Booking Conditions
Last update: 20 May 2023
1. Payment
We accept payment by:
- credit card (VISA or MASTERCARD)*
- direct credit (ALPINE RECREATION CANTERBURY LTD, 06-0889-0090265-00, ANZ Bank Timaru, NEW ZEALAND. Swift code: ANZBNZ22)**
- cheque (New Zealand residents only)
* A 2% bank fee applies to all payments made by credit or debit cards.
** International banks may charge additional transaction fees.
1a. Deposit payment
A non-refundable deposit is payable to secure a booking:
- A NZ$300 deposit is required for all bookings.
Please note that we do require a minimum of two participants to run trips that have a maximum 1:4 guide-client ratio. If a trip does not reach minimum numbers then you have the option of transferring to another trip, getting a full refund or paying extra for a 1:1 guide-client ratio.
1b. Balance payment
The remaining balance of the trip price (including any applicable discounts) is due 60 days prior to departure. If you have already paid the balance and have to cancel due to Covid-19 then we will refund you the full amount of the balance.
1c. Surcharges
- Overtime: if your trip is extended beyond its end date (eg. being unable to fly out due to weather), you will be required to pay a per day surcharge to cover your guide's wages and any hut fees for use of non-Alpine Recreation huts.
1d. Group Bookings
Group bookings are welcomed by us and save us a significant amount of administration work IF group members book all at once. Hence, we like to reward our guests who book as a group with competitive discounts. We have created a few rules to define a “group booking”. If your group of 3 or more likes to make use of the Alpine Recreation group booking discount, your group must all book together and complete the following within 2 WEEKS of confirmation of the first bookings with Alpine Recreation office staff:
- ALL group members must submit their enrolment form
- ALL group members must pay their deposit
- Adding other people later on will be treated as separate new single bookings.
Please note: Confirmation is done via email with a “group leader” (the person who did most of the communication about trip date and location with ARC staff).
2. Cancellation and Refund Policy
Taking out insurance for trip cancellation is highly recommended. This can cover you for loss of deposits should you be unable to participate in the trip due to personal reasons.
- Cancellations received more than 50 days before departure: full refund less the non-refundable deposit.
- Cancellations received within 31 to 50 days of departure: 50% refund of the total trip price.
- Cancellations received within 30 days of departure: no refund.
Credit / debit card and bank transaction fees are non-refundable.
3. Participation Policy to suppress Covid-19 spread
From 4 April 2022 Alpine Recreation (ARC) activities no longer fall under the requirements of mandated vaccination. Vaccination is still recommended, but a vaccine pass will no longer be required to participate in any ARC activities.
There are no specific ARC guidelines on Covid 19 in place at the moment. Please follow the guidelines on the NZ Unite Against Covid Website.
4. Rescue / Evacuation
In the case of injury, where a participant needs urgent medical attention the guide will activate a RESCUE call-out. New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre will organise this at no cost to the participant. However, if there is to be a delay in rescue services reaching the injury site AND/OR the injury is manageable without professional medical support (trained paramedic, rescue helicopter, etc.), then it is possible for Alpine Recreation to organise a private EVACUATION, which would be at the cost of the injured person, as such a cost is not included in the trip price for obvious reasons.
In the case of a lack of fitness, for example with a Ball Pass Crossing, where a person is not able to reach Caroline Hut or is not fit enough to continue with the group, then he/she may need to pay an extra fee of NZ$500, to cover the costs of an additional guide to evacuate him/her and transport. The participant will be liable for his/her own accommodation/meal expenses outside the tour in such a case.
5. Changes
The operators reserve the right to alter, amend or cancel any tour, should weather or any other situation demand this. When you enrol for a mountain activity you are purchasing the services and professional judgement of your guide, who will make the best decision at the time, taking into account the weather, the snow, ice and route conditions, and your abilities and fitness. Alpine Recreation can make no guarantee that you will achieve your goal, because of these varying factors and safety has to be the overriding consideration. In case weather forces you to remain in the mountains longer than intended, then you will need to pay the guide's wages and your hut fees for the extra day(s). (Our guides are very good at judging the weather and timing your exit to avoid this happening.)
For further details please refer to our Bad Weather Policies:
6. Liability
While we do our best to minimise risk, we cannot eliminate it entirely. Alpine Recreation Canterbury Ltd and its agents finalise all arrangements for these tours upon the express condition that they shall not be liable for loss of life, injury, illness, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of weather or any defect in any vehicle or aircraft or through the acts of default of any company or persons engaged in conveying the passengers or carrying out of arrangements of the tours. The New Zealand Accident Compensation scheme applies. All clients need to read and accept our risk disclosure before starting their tour. These conditions are subject to any rights or remedies a customer has under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, or any other New Zealand law.