Updated 6 February 2025

Driftwood Eco Tours Limited (“the Operator”).

 

​Thank you for choosing to tour with us. Please take time to peruse our Terms and Conditions to ensure a safe and enjoyable tour.

 

All activities including those in which you (“I” and “you” “the customer”) have booked to engage (“the activities”) do carry a degree of risk and by participating in the activities provided by the Operator you are expressly assuming those risks personally and to the maximum extent permitted by law, you release the Operator and its officers and employees from any liability, claims, losses, damages or expenses caused by any event including but not limited to:

 

• Personal injury or death.

• Property loss or damage.

• Acts which may be construed as negligent or accidental.

• Any other loss, damage, suffering, emotional or nervous disorder.

 

In participating in the activity, I, the customer, agree to the conditions set out above and consent to the Terms and Conditions set out below.

 

(a) I agree that my successors, executors, administrators and next-of-kin are bound by the Terms and Conditions.

​

(b) I agree not to commence any litigation or proceedings in any country in relation to the risks and perils I put myself at and to indemnify the Operator against any such claim.

​​

(c) I confirm that I am physically fit and suffer from no medical conditions which may be aggravated by the activity.

​

(d) I consent to receive medical treatment in the case of injury, or illness during the activity and to indemnify the Operator against any claims in respect of that treatment;

​

(e) I agree to listen to my guide, host, skipper, or boat staff, follow their instructions and make sure any children in my care do the same.

​

(f)  I understand that any person on tour who impacts on the safe and happy progress of the tour will be excluded without refund and their transfer home will be at their own expense.

​

1. The Operator accepts no responsibility for any loss or additional expenses arising from changes, delays or cancellations of the services and activities of the Operator.

​

2. The Operator recommends that all customers have up-to-date travel insurance arrangements in case of unforeseen circumstances.

​

3. Payment: If paying by credit card, the name that will appear on the cardholder’s statement will be “Driftwood Eco Tours”. All prices on this website are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include GST. There will be a merchant fee of 3% for processing credit or debit payments which will be caluculated at checkout. To avoid this charge, you can make payment by direct bank transfer.

​

4. Bookings: Advance bookings are essential for all trips. To confirm your reservation a $1,000 deposit or full payment must be received.

​

5. Changes to Booking: Please contact us as soon as possible if you need to change a booking. We will do our best to meet your needs.  However, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee if any part of the activity is cancelled.

​

6. The operator reserves the right to cancel, postpone & alter the content and duration of a tour at any time for any reason. This is to ensure the safety and comfort of the entire tour party.

​

7. Every participant is required to fill out a personal details form before their booking is confirmed. You are obliged to disclose any relevant health issues on the personal details form and disclose any new relevant health issues leading up to tour departure and during the tour.

​

8. Once your booking is confirmed you will be invoiced $1,000 of the tour cost. Failure to pay this by the due date could lead to cancellation of your booking.

​

9. The balance will be invoiced 120 days prior to departure date and is due to be paid 90 days prior to departure date. 

​

10. If a tour is booked within 90 days of departure, then full payment is required to request the booking.

​​

​

PAYMENT PROCEDURE

​

Payment of a deposit of $1,000 will secure your booking. The balance is to be paid 90 days prior to the tour departure date. 

​

The price includes all transport from the tour starting location, all accommodation and all meals.

​

Other snacks, beverages and alcohol are not included.

 

​

CANCELLATION POLICY

​

If you wish to cancel your tour for any reason, the terms and cancellation fees below will apply.  All cancellations must be advised to us by you in writing.  Advice of cancellation is not given or received by us until acknowledgement of receipt is provided by us in writing.  

​

Deposit:  The deposit you pay to us secures your tour booking and is non-refundable.  The balance of your tour cost must be paid no later than 90 days prior to your tour commencement date. If you fail to fulfil your payment obligations, Driftwood Eco Tours will send you a written reminder and you will have the opportunity to make immediate payment. Failure to make payment of the balance of your tour cost after this reminder will result in automatic cancellation of your booking and your deposit will not be refunded.

​

Cancellation following payment of the deposit and 90 days or more prior to your tour commencement date: If you cancel 90 days or more prior to your tour commencement date, your deposit will not be refunded. This can be held in credit for a future tour, or transferred to another person for use on our tours. This credit expires two years from the original tour departure date.

 

Cancellation following full payment and 90 days or less prior to your tour commencement date:  If you cancel your tour 90 days or less prior to your tour commencement date, a 50% cancellation fee applies (will not be refunded), plus any additional third-party cost will be retained. This cannot be held in credit.

 

Third-party provider cancellation fees:  Third-parties we make bookings with may have their own cancellation policies.  Where your tour includes bookings we have made through any third party, you may be liable to us or the third party provider for additional cancellation fees and costs.  ​

 

Force majeure events:  In the event that we are unable to offer a tour because of an unforeseen circumstance such as natural disaster, war, pandemic, government order or direction, disease, fire, terrorism or other similar event beyond our reasonable control, we will either re-book you on another tour at an agreed date or provide a refund to you less any unrecoverable costs we have incurred and any cancellation fees applied by third-party providers.

​

Minimim numbers: Each tour requires a minimum number of guests to proceed, this is stated under "Group Size" for each trip on our website. In the unlikely event that this minimum is not met, we reserve the right to cancel the tour. In such a case, we will contact you to discuss alternative options, which may include rescheduling, selecting a different tour, or receiving a full refund.

 

​

INSURANCE

​

​Your tour cost excludes personal insurance. We understand that cancellations can occur due to illness or unexpected events, therefore we recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that covers: 

​Equipment, personal belonging, transport disruption prior to and after the tour, additional food and accommodation if the tours is extended due to unforeseen circumstances, and medical events, accidents or illnesses that Driftwood Eco Tours or Third Parties may incur.​

​

We suggest that you make your travel and pre and post tour accommodation arrangements with flexibility.

​

​

ENVIRONMENT

​

To prevent the spread of weeds and pests please ensure that all clothing, shoes and equipment are clean and free of seeds before departure.

​

​

HEALTH & SAFETY

​

We prioritise the health and well-being of our guests and guides. Our health and safety measures are designed to minimise the risk of spreading illnesses such as gastric upsets, colds, and flu.

​

If you experience any symptoms of a gastric illness, cold, or flu within 72 hours (three days) before departure or at any point during the tour, you must inform us immediately. This allows us to take appropriate precautions to protect the group, guides and those we meet.

​

Our tours are designed for participants of all ages in good health. Each trip has a specified fitness level, which will be outlined in the tour details. While most activities are not strenuous, optional walks may require a moderate level of fitness.

 

You will need to carry your own essentials, such as a camera, extra clothing, food, and water. If you use hiking poles, we recommend bringing your own.

 

If you have any concerns about your fitness or physical ability, please contact us before booking to discuss suitability.

 

You must disclose any medical or physical conditions that could pose a risk to yourself or others. This includes completing the client details form before departure and updating us if any new conditions arise.

 

You are responsible for bringing your own medications for the full duration of the tour, including an extra supply in case of trip extensions due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.

 

While we will do our best to accommodate dietary needs, we cannot guarantee meeting specific medical or dietary requirements.

 

A gear list will be provided before departure. It is your responsibility to bring suitable clothing, footwear and equipment for the duration of the trip.

 

​

RESPONSIBILITY

​

The responsibility of Driftwood Eco Tours is strictly Limited. As a tour operator, Driftwood Eco Tours organises, promotes, and sells programs consisting of certain travel services that it purchases from various suppliers.

​

Driftwood Eco Tours does not own or operate any of these suppliers and as such is not responsible for any negligent or wilful act or failure of any supplier. By taking part in the tour, you agree that Driftwood Eco Tours shall not be liable for the above failings.

​

Driftwood Eco Tours cannot accept responsibility for losses or extra expenses caused by, but not limited to, delay or changes in any transportation services, weather, illness, injury, strike, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will be the sole responsibility of the participant.
 

Driftwood Eco Tours reserves the right to cancel or pospone any trip prior to commencement, whereupon paid funds will be refunded in full, but is not liable for any other trip preparation expenses such as, but not limited to, air ticket penalties, visa fees and medical treatments.

​

Driftwood Eco Tours reserves the right to substitute accommodations of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary or transport where deemed necessary. Where weather conditions or forces of nature restrict or prohibit trip activities, it reserves the right to alter the trip program and substitute alternative activities.

​

The personal details form must be filled out online, or signed hard copy by each participant prior to booking confirmation. No alterations to the personal details form will be accepted. We regret that we are unable to accept participation on any trip by any persons failing to comply, and no fees will be refunded.

​

All parts of the Terms and Conditions, and the personal details form shall be governed in all respects by and interpreted in accordance with the law within New Zealand.

​

By completing the separate personal details form you certify that you have read, fully understood and agree to abide by the Terms and Conditions and personal details form.

​

​

COMMUNICATIONS​​

​

We may use your Personal Information to contact you with newsletters, marketing or promotional materials and other information that is for businesses that may contact.​