Booking terms & conditions
Cockatours Booking Terms
All bookings are made with Step Outside Industries Pty Ltd (ACN 625 372 867) trading as Cockatours. By booking a tour/event with Cockatours you are deemed to have agreed to these terms and conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and Cockatours) and your booking will be accepted by us on this basis.
1. General Terms and Conditions
Cockatours operators reserve the right to alter the route or itinerary of any of its tours and activities and arrange alternative carriers to those advertised if necessary. Due to the nature of the trip, locations, roads and activities can be affected due to seasonality including extreme heat or rainfall, which is beyond the control of operators. Cockatours operators also reserve the right to alter the route or itinerary of any of its tours and activities due to other unpredictable circumstances including time schedule and mechanical or vehicle faults and failures. No refunds will be given in these circumstances or in the event of any delay, curtailment or alteration of a trip resulting from any cause including severe weather conditions or mechanical failure.
Additionally, National Parks and other third-party services and businesses may alter their policies so that certain activities are no longer available. If we are unable to utilise a product, service or activity detailed, a suitable alternative will be offered where possible.
2. Flexibility
Upon booking with Cockatours you agree and acknowledge that the nature of our tours requires considerable flexibility and you allow for alternatives necessary. The itinerary provided for each trip is a representative of the types of activities contemplated, but it is understood that the route, schedules, itineraries, format, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances, time schedule or events.
3. Liability
Cockatours products involve possible risk, injury, loss or damage from various causes including physical activity, accidents with other road users/persons, weather conditions, wildlife and other causes which may occur.
Cockatours is not responsible for any loss, death, injury or damage which you may suffer (directly or indirectly) in connection with or arising out of your participation in a tour, or any breach of the booking conditions. Passengers should note that Cockatours products involves a higher than normal risk and a signed release may be required from all participants.
Cockatours and our officers, employees, agents and representatives are not liable and are expressively waived from any claims you may have against them arising out of or in connection with your participation in a tour.
Cockatours works with third party operators but takes no responsibility for any act of neglect by any operator whose services are used as part of your trip.
Passengers must not attempt or undergo any physical activity or actions which they are not comfortable or may feel there is a high possible risk injury, death, loss or damage to themselves or others. Cockatours is not responsible for any accidental or purposeful injury, death, loss or damage that may occur.
4. Passenger responsibilities
Cockatours is not liable for passenger failure to connect with other services or any associated costs resulting from such delays. We accept no responsibility for loss or damage to personal belongings or baggage. Customers are fully responsible for the security of personal possessions during the event.
Tours require a certain level of participation. This may include assisting and cleaning afterward with preparation of meals, collecting firewood and cleaning of tents.
Passengers are responsible for their own medical or physical conditions and have full responsibility for avoiding any risk to themselves.
Passengers must conduct themselves in a respectful manner whilst on tour. Cockatours reserves the right to cancel a passenger’s trip during a tour if deemed necessary and no refund will be given.
5. Fitness level
All Cockatours products require a level of fitness. All passengers have a choice to participate in activities and should not participate if not capable. If you are concerned about your suitability to a tour, please contact us and we can provide more information regarding the physical demands of that particular product. We accept no responsibility for passengers unable to participate in parts of the tour due to physical reasons.
6. Cancellation by us
A minimum number of passengers are required to operate. We may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, seasonality, political instability, other external events or other unexpected circumstances, if it is not viable for us to operate the planned itinerary. It may be necessary to cancel a scheduled departure and to offer an alternative, a full credit or a full refund (minus a $100 booking fee) for that tour if minimum numbers are not met or if unexpected circumstances or external events arise.
We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking, including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess, non-refundable flights or accommodation.
7. Cancellation by traveller
If you cancel some or all portions of your booking, cancellation fees will apply. A cancellation will only be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation.
Once travel has commenced, no refunds will be made for any unused services and clients will be responsible for their travel arrangements from that point onward.
Cape York, Kimberley & Gulf Savannah Tours;
Full deposit must be paid upon booking. Final amount must be paid 60 days prior to departure
• Cancellations 60 days or more prior to departure – Loss of deposit paid;
• Between 59-31 days prior to departure – 50% cancellation fee of total tour cost;
• 30 days or less prior to departure – 100% cancellation fee of total tour cost;
• On tour cancellation – 100% cancellation fee of total tour cost.
Any client that fails to meet the requirements of border control for Covid-19 and is forced to miss the tour will be subject to the above cancellation fees. These requirements include allowing enough time to quarantine upon arrival, requests by the tour operator to get a Covid test or be in the state by an allocated date. We strongly suggest clients monitor controlled interstate borders and their status regarding your location.
Photography Tours;
Full deposit must be paid upon booking. Final amount must be paid 14 days prior to departure
• Cancellations 15 days or more prior to departure – Loss of deposit paid;
• Between 14-8 days prior to departure – 50% cancellation fee of total tour cost;
• 7 days or less prior to departure – 100% cancellation fee of total tour cost;
• On tour cancellation – 100% cancellation fee of total tour cost.
Other Tours and bookings;
Full deposit must be paid upon booking. Final amount to be paid prior or on the day of departure.
• Cancellations before departure day – Loss of deposit paid;
• On tour cancellations – no refund.
No cancellation fees will be waived as a result of the following:
• Injury or sickness.
• Delayed, rescheduled or missed flights.
• Climatic, social or political problems.
8. Force majeure
This includes cancellation by the traveller or us due to unforeseen circumstances including natural disasters, terrorism, seasonality, political instability, pandemics, disease outbreaks (including coronavirus and other novel viruses), government enforcement and work stoppages. These circumstances are unforeseeable and Cockatours will endeavour to do our best to be fair to passengers.
Cancellations by us or you will result in these options:
• A credit will be held for 2 years to the value of 110% of your payments made at the date of cancellation
• A full refund of the balance and deposit, minus a $100 booking & transaction fee
This is not valid for travellers cancelling due to personal reasons and cancellation terms in section 7 will apply. Cockatours will determine if the cause of cancellation is legitimately ‘force majeure’ & was unforeseeable at the time of booking.
9. Bookings through other businesses/agents
Please be aware that bookings through other Agents or Businesses will have different policy conditions. Our policy is as stated below for bookings through other businesses/agents:
• Cancellations 60 days or more prior to departure – Loss of deposit that was paid directly to Cockatours;
• Between 59-29 days prior to departure – 50% cancellation fee of total cost that was paid directly to Cockatours;
• 30 days or less prior to departure – 100% cancellation fee of total tour cost that was paid directly to Cockatours;
• On tour cancellation – 100% cancellation fee of total tour cost that was paid directly to Cockatours.
We are not responsible for the refund of deposits or other funds that are paid to other third party businesses or agents. These deposits and funds are under the terms and conditions of the business or agent whom the booking was made through.
10. Medical treatments
Cockatours operators and representatives have the right and consent to make any viable or medical decisions on behalf of you which they think is desirable for your safety. This includes but is not limited to any medical treatment and ambulance transportation. Cockatours is not liable for any costs due to any viable or medical occurrences.
Due to the nature of our tours and the environment we are present in, professional assistance for injury, sickness, loss or damage is limited therefore all passengers must be aware and diligently prepare themselves for the tour.
11. Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is NOT included. Cockatours and/or its agents are not responsible or liable for loss, damage or theft of luggage or personal belongings whatsoever or for personal injury, accidents, hospitalisation, illness or medical expenses. We strongly recommend all travellers to take out travel insurance.
It is the customer’s personal responsibility to purchase their own travel insurance to cover any liability which may be incurred to us, or our service providers. We strongly recommend that clients source travel insurance against illness, injury, loss/damage to personal belongings and not being able to travel on either the confirmed departure date, or a connecting service at the end of a tour. Our operators often work in remote locations and meeting flights or other transport arrangements during or after tour cannot be guaranteed.
12. Photos and marketing
Cockatours has consent to using images of you taken during the tour for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium we choose. We are granted a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to use such images for publicity and promotional purposes.
13. Luggage
We have LIMITED SPACE for luggage. Please restrict your luggage as much as possible and bring only the essentials. Couples are advised to share luggage. As a guidance:
Single travellers; 1 x small OR medium bag: cabin size/carry-on bag; Height: 56cm-60cm, Width: 36cm-40cm, Depth: 23cm-27cm
Couples; 1 x medium OR large bag: Height: 56cm-64cm, Width: 40cm-64cm, Depth: 27-35cm
14. Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is NOT included. Cockatours and/or its agents are not responsible or liable for
