New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Juggie		Posted : Tuesday, 9 November 2010 9:50:42 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 4/11/2010(UTC) Posts: 32 Location: Wellington Was thanked: 14 time(s) in 9 post(s)		Giday Although I've been visiting here often, I only just decided to become a member. Basically, my history with gold in New Zealand goes back through my family a few of generations after they arrived here from Australia around 1900. They originally arrived & worked in gold mines on the West Coast. By 1932, they were part of the "Bell Kilgour" gold mine near Cromwell & making their fortune. I've been told that in the 2 years they operated the mine, they recovered an estimated 7 million dollars worth of gold. Unfortunately, the great depression was around that time as well. I'm based in Wellington, so don't get alot of chances to get out on the river, but try to have 2 weeks a year somewhere working my ripple box. 2010 was 1 week in Murchison, where the local population of sandflies taught me a valuable lesson on how not to wear shorts & a tee shirt ... must've been 1000 bites on me after only a couple of hours. They also made seeing anything when I bent down to pan or view my progress in the ripple box almost impossible, until I got me a netting mask that covered my entire head. Long sleeves, elbow length gloves & chest waders made it hot work, but at least the bites stopped. The 2nd week away was a trip to my parents in Oamaru, where my dad took me to Dansey's Pass ... his local spot. The gold wasn't big, but spending time with him working on our hobby, I mean passion, no I mean illness, made the trip worthwhile. My 2011 plans are hopefully a trip to the Aorere in the summer & back to Oamaru at some stage later in the year ... time will tell.

nzgold		Posted : Tuesday, 9 November 2010 11:21:28 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 5/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 97 Location: New Zealand Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 20 time(s) in 19 post(s)		Welcome Juggie :) Great to see some more new members. Good luck and Happy Hunting!

justjoe		Posted : Tuesday, 9 November 2010 11:42:05 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 9/09/2010(UTC) Posts: 17 Location: blenheim Thanks: 9 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Hey Juggie! I remember the gold-digging ache setting in about a month after I'd been down south, when we where still up in Porirua! I use Bug Balme from Tui Balmes for the bite'n'suckers, works well in the Wakamarina, have yet to try it up the Aorere, though. Might be best to stick to DEET products if you can stand the smell! And this pastime is almost certainly an Illness!! Justjoe

gavin		Posted : Tuesday, 9 November 2010 1:08:30 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		I always thought it weird seeing kiwis wearing poly-props under their shorts and t-shirts - looked like a definite fashion no-no to us foreigners... I'm now a convert after discovering how much protection it gives against those pesky sand-flies!
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roman holiday		Posted : Wednesday, 10 November 2010 1:08:56 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 26/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 147 Location: Tauranga Thanks: 18 times Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 7 post(s)		gavin wrote: I always thought it weird seeing kiwis wearing poly-props under their shorts and t-shirts - looked like a definite fashion no-no to us foreigners... I'm now a convert after discovering how much protection it gives against those pesky sand-flies! Hey gavin, any chance of putting together a topographical map for the dreaded west coast sand fly? As in where they are most concentrated...... lol Edited by user Wednesday, 10 November 2010 1:09:59 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

Juggie		Posted : Thursday, 11 November 2010 1:28:13 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 4/11/2010(UTC) Posts: 32 Location: Wellington Was thanked: 14 time(s) in 9 post(s)		No map needed ... just look at the top of the south island & then follow it down the coast to the bottom. lol

roman holiday		Posted : Thursday, 11 November 2010 8:40:13 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 26/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 147 Location: Tauranga Thanks: 18 times Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 7 post(s)		Juggie wrote: No map needed ... just look at the top of the south island & then follow it down the coast to the bottom. lol Crikey... perhaps another reaon to give the Coromandel a bit more time... lol As far as the coast goes, do the sandflies drop of a bit once you get further inland? Or into the Alps. I guess the seasons would also play a major factor... perhaps they are less thick spring and autumn. Edited by user Thursday, 11 November 2010 8:40:58 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

kiwisouth		Posted : Friday, 12 November 2010 6:04:22 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 3/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 326 Location: Blenheim (Renwick) Thanks: 39 times Was thanked: 105 time(s) in 83 post(s)		Go to the Lyall if you want a gentler form of sand fly. Only two rows of teeth. Well I tell a lie. The Lyall sand fly is not nice at all, tried to stay away from the place. My happy hunting grounds in Murchison do have sand flies and if you get a bit of a breeze, they aren't so bad. The breeze that comes off the falls keeps them at bay sometimes but depends where you are. Cloudy days especially after a bit of rainfall then they are therein their nasty hordes. Cover up as much as you can, lots of chemicals on your skin, I even spray some on the rocks surrounding the hole or crevice I'm working in. Drive me potty. On on
		Nulli Illigitimi Carborundum
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Bikerman		Posted : Sunday, 14 November 2010 8:14:01 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 15/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 51 Location: Alexandra New zealand Thanks: 1 times Was thanked: 3 time(s) in 3 post(s)		Dunno what the hell it is but...every insect repellent I've ever used seemed to work more as a sexual pheromone attractant for the little biting bastards.... lol

gavin		Posted : Sunday, 14 November 2010 10:33:59 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		Frost does the trick - I remember sleeping in the back of my car last year at the end of winter / beginning of spring at Slab Hut Creek. Was a very unpleasant night as it got down to -6 degrees and I spend the whole night shivering as my sleeping bag was more the summer variety. One good thing though... no sand flies the next day!
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Rex		Posted : Sunday, 14 November 2010 12:01:54 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 11/11/2010(UTC) Posts: 24 Location: Queenstown Thanks: 4 times Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 1 post(s)		Hi Juggie I also suffer very badly from sandfly bites. I come up in huge lumps that last approx 2 weeks and itch like hell. The only repelent that works for me is Bushman with 80% Deet. If you put plenty on this seems to stop them. It smells a bit though. I always wear long trousers and a hat with a piece down the back to protect the back of my neck also a long sleeved shirt and light weight gloves so as little exposed skin as possible. I have even had them bite me through a small hole in the leg of my jeans. Hope this helps. Best of luck Rex
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Richie		Posted : Sunday, 14 November 2010 12:09:51 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 14/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 38 Location: Blenheim Thanks: 4 times Was thanked: 12 time(s) in 12 post(s)		I had a day on the Buller Saturday from 9.30 till 4.30,and only geared up with repellent around 2pm, they pretty much left me alone, what a magic day with crystal clear skies and lots of fine gold, oh did I mention the Black sand... I feel we're always going to have one thing or another that will throw the balance, but when you look to the brighter side of a pretty much a perfect weekend you could have been mowing lawns or the house hold chores which with careful planning had been done during the week, to have you in the field enjoying a day on the river with an ice cold chilly bin stashed in the boot of your wagon to further appreciate the end of a well spent day.......

gavin		Posted : Sunday, 14 November 2010 12:13:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		I've heard from a few people now that a mix of dettol and baby-oil works very well at keeping the sand flies at bay. Not tried it myself yet though.
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MD369		Posted : Sunday, 14 November 2010 1:16:46 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 2/08/2010(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: West Coast Thanks: 4 times Was thanked: 5 time(s) in 5 post(s)		Harden up fullas! If a sandfly bites ya, just bite it back!

gavin		Posted : Sunday, 14 November 2010 2:45:31 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Administrators, Registered Joined: 20/02/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,326 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 736 times Was thanked: 535 time(s) in 287 post(s)		I like it - that's the attitude! :P
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roman holiday		Posted : Monday, 15 November 2010 10:00:29 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 26/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 147 Location: Tauranga Thanks: 18 times Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 7 post(s)		gavin wrote: Frost does the trick - I remember sleeping in the back of my car last year at the end of winter / beginning of spring at Slab Hut Creek. Was a very unpleasant night as it got down to -6 degrees and I spend the whole night shivering as my sleeping bag was more the summer variety. One good thing though... no sand flies the next day! Interesting..... so, as far as comfort levels go, you might have to choose between the discomfort of sandflies and the discomfort of cold... or some middle point between... lol

roman holiday		Posted : Monday, 15 November 2010 10:04:35 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 26/04/2010(UTC) Posts: 147 Location: Tauranga Thanks: 18 times Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 7 post(s)		Richie wrote: I had a day on the Buller Saturday from 9.30 till 4.30,and only geared up with repellent around 2pm, they pretty much left me alone, what a magic day with crystal clear skies and lots of fine gold, oh did I mention the Black sand... I feel we're always going to have one thing or another that will throw the balance, but when you look to the brighter side of a pretty much a perfect weekend you could have been mowing lawns or the house hold chores which with careful planning had been done during the week, to have you in the field enjoying a day on the river with an ice cold chilly bin stashed in the boot of your wagon to further appreciate the end of a well spent day....... Awesome stuff! Just going into winter here in Seoul, Korea... so must be spring there in NZ. I get back in NZ for good [yippee] mid summer, and hope to be down South early autumn... after a bit of fossicking first in the Coromandel... Looking forward to catching up with a few of you guys...'cos I'm a noobie...lol Happy days and happy hunting! Edited by user Monday, 15 November 2010 10:06:51 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified