Reservations

To make a reservation on a tour, read the terms & conditions pages, then either (i) complete the booking form on-line and submit it together with your deposit or (ii) print, complete and sign the booking form and return it to Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd with your deposit. Provisional bookings are accepted via telephone or email and must be followed up with a completed, signed booking form and deposit payment within 7 days. Your seat is not guaranteed until we have received the correct deposit payment. Day tours may be booked by phone or email and full payment is required within 5 days of booking to guarantee the tour.

Payment

Full payment of the tour cost is due 90 days prior to departure. Payment details are outlined on a page on the booking form entitled Payment options. Payments are to be made in the currency specified in the tour itinerary only, unless stated otherwise. Payment may be made by bank transfer or credit card (using Pin Payments). Clients are responsible for any fees incurred at both ends: credit card (using Pin Payments) payments attract a 1.95-4.5% surcharge (depending on the amount and origin of the funds) and international bank transfers attract a AU$15 surcharge. Domestic bank transfers are free. For Day tours, full payment is required within 5 days of booking. If the Day tour date falls within 5 days of booking, it may also be possible to settle in cash on the day of your tour.

Discounts

Discounts may be available to scheduled multi-day tours only. Many of our scheduled multi-day tours attract a AU$99 earlybird discount if you book 12 months or more in advance. A return-client discount may be applicable if you book a a scheduled multi-day  tour within 12 months of when you last booked a scheduled multi-day tour: in that case, you may receive 2% off your 2nd tour, 3% off your 3rd tour, 4% off your 4th tour and so on. If your bookings are made for tours within the same calendar year, discount applies to the cheaper tour(s). Some scheduled tours are excluded. You must inform us at the time of booking that you are a return-client to receive the discount. Each individual tour brochure will specify what, if any, discounts may be available. Discounts are subject to the discretion of Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd and subject to change at any time without notice. Any relevant discounts will be applied after receipt of your deposit.

Cancellation

All cancellations must be made in writing, stating the reason(s) for your cancellation and signed by the person(s) who signed the booking form and submitted to Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd. In the case of a scheduled tour, if the tour is not full at the time of your cancellation, you can choose to receive a receive a refund or a credit voucher in the currency of your original payment and to the value of your original payment minus a AU$55 administration fee per person and minus any non-refundable deposits we have made to ground agents or accommodation. Administration fees may be waived at the discretion of Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd. Credit vouchers are valid for 24 months from the date of your booking and can be used as payment towards any Bellbird-branded tour or product within that period. Credit vouchers can be used to pay for multiple tours over the duration of the voucher’s validity, if the value of your new booking is less than the value of the credit voucher. Monetary refunds are generally only issued on a case-by-case basis upon receipt of a written request and are granted at the sole discretion of Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd. No refunds of any kind will be made (i) if your cancellation results in the number of tour participants dropping to below minimum numbers resulting in the tour being at risk of not going ahead (unless we can replace your booking), or (ii) 90 days or less before to the commencement of a scheduled tour. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features should you decide not to participate fully or should it be necessary to make changes during the tour. In case of a cancellation of a private tour by the client any refunds will be made at the sole discretion of Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd. For pre-paid guided Day Tours, a monetary refund of the full amount is possible up to 5 days prior to departure minus a $25 administration fee and minus any applicable transaction fees (approx. AU$15 for international bank transfers).

Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd reserves the right to cancel any trip due to weather or other unsuitable conditions. In such a case a refund (minus any fees and non-refundable deposits we have made to ground agents or accommodation) of the tour price paid to date will be made to the participant.

Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd reserves the right to postpone or re-schedule any trip due to weather or other unsuitable conditions. If, as a result of this, you are unable to participate in the tour on the new dates, a credit voucher (minus any fees and non-refundable deposits we have made to ground agents or accommodation) to the value of the tour price paid to date will be issued to the participant.

Force Majeure: Neither party will be liable for failing to perform its obligations under this agreement as long as the failure is triggered by something beyond its reasonable control. Causes include, but are not limited to, pandemics, epidemics, work stoppages, natural disasters, acts of God, war, terrorism and others. In the event of a prolonged force majeure event, re-negotiation rights may be triggered and we will assist clients with obtaining alternatives.

Insurance

The purchase of travel insurance, including cancellation insurance, is strongly recommended, and for some tours, compulsory. Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd cannot accept liability for insurance costs, loss of deposits, airline cancellations or delays or penalties incurred by the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for this tour.

Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd cannot accept liability for any insurance costs if a tour is cancelled.

Tour Prices

The price of the tour is based on local prices in effect when the tour is designed and is subject to adjustment in the event of a large change therein.

What is included in the tour price

Specifics about what is included in each tour are described in the tour itinerary and normally consists of all travel as noted in the itinerary, lodging in hotels/motels or their equivalent unless otherwise indicated, all meals unless otherwise noted, tour materials and the tour guide services of the leader(s).

What is not included in the tour price

The tour price excludes all expenses incurred before the first official group assembly at the start of any tour and after the official end of the tour, travel insurance, passport charges, vaccination charges, visa charges, excess baggage charges, airport taxes, and meals and drinks en route to the tour. The tour price also excludes drinks (other than those provided), à la carte dishes on those occasions where the included meal is fixed-menu, breakfast upgrades from continental, snacks, laundry, telephone calls, private excursions, tips and anything else of a purely personal nature, including taxes, porterage, service charges and tips relating to such items.

In addition, should you decide not to accompany the group on a planned activity for any reason, you are responsible for the extra cost of any activity, acommodation or meals while the rest of the group is involved in the planned activity.

Should you arrive or depart at other than the official times of the tour, any additional expenses you incur are not included.

Surcharges

Unfortunately, the travel industry is suffering with highly fluctuating costs relating to fuel, flights, and an erratic world economy. We would like to offer complete price stability and will make every effort to do this, but because of the possibility of substantial transportation/fuel price increases, changes in ground agent prices, tax increases or negative exchange rate changes, we cannot guarantee prices until full payment has been received. While we will make every effort to avoid or absorb surcharges, Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd reserves the right to increase the price of a tour in the event of cost increases incurred by us that stem directly from increases in transportation costs (by air, land or water, and including increases in fuel costs), increases in government taxes, fees, dues or levies, or exchange rates.

Modification

Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd reserves the right to modify the itinerary, number of participants (on scheduled tours), tour leader, tour vehicle or any other aspect of the tour prior to and during any tour. While on tour if weather or other conditions require a change to the itinerary such a change will be discussed, as much as reasonably possible, with the clients but the final decision is made by the tour leader. If as a result of a change in the itinerary clients forgo an opportunity to see any particular bird species this does not entitle these clients to a refund. If due to unforeseen local road, weather or other conditions the duration of the tour needs to be shortened by more than one (1) day this will entitle clients to a reasonable refund to be calculated by Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd. If due to unforeseen local road, weather or other conditions the duration of the tour needs to be extended clients will not be charged commercial tour rates for the extension by Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd but clients will be required to pay for their own accommodation, food and all other expenses for the duration of the extension. Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd will not be liable for any costs incurred by clients due to a tour returning to its final destination earlier or later than scheduled.

Bird species

Birds are wild animals and no sightings of any species can be guaranteed. Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd will not be held responsible for clients not seeing any particular species.

Restrictions on Participation

Birding tours involve a variety of activities and can entail varying degrees of strenuous activity. Some destinations will require early morning starts and/or late returns as this maximizes our opportunities to find and see certain species. In preparation for each day, the activities will be described as accurately as possible. It may be necessary for participants to be able to complete walks of up to several kilometres over a wide variety of terrain, not necessarily on walking trails. While out in the field we may also encounter variable weather conditions including, but not limited to, heat, cold, wind, rain, and strong, bright sunshine. Participants should be in good health and if in doubt should consult a physician before undertaking a tour. If you have questions about the physical requirements of a tour, please contact our office for further information. It must be emphasized that if you do have a health problem or physical limitation, we need to know so we can be prepared in the case of an emergency. Further, we cannot provide any assurances with respect to safety, quality or other issues with respect to excursions not within the direct control or supervision of Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd. The participant assumes all risks and liabilities of his or her own activities not under the direct supervision of Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd.

There will be the opportunity for those of you who wish, to opt out of any particular excursion and do your own thing at your own expense. Anyone wishing to partake of an activity not within our bird watching program may only do this at their own expense and if it does not in any way interfere with the group’s schedule.

Small groups call for consideration from all participants so that all may enjoy the experience. Any antisocial behaviour (swearing, smoking in non-smoking areas, alcohol abuse etc) that could be detrimental to the enjoyment of a tour by the other group members, shall be deemed to be unacceptable. If there are complaints from other tour members and the leader finds any person unable to conduct themselves in a manner seen fit, the leader reserves the right to send them home at their own expense.

Smoking is prohibited on our scheduled tours from the first gathering of the group until the tour ends. For private tours, smoking is prohibited in tour vehicles, at any indoor venue, at any time the participants are gathered outdoors, as well as in many public places and conservation reserves.

Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd reserves the right to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of any tour for any reason.

Liability

The tour participant agrees that Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd is not liable for injury, death, damage, monetary loss or loss of property as a result of participating in any tour. Participants should make their own health and travel insurance arrangements. Travel insurance should cover unplanned costs, e.g., a plane not arriving due to inclement weather.

For and in consideration of the opportunity to participate in the tour, each tour participant agrees to release, indemnify, and hold harmless Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd, its agents, servants, employees, shareholders, officers, directors, solicitors and contractors as set forth herewith. Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd acts only as an agent for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by bus, boat, airplane, or by other means, and assumes no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity caused by defect in such vehicles or for any reason whatsoever, including the acts, defaults, or bankruptcies of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in the carrying out the arrangements of the tour. Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd accepts no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or charges in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. The tour participant shall bear all such losses and expenses.

Release of Liability

I have carefully read and accept the Terms and Conditions and the Cancellation Policy provided herein. Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd gives notice that it is only an agent to the owners and suppliers providing accommodations and guest services in those establishments. Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd assumes no responsibility for any delay, mishap, inconvenience, expense, injury or death or damage to property occasioned through acts of nature, detention, weather, quarantines, strikes or civil disturbances. Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd reserves the right to alter the itinerary and/or substitute vessels, hotels and transportation when deemed necessary or advisable in order to successfully operate the trip. I/we acknowledge that during a trip to a destination such as this and on a tour of this nature, certain risks and dangers may be involved, including but not limited to riverboat travel, hiking over slippery, muddy trails and rocky trails and underdeveloped areas, the forces of nature, and accident or illness in remote areas without means of rapid evacuation or availability of medical supplies and facilities. I am voluntarily participating in these activities with the knowledge of the element of risk dangers involved and hereby agree to assume any and all risks, including injury and death. I acknowledge that the enjoyment of a trip of adventure travel is derived in part from the inherent risks incurred by travel and activity beyond the accepted safety of life at home or work and that these inherent risks contribute to such enjoyment, being a reason for my participation. I understand that many risks are beyond the control of Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd. I therefore release and discharge (and will not make a claim against) Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd and its owners, agents, employees, heirs and contractors, for bodily injury, death, property damage resulting from negligence or any cause during or after participating on this tour. This release of liability is entered into on behalf of all members of my family. I certify that I have read the Terms and Conditions as well as the Release of Liability section and that am over 18 years of age. I understand that this is a legally binding and enforceable contract and sign it of my own free will. I agree that if any portion of this agreement is found to be void or unenforceable, the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.

Other

Many birds are sensitive and/or rare. Many of our bird’s locations are the result of many hours or days’ worth of work by our guides and are therefore considered Bellbird’s Intellectual Property. Therefore the recording of these locations by use of Global Positioning System (GPS) devices of any kind (including, but not limited to, hand-held GPS devices, GPS apps on mobile/cell phones etc.) is prohibited during the tour. Furthermore, disclosure of species’ locations in the public domain is also prohibited. The use of apps such as e-bird is only allowed at the discretion and direction of the tour leader / guide. By booking this tour you agree to these requirements. If you are in breach of these requirements your participation in the tour may be terminated at the tour leader’s discretion, without any refunds payable to you for the unused portion of the tour.

Our covid-19 policy and information page can be found here.

Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd reserves the right to substitute hotels (of similar category where available) for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary.

Participants should prepare for the tour by reading the itinerary, and other pertinent matter recommended by Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd. Each participant is responsible for bringing appropriate clothing and equipment as recommended.

Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd retains the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. This page was last updated on 14 June 2023.