. Also can the deer smell the bug repellant?

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I just wear my usual camo, hunters element, i dont use any sprays either i dont trust any of that stuff.

If near a river or stream i splash water on my face often if biters are out in force. Often a light desert tan coloured shirt seems to make you mostly invisible but i worry about looking like a deer so back to camo jacket only cause its got all my pockets that i need.

If away from main water sources things arent to bad especially if elevated, other than that keep moving.

Sometimes they just annoying but tolerable others you start thinking of any possible way to repel them..

End of the day keep the wind in your face best you can and scent shouldnt be a worry.

Pretty much always have a beanie, fingerless gloves with you.

Ive met a few locals who dont seem to notice the biters at all but they're typical coasters, hairy buggars with beards and leather skin.

I guess its just part of the adventure but as micky duck said flyspray in ya tent would be magic

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

bushmans friend has deet in it...it eats plastic,delaminates sunglasses frames etc..but keeps bugs away.
a can of fly spray fixes the inside tent issue..sure you have to carry it..but you sleep unmolested.
I normally do not sleep with hood of sleeping bag done up..but when sandflies are about its done up tighter than a nuns nasty,,,havent noticed any come in the small opening..might be the farts and bad breath going out keeps them at bay.
my bivy bag closes completely leaving mesh panel for ventilation....

As a few here have seen i usually just gather some brush as a matteress and sleep on that, no sleeping bag.( blue mountains)

If cold, sleep early then exercise or walk in cold early morning hours.

My first night out up the Heaphy turned out to be the coldest night in years but minimal biters, next night i thought yep i'll take a spot in the tent on a lilo but biters also thought it be warmer in there, every buggar was farting & spraying bug repellant and you just couldnt breathe, 5mins later next wave of biters appear.

Im thinking i need a mesh face mask.for sleeping

Originally Posted by Vault

As a few here have seen i usually just gather some brush as a matteress and sleep on that, no sleeping bag.( blue mountains)

If cold, sleep early then exercise or walk in cold early morning hours.

My first night out up the Heaphy turned out to be the coldest night in years but minimal biters, next night i thought yep i'll take a spot in the tent on a lilo but biters also thought it be warmer in there, every buggar was farting & spraying bug repellant and you just couldnt breathe, 5mins later next wave of biters appear.

Im thinking i need a mesh face mask.for sleeping

Its the special herbs and spices that keep them away up karamea way for the locals . The bugs are even worse down bruce bay or lake paringa > If using det products just apply to your hat brim, shirt collar and sleave cuffs , alot safer to use .

Originally Posted by m101a1

HaHa been there up mohikanui in 86 no tent but I had balaclava gloves etc and sleeping bag mate had no balaclava so pulled a norseswear sock over his head it was a hot sweaty night middle of feb big mozzies up behind seddonville . WE buried him in 2018 with a pair of socks in case he went back there .

First up.. Sorry for the loss of your friend..

Good to have amusing memories like that though.

My mates been offering to fly me up the mokihinui on the river flats there near the hut for chance of a deer as its bit remote but deer still in the area and first thing i though of was biters but hopefully i be on the same side of the river as the hut..

Im not a fan of those mozzies either.

Everyone talks of how beautiful west coast is, scenic,amazing bush, rivers, hunting, fishing...

No one mentions the 100 million.vampires per square kilometer lol

Originally Posted by Vault

First up.. Sorry for the loss of your friend..

Good to have amusing memories like that though.

My mates been offering to fly me up the mokihinui on the river flats there near the hut for chance of a deer as its bit remote but deer still in the area and first thing i though of was biters but hopefully i be on the same side of the river as the hut..

Im not a fan of those mozzies either.

Everyone talks of how beautiful west coast is, scenic,amazing bush, rivers, hunting, fishing...

No one mentions the 100 million.vampires per square kilometer lol

Have a look up the blue duck just south of te namu cross creek to left about 1 km in follow old road parallel to little wanganui some open bush in there used tobe a lot of pigs and a few deer traps easy to cross over to little wanga by compass past scobies clearing which now would be 100 ft high bush good luck

Always carry a metre Sq piece of old curtain net, she's always replacing, them put over face for sleeping.

Originally Posted by m101a1

Have a look up the blue duck just south of te namu cross creek to left about 1 km in follow old road parallel to little wanganui some open bush in there used tobe a lot of pigs and a few deer traps easy to cross over to little wanga by compass past scobies clearing which now would be 100 ft high bush good luck

I know the spot, up near the pistol club.

I was looking for a land owner russel anderson to ask for permission to have a look right out the back, went straight whe i should have turned, anyway after two crazy creek crossings i found a remote fenced area with huge elk in it