Short answer: the flies are worst in inland and outback Australia, especially the Red Centre around Uluru and Kings Canyon, Outback NSW around Broken Hill and Silverton, South Australia's Flinders Ranges and the Pilbara in WA. They build up as the weather warms in spring, peak through the warmer months, and get worse again after rain followed by heat. The most reliable fix is a hat with a fly net sewn in.
If you've done the Great Aussie Salute for three hours straight at a lookout, you already know this. If you haven't yet, here's where to brace yourself.
Why some places are so much worse than others
The flies that drive everyone mad in the outback are mostly bush flies. They breed in animal dung, love warm dry country and go after the moisture around your eyes, nose and mouth. Wide-open grazing country with stock, warm days and not much wind is basically a bush fly nursery. That's why the coast is often bearable while a couple of hours inland is a different story. We go deeper on the why in Why Are There So Many Flies in Australia?.
The worst places for flies, region by region
1. The Red Centre, NT (Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, West MacDonnell Ranges)
The one everybody talks about. Walks like the Uluru base walk, the Valley of the Winds and the Kings Canyon Rim Walk are long, exposed and slow, so you're a sitting target. In the warmer months the flies can be relentless from mid-morning onwards. You'll see plenty of visitors in fly nets here for good reason. Dreamtimez hats are stocked at Ayers Rock Resort if you arrive unprepared.
2. Outback NSW (Broken Hill, Silverton, Menindee, Mungo)
Big skies, red dirt and a lot of flies. Anyone heading to the Mundi Mundi Bash near Silverton should pack a fly net hat alongside the camp chairs. Camping out here means flies at breakfast, flies at lunch and flies until the sun goes down.
3. Flinders Ranges and the SA outback (Wilpena Pound, Arkaroola, Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta Track)
Stunning country and serious fly country, especially after a wet spell turns into a warm spring. Bushwalkers in the Flinders often say the flies, not the climbs, were the hardest part of the day.
4. The Pilbara and Karijini, WA
Gorge walks, swimming holes and plenty of flies on the way in and out. Hot, dry and far from anywhere, so bring your protection with you rather than hoping to buy it on the road.
5. Channel Country and western QLD (Birdsville, Longreach, Winton)
Cattle country means dung, and dung means flies. Big events like the Birdsville Races draw a crowd, and the flies turn up too.
6. The Nullarbor and Eyre Peninsula
Long, open driving with roadhouse stops and free camps where the flies find you the second you step out of the car.
7. The Top End and Kimberley (Kakadu, Litchfield, the Gibb River Road)
Up north the problem shifts. Flies are still around, but mosquitoes, midges and sandflies around water, mangroves and dusk camps are the bigger worry. Here you want a net fine enough to stop the small biters, not just the bush flies. See our guide to mosquito head nets vs fly net hats.
When are the flies worst?
In the southern half of the country and the Red Centre, bush flies build up through spring, stay bad through the warmer months and ease off as it cools down. Rain followed by warm weather is the classic recipe for a fly explosion. They're usually worst from mid-morning through the afternoon, and settle once the sun drops. Up north, the wet season and the build-up bring more mozzies and midges.
What actually works
- A hat with a fly net sewn in. It's the only thing that works all day without reapplying. A wide brim holds the net off your face so you can still see, eat a sanga under it and breathe easy.
- Not a loose clip-on net. Cheap clip-on fly nets for hats slip, gap at the brim and press onto your face. We compare them honestly in fly nets for hats vs a fly net hat.
- Repellent as a backup, not the plan. It helps on arms and legs, but sweat and dust wear it off and it won't stop flies landing near your eyes.
- Timing. Do the big walks early in the morning when you can.
Our fly hat for Australia
The Dreamtimez Fly Net Hat was made for exactly these places. The fly net is sewn into a wide UPF 50+ brim, so there's nothing to lose or refit. It has mesh side panels for airflow, a chin strap for windy lookouts and a pigtail opening. Every hat carries licensed artwork by a named Aboriginal artist who earns a royalty on every sale, and part of every purchase goes to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, who look after a lot of the people travelling these exact roads.
Browse every design in our fly net hats Australia range. We ship Australia-wide, including to remote addresses.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the worst place for flies in Australia?
The Red Centre around Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon has the biggest reputation, closely followed by Outback NSW, the Flinders Ranges and the Pilbara. Anywhere inland, warm and dry with grazing stock tends to be bad.
Are the flies bad at Uluru?
In the warmer months, yes, very. A fly net hat is one of the most useful things you can pack for an Uluru trip.
What time of year are flies worst in Australia?
Generally from spring through the warmer months, especially after rain followed by heat. They ease off as the weather cools.
What is the best fly hat for Australia?
Look for a hat with the net sewn in rather than clipped on, a brim wide enough to hold the net off your face, fine mesh that stops small insects, airflow panels and a UPF 50+ rating. That's exactly how the Dreamtimez fly net hat is built.
When is fly season in Perth and Western Australia?
Flies are worst in WA's Wheatbelt, Goldfields and Pilbara, where livestock and dry heat combine. Perth and surrounding areas also get bad flies in late spring and summer, especially after rain followed by warm weather.