Updated 13th June 2022

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.

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(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.

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

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(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;

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(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.

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(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.

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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.

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

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 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 fee of 3.5% for processing a visa payment.

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4. Bookings: Advance bookings are essential for all trips. To confirm your reservation a 50% deposit or a full payment must be received.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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8. Once confirmed you will be invoiced 50% of the tour cost. Failure to pay this by the due date could lead to cancellation of your booking.

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9. The balance with be invoiced 3 calendar months prior to departure date and is due to be paid 2 months prior to departure date. 

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PAYMENT PROCEDURE

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Payment of a deposit of 50% will secure your booking. The balance is to be paid two months prior to the tour. 

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The price includes all transport ex-your departure point, all accommodation and all meals.

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Other snacks, beverages and alcohol are not included.

 

 CANCELLATION POLICY

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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.  

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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 two calendar months 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.   

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Cancellation following payment of the deposit and 30 days or more prior your tour commencement date:  If you cancel 30 days or more prior to your tour commencement date, your deposit will not be refunded and a cancellation fee equivalent to 50% of your total tour cost (including the deposit you have paid) will apply plus any cancellation fees applied by third-party providers.

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Cancellation following payment of the deposit and 29 days or less prior your tour commencement date:  If you cancel your tour 29 days or less prior to your tour commencement date, your deposit will not be refunded and a cancellation fee equivalent to your total tour cost (including the deposit you have paid) will apply.

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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.  

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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.

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We understand that cancellations can occur due to illness or unexpected events therefore we recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance.

 

TRANSFERS

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Blenheim and surrounding area are free of charge.

 

RESPONSIBILITY

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The responsibility of Driftwood Ecotours 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.

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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.

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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 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.

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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.

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The personal details form must be filled out and signed 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.

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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.

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By signing 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

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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