The booking terms and conditions outlined in this document form a contract between you as our customer and us, NoTraces Bushwalking Australia, the tour operator. Please read the booking conditions carefully and sign and date the bottom of this form. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend you to take adequate travel insurance for the complete duration of your tour. We strongly recommend that the policy covers cancellation, loss of luggage or personal effects, medical expenses, injury, death, cost of evacuation or repatriation by helicopter/ air ambulance. If, in the event of an emergency medical rescue evacuation from a tour, either by foot, helicopter or otherwise the responsibility for any payment will lie with the client.
Payment
Payment has to be made in Australian dollars.
• A 10% deposit (non-refundable) is required to confirm your place in the tour
• 100% payment must be received 60 days before departure date
Cancellations
Although it does not happen often, NoTraces Bushwalking Australia reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to alter or cancel some aspect of your tour arrangements. We may cancel your tour arrangements in certain circumstances, for example, if your tour does not meet the minimum number of participants required for a particular tour. However, except in cases of a force majeure (see below) or your failure to timely pay your tour fee balance, we will not cancel your tour arrangements less than 30 days before your departure date.
If we make a major change (as defined by us in our sole discretion; examples include: significant change in the itinerary or length of tour) in your tour, we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure. Except in the event of a force majeure (see below), you can choose between accepting the altered tour arrangements, accepting our offer of alternative and comparable travel arrangements, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of lower value) or cancel your tour arrangements and you will receive a full refund of payments made.
If we cancel your tour before it starts, except in the event of a force majeure (see below), you can either receive a refund of all payments made, or accept our offer of alternative and comparable travel arrangements, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of lower value).
Force Majeure: If NoTraces Bushwalking Australia determines, in its sole discretion, it must cancel before or during a tour because of an Act of God or other political, social, environmental or other condition beyond its control (force majeure), NoTraces Bushwalking Australia may suspend its the NoTraces Bushwalking Australia Cancellation Policy does not apply and no refunds will be granted (unless as determined, in NoTraces Bushwalking Australia sole discretion).
Additional Costs or Damages: In any case, if we alter a tour, or, cancel before or during a tour – regardless of whether we issue any refund, NoTraces Bushwalking Australia is not responsible for any costs (such as, but not limited to any indirect, consequential, incidental or other costs/damages) incurred by you or others in your booking party, including non-refundable airline tickets or change fees.
Cancellation Charges
A cancellation prior to departure will only be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation.
. If we have to cancel a tour for any reason, Covid-19 lockdown included, you will get a 100% refund.
• If a cancellation is made at least 90 days prior to departure date, a full refund is given minus the 10% booking fee.
• If a cancellation is made at least 60 days before departure date, you get a 50% refund;
• If a cancellation is made less than 60 days before departure date, no refund is given.
If you leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services. If you fail to join a tour, join it after departure, no refund will be made. NoTraces Bushwalking Australia will do its best to help you to join the tour after departure but you would need to cover any extra expenses.
Health and Fitness Requirements
To fully enjoy our bushwalking tours, participants need to have a moderate to high level of fitness as well as physical and mental endurance. Make sure you check the grading for each walk and contact us if you need advice about choosing the right trip for your capacity. Your personal safety is of paramount importance to us and therefore it is essential that you warrant to us that you are and will continue to be in good physical and mental health and are fit and able to participate in the tour and all of the activities to be undertaken as part of the tour.
It is essential that you advise NoTraces Bushwalking Australia at the time of booking of any pre-existing condition, medical or otherwise, that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of you requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of the tour and the enjoyment of other participants. This should include, but not be limited to limb or back injury, epilepsy, dizziness, heart conditions, asthma, visual impairment, deafness, depression or recovering from recent surgery, allergies or special dietary requirements. You may be requested to provide medical clearance from a qualified medical practitioner. Due to the physical activity in our tours, all new clients over 65 years of age will be required to complete a medical clearance from a qualified medical practitioner.
If no clearance is provided, we reserve the right, with reasonable discretion, to cancel your booking and refund the money paid by you, less any unrecoverable costs. We reserve the right in our absolute discretion to refuse a participant the right to participate in a tour on medical or fitness grounds and are under no obligation to give a reason for this refusal. You permit NoTraces Bushwalking Australia to collect personal information from you, or from your medical practitioner, regarding your health and medical condition. You acknowledge that this personal information may be disclosed to NoTraces Bushwalking Australia representatives in order to ensure your safety and wellbeing.
If you are not physically or mentally prepared or you suffer an illness or injury during the tour and it is felt you constitute a risk to yourself or others, you may need to, or may be asked to miss some of the walking sections, or be asked to leave the tour for the wellbeing of yourself and also the group with no refund offered. NoTraces Bushwalking Australia can, at your cost, arrange medical treatment and emergency evacuation service, as deemed essential for safety and wellbeing. Any evacuation costs incurred by NoTraces Bushwalking Australia must be reimbursed within 7 days.
Dietary requirements
It is the responsibility of the customer to inform NoTraces Bushwalking Australia of any specific dietary requirements in order for us to be able to assess whether we are able to accommodate your needs. If you have specific dietary requirements that are outside our capabilities, due to the remoteness of the bushwalking trips, it may be necessary for the individual customer to supplement their own food.
No Traces – be responsible
NoTraces Bushwalking Australia requires that you agree with our philosophy to leave no traces of our passage other than our shoe traces. We acknowledge and respect the natural and cultural environments through which we pass. Regarding Aboriginal art sites and sacred sites as well as the walking route we take, you agree not to record or disclose the location of these to anyone. Further, you also agree not to publish any personal media (internet) nor reproduce any imagery taken of the Aboriginal sites. We will have the chance to discover and camp in places forgotten not only by time but also and especially by the other “tour operators”, which means that wherever we go, we will be alone and we will also have the thrilling sense of being the first. Our philosophy is therefore to leave everything in its original condition. Through signing this document, you will agree to and follow the NoTraces Bushwalking Australia Philosophy. See: LINK to the page “NoTraces Bushwalking Australia Philosophy”
Pandemic Cancellations
In the event of a declaration of a Pandemic that forces the closure of State/Territory/Country borders that prevent your travel to the start of the tour, NoTraces Bushwalking Australia will refund all monies paid 100% .
Authority on tour
NoTraces Bushwalking Australia tours are led by qualified guides. The decision of the guide is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any traveller or staff member participating in the tour. If you fail to comply with a decision made by the guide, or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, the guide reserves the right to direct you to leave the trip immediately at your expense and with no right of refund. Any evacuation costs incurred by NoTraces Bushwalking Australia must be reimbursed within 7 days.
Minimum Age and Legal Guardian
Before making any bookings for people under the age of 18, please contact NoTraces Bushwalking Australia to discuss suitability. All travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian or their designee will be responsible for the traveller under the age of 18’s day to day care. If a legal guardian elects to designate an escort in their lieu, they will be required to complete and sign a relevant document, to delegate their authority. All guides of NoTraces Bushwalking Australia leading a tour with a traveller under the age of 18 will have a Working With Children Clearance (Ocher Card) issued by the Northern Territory police.
Assumption of risk
You understand and accept that your proposed bushwalk may expose you to inherent risks. Your booking is accepted on the understanding that you realise and accept the risks and hazards potentially involved in off track bushwalking tours and that you are mentally and physically capable of undertaking your tour. These risks include, but are not limited to loss and damage to personal property, inconvenience, discomfort, injury or fatality due to inclement weather, slipping, falling, insect or animal bites, rock or vegetation fall, immersion in cold water, cold/heat exposure, psychological trauma or suffering any type of illness or injury in remote areas without easy access to medical facilities and with limited communication which could mean delays in assistance of a day or more. The risks and dangers also include the force of nature and travelling by air, automobile or other conveyance to reach or to leave our tours. You must understand that your guide may need to begin first aid appropriate to the remoteness of the area and the nature of your ailment. You must also understand that there is also a risk that your guide may become incapacitated and leave your group without a qualified leader. While NoTraces Bushwalking Australia will take all reasonable precautions to maintain your safety, not all dangers associated with these walking activities can be foreseen and whilst the guides are skilled and experienced, they cannot guarantee your total safety since some risks are beyond their control. You must understand that you also are responsible to act in a responsible and safe manner that will not endanger yourself or others in the party. You are responsible for preparing yourself and bringing with you the proper clothing and equipment, which we advise you about in the NoTraces Bushwalking Information.
You acknowledge that your decision to travel is made in light of consideration of this information and you accept that you are aware of the personal risks attendant upon such travel. You must understand and accept that a medical emergency in this remote area may be life threatening and by completing this booking form you accept these potential adverse and unfavourable conditions and potential life threatening situations.
Waiver of liabilit
Due to the nature of the activity, you acknowledge and accept that it would be unreasonable for NoTraces Bushwalking Australia to be in any way responsible for any injury to or death of yourself and you hereby, to the full extent permitted by law, waive all of your legal rights of action against us and fully release and hold us harmless from any claim, demand or liability for any loss, damage, expense or injury (including death) howsoever arising out of or in relation to your participation in the activities conducted or organised by us, including without limitation, liability for any negligent or tortious act or omission, breach of duty, breach of contract or breach of statutory duty on the part of us, our office holders, employees, agents or contractors. You further acknowledge and agree that you undertake the activities freely, voluntarily and absolutely at your own risk and with a full appreciation of the nature and extent of all risks involved in the activities. This waiver shall bind you and your heirs, assigns, executors and/or administrators and legal representatives.
In the event of you choosing to leave a tour at any time due to circumstances beyond/outside of NoTraces Bushwalking Australia control, you will not be entitled to a refund of any tour costs. In order to preserve your own and other’s safety, if you do not comply with the booking conditions, act in a way that neglects group safety or wilfully damages the environment or cultural sites, you may be asked to leave the tour or refused entry to the tour at your own expense and with no refund.
By signing, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the foregoing terms and conditions and agree that you and your heirs, executors, administrators, assigns and legal personal representatives shall be legally bound. They shall also bind you personally where you sign this booking in the capacity of parent/guardian of a minor.
If you are under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian MUST sign this booking form on your behalf therefore providing full consent for you to participate on the chosen tour.
Participant Name: ……………………………………………………………………
Signed:……………………………………………………………………………………..
Date: ………………………………………………………………………………………..
Parent/Legal Guardian of Minor Participant
Print Name:……………………………………………………………………………..
Signed:……………………………………………………………………………………..
Date:………………………………………………………………………………………..