Terms & Conditions

01. About Traverse South & Our Role

1.1 Business Identity

Traverse South is a New Zealand-based adventure travel coordination and logistics service. Business registration number: NZBN 9429053785237. Our registered contact address and principal place of business is in New Zealand.

1.2 Agency Relationship

Traverse South acts exclusively as a booking agent and logistics coordinator on your behalf. We are not the principal provider of any physical activity, transport, guiding, aviation, or marine service. All activities, helicopter flights, vessel charters, and guiding services are operated by independent, third-party professional operators (“Operators”).

When you make a booking through Traverse South, two separate contractual relationships are formed: (a) a service contract between you and Traverse South for our booking, coordination, and logistics services; and (b) a separate contract between you and the relevant Operator for the physical delivery of the activity. Traverse South is not a party to the contract between you and the Operator.

1.3 Operator Standards

Traverse South engages only with Operators who hold the relevant New Zealand regulatory certifications applicable to their activity type. These may include, but are not limited to: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Part 135 Air Operator Certificates for helicopter operations; Maritime New Zealand survey certificates for vessel operations; and registration with WorkSafe New Zealand as required under the Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016. All certifications are the ongoing responsibility of the Operator and are independently maintained.

Our engagement with an Operator does not constitute a guarantee or warranty as to the Operator’s safety performance, quality of delivery, or conduct on any specific occasion.

02. Booking Confirmation & Acceptance of Terms

2.1 Formation of a Booking

A booking is confirmed when Traverse South issues a written booking confirmation to you via email. This confirmation constitutes acceptance of your booking request and establishes the service agreement between you and Traverse South. No binding booking exists until confirmation is issued and full or agreed partial payment has been received.

2.2 Acceptance of Terms

By proceeding past the checkout stage of any booking, or by submitting a booking enquiry and subsequently confirming your booking, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these Terms in full. You also acknowledge that you will be bound by the individual terms and conditions of the relevant Operator(s) applicable to your activities, a copy of which will be provided to you or made accessible at the point of booking.

2.3 Accuracy of Information

You are responsible for ensuring that all personal information, participant details, health declarations, and special requirements you provide at the time of booking are accurate and complete. Traverse South and the Operator rely on this information to safely execute your expedition. Providing inaccurate or incomplete information may result in cancellation without refund and may affect safety outcomes.

03. Pricing, Payments & Fees

3.1 Pricing and Currency

All prices displayed on the Traverse South website and in booking confirmations are quoted in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) and include Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the prevailing rate, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Prices are subject to change at any time prior to the issuance of a booking confirmation.

3.2 Inclusions and Exclusions

Each booking confirmation will specify the activities, services, and fees included in your package price. Items not listed as included — including but not limited to international and domestic airfares, accommodation unless specified, meals unless specified, personal gear, travel insurance, and personal expenses — are the responsibility of the client.

3.3 Booking and Service Fees

Traverse South may charge a service fee for the provision of its coordination and logistics services. Where applicable, any service fee will be clearly disclosed in your booking summary prior to payment being taken. Service fees are generally non-refundable unless otherwise stated.

3.4 Payment Security

All payment transactions are processed through our secure third-party payment infrastructure. Traverse South does not directly collect, store, or process your credit card or banking details on its own servers. Your payment data is handled in accordance with the security standards of our payment processor.

3.5 Pricing Errors

In the event that a product or service is listed at an incorrect price due to a typographical error or system error, Traverse South reserves the right to cancel the affected booking and refund any amount paid. We will contact you promptly in such circumstances.

04. Weather, Operator Cancellations & Disruptions

4.1 Operator-Initiated Cancellations

Traverse South engages with Operators in environments subject to significant and unpredictable weather variability, including alpine, aerial, and marine conditions. Operators retain full and sole discretion to cancel or suspend any activity at any time on the grounds of weather conditions, safety assessment, weight or capacity limits, mechanical requirements, or any other operational consideration they deem necessary. This discretion cannot be overridden by Traverse South or by the client.

4.2 Disruption Management

In the event of an Operator-initiated cancellation or significant disruption, Traverse South will make all reasonable efforts to contact you promptly and present available alternatives. Alternatives may include rescheduling to a confirmed available date, substitution with a comparable activity, or, where neither is feasible, a full refund of the affected activity module.

Traverse South does not guarantee that any specific alternative will be available and is not responsible for consequential losses arising from an Operator cancellation, including but not limited to costs of connecting transport, accommodation, or other arrangements made independently by the client.

4.3 Refunds for Operator-Initiated Cancellations

If an Operator-initiated cancellation occurs and no acceptable alternative is made available by Traverse South, or you elect not to proceed with the offered alternative, you are entitled to a full refund of the amounts paid for the cancelled activity. This refund will be processed to the original payment method within 5–10 business days of your election being confirmed in writing.

Traverse South’s liability in respect of an Operator-initiated cancellation is limited to the refund of amounts paid for the specific affected activity module.

05. Client Cancellations & Refund Policy

5.1 How to Cancel

All client-initiated cancellations must be submitted in writing to Traverse South via email at contact@traversesouth.co.nz. The date of cancellation is the date on which written notice is received by Traverse South during business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm NZST).

5.2 Operator Cancellation Windows

Because Traverse South acts as an agent for independent Operators, the refund entitlement for a client-initiated cancellation is governed by the cancellation policy of the specific Operator(s) involved in your booking. Each Operator’s applicable cancellation window will be clearly stated in your booking confirmation. As a general guide, Operator cancellation windows typically range from 24 to 72 hours prior to the scheduled activity departure time; however, the specific window for each activity is determinative.

5.3 Cancellations Outside the Penalty Window

If you cancel your booking outside the Operator’s specified cancellation penalty window, Traverse South will process a refund of the Operator component of your payment to your original payment method within 10 business days. Any non-refundable Traverse South service fee will be retained.

5.4 Cancellations Inside the Penalty Window

If you cancel your booking within the Operator’s specified cancellation penalty window, the Operator’s cancellation fee will apply. Traverse South will communicate the specific fee applicable to your booking at the time of cancellation and will process any refundable balance (if any) once it has been received back from the Operator. Traverse South does not refund amounts it has not received from the Operator.

5.5 No-Show Policy

Failure to present at the agreed departure point at the agreed time, without prior written cancellation notice to Traverse South, will be treated as a no-show. No refund will be provided for a no-show. Traverse South is not responsible for a client’s inability to attend due to personal circumstances, including illness, injury, travel disruption, or changes in personal schedule.

5.6 Statutory Rights

Nothing in this section limits any rights you may have under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or the Fair Trading Act 1986. If Traverse South’s own booking or coordination services fail to meet the guarantees required under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, your remedies will be determined by that Act.

06. Itinerary Modifications

6.1 Modifications by Traverse South or an Operator

From time to time, circumstances beyond our control or that of an Operator may require a material change to your confirmed itinerary. A material change includes, but is not limited to, a change of more than 24 hours in departure time, substitution of a significantly different activity type, or a change in the Operator providing the service.

If a material change is necessary, Traverse South will notify you as soon as practicable, describe the nature of the change, and present you with available options. If you do not accept the material change, you are entitled to a full refund of the affected activity or module.

6.2 Minor Modifications

Minor changes — including adjustments to timing of less than 24 hours, changes to transport type within the same category, or substitutions of equivalent equipment or accommodation — do not constitute a material change and do not give rise to a refund entitlement.

6.3 Client-Requested Modifications

Requests to modify a confirmed booking must be submitted in writing. Traverse South will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate modifications but cannot guarantee availability. Modifications are subject to the Operator’s ability and willingness to accommodate changes, and may incur additional fees.

07. Health, Safety & Physical Requirements

7.1 Risk Disclosure (HSWA 2015)

Pursuant to the Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016 and the explicit duty introduced on 1 April 2024 (Regulation 8A), Operators are required to take all reasonable steps to inform participants of any serious health and safety risks associated with the activity before booking, before the activity begins, and during the activity as conditions change. You will receive specific risk information from the relevant Operator prior to your participation.

Adventure tourism activities involve inherent risk. Risks may include, but are not limited to: adverse or rapidly changing weather conditions; difficult or remote terrain; altitude; physical exertion; wildlife; equipment failure; and human error. By participating, you acknowledge and accept these inherent risks.

7.2 Health and Fitness Requirements

Each activity has specific minimum health, fitness, and physical capability requirements. These requirements are set by the Operator and are non-negotiable on safety grounds. You are responsible for ensuring, prior to booking, that all participants meet the stated requirements. Requirements are stated in each activity description and in your booking confirmation.

If you have any pre-existing medical condition, physical limitation, allergy, or concern that may affect your ability to safely participate, you must disclose this at the time of booking and consult with your medical practitioner prior to participation. Traverse South and the Operator are not liable for any adverse health event arising from a failure to disclose a pre-existing condition.

7.3 Weight and Physical Dimension Requirements

Certain activities — in particular helicopter and fixed-wing aviation operations — impose strict weight and physical dimension limits for safety and operational reasons as mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority. These limits are stated in your booking confirmation. If a participant exceeds the stated limit at the time of the activity, the Operator may decline participation. In such circumstances, no refund will be provided unless the Operator has a specific policy to the contrary.

You must declare accurate weights for all participants at the time of booking. Providing inaccurate weight information is a safety risk and may result in cancellation of your booking without refund.

7.4 Liability Waivers

Operators may require you to sign a participant risk disclosure form or liability waiver prior to undertaking an activity. These documents are a standard part of the safety management process. You acknowledge that you will be required to sign these documents and that participation may be refused if you decline.

Important: In accordance with Section 28 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, no liability waiver can exclude, limit, or modify an Operator’s obligations under that Act. Waivers serve as evidence of informed consent and risk acknowledgement only.

7.5 Accident Compensation (ACC)

New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) provides no-fault personal injury cover for physical injuries sustained in New Zealand, including during adventure activities. ACC cover may reduce or affect any right you have to sue for personal injury under New Zealand law. The existence of ACC cover does not affect your other rights under these Terms or under consumer protection legislation.

7.6 Participant Conduct

You agree to follow all safety instructions, directions, and briefings issued by the Operator, its pilots, guides, and crew at all times. The Operator retains the right to remove from an activity any participant who, in the reasonable judgement of the Operator, poses a risk to themselves, other participants, staff, or equipment. No refund will be provided in such circumstances.

7.7 Travel Insurance

Traverse South strongly recommends that all clients obtain comprehensive travel insurance prior to travel. Insurance should cover, at minimum: trip cancellation and curtailment; emergency medical evacuation and medical expenses; loss or damage to personal effects; and personal liability. Traverse South is not responsible for any losses that could reasonably have been covered by adequate travel insurance.

08. Liability

8.1 Traverse South Liability

Traverse South is liable for the quality of its own booking, coordination, and logistics services as required under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. Where our services fail to meet the guarantees required by that Act, your remedies will be governed by it.

Traverse South is not liable for the acts, omissions, defaults, or negligence of any Operator, transport provider, accommodation provider, or other third-party service provider. Traverse South is not responsible for any injury, death, loss, damage, delay, inconvenience, or additional expense arising from the physical execution of any activity by an Operator.

8.2 Third-Party Operator Liability

All physical, operational, and health and safety liability in connection with the conduct of any activity rests with the Operator. The Operator is the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) for the purposes of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 in relation to the activity. Any claim arising from the conduct of an activity must be directed to the Operator.

8.3 Limitation of Traverse South’s Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by New Zealand law, Traverse South’s total liability to you in connection with any booking, regardless of the basis of the claim, shall not exceed the total amount paid by you to Traverse South in respect of that specific booking.

8.4 Consequential Loss

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Traverse South is not liable for any consequential, indirect, or special loss or damage of any kind arising out of or in connection with a booking or the services provided. This includes but is not limited to loss of enjoyment, loss of income, cost of alternative arrangements made independently, and cost of onward transport.

09. Force Majeure

9.1 Definition

Neither Traverse South nor any Operator shall be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of their obligations arising from circumstances beyond their reasonable control. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to: acts of God; earthquake; volcanic eruption; tsunami; floods; wildfires; epidemic or pandemic; civil unrest or terrorism; government restrictions or directives; border closures; airspace closures; or any other event that a reasonable person would consider to be outside the control of the party affected.

9.2 Effect on Bookings

In the event of a force majeure event that causes cancellation or significant alteration of a booking, Traverse South will communicate the situation to you as soon as practicable and present available options. Refund entitlements in force majeure circumstances will be determined by the specific circumstances and the position taken by the relevant Operator(s). Traverse South will act as your advocate in recovering any refundable amounts from Operators where possible.

10. Privacy & Data Handling

10.1 Compliance

Traverse South complies with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 and its Information Privacy Principles (IPPs). We handle all personal information in accordance with these principles. For clients based outside New Zealand, we align our practices with applicable international standards including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for European Union residents.

10.2 Information We Collect

To deliver our booking and logistics services, we collect personal information including but not limited to: your full legal name; contact details (email, phone); date of birth; nationality and passport details where required for activities; physical information including body weight where required for aviation manifests; dietary requirements; medical disclosures relevant to activity safety; and payment information (processed through our payment provider).

10.3 Purpose of Collection

Your personal information is collected solely for the purposes of: processing your booking; coordinating your expedition logistics; fulfilling safety and regulatory requirements (including aviation manifests and operator safety briefings); communicating with you regarding your booking; and meeting our legal and financial record-keeping obligations.

10.4 Disclosure to Third Parties

Your personal information will be shared with the Operator(s) involved in your booking to the extent required for the safe and lawful delivery of the activity. We do not sell your personal information to third-party marketers. We do not share your information with any other party except where required by law or where necessary to fulfil your booking (such as to payment processors).

10.5 Security

We take all reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or misuse. Personal information is stored securely. Payment data is handled exclusively by our PCI-DSS compliant payment processor.

10.6 Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as is reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes described above, or as required by law. Financial transaction records are retained for a minimum of 7 years in accordance with the Tax Administration Act 1994. Information no longer required for a lawful purpose will be securely destroyed or anonymised.

10.7 Your Rights

Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to: request access to personal information we hold about you; request correction of inaccurate information; request deletion of information we are not required by law to retain; and make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at www.privacy.org.nz if you believe we have breached your privacy rights.

10.8 Breach Notification

In the event of a privacy breach that is likely to cause serious harm to any affected individual, we will notify the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the affected individual(s) as required under the Privacy Act 2020.

10.9 Website Cookies

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to support website functionality, analyse site traffic, and improve user experience. By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies. You may disable cookies in your browser settings; however, this may affect some website functionality.

10.10 Privacy Officer

Traverse South’s appointed Privacy Officer can be contacted at: contact@traversesouth.co.nz

11. Intellectual Property

All content on the Traverse South website — including but not limited to text, photographs, video, graphics, itinerary descriptions, and brand identity — is the property of Traverse South or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, publish, or use any content from this website for any commercial purpose without prior written permission from Traverse South.

12. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New Zealand. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand.

12.2 Consumer Rights

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes any consumer rights provided under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, the Fair Trading Act 1986, or any other applicable New Zealand legislation that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

12.3 Dispute Resolution Process

In the event of a dispute, we request that you contact us at contact@traversesouth.co.nz in the first instance to attempt to resolve the matter informally. If informal resolution is not achieved within 20 business days, either party may escalate the matter to formal dispute resolution. Consumers may also contact Consumer Protection (New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) or the Disputes Tribunal for matters within its jurisdiction.

12.4 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable under applicable law, that provision shall be severed from these Terms and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

12.5 Amendments

Traverse South reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be published on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. The Terms applicable to a specific booking are those in force at the time of booking confirmation.

These Terms do not constitute legal advice. Traverse South recommends that you seek independent legal counsel if you have questions about your specific rights or obligations. For consumer rights enquiries, contact Consumer Protection NZ at consumerprotection.govt.nz. For privacy complaints, contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at privacy.org.nz.

© 2026Traverse South. All rights reserved.  |  Last updated: July 2026