The best mosquito repellent in Australia is an APVMA registered skin repellent with DEET or picaridin. Our top pick is the OFF! Tropical Strength picaridin pump twin pack for everyday family use, and the Bushman Ultra 40% DEET aerosol twin pack suits heavy mosquito pressure; follow the directions on the label.
The first summer in your own place has a way of introducing you to your local mosquito population. The deck you bought the house for, the barbecue you finally have room for, the bedroom window you can now leave open: mozzies find all of it. And if you have stood in the supermarket aisle staring at a wall of sprays, roll-ons, coils and plug-ins, you will know the labels do not make the choice easy.
We researched the mosquito repellent category on Amazon Australia for this guide, screening 18 listings down to seven that cleared our bar for price, star rating and review depth. The picks span the four formats Australians actually buy: skin repellents (DEET, picaridin and natural actives), burnable coils, indoor plug-ins and battery spatial repellers. The picks run from a 10-pack of citronella coils to a rechargeable Thermacell, so there is an option here whether you are guarding a balcony or a bush block.
One thing we will not do in this guide is make health claims. Repellents reduce insect bites; how you use them should always follow the directions on the label, especially for children and during pregnancy. Where a label states an age limit or a protection window, we quote it. Where it does not, we say so.
The quick answer: which mosquito repellent should you buy?
For most people the answer is the OFF! Tropical Strength picaridin pump twin pack. Its label claims up to 8 hours of protection against mosquitoes, flies, sandflies and ticks in a non greasy spray, it is sold by Amazon AU, and it had 4.4 stars from 128 ratings on Amazon Australia. For serious mosquito country, the Bushman Ultra 40% DEET aerosol twin pack claims the same 8 hour label window and was the highest rated card in this guide at 4.8 stars from 117 ratings on Amazon Australia; check its card for the current dispatch time. And if you just want the patio liveable for a barbecue, Waxworks citronella coils are our budget pick.
Skin repellents stop bites on you; area products make a space less mosquito-friendly. Most households end up wanting one of each, which is why this guide covers both.
How do our three headline picks compare?
All three headline picks sit under $31, but they solve different problems. The Bushman is the strongest topical option, the OFF! is the family-friendly everyday spray, and the Waxworks coils protect a space rather than a person.
| Pick | Active and format | Label protection | Price |
|---|
| Bushman Ultra twin pack | DEET 40%, aerosol | Up to 8 hours | See listing |
| OFF! Tropical Strength twin pack | Picaridin, pump spray | Up to 8 hours | See listing |
| Waxworks citronella coils | Citronella and sandalwood oils, coil | Up to 7 hours burn per coil | See listing |
Of our three headline picks, the Bushman was the highest rated at 4.8 stars and the OFF! the most reviewed with 128 ratings on Amazon Australia, and the Waxworks coils are our budget pick.
How we evaluated
Last checked: 3 October 2026.
We read each Amazon Australia listing's label claims for active ingredient, concentration and protection window. We checked each listing's buy box for who sells and ships it: all seven were sold by Amazon AU or shipped from Amazon. Delivery estimates were read for a Sydney 2000 address.
NestPath researches; we do not run a lab. For this guide we pulled the live Amazon Australia data for every serious contender in the category: current price, star rating, review count and stock status, verified per listing rather than scraped from a search page. We then read the listings and the most helpful Australian customer reviews to understand how each product behaves in real backyards, from Kakadu campsites to Melbourne courtyards.
Our screening rules for this category were strict because repellents go on skin. Every pick needed a stated active ingredient and concentration on its listing, a rating of 4.2 stars or better, a meaningful review base, and a price in line with what the brand charges elsewhere, which knocked out reseller-inflated listings. We also cross-checked the shortlist against what Australian sources such as CHOICE and university insect researchers consistently recommend, which is why DEET, picaridin and registered natural formulas anchor the list while wristbands do not.
Best overall: OFF! Tropical Strength Insect Repellent Spray Twin Pack
The OFF! Tropical Strength twin pack is our top pick, and the one we would keep by the door for everyday use. It swaps DEET for picaridin, the active many people prefer on feel alone, and its label claims up to 8 hours of protection against mosquitoes, flies, sandflies and ticks in a non greasy, lightly fragranced spray. Repellent keeps insects off you, which is a different job from reducing how many are there in the first place; for that, a fly trap set away from the table does the pulling. It is sold by Amazon AU.
Two things make it the family workhorse. First, it is a pump spray rather than an aerosol, so you get controlled application with no propellant cloud, and you can spray it onto hands to wipe on a wriggling child's neck per the label directions. Second, picaridin does not have DEET's solvent character, so it will not mark plastics or synthetic clothing, and the listing says it is safe on cotton, wool and nylon.
It is the most reviewed of our three headline picks, with 4.4 stars from 128 ratings on Amazon Australia, and it comes as two 175 mL bottles.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The pump bottle wants to be held upright; a couple of reviewers report minor leaking when spraying at an angle. In very heavy mosquito pressure a few users report the odd bite towards the end of the label window, so reapply per the directions if you are somewhere swampy. And one bushwalker learned the hard way that it does nothing for leeches, which the label never claims; if leeches are your problem, DEET products are the ones that list broader biting pest coverage.
Which repellent is best for serious mosquito pressure?
The Bushman Ultra 40% DEET aerosol twin pack is the repellent Australians reach for when the mosquitoes are genuinely bad. Its 4.8 stars from 117 ratings on Amazon Australia are the highest of any card in this guide, and the review language is emphatic: one long-term user writes that you should not head into the Australian bush without it. Amazon AU listed it as usually dispatched within 2 to 4 weeks on 9 October 2026.
Reviewers, who gave it 4.6 stars from 101 ratings on Amazon Australia, describe the exact use case: push one under the chair while you sit outside, and the mozzies leave you alone. At 50 cents a coil you can ring a barbecue area with three or four burning at once and still spend less than a single can of spray. They are also completely passive; nothing to charge, nothing to apply, nothing to remember except a lighter.
The scent is the classic Australian summer smell, and this batch draws specific praise for being less acrid than the old-style green chemical coils.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Coils protect a zone, not a person, and a breeze can carry the smoke away from where you are sitting, so they work best in still conditions or paired with a skin repellent. They are for outdoor, well-ventilated areas only, and the safety directions say to keep them away from flames and out of reach of children and pets. One reviewer reported skin and eye irritation while handling the coils to set them up, so wash your hands after loading the stand. You will also want a proper coil holder; the included tin stands are fiddly.
Which repellent should live in your bag?
The Bushman 20% DEET roll on twin pack is the pick for everyday carry. Each 65 g roll-on is compact enough for a handbag, glovebox or school camp duffel, and the gel format means no aerosol restrictions and no spray cloud, just a controlled film exactly where you roll it.
The label states 200 g/kg diethyltoluamide, which is 20% DEET, with a claimed 7 hours of protection plus the same water, sweat and rub resistance and time-release technology as its 40% sibling. That is a sensible middle strength: enough for a full evening or a day hike, without the heavy-duty concentration you would want for the Top End. It held 4.5 stars from 112 ratings on Amazon Australia, and several were recommended it by other Australians, which tracks with the brand's reputation.
It comes as two units, so one can permanently live in the car.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The recurring complaint is leaking lids; several reviewers found the cap seeps in a bag regardless of how tightly it is closed, so keep it in a zip-lock bag if it travels loose. Like all DEET products it can damage synthetics, and one reviewer discovered it dissolves stockings, so let it dry before dressing. The roll-on ball also makes it slower to cover large areas like full legs compared with a spray.
What is the best natural mosquito repellent?
Good Riddance Tropical (100 mL) is the strongest natural option we found, and it is a genuinely Australian story: formulated in Darwin, trialled in Kakadu, and registered with the APVMA, Australia's accreditation body for insect repellents. With 205 ratings on Amazon Australia (4.6 stars), it is the most reviewed skin repellent in this guide.
The actives are stated plainly on the label: 12.2 g/L essential oil of Cymbopogon (the citronella family) and 9.4 g/L lemon tea tree oil, carried in a moisturising cream rather than a spray. The listing claims up to 4 hours of protection against mosquitoes, midges and sandflies, and the directions say the Tropical range is suitable from 2 years and up. Reviewers consistently praise the citrus scent and the fact it feels like a light moisturiser rather than a solvent, with Queensland and Top End users the most enthusiastic.
The brand is DEET and picaridin free by design, the tubes are biodegradable, and it is Australian made, which matters to a lot of buyers in this category.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The honest trade-off is duration: up to 4 hours on the label versus up to 8 for the synthetic picks, so a long evening means reapplying. A cream also takes longer to spread over full arms and legs than a spray does. As with any essential-oil product, the brand recommends a patch test for sensitive skin, and its baby-specific Sensitive range is the one to use under 2 years.
How do you keep mosquitoes away without spraying anything on skin?
The Thermacell EX90 creates a 28 square metre protection zone with nothing on your skin at all. A rechargeable heater warms a metofluthrin cartridge that drifts repellent through the area around the device; you switch it on 15 minutes before you sit down and the label says the zone holds while it runs. With 2,495 ratings on Amazon Australia it is by far the most reviewed card in this guide.
The starter pack includes a 40-hour refill cartridge, a USB charging cable and a lanyard, and the lithium battery runs up to 9 hours per charge, enough for a full evening or a weekend of shorter sessions. It charges over the supplied USB cable, with no wall charger listed in the box contents. It is scent-free, smoke-free and silent, which is the whole appeal: dinner guests get protection without anyone smelling like repellent. Australian reviewers report it earning its keep everywhere from Kakadu campsites to suburban sheds, and it is water resistant enough to live outside under cover.
It is the only pick here that protects everyone at the table at once without a flame.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Wind is the weakness. The zone is a drift of repellent, and reviewers in breezy or open patios report patchy results; its 4.2 stars reflect a real split between delighted campers and frustrated coastal users. Running costs are real too, because the 40 hour refills are a consumable you will keep buying. It is for outdoor use only per the label, and the battery self-drains over a few idle days, so charge it the day you plan to use it.
What stops mosquitoes biting you overnight indoors?
The Mortein Peaceful Nights plug in refill handles the one place sprays and coils cannot: your bedroom while you sleep. Plugged into the Peaceful Nights device, one refill gives up to 30 nights of odourless protection against mosquitoes and flies based on 12 hours per night, per the label.
It is the set-and-forget option in this guide. There is no smoke, no scent and no nightly ritual beyond flicking the switch, and the refill design means you never touch the liquid when changing it. It held 4.5 stars from 104 ratings on Amazon Australia, and repeat buyers are blunt: cheaper alternatives did not work as well, so they keep coming back to this one.
A refill lasting up to a month of summer nights is simple insurance for unbroken sleep in mozzie season.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
This listing is the refill only, so first-time buyers need the Peaceful Nights plug-in device itself, which is sold separately or in starter kits. A few reviewers feel the refill empties faster than the 30-night claim, which the label itself qualifies: protection depends on room size, layout and airflow, so a large open-plan space with a ceiling fan on high will burn through it quicker. And like all indoor repellent devices, follow the label directions for use in rooms where people are sleeping.
What should you look for in a mosquito repellent?
Start with the active ingredient, because it determines everything else. Australian repellent labels state the active and its concentration, and the concentration mostly buys duration, not more repelling power at any given moment.
| Active | Typical label claims | Best suited to |
|---|
| DEET (20 to 80%) | 7 to 8 hours or more at higher strengths | Bush, camping, high mosquito pressure |
| Picaridin | Up to 8 hours, non-greasy, kinder to fabrics | Everyday family use |
| Registered naturals (citronella, lemon tea tree) | Around 4 hours | Shorter sessions, scent-sensitive users |
| Metofluthrin (spatial devices) | Zone protection while the device runs | Decks, campsites, seated groups |
Beyond the active, check four things. First, the format: aerosols cover fast, pumps waste less, roll-ons travel best, creams double as moisturiser. Second, the label's stated duration, and match it to your longest realistic session outdoors. Third, age directions: children's use should follow the label exactly, and several picks here state explicit age minimums, like 2 years and up for Good Riddance Tropical. Fourth, whether you need personal or spatial protection; a device like the Thermacell protects a seated group, but the moment someone walks to the cricket pitch they are outside the zone.
Two buying notes specific to Australia: look for an APVMA registration on natural products, because it means the repellency claims were assessed, and be suspicious of any product whose listing makes disease-prevention promises. Repellents reduce bites; no honest label promises more than that.
How do you get the most out of your repellent?
Application technique matters more than brand choice. Apply a thin, even layer to all exposed skin; mosquitoes find the gap behind your knee you missed. If you are using sunscreen too, sunscreen goes on first and repellent over the top, which is also what Good Riddance's own directions recommend. Reapply within the label window after swimming or heavy sweating, whatever the water-resistance claims.
Storage is simple but worth doing right. Keep aerosols out of hot cars and away from flames, close roll-on lids firmly and bag them for travel, and keep everything out of reach of children. Repellents have long shelf lives, but a can that has been through two summers in a hot shed may spray poorly even if the formula is fine.
For devices, small habits stretch your money. Recap the Thermacell cartridge between sessions or the liquid slowly evaporates, and charge the unit the day you use it because the battery drains while idle. Store coils somewhere dry, because damp coils burn unevenly and go out. Swap plug-in refills at the interval the label states rather than waiting for bites to tell you it is empty.
You'll also want
A few add ons round out a full summer setup, all listed on Amazon Australia.
The competition
Aerogard is the name most Australians grew up with, and its Tropical Strength range remains solid; the pump twin pack's rating trailed every skin repellent that made our list, and the aerosol version had no steady buy box price, so we could not fairly rank it. If you are brand-loyal, it will do the job.
Wristbands and patches deserve an honest note, because they are everywhere. The Parakito band and the Cliganic 10-pack are hugely popular, but the published evidence for wearable repellents is weak: a band protects, at best, the few centimetres around your wrist. Entomologists consistently recommend skin coverage instead. We left every band and patch out of the picks for that reason, popularity notwithstanding.
The Thermacell Mini Halo covers a smaller 21 square metre zone than the EX90 for not much less money, so we stuck with the EX90. And electric zappers are a different tool entirely, killing insects rather than repelling them; we cover those separately in our guide to the best mosquito zappers in Australia.
What about Mozzigear, BuzzPatch and the Chemist Warehouse shelf?
Google shows a shopping row full of pharmacy lines when you search this category, and we do not stock any of them. The Mozzigear Mosquito Click, the NATPAT BuzzPatch stickers and the Envirosafe drops are all sold through Australian pharmacies and hardware chains rather than Amazon Australia, so they sit outside the listings we compare here. Chemist Warehouse and Bunnings carry most of them and often price the mainstream sprays below Amazon. The actives are what matter: buy an APVMA registered product with DEET or picaridin on the label, wherever you buy it.
Mosquito repellent FAQs
Is DEET or picaridin the better mosquito repellent?
Both are registered actives with strong track records, and at comparable label durations the choice is mostly practical. DEET products in this guide claim 7 to 8 hours and broader biting-pest coverage but can mark plastics and synthetics; picaridin claims up to 8 hours, feels non-greasy and is kinder to fabrics. Buy by the label duration you need and the feel you will actually wear.
Can I use mosquito repellent on children?
Only as the product label directs, because age guidance differs by product and concentration. Among our picks, Good Riddance Tropical states it is suitable from 2 years and up, and its Sensitive range is the one the brand makes for younger children. If a label does not state child directions, ask a pharmacist rather than guessing.
Do you put on sunscreen or mosquito repellent first?
Sunscreen first, repellent second. Sunscreen needs skin contact to work, and a repellent layered over the top stays free to do its job at the surface. Good Riddance publishes exactly this order in its own directions, and it is the standard advice for every repellent format.
How often should you reapply mosquito repellent?
Follow the label window for your product: up to 8 hours for the Bushman Ultra and OFF! Tropical Strength, 7 hours for the Bushman roll-on and around 4 hours for Good Riddance Tropical. Reapply sooner after swimming or heavy sweating, and whenever mosquitoes start paying attention to you again.
Can I burn mosquito coils indoors?
No. Coils are for outdoor, well-ventilated areas only; they work by smouldering, and the smoke that deters mosquitoes should not be concentrated in an enclosed room. Indoors, use a purpose-made plug-in like the Mortein Peaceful Nights, which is designed and labelled for indoor overnight use.
Do mosquito repellent wristbands actually work?
The evidence is weak. A wristband can only protect the small area around it, and independent researchers consistently find bands and patches inferior to proper skin coverage with a registered repellent. They remain popular on convenience, but we did not include any in our picks.
What is DEET in mosquito repellent?
DEET is the active ingredient in most heavy duty repellents, and it works by masking the skin and breath signals mosquitoes use to find you rather than by killing anything. Concentration sets how long it lasts, not how strongly it works: the Bushman Ultra twin pack here uses 40% DEET with a label claim of up to 8 hours. Every insect repellent sold in Australia has to be registered with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, and the APVMA number is printed on the label.
Does mosquito repellent expire?
Yes. Skin repellents carry an expiry date on the can or bottle, and the label window they claim, up to 8 hours for both the Bushman Ultra and the OFF! Tropical Strength picks here, only applies while the product is in date. Heat does more damage than age: an aerosol left in a hot car loses propellant early. Coils and plug-in refills do not spoil the same way, though damp coils burn unevenly and go out.
How does mosquito repellent work?
A skin repellent does not kill mosquitoes. It interferes with the carbon dioxide and skin odour cues they use to find you, so they do not land. That is why coverage matters more than concentration, and a missed patch of ankle is where you get bitten. Area products work differently again by filling a space with vapour or smoke, which is what the Waxworks coils and the Thermacell unit in this guide do.
Is an insecticide repellent the same as a mosquito repellent?
No, and the difference decides what you buy. A repellent keeps mosquitoes off you, which is the job of the Bushman Ultra and OFF! Tropical Strength sprays. An insecticide kills the insects in a space, which is what a plug-in vaporiser or a burning coil is doing. Most Australian households end up with one of each: a spray for skin when you go outside, and an insecticide or spatial product for the room or the deck.
Does mosquito repellent work on flies?
Some of it does, and the label tells you which. The OFF! Tropical Strength picaridin spray lists flies, sandflies and ticks alongside mosquitoes, so one twin pack covers a backyard barbecue. Citronella coils are much weaker against flies, because flies are less bothered by the smoke than mosquitoes are. If flies rather than mozzies are the real problem, a trap is the better tool and a spray is the wrong purchase.
Is mosquito repellent safe for dogs?
Treat it as unsafe unless the label says otherwise. DEET is toxic to dogs, so a 40% DEET product like the Bushman Ultra should never go on an animal or be left somewhere a dog can lick it off your skin. Coils and plug-ins should burn where a pet cannot reach them. If you want repellent on the dog itself, buy a product registered for animals and check it with a vet first.
What is the most effective mosquito repellent?
For skin, this guide points to an APVMA registered repellent with DEET or picaridin. The Bushman Ultra 40% DEET aerosol and the OFF! Tropical Strength picaridin spray both claim up to 8 hours on their labels, against up to 4 hours for the registered natural cream. NestPath compares label claims and does not run lab tests.
What is the best mosquito repellent device in Australia?
The best device depends on where you need it. For an outdoor table, the Thermacell EX90 rechargeable repeller creates a 28 square metre zone and claims up to 9 hours per charge, though wind weakens it. For a bedroom, the Mortein Peaceful Nights refill claims up to 30 nights at 12 hours per night; the device is sold separately.
What smell do mosquitoes hate most?
Citronella is the scent this guide's scented picks use against mosquitoes: the Waxworks coils burn with citronella and sandalwood oils, and the registered Good Riddance Tropical cream uses citronella and lemon tea tree actives. The cream's label claims up to 4 hours of protection, against up to 8 hours for the DEET and picaridin picks.
What is the best thing to stop mosquitoes from biting you?
Apply a registered DEET or picaridin skin repellent in a thin, even layer to all exposed skin, after sunscreen, and reapply within the label window after swimming or heavy sweating. For a seated group outdoors, add an area product such as citronella coils or the Thermacell EX90, which protect a space rather than a person.
What is the best mosquito repellent in Australia?
Our top pick is the OFF! Tropical Strength picaridin pump twin pack for everyday family use, with the Bushman Ultra 40% DEET aerosol twin pack for heavy mosquito pressure and Waxworks citronella coils as the budget patio pick. Whichever you buy, choose an APVMA registered product and follow the label directions.
Bundle it with the rest of your outdoor setup
Mosquito control is usually one line item in a bigger backyard project. An outdoor heater and a camping lantern are the other two things that decide whether a deck gets used after dark, and both work better once the mozzies are handled. If you are kitting out your first outdoor space this summer, these guides pair naturally with this one.
About the author
Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first-home-buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first-home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au
