Wilderness adventure journeys can be inherently dangerous recreational activities, with the ever present risk of injury.
Natural Rhythms will take every precaution to ensure your safety and enjoyment, but you will be participating in the journeys at your own risk.
Many of our journeys will be in remote locations where access to medical care can be limited and evacuations difficult.
There is always the possibility of a disruption to original journeys due to unforeseen circumstances.
These terms and conditions limit the liability of Natural Rhythms and define your rights and obligations.
Please read them carefully.
Booking
1. To book either read and agree to these terms and conditions, contact us and pay a deposit of AU$100 per person. OR send a deposit of AU$100 per person together with your signed booking form, to Natural Rhythms
The balance of your trip cost is due 30 days before departure. We will send you a tax invoice and our bank details. Direct credit is the preferred payment method of balances.
Cancellation by client
2. These cancellation fees apply if you cancel your booking:
>> If you cancel your booking more than 30 days prior to departure – the deposit not refunded
>> If you cancel your booking between 30 days and 8 days prior to departure – 75% of the trip cost is not refunded / is payable.
>> If you cancel your booking 7 days or less prior to departure – 100% of the trip cost is not refunded / is payable.
Cancellations must be in writing and preferably be sent by email (info@naturalrhythms.com.au). Cancellation charges may be recoverable on your travel insurance.
Transfers and re-sales
3. If you cancel your booking less than 30 days prior to departure, Natural Rhythms will make every reasonable effort to re-sell your booking. If so, you will be refunded the amount received on the re-sale, less the cancellation fee payable. However, Natural Rhythms is under no obligation to take extraordinary measures to try to fill your spot on the trip. You may at your own expense, try to sell the booking yourself. If need to cancel close to departure and let us know, we will normally offer you a position on another tour on a sub-load basis. There is normally no charge to transfer to another trip of equal duration to the trip booked, if enough notice is given.
There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early.
Itinerary alteration by Natural Rhythms
4. Natural Rhythms offers true expedition experiences, the weather can be unpredictable and you should follow the clothing lists provided closely. The weather conditions can also lead to dramatic changes in journeys that can mean changes to planned itineraries. You accept whatever alterations to itineraries that Natural Rhythms decides to make in these circumstances.
Cancellation by Natural Rhythms and minimum numbers
5. In the unlikely event that Natural Rhythms cancels your tour before the scheduled meeting time and departure date, we will offer you alternative arrangements or we will refund all your payments made to Natural Rhythms.
We will not be liable for any additional costs incurred by you.
All tours are subject to minimum numbers. Your tour can usually be confirmed thirty days before departure.
If we cancel a trip soon after it has started, we may offer a partial refund less our expenses or another trip, at our discretion.
Included
6. Included in the trip cost are all technical and safety equipment needed, professional guides, all transport to/from Hobart, satellite phone for emergency communications, meals whilst on the river and group camping equipment.
Not Included
7. Not included in the trip cost are airfares, travel insurance, sleeping bag, sleeping mats, extra meals, drinks, and any items of a personal nature. Check our website or your itinerary for any changes and additional exclusions.
Risk Warning and Liability Waiver
8. Risk Warning: Recreational activities such as white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, walking, climbing, descending, canyoning, camping, caving, 4 wheel driving and other wilderness activities involve significant risk of physical harm, including personal injury, permanent disability and/or even death. Such harm may result from your own actions, or the actions and/or omissions of others. This warning constitutes a risk warning for the purposes of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (Tas).
Liability Waiver: You will be required to sign a paper copy of this form and a liability waiver at the pre departure meeting for your tour.
A copy of the Liability Waiver will be emailed upon booking or is available beforehand by request.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING RISKS, DANGERS AND SAFETY.–IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK
9. Please do not book this trip if you believe it to be perfectly safe. IT IS NOT. While your guides are skilled and experienced, they are unable to guarantee protection from all risks. YOU MUST A. Pay close attention to and follow safety instructions, particularly the pre activity safety talk. B. Take responsibility for avoiding or minimizing risks and C. Develop a questioning attitude. D Watch the safety videos before you start.
10. Once expeditions have commenced it may be very difficult to leave this tour before, or in some situations, after its scheduled finish date, for operational reasons.
If you are ever feeling uncomfortable in a situation please communicate with your guide(s) and we'll do our best to accommodate to your needs.
11. Some of our expeditions takes place in a remote wilderness setting. Should an accident occur or a serious medical condition occur, it may take hours or even days to get professional medical attention and evacuation may be difficult and prolonged.
12. Activities may include, but are not limited to, carrying equipment for safety and existence, preparing food for consumption and adventurous pursuits such as white water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, walking, climbing, descending, canyoning, camping, caving, 4 wheel driving and other activities. Settings may include but are not limited to wild rivers, highways or roads, forests, mountains, snowfields, cliff faces, caves, beaches and lakes.
13. Each activity has many associated risks (hazards and perils). These dangers may include but are not limited to, risks of walking on slippery, uneven, steep and unstable ground, consumption of alcohol, rockfall, tree fall, avalanches, lightning, flash floods, swiftly moving water, extremes of weather and temperature (including sudden and unexpected change), offensive animals, poisonous plants, poisonous snakes, poisonous insects and spiders, equipment malfunctions or misuse, human misjudgement and motor vehicle accident. There are hazards of travelling in a raft, canoe, or kayak in rough and turbulent river/ocean conditions, including being thrown into unfamiliar water, diving into shallow water, water fights, swimming, entrapment under the water, using paddles and other equipment and other risks related to water activities and physical exertion which are unaccustomed.
14. Safety procedures are taken to provide some protection against risks. These procedures include but are not limited to: using safety equipment such as helmets, personal flotation devices and ropes, instruction and demonstration, avoiding dangers by detouring, modifying or aborting an endeavour.
15. Potential accidents include, but are not limited to, drowning, hypothermia (cold exposure), hyperthermia (heat stroke), falls, food poisoning, cuts, sprains, bruises, fractures, arterial bleeding, concussion, spinal cord damage and death. Participants must do everything possible to help reduce the potential for accidents. Accidents occur when human and environmental dangers combine. You have the fundamental responsibility to act in a safe and alert manner and thus avoid accidents.
16. The activities you will be engaged in do often require a reasonable level of physical fitness and agility. If you are unsure of your ability to participate because of your physical or mental condition you should contact Natural Rhythms and/or speak with a physician prior to booking a trip. If you require any medications, you should ensure you take enough with you to last the trip. Any medication you take with you is your responsibility.
DISPUTES
17. This contract is formed in Tasmania a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, and our trips will be carried out in that state. As such it is subject to the laws, first of Tasmania and second of the Commonwealth of Australia. Any legal action arising out of any contract with Natural Rhythms can be heard only in a Tasmanian court, or may be appealed to an appropriate Commonwealth Court. Relevant legislation includes, in Tasmania, the Civil Liability Act 2002, the Motor Accidents Insurance Board act, and the Fair Trading Act, and for the Commonwealth, the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 as amended, and the non-excludable and applicable legislation of any other state of Australia.
18. If any part of these terms and conditions or booking information is determined by a court to be unenforceable, the remainder of the booking information, terms and conditions shall be unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect.