Los flebótomos son más intensos alrededor de las orillas de agua húmedas y protegidas, especialmente en la costa oeste y en Fiordland. Son más irritantes que una razón para evitar la región, pero los hábitos de campamentos pequeños marcan una gran diferencia.
Elige el tono con cuidado
El aire en movimiento y la distancia del agua estancada pueden reducir la actividad. Mantén las puertas y mamparas cerradas antes de descargar, porque una autocaravana abierta se convierte en una trampa para el resto de la noche.
Use mangas largas, calcetines y pantalones al amanecer y al anochecer. Aplique un repelente eficaz según su etiqueta y vuelva a aplicarlo después de nadar o de una lluvia intensa.
Gestionar el interior
Repare los agujeros de las pantallas antes de llegar a campamentos remotos y evite las luces interiores brillantes con las puertas abiertas. Cocine afuera solo cuando las condiciones lo permitan, luego muévalo adentro rápidamente.
No rocíe insecticida alrededor de alimentos, niños o espacios para dormir sin ventilación. Utilice productos sólo cuando sus instrucciones lo permitan.
Trate las picaduras y observe las reacciones.
Lave las picaduras, evite rascarse y utilice un alivio común para la picazón cuando sea adecuado. Busque atención médica si presenta signos de infección o una reacción alérgica grave.
La presión de los flebótomos cambia con el viento, la temperatura y las precipitaciones. Un parque de vacaciones cercano y expuesto puede ser una alternativa sensata a un hermoso pero tranquilo campamento junto al río.
Where and when they are worst
Sandflies concentrate on the West Coast, throughout Fiordland, around the Catlins and in damp bush near water anywhere in the country. They are worst at dawn and dusk, in still conditions and close to rivers and coast, and they largely disappear in wind, cold and full sun.
The transition can be abrupt. The eastern side of the Haast Pass is close to sandfly-free and the western descent is not, so have repellent accessible in the cab rather than packed away before you cross.
What actually works
Repellents containing DEET or picaridin are the effective options, applied to skin before you leave the vehicle rather than after the first bites. Reapply after swimming or sweating, and cover ankles, wrists and the back of the neck, which is where most bites land.
Physical barriers work better than chemistry. Long sleeves, long trousers and socks in the evening remove most of the problem, and a head net is not an overreaction on the Milford road in summer.
Managing the tent and the vehicle
Check the insect mesh for holes before you travel, because a single tear makes the tent useless against them. Enter and exit quickly, and get in the habit of zipping fully rather than most of the way.
Sandflies follow you into a van and stay. Closing up before dusk rather than after it, and killing the few that got in before you settle, saves a long night. A small battery fan disrupts their flight and helps more than it sounds.
Treating the bites
The reaction is delayed and the itch peaks a day or two later, often lasting a week. Antihistamine cream or tablets help, as does not scratching, which is easier said than done and is what turns a bite into an infected sore.
Some people react far more strongly than others, and reactions can build over a trip rather than settle. Carry treatment with you rather than planning to buy it, because the places where you need it are the places with no pharmacy.
Planning a trip around them
On the West Coast and in Fiordland, choose sites with some exposure to breeze rather than tucked into sheltered bush beside a river. The most beautiful sheltered spot is reliably the worst one, and a slightly windier pitch makes for a far better evening.
Time your outdoor tasks. Setting up camp, cooking and eating are all much easier in the middle of the day or in wind than at dusk, so arriving early is worth more here than almost anywhere else in the country.
Maori tradition holds that Hine-nui-te-po released the namu at Milford to stop people lingering and becoming too enchanted by the place. Having spent an evening there without repellent, the story is hard to argue with.
What does not work
Citronella candles, ultrasonic devices and wristbands are all widely sold and none of them meaningfully reduce bites. Neither does eating garlic or taking vitamin B, despite how often both are recommended.
Spend the money on a proper repellent and long sleeves instead. The things that work are unglamorous and reliable, and the things that do not are the ones sold at the campground shop.
Lugares a lo largo del camino
Llévalo a la carretera
Guarda las paradas. Planifica todo el viaje.
Cree una ruta ordenada a partir de lugares guardados, calcule la distancia y mantenga adjuntas fechas, notas y tareas pendientes.