Bimini Babe 0 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Hi folks, just back from a trip to Fiordland (by car, although with kayaks, so not entirely off-the-water) and am absolutely stunned stupid by the beauty of the place. Obviously I'm now thinking I HAVE to take the boat there, which will mean a trip from the BOI, maybe next summer when we get back from Fiji, etc. Anyone got any experience of sailing in Fiordland and/or round NZ? Would be keen to circumnavigate NZ and do some decent exploring around Fiordland, but something tells me it might not be a complete piece of piss, despite what my mother seems to think... So, any advice? Best places to stop on the way round? Best times to go/avoid? Any good reference material I should consult?? Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 go "do" patagonia, there's a coupla thousand miles of similar only accessible by boat Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 There is no other scenery in Nz quite like Fiordland. Stunning place. Can be a tough one to get to, but that is what makes up part of it's beauty and the fact that hardly no one else is around. Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 spent 3 weeks down there a few years ago on a boat. Just an awesome place. definately keen to go back. Fishing was rediculous. I recall 5 days without seeing another boat or person, in early jan, going somewhere different each night. And the first people we saw gave us half a dozern cray, in exchage for a loaf of bread. on the downside, the water was bloody cold, the sandlflies drove you down below late afternoon and it rains a lot. Some advice frmo me - don't run out of deisel half way down the west coats of the south island in no wind.... Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini Babe 0 Posted December 20, 2011 Author Share Posted December 20, 2011 Some advice frmo me - don't run out of deisel half way down the west coats of the south island in no wind.... Thanks, that's a good 'un. Yeah the sandflies are something else - I read Captain Cook's log re. Fiordland - sounds like he couldn't handle them either. The rain gets only a cursory mention, after the sandflies. The 40% DEET stuff I use seems to keep them more-or-less at bay though. But probably wouldn't want to use it all day, every day for tooo long. It did strip the 2-pot epoxy in my V-berth after I left the tub upside down overnight... Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 we used a combo of baby oil and dettol I think for insect repellant. worked pretty well, gave us nice smooth skin too... Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 20, 2011 Share Posted December 20, 2011 Avon Skin so Soft Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 You need to apply used engine oil to keep those Fiordland sandflies off ya. You can get a heads up as to if you are a target if you listen to the local Airtraffic controll. Those Sandflies are so big, they have to ask for permission to land first. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Drink a tablespoon of kerosene before going ashore (no sh#t, it works), wash taste out of mouth with rum and enjoy a sandfly free trip. Trust me, an old Fiordland trick from way back. You have to stay downwind from the deer if you're hunting. No side effects that I ever noticed. Link to post Share on other sites
Grinna 2 Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Rather than drinking kero, can you drink retsina and get the same effect? Retsina is a greek white wine flavoured with pine resin and you can smell a retsina drinker from several metres away. As nasty as it is, its gotta be better than drinking kero. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 I dunno, I've got bad memories of retsina Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Retsina is a greek white wine flavoured with pine resin Ewwwwe, I can only imagine Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Pope 243 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Retsina never stopped the Greek Mozzies, but maybe they have become immune to it. Kero is also very good on small cuts, grazes etc. they heal up well, often faster than more coventional methods. Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I can't imagine drinking Kero as being good for you though, surely. Might help if you are slightly "blocked" in the internal plumbing though. Link to post Share on other sites
1paulg 17 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I can't imagine drinking Kero as being good for you though, surely. Might help if you are slightly "blocked" in the internal plumbing though. Tend to agree - has to be bad for the organs ! Just the thought of it..! Link to post Share on other sites
Atom Ant 0 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I would strongly advise people NOT to drink kersosene, nor put it on scratches or cuts. Scratches or minor cuts should be treated by something like betadine ointment or spray, savlon is better than nothing, and better still is a gamma irradiated manuka honey type gauze with a non adherant pad and a cohesive dressing on top - but this last one is for more serious skin tears etc. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Never did me any harm but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who grew up after the safety police started regulating our lives. Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 we took some sort of vitamin tablets that were suposed to make us smell bad to mozzies. Cant rememebr what it was. Also got told to eat lots of marmite or vegemite? Link to post Share on other sites
Atom Ant 0 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 we took some sort of vitamin tablets that were suposed to make us smell bad to mozzies. Cant rememebr what it was. Also got told to eat lots of marmite or vegemite? Vitamin B12, worked well for me up in Queensland many years ago where the mozzies were big enough to grab little kids and fly off with them. Getting stung by one of them was like having a hyperdermic syringe for an elephant shoved in you! Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 I read that the vitamin theory is just that and don't work. You need to stay there till they get to know you, then they stop stinging. You could also use the old Aboriginal trick used for 40,000 plus years. they covered themselves with fish grease which stoped the bites and also stopped most of the white fellas from taking a fancy. If you get stung try an anti hystamine tablet crushed and make a mixture with a little water. put it on neat. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.