Terms and Conditions

Health and Safety

  • No Smoking or Drinking: For the comfort and safety of all guests, smoking and alcohol consumption are strictly prohibited on all our stargazing tours. This policy is especially enforced during our "Astronomy Bites" tour, where no alcohol will be served or tolerated.

  • Dress Warmly: As temperatures might reach single-digit levels, even in Summer, we recommend our guests to wear warm clothing, a hat, gloves, warm socks, and enclosed shoes.

  • Right to Refuse Admission: We reserve the right to refuse admission if a participant is intoxicated, under the influence of illicit substances, or inappropriately dressed. In such instances, no refund will be given.

  • Personal Responsibility: Guests are solely responsible for their own safety, comfort, and well-being during any of our stargazing tours.

  • Children: All children must be under the supervision of a parent or guardian to ensure minimal disruption to other guests.

  • Minimize Light Pollution: To minimize light pollution and enhance the stargazing experience for everyone, guests are kindly asked to refrain from using white lights. This includes, but is not limited to, LCD screens, flash photography, illuminated mobile phones, flashlights, and torches.

  • Photography: We welcome photography but request that guests do so in a manner that respects the experience of others in the group. Any guest who repeatedly disregards this request will be asked to leave the tour, and no refund will be provided.

  • Equipment Damage: Reckless use of Akaroa Stargazing’s equipment causing damage may result in the tour being cut short, and guest(s) will be charged for damages.

Open-Dated Bookings

  • If a booking with Akaroa Stargazing is open-dated, the credit will remain valid for 12 months from the date of the original canceled booking. Once a booking has been open-dated, it becomes non-refundable, and no cancellations are accepted. However, the credit voucher is transferable to another person.

Changes to Bookings

  • We reserve the right to cancel or alter any tour or price at any time.

  • To cancel or alter an existing booking, please contact us on +64 21 02430328 or info@akaroastargazing.com with your booking reference, full name, and change request.

  • Any cancellations and/or changes to standard stargazing tour bookings made by the customer need to be done earlier than 24 hours before departure. Modifications to standard tour bookings done within this 24-hour period will be solely at Akaroa Stargazing's discretion.

Cancellations

  • No-Shows (General): We reserve the right to charge 100% for no-shows on any tour.

Standard Stargazing Tours:

  • Cancellation by Customer: Akaroa Stargazing will provide a full refund (less an 8% admin fee) or credit for cancellations made more than 24 hours prior to your standard stargazing tour.

  • Cancellation by Akaroa Stargazing: If Akaroa Stargazing cancels a standard tour for any reason, such as inclement weather or any circumstances preventing the outdoor tour, customers will be offered an indoor digital tour as an alternative, along with partial compensation. If this option is not satisfactory, we will provide either a full refund (less an 8% admin fee) or reschedule at your option.

  • Admin Fee: An admin fee of 8% is non-refundable for any refund given on standard stargazing tours. This fee covers the costs associated with processing your booking and refund, including transaction fees and administrative overhead.

Astronomy Bites Tour:

  • Cancellation by Akaroa Stargazing (Astronomy Bites): Should the "Astronomy Bites" tour be canceled for any reason (e.g., adverse weather, host illness, unforeseen circumstances), we will offer a comprehensive indoor alternative session using state-of-the-art software to replicate the night sky and/or the Solar System. The grazing platter is included in the indoor option. In this scenario, you will receive a 50% refund of your tour price.

    If you choose not to attend the offered indoor alternative, a 25% non-refundable administrative fee will apply to your booking, with the remaining 75% refunded.

    Should the indoor alternative be unable to proceed: If we are unable to offer any alternative session, you will be offered a 12-month open-dated option to reschedule your tour at your convenience, or a 75% refund.

  • Cancellation by Guest (Astronomy Bites):

    • More than 48 hours prior to the tour: You will be offered a 12-month open-dated option to reschedule your tour. Should you choose not to take the open-dated option, a 25% non-refundable administrative fee will apply to your booking, with the remaining 75% refunded.

    • Within 48 hours of the tour: No open-dated options are available. No refunds will be issued. The full tour price will be charged, as preparations and food procurement will have already been completed, and we are unable to resell the seat due to the booking cutoff time.

  • Grazing Platter and Dietary Information (Astronomy Bites): Our Astronomy Bites tour includes a grazing platter designed to complement your stargazing experience. Please note that the contents of the platter may vary depending on ingredient availability and seasonality. Any allergies or dietary restrictions must be communicated to Akaroa Stargazing at the time of booking. Akaroa Stargazing will not be held responsible for any allergic reactions or dietary issues resulting from unnotified allergies or restrictions.

Gift Vouchers

  • Please note that purchased vouchers are non-refundable, and this policy remains in effect even in cases where a tour is canceled or altered by Akaroa Stargazing for reasons such as inclement weather. Vouchers can be used for rescheduled tours or transferred to another person, but refunds will not be provided.

COVID-19

  • If your tour is canceled due to government restrictions, we can either offer a full refund (before the commencement date of the tour), transfer your booking to another departure date, or refund the remaining portion of the tour price (if the tour has already started).

Partial and Full Refunds

  • Any refund will be made to the same credit card that was 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 Akaroa Stargazing. Your account will be charged in New Zealand Dollars (NZD).

Privacy

  • Akaroa Stargazing will hold securely any personal information about you that we receive through this website. We will only use that information for our own business purposes or objectives. You may access that information by request made to our office and request the correction of any errors in that information.

Contact

  • Please contact us on +64 21 02430328 or info@akaroastargazing.com.

Changes to Terms and Conditions

  • Akaroa Stargazing reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time.

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