Beat The Buzz
Banish the bugs these holidays
No Kiwi summer is complete without a stint in the Great Outdoors. Camping, glamping, caravanning or slumber under the stars – whatever your pitch – the New Zealand countryside is one worth exploring. However, before running barefoot through the meadows and channelling Mother Nature, bracing for the bugs and preparing our packs with natures healthcare essentials, is a must for peace-of-mind and body.
Keeping up with the crawlies
New Zealand may be the Land of Milk and Honey but we’re also prime real estate for bugs and insects – and they don’t holiday through summertime. According to the Ministry of Health, we’re home to 19 species of sandfly – of which only three bite humans, and 12 types of mosquito – who are mostly active around dawn, late afternoon and dusk.
Whilst DEET – diethyltoluamide – is common ingredient found in many commercial insect repellents, it’s not the only holidaying bug solution. Especially as higher concentrations of DEET can irritate and, in rare cases, cause poisoning.
Fortunately, there are plenty of other bug-repelling options that are readily available, affordable – or try making your own – and potentially safer for those with sensitive skin or allergies.
Splash on the essentials
There are many different essential oils with bug-repelling properties that offer a natural alternative to the heavy chemicals in traditional bug sprays. Try mixing 10 – 20 drops of essential oil with half a cup of a carrier oil – such as almond, apricot kernel or witch hazel – and half a cup of water. The best oils to fend of the bugs include: lavender, thyme, citronella, tea tree, eucalyptus, mint, basil, rosemary and lemongrass.
“Remember, before spraying essential oils onto your skin try patch testing first, or you may want to spray it directly onto clothes instead,” advises Reuben Armstrong of Torpedo7 in Auckland.
The outdoor adventure company sell natural-based Goodbye Sandfly which is packed with essential oils and absorbs easily into the skin.
“It’s one of New Zealand’s top sellers because it soothes as well as repels,” he says. “So, it’s ideal to keep in the first-aid kit as a natural healing concoction too.”
Slap on and switch on
Perfect for kids – and saves time spraying them down – bug-repelling bands are a top choice for those on the go. Wear them on your wrist, ankle – or attach to belt or backpack – these bands pack a punch in repelling pests and won’t irritate skin.
Whilst mosquito coils and citronella candles are both effective means of deterring the midges, leaving a candle burning or a coil smouldering close to camp isn’t always a practical option with people popping in and out of tents. Mosquito repellent lanterns – with inbuilt zappers – are ideal to have indoors or hanging outside the tent, they attract the bugs with their light and then snag them! Summer outdoors doesn’t mean a goodbye to all things digital, there is a great range of portable repelling devices on the market – such as Thermacell which provides over 20 metres of bug protection.
To the rescue
For those times that the bugs do bite – or the fish hook accidentally finds a foot or finger – it’s important to be first-aid prepared. However, with holiday packing space at an all-time premium, it can be tough knowing what to include and what to keep in the cupboard.
“A Kiwi holiday venture can include everything from beach going, to bush trekking to game fishing,” says Jude Randell owner of the Bay of Plenty’s popular Bethlehem Health Shop. “Choosing simple but multipurpose remedies and storing them in a secure lunchbox that’s kept in the car or camp shelf is a must.”
Jude’s go-tos for the whole family include: aloe vera gel – for sunburn inflammation, cooling and healing; arnica cream – anti-inflammatory, ideal for sprains and bruises; ginger (capsules or crystallised) – relieves digestive upsets and motion sickness; chamomile tea – with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties it is gentle enough for children, and soothes skin irritation when applied topically.
Bring on the bees! Manuka honey is also a great first-aid must-have – and let’s not forget the toast too! Its exceptionally high antibacterial properties are renowned for speeding up the healing process and reducing infection when applied to burns, scrapes and sores.