Motorcycle diary of the South Island: Little Critters
Never underestimate wildlife! Though there are no dangerous creatures in New Zealand except the wasp, there are little critters that can cause havoc and it is best to be prepared.
Sand flies!
Sand flies! Beware of them – they don’t care about your blood type. They don’t care what you wear except if it has deet in it. They swarm and bite any bare unprotected flesh with a vengeance that I haven’t experience anywhere else! They are relentless and determined. They will find a whole or make a whole in order to get to your tasty flesh!
They are the thorn of an otherwise perfect beautiful West Coast experience. Stay covered, keep covered in deet spray (30% is strong enough) and if they are really bothering you – keep moving don’t stand still it gives them time to take strategic pinpoint action. They don’t seem to hang around too much if you are walking or running. And make sure you have antihistamines available – this helps relieve the swelling and any after effects. I always carry a local antihistamine and anaesthetic cream just to help soothe the incessant itch.
Kea
A far more benign creature the Kea is definitely a bird to keep your eye on. Beautiful, intelligent and very destructive mountain parrots. They are believed to have the brain power of a seven year old and love destroying anything soft – like pannier bags or the rubber seals round car windows. Two places to be especially careful when leaving your motorbike are at Fox Glacier and Milford Sounds. We have seen motor bikers come back after exploring the surrounding areas to nonexistent motor bike seats. They are bold and brave. Once I had a kea attack my motorbike boots while I was still wearing them.
While watching a kea destroy the roof rack of an unsuspecting car owner who thought the bird was cute, our guide told us that he had watched a kea in the same place pretend to be limping. He would hobble and look like he was in pain every time tourists stopped. This kea had worked out that if he looked injured he got fed. What the guide found funny was every now and then when the kea though no one was looking it would swap legs.
Possum
Another critter that requires a passing mention is the possum. Loved and protected in Australia, hated in New Zealand. It is one of the creatures responsible the huge destruction and endangerment of New Zealand’s unique flightless birds. For most part you won’t see them except dead on the road. Keep your eye out as your round corners that you don’t land up skidding on a dead possum. Also birds of prey are sometimes more determined to eat the carcass than to get out of your way.
Wekas
Wekas are ground birds with gentle but very curious natures. They love food and will quite easily take food out your hand, your bag, off your picnic table or any other place food may be hiding. And watch your toes! There eyesight is quite bad and anything that is white and wriggles must be worms… and their beaks are pretty sharp.
I loved the keas – though they managed to destroy my lunch, day pack and poncho that I had left to the side while trying to take pictures of them. Wish I had been warned before hand – now I know!
Possums – man they make a noise at night and I believe if they get a fright they will run up the closest highest point. Including a human!… Definitely a ‘don’t try this!’
You never mentioned wetas! Scary things when you are innocently putting on your shoes only to find this huge scary looking thing hiding inside. They don’t bite – but I didn’t hang around to find out… And yes I do apologise to all those that were still sleeping at the time of my introduction to a weta!!