Terms & Conditions

Cairns Discovery Tours — please read these terms carefully before making a booking. By booking a tour through us, you agree to be bound by the terms set out below.

1. About Us

Cairns Discovery Tours is a locally owned and operated booking agency based in Cairns, Tropical North Queensland, with over 30 years of local experience. We act as a booking agent on behalf of independent tour operators across the region, including Green Island, the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, Kuranda, and the Atherton Tablelands. We do not operate the tours ourselves; each tour is conducted by the relevant third-party operator, who is responsible for the delivery of that tour.

2. Bookings & Payment

• All bookings must be paid in full at the time of booking unless otherwise agreed.
• Payments are processed securely via Stripe. A credit card surcharge applies to cover transaction fees, as displayed at checkout.
• A booking confirmation will be sent via email once payment has been received and availability confirmed with the relevant tour operator.
• It is the customer’s responsibility to check all booking details (dates, times, pickup locations, and number of travellers) upon receiving confirmation and to notify us promptly of any errors.

3. Cancellation Policy

Cancellation terms vary depending on the type of tour booked. Please refer to the relevant category below.

• Day Tours (general): The majority of Cairns day tours are fully refundable, less any credit card fees incurred, if cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure time.
• Cruise/Fly, Fly/Cruise & Scenic Flights: Tours that include a helicopter or scenic flight component are refundable with a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to departure.
• Extended Multi-Day Tours: Cancellations must be made at least 7 days prior to the travel date to be eligible for a refund.
• Late Cancellations & No-Shows: Cancellations made within 24 hours of departure, and failure to show up for a tour (“no-show”), are non-refundable.

All eligible refunds will be processed less any applicable credit card fees. Refunds are returned to the original payment method and may take several business days to appear depending on your bank or card provider.

In some cases, tour operators may offer to reschedule a booking instead of providing a refund. Where this is offered, we will pass on the operator’s options to you.

4. Operator-Initiated Changes & Cancellations

Tours are subject to weather conditions, sea conditions, mechanical issues, minimum passenger numbers, and other operational factors outside our control. If a tour operator cancels, reschedules, or modifies a tour for any of these reasons, we will notify you as soon as possible and assist with rebooking, an alternative tour, or a full refund as offered by the operator.

We are not liable for any additional costs incurred by you as a result of an operator-initiated change or cancellation, including but not limited to accommodation, transport, or other travel arrangements.

5. Child & Family Rates

• Child rates generally apply to children aged 4–14 years.
• Reef operators may apply a different age range, typically 4–16 years. Please check the specific age policy for your selected tour at the time of booking.
• A family rate is generally considered to be 2 adults and 2 children. Additional children may incur extra charges depending on the operator.
• Infants under 4 years are generally not charged but must still be declared at the time of booking, as some operators may have minimum age restrictions for safety reasons (e.g. helicopter or boat transfers).

6. Traveller Responsibilities

• Travellers must arrive at the designated pickup point at the specified time. Late arrival may result in forfeiture of the tour with no refund, as transport cannot wait.
• Certain tours have fitness, mobility, age, weight, or health requirements (particularly helicopter, scenic flight, reef, and adventure activities). It is the traveller’s responsibility to disclose any relevant conditions at the time of booking.
• Travel insurance is strongly recommended to cover unforeseen circumstances such as illness, injury, or travel disruptions.

7. Liability

Cairns Discovery Tours acts solely as a booking agent for independent tour operators. While we take care in selecting reputable operators, we do not accept liability for any injury, loss, damage, delay, or inconvenience caused by the acts or omissions of any tour operator, transport provider, or third party. Each tour operator’s own terms and conditions, including their liability terms, also apply to your booking and take precedence in matters relating to the conduct of the tour itself.

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any rights or remedies you may have under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot lawfully be excluded.

8. Website Use & Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, images, logos, and branding, is the property of Cairns Discovery Tours or its licensors and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without prior written permission.

9. Privacy

Any personal information collected through this website or during the booking process is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

10. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia. Any disputes arising from these terms or your booking will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these terms, your booking, or a cancellation, please contact us directly through the details provided on our website.

Last updated: June 2026