Thread: New Zealand..what to take.

it sounds flash

i doint know where you are going in NZ but just doint flash your kit about.

I am oh so jealous, I was over there 3 or 4 years ago and had a ball.

Don’t over do it with what you take, it’s just more to lug around while your way from your motor home.

Keep it light and enjoy the sights.

We rushed our trip and tried to jam too much in, in too short a time.

Just enjoy the trip and the people.

Do be careful and don't antagonise the sheep by driving a Landie!

three times your body weight in insect repelant...mostly usefull in the South Island...sand flies back home are very insistent on being in your personal space.

And make sure you visit St Bathans in Otago..great place.

Ray,

Crikey...

1. Buy Local Repellent: When you get to the Westland Region, every tour operator and outdoor adventure store will have locally made sandfly repellent at the checkout counter. Buy it. The repellent from other places in the world does not work as effectively as the local formula. The locals had 100 years to figure out a way to keep sandflies from stealing liters of their blood so you can trust them to concoct an effective solution . If you do not like DEET, good luck. DEET is the main active ingredient and is far more effective than the natural products.
2. Cover Up: It does not get very hot in Fiordland and, if you are hiking, chances are you will be under the canopy. Long pants and sleeves provide effective protection from swarming sandflies.
3. Apply Repellent BEFORE Your Get Out of the Car: Many people park at a trail head, slowly get out of the car, and begin applying Sandfly repellent. You are already too late! The sandflies are trapped in your car and they will feast on you when you return. While the sandflies are colonizing your car, their friends are latching onto your majore arteries as you frantically attempt to apply repellent and kill sandflies simultaneously. To be kind, this is usually ineffective and is a poor start to your hike. Put the repellent on before hand to avoid this cyclical problem.
4. Drive Away: If you are sleeping in your campervan or car you will often park for the night in high sandfly areas. Close your van up as soon as you finish cooking to keep the majority of the sandflies outside. In the morning, try to drive away from the campsite to a location not surrounded by the bush. This should prevent the sandflies from swarming into your van while you re-arrange your belongings for the days drive. Otherwise, the sandflies will feast on your feet as you scramble to get your car onto the road. Getting eaten by sandflies while operating a vehicle leads to dangerous driving.
5. Don’t Complain About Sandflies: Complaining will not attract sandflies but it will not help you make friends either. In the Westland Region, sandflies are a way of life. If you cannot handle them go somewhere else. Your fellow travelers and the locals will have little patience for your complaints.

If you follow all of the above listed advise, you will still get bitten by sandflies. When this occurs, do not scratch the bite. Scratching simply spreads the itch and extends the amount of time it takes the wound to heal. Plus, scratching leads to more scratching and that simply escalates the problem. Instead, apply hydrocortisone cream. This will cut down (but not eliminate) the itching and will also help your skin heal more quickly.

Originally Posted by Rayngie

three times your body weight in insect repelant...mostly usefull in the South Island...sand flies back home are very insistent on being in your personal space,

I don't think I noticed any around Christchurch or Akaroa.

Originally Posted by p38arover

I don't think I noticed any around Christchurch or Akaroa.

wong side of the island,

Oh... did we mention the sandflies?
One of our forgettable memories of the South Island was the sandflies.

Seriously though, we did 3 weeks on South Is. and 3 weeks on North Is. and wished we had more time. Awesome place.

Now back to what to take.
I take one DSLR with one lens (18 - 200 Nikon) and a small pocket unit (in my case Canon G10) when on overseas travel.

I would love to take heaps more gear but just find it is too much hassle to lug around. Might be OK for you though since you have a motorhome.

Edit: Personally I would not carry a laptop if it is only to store photos. Take more cards. If you run out you can always buy more.
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