Terms of Service
Last Updated: 30 May 2026
1. General Terms
Service Description
Kingfisher Birding provides guided birding tours and expeditions in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, including day tours, multi-day expeditions, and private charters. Kingfisher Birding is a pre-pay service.
Acceptance of Terms
By booking with us, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. If you do not accept these terms, please do not proceed with booking a tour.
Age
Tours are suitable for guests aged 14 and over.
2. Bookings & Cancellations
Booking Confirmation
All bookings are subject to confirmation. You will receive a confirmation via SMS and email.
Payment Terms - Day Tours and Half-Day Tours
Full payment is due at the time of booking.
Date Hold - Multi-Day Expeditions
A fully refundable date hold of AU$500 per booking is available to secure your preferred dates while you finalise your decision. The date hold is fully refundable if cancelled before the 20% deposit is due. Once the 20% deposit is paid, the date hold amount is applied to that deposit. The 20% deposit is due six months prior to departure.
Price validity
Tour prices are confirmed when your 20% deposit is received. If costs increase materially before your deposit is due, we will contact you with a revised price. You are under no obligation to proceed. A full refund of your date hold will be issued with no administration fee.
Payment Terms - Multi-Day Expeditions
- 20% deposit at the time of booking.
- 50% of total tour cost due 90 days before tour start.
- Balance due 60 days before tour start.
Estimate a refund
Refund calculator
Enter an amount you have paid to see the refund at each cancellation stage.
Defaults to the AU$500 date hold.
Before your 20% deposit is due
Date hold fully refundable
90 or more days before departure
Full refund less AU$200 admin fee
60 to 89 days before departure
50% refund
30 to 59 days before departure
25% refund
Within 30 days of departure
No refund
All amounts in Australian dollars including GST. Estimates are calculated on the amount you enter. Full expedition booking terms, including the cancellation and refund schedule, are confirmed in writing at the time of reservation.
All payments are subject to the cancellation policy below. Refunds, where due, are calculated against the total tour cost - not against amounts paid to date.
Cancellation Policy - Day Tours and Half-Day Tours
Cancel any time up to 24 hours before your tour and we will refund you in full, no questions asked. Cancellations within 24 hours of departure are non-refundable. If we cancel for any reason, you receive a full refund.
Cancellation Policy - Multi-Day Expeditions
Full expedition booking terms, including our cancellation and refund schedule, are provided personally at the time of reservation and form part of your booking agreement. To discuss terms before committing, get in touch.
If we cancel
We are committed to running every confirmed departure. A tour is confirmed once the minimum of 2 guests have paid their 20% deposit. Once confirmed, we will not cancel except in the event of circumstances genuinely beyond our control, such as severe weather making access impossible or a declared natural disaster. In that event you will receive a full refund or, at your option, a transfer to a future departure. We are not liable for other costs you may have incurred such as flights or accommodation.
Weather
Tours run rain or shine. The Wet Tropics is a rainforest - wet days are part of the experience and often produce excellent birding. We do not provide refunds for weather-affected days. In the event of severe weather that makes tours unsafe or access roads impassable, we will reschedule where possible or refund in full.
3. Pricing
Tour prices are listed on each tour page and confirmed at the time of booking.
4. Payments
We accept payments via Stripe, including:
- Credit/Debit Cards
- Digital Wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Online Payment Links
For multi-day expeditions, customers receive automatic reminders via SMS and email when payment is due. Failure to pay by the due date may result in cancellation of the booking.
5. Customer Responsibilities
- Provide accurate booking details, including accommodation address for hotel pickups and flight information where relevant.
- Notify us immediately of delays, cancellations, or changes to travel plans.
- Arrive at the agreed pickup point at the scheduled time.
- Be reasonably mobile and able to walk on uneven rainforest tracks for the duration of the tour. If you have mobility considerations, please contact us before booking and we’ll advise on suitability.
6. Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that all guests hold comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation, medical expenses, and travel disruption. For multi-day expeditions and any tours involving fly-in extensions, travel insurance is essential. Many policies require purchase within 14 days of booking to cover pre-existing conditions.
7. Liability
Kingfisher Birding is not responsible for delays caused by extreme weather, road closures, traffic conditions, or vehicle breakdowns. In such events, we will make reasonable efforts to provide alternative arrangements or reschedule. Customers are responsible for their personal belongings.
8. Privacy
We are committed to protecting your data. See our full Privacy Policy.
9. Complaints & Feedback
Contact us at tours@kingfisherbirding.com. We aim to resolve all issues promptly and fairly.
10. Amendments
We reserve the right to update these terms at any time. Significant changes will be communicated via our website or email.