Terms and Conditions

Check-in

Guests are not eligible for refunds or other compensation if they are late for either trip and miss their experience departure. Guests who wish to rebook must pay the full cost of the new booking. All experiences are subject to availability.

Inclement Weather

Stargazing Wanaka is unable to guarantee full clarity, ideal skies, or visibility of certain objects on its outdoor experiences. Both of our stargazing tours, the Airport or the Island are weather-dependent. In the event, that no stargazing is possible due to inclement weather conditions, customers are offered the options below.

Reschedule to a different night, if availability permits.
Retain your booking and it remains valid for 12 months from the date of your original booking. Once a booking has been open dated you can no longer cancel it to receive a refund.
In the event the above option is not suitable, full refunds are available.

Light Pollution

To minimize light pollution, guests are prohibited from using, or bringing, any white lights, including but not limited to LCD screens, flash photography, illuminated mobile phones, flashlights, torches, light-up shoes, etc. There may be an occasion at the airport where we have to maintain a dark profile due to an Emergency Helicopter arriving. This only prevents us from using our laser pointer and does not stop the experience.

Health and Safety

Health and safety are paramount – Stargazing Wanaka reserves the right to refuse guests participation in tours should they not meet the health and safety, or operational requirements set out below. In such circumstances, guests are not eligible for a refund.
Guests must abide by all rules and policies stipulated by Stargazing Wanaka and its representatives, including any safety briefings given both on land or boat-based experiences.
Lifejackets must be worn on all nighttime activities. A full safety briefing will be conducted in the use of lifejackets as well as safety on the vessel by the Skipper in charge.
No alcohol or Drugs permitted: Smoking-Vaping or alcohol/drug consumption is not permitted during any stargazing experience.
If guests are considered to be under the influence of alcohol, causing undue disruption or negatively impacting other guest’s experience, they may be removed from the experience at our discretion. In this instance, no refund will be given.
Children Policy: All children must be actively supervised by a parent or guardian to ensure minimal disruption to other guests. A minimum ratio of 1 adult to two children is required. The Boat Experience is restricted to children 11 years and over. The Airport Experience is open to children 5 years and over.
Minimum Clothing Requirements: Warm clothing is essential on all our outdoor experiences regardless of the season. The winter is cold in Otago which means it is cold at night in winter and cool during the summer months. Please dress adequately for the conditions. The following is a minimum guide only:
- Flat, warm, and comfortable footwear suitable for walking on uneven terrain - Hiking trainers are suitable for the boat experience at a minimum.
- Wind-proof jackets, thermals, with full-length warm pants
- Hats and gloves may be essential in winter.
Please note: glowing, flashing or light-up shoes or clothing is strictly prohibited due to night vision issues.
Language: All tours are conducted in English. For health and safety purposes, guests must have sufficient ability to communicate and/or understand the language of their tour to follow any instructions from our team.

Changes to bookings

To cancel or amend an existing booking, please contact us on 0800 555 700 or info@adventurewanaka.com with your booking reference, full name, and change request. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response.

Cancellations

Third-party bookings: If you have booked through a booking agent or third party, please contact them for their cancellation terms and conditions as they may differ to the below and any refunds will need to be processed through them.
Direct Bookings: For individual direct bookings you may cancel up to 48 hours before the experience departure time and receive a full refund to the card used to confirm the booking. If you cancel within 48 hours of the experience departure time you are not entitled to any refund for any reason. If you require any documentation to assist in claiming with your travel insurance provider please email us, we will be more than happy to assist.
Please note that for group reservations of 10 or more guests, no refunds will be given within 7 days of the date of the experience.
Any refund will be made to the same card used to confirm the booking. If you have booked through a third party or booking agent, refunds will be processed through them.

Payment Terms

The name of the business that will appear on your bank/credit card statements will be our parent company Cochrane & Brown Limited. Your account will be charged in New Zealand Dollars. Confirmation of direct bookings will be only confirmed when full payment has been received.

Contact

Please contact us on 0800 555 700, or info@adventurewanaka.com