How to Get Rid of Sandfly Bites Quickly
7 Ways to Stop Sandfly Bites
How to Not Get Bitten by Sandflies in New Zealand
The best way to avoid the pesky sandflies is to stay indoors for the length of the New Zealand summer. But we all know that this is not going to happen. New Zealand is an outdoorsy country after all! So what else can you do to stop sandfly bites?
Sandflies are about the same problem in New Zealand than mosquitoes anywhere else. Some people get bitten like crazy, while the lucky ones are just sitting next to them laughing. Some people have allergic reactions to it, while some have a couple of small bites that barely itch. But don't worry, sand flies are not everywhere. They tend to hang out near the rivers, lakes and the beaches along the West Coast of the South Island (with a few stragglers elsewhere).
In this article, we will give you a few ideas on how to avoid getting bitten by sandflies but beforehand, let us give you the best tip of the day. If you get bitten by sandflies and rub a dry bar of soap on it for about 2 minutes to ease the itch.
Read our series of Life Hacks to Make Travelling in New Zealand Easier for more good stuff like that.
1. Pray for Wind and Rain
Sandflies cannot handle wind. It simply locks them where they are and they are unable to take off. So pick a windy day or a windy spot by the river and you will be much less annoyed by the flying insects.
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2. Keep Moving
An early Maori legend says that sandflies were created to punish laziness and it is easy to see where the legend comes from. Sandflies tend to go crazy on people that just sit there and wait. However, keen hikers that are constantly moving or beach-goers that are having fun in and around the water seem to be much less attractive. So keep active and stay sandfly free!
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3. Eat Marmite
Ok, let's face it, only a few can handle the smell of marmite, let alone its taste. However, with marmite being rich in vitamin B, it is proven to be an excellent insect repellent after only a few days of eating it. Our tip is to mix a bit of marmite with a huge spoon of jam to dilute the taste.
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4. Vitamin B Tablets
So you've tried Marmite and told yourself that it was not worth it? We get it, you have to be a tough Kiwi to like Marmite… Your alternative is vitamin B tablets. This will help you raise your vitamin B intake almost instantly and hopefully keep the sandflies away from you.
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5. Use Insect Repellent
There are a ton of insect repellents on the market, from the hardcore chemical ones that will kill you before it kills the sandflies to the one that smells like a candle but is not effective at all. Your best bet is to wait to be in New Zealand and get an insect repellent in one of our local pharmacies. You will find that the insect repellent sold here work much better on sand flies than your European or North American one.
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6. Wear Long Sleeves
That's a bit of an obvious one but if you keep your skin covered, the sandflies cant come and bite it. So set aside a few light long sleeve layers when packing for your gap year in New Zealand so you have something to wear in summer when the sandflies are out.
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7. Travel in the Shoulder and Off-season
Sandflies tend to be out only in summer. It is pretty rare to find sand flies outside of October to March. So that's just another great reason to travel in the shoulder and off-season in New Zealand. You'll have a great time in New Zealand, plus you'll have a bite-free trip!
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Author
Robin C.
This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before calling New Zealand home. He has now spent over a decade in the New Zealand tourism industry, clocking in more than 600 activities across the country. He is passionate about sharing those experiences and advice on NZ Pocket Guide and its YouTube channel. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides.
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How to Get Rid of Sandfly Bites Quickly
Source: https://nzpocketguide.com/7-ways-stop-sandfly-bites/