Milford Sound has no insect-borne disease, and some of New Zealand's worst sandflies.

Are there sandflies at Milford Sound? Yes, plenty. These sandflies, or namu, are small black flies that bite by day, and New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) tells visitors to bring sandfly repellent for the short lookout walk from the car park. The CDC lists no insect-borne disease for New Zealand, and our New Zealand sandfly guide explains what these flies are and where else they bite.

Where DOC says to bring repellent

DOC's page for the Milford Sound Lookout Track, which starts from the car park behind the cafe, says "Take sandfly repellent with you." Its Fiordland kayaking advice, for paddlers launching off Deepwater Basin Road, says "Sandflies are prominent in all areas," and its Milford Road tips list insect repellent among the things to pack. Overnight stays and camping on the Milford foreshore get the worst of it. If that worries you, base yourself in Te Anau, a town with a reputation for few sandflies, and do Milford as a day trip.

The Milford Track ends at Sandfly Point, where walkers wait for the boat to the Milford Sound docks. A DOC blog on the track calls bug spray essential and says the bites itch for days, while noting that many places along the track have no sandflies at all. On the nearby Hollyford Track, 43% of walkers in DOC's 2006/07 survey named sandflies as what they disliked most about the trip. Roadside stops on the Milford Road, such as Lake Gunn, have a reputation for sandflies too.

What helps: repellent, cover, timing

Sandflies bite in daylight and seldom in the dark, and they tend to be worst on still days near water. Only the females bite, and their eggs, larvae and pupae develop in flowing water, which Fiordland has in abundance. Three habits keep a Milford day comfortable.

Plan the arrival too. For its record December and January of 2025–26, DOC passed on Milford Sound Tourism's advice to cruise passengers to allow at least two hours for the drive from Te Anau and 45 minutes to park and walk to the terminal. That walk from the car park is where the repellent should already be on. If you get bitten, try not to scratch. The CDC suggests hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion, and DOC suggests antihistamines for people who swell up. Our repellent timing guide shows when to reapply on a long walking day.

Where you're going

Here is how the Fiordland stops compare for a December–April trip.

Driving on to the glaciers? Our West Coast & Abel Tasman briefing covers Franz Josef, Fox and the Abel Tasman Coast Track.

What travelers report

Paraphrased from TripAdvisor threads and a review, linked so you can read them in full. None carries a year, and sandfly numbers change with the weather and where you stop.

• Milford Sound / Te Anau · January

  A camper planning a January trip asked whether to camp at Milford Sound or Te Anau. One reply advised against an overnight stay at Milford because of sandflies and called Te Anau relatively sandfly-free; another said the flies are a nuisance but not hideous with decent repellent. The poster chose to camp at Te Anau. TripAdvisor ↗

• Milford Sound · year-round

  Asked whether Milford Sound has a low season for sandflies, a poster answered that there is no low season. TripAdvisor ↗

• Te Anau and Milford Sound

  Asked what to expect from sandflies in both places, posters agreed Milford Sound is the problem spot. One had no trouble at Te Anau or Manapouri but found the flies pretty bad at Milford; another advised against staying at Milford and suggested two nights in Te Anau; a third said the flies usually stop once you board the boat. One poster said some travel companions needed antihistamine tablets for bite welts. TripAdvisor ↗

• Doubtful Sound (kayak trip)

  A reviewer rated the kayaking good but the sandflies horrendous. The flies generally left paddlers alone on the water; the trouble came at shore stops for lunch and when setting up camp. TripAdvisor ↗

The usual end-of-trip rule still applies. Any fever during or after your trip means a doctor visit, and you tell them where you traveled, especially if New Zealand was one stop on a longer trip through the tropics.

Traveler questions