Terms & Conditions
These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your participation in any experience operated by Yarra Bend Tours (“we,” “our,” “us”). By booking, participating, or attending a tour, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms.
1. Bookings, Payment & Confirmation
All bookings must be made in advance via our official website, approved booking platforms, or directly with Yarra Bend Tours.
Full payment is required at the time of booking to secure your place on the tour.
Upon successful booking and payment, you will receive a confirmation email with tour details, meeting instructions, and contact information.
It is your responsibility to check your booking details and notify us immediately of any errors.
2. Cancellations & Changes by You
We understand that sometimes plans change unexpectedly. If you wish to cancel your booking, please notify us as soon as possible by emailing us at contact@yarrabendtours.com.au. Our cancellation policy is designed to be fair and flexible while ensuring we can operate sustainably:
If you cancel more than 5 days prior to the scheduled tour date, you will be entitled to a full refund, the option to reschedule your tour to a future date, or a credit note for use at a later time.
For cancellations made between 5 days and 24 hours before the tour, you may reschedule your booking to an available alternative date or transfer your place to another person. A $15 administrative fee will apply to all booking changes within 5 days of departure. Please note, no refunds will be issued during this period.
If you cancel within 24 hours of the tour start time or do not attend the tour as scheduled, you will forfeit the full booking fee. Transfers to another participant may be allowed provided you notify us of the replacement person’s details at least 12 hours in advance.
For this reason we strongly recommend you consider travel insurance as a part of your trip planning.
To cancel or reschedule, please email us directly, referencing your booking name, date, and contact information.
3. Cancellations & Changes by Yarra Bend Tours
While we make every effort to operate our tours as scheduled, circumstances may occasionally require alterations or cancellations, including but not limited to:
Severe weather or safety hazards
Unexpected park closures
Public safety concerns
Insufficient bookings (we require a minimum of 5 passengers to run a trip)
Staff illness or unavailability
If we need to cancel your booking, we will notify you via email or phone as soon as possible. In such cases, you will be offered the option to reschedule your tour, receive a full refund, or request a credit note for future use. Minor changes to itineraries, routes, timing, or guides may occur without notice for operational or safety reasons, and such changes do not qualify for refunds.
4. Weather Policy
Our walking tours are designed to operate in a range of weather conditions, including light rain or heat, reflecting the unpredictability of outdoor experiences. Participants are expected to dress appropriately for the weather and to check the local forecast before attending.
However, tours may be cancelled or modified if conditions are deemed unsafe, such as during thunderstorms, extreme heat warnings, high winds, flooding, or other hazardous situations. Should we need to cancel a tour due to weather, participants will be promptly notified and offered the option to reschedule, receive a full refund, or obtain a tour credit valid for future bookings.
5. Minimum Age & Physical Requirements
The minimum age to participate in any Yarra Bend Tours experience is 14 years old. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, who assumes full responsibility for their supervision and conduct during the tour.
Our experiences involve walking on uneven natural surfaces, park trails, and occasionally challenging terrain for up to 2 hours. A moderate level of fitness, mobility, and balance is required. By booking a tour, you confirm that you and any accompanying participants meet these requirements and are physically capable of completing the walk without assistance.
If you have any injuries, medical conditions, or other concerns that could affect your participation, you must inform us at the time of booking. It is your responsibility to judge whether you are physically fit to participate, and we reserve the right to decline participation where safety is at risk.
6. Accessibility
We strive to make our experiences as inclusive as possible. However, our trails and routes are not be suitable for people with limited mobility, prams, or wheelchairs due to uneven or unpaved surfaces.
If you have specific accessibility needs or concerns, please contact us before booking and we will do our best to accommodate you or suggest alternative experiences.
7. Participant Conduct & Responsibility
All participants are expected to behave in a respectful and considerate manner towards our guides, other participants, wildlife, and the natural environment. Our tours are built around shared enjoyment, community, and nature conservation.
Participants must follow the guide’s instructions at all times for their safety and the smooth operation of the tour. You are expected to remain with the group, stay on designated trails, and avoid any actions that could endanger yourself or others.
Disruptive, dangerous, or disrespectful behaviour towards guides, fellow participants, or the environment will not be tolerated. Yarra Bend Tours reserves the right to remove any participant from a tour without refund if their conduct breaches these expectations or puts others at risk.
8. Photography & Media Consent
We frequently capture photographs and videos during our tours for promotional use on our website, social media, brochures, and other marketing materials. By participating in our tours, you grant Yarra Bend Tours permission to use your image, likeness, and voice captured during the experience for these purposes without compensation.
If you do not wish to appear in photographs or videos, it is your responsibility to inform the guide at the start of the tour. We will respect your privacy and do our best to exclude you from media content.
9. Assumption of Risk & Waiver
Participation in outdoor walking tours involves inherent risks, including but not limited to slips, trips, falls, exposure to weather, and interaction with wildlife or natural hazards. While we prioritise safety and take reasonable precautions to reduce risk, participants acknowledge and accept these inherent risks as part of the experience.
By joining a Yarra Bend Tours experience, you agree to participate at your own risk. You release, indemnify, and hold harmless Yarra Bend Tours, its owners, staff, contractors, and affiliates from any claims, liability, damages, or expenses arising from your participation, except where such claims are caused by our proven negligence.
You may be required to sign a physical or digital waiver prior to participating in the tour. Failure to sign the waiver will result in exclusion from the tour, and no refund will be provided.
10. Personal Belongings
While every care is taken during the tour, Yarra Bend Tours does not accept responsibility for the loss, theft, or damage of personal belongings or valuables brought on the tour. We recommend carrying only essential items and leaving valuable possessions at home. You remain responsible for your personal property at all times during the tour.
11. Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included. We recommend you have appropriate insurance, including a cancellation policy.
12. Liability Waiver
I understand and agree that it is my responsibility to ensure I have adequate personal travel insurance that covers outdoor recreational activities, including hiking.
13. Privacy & Data Protection
Your personal information is collected solely for the purposes of processing your booking, managing your participation in the tour, and communicating important information about the experience. We respect your privacy and will not share your information with third parties, except where required by law or with your explicit permission.
We may occasionally use your contact details to send you relevant updates, newsletters, or promotional offers. You may opt out of these communications at any time by contacting us directly or using the unsubscribe link provided in our emails.
For further information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.
Any disputes arising from participation in Yarra Bend Tours will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria.
If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions, your booking, or your participation, please contact us at:
Yarra Bend Tours
Email: contact@yarrabendtours.com.au