Terms & Conditions - Principal

TravelManagers Australia trading as Higher Ground Travel & Events (HGTE) offers Travel Agency services in the form of booking third party airlines, hotels, car hire, tours, cruises and the like. HGTE also acts as the Principal in the organisation of tours, complex or bespoke itineraries, and group travel packages.

Travel Agency Terms & Conditions can be found here.

Booking Terms & Conditions where HGTE is the Principal:

These Booking Conditions apply to all travellers ("You") booking with HGTE ("We", "Us", or "Our"). By paying the deposit and/or total value, you and any parties on whose behalf you are booking agree to the following terms:

1. Bookings & Acceptance

A contract is formed once we issue a written Booking Confirmation and your deposit or full payment is received. We reserve the right to decline any booking at our discretion to ensure the quality and safety of our tours or due to availability.

2. Our Services

From the moment your booking is confirmed, we begin the extensive work of coordinating logistics, securing accommodations & suppliers, and preparing specialised equipment and sites. Our services include:

The curation and coordination of your itinerary.
The delivery of travel arrangements directly operated by us.
The engagement of third-party suppliers to deliver components of the tour/travels.

3. Pricing, Payments & Flexibility

Pricing: All prices are in Australian Dollars ($AUD) unless otherwise stated and include those inclusions as specified in your package (e.g., bike hire, support vehicles, guided tours).
Exclusions: Unless stated, prices do not include international airfares, visas, travel insurance, or personal expenses.
Currency Fluctuations, Local & International Taxes & Surcharges (ie. Fuel): Prices for travel services, including transportation, hotels and tour packages, are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Such changes may be due to factors beyond our control, including but not limited to changes in supplier costs or currency fluctuations. You may be required to pay any additional amounts resulting from these changes.
Payments: A non-refundable deposit will be required at time of booking and the amount will be advised at time of booking, along with progress and final payment dates and associated cancellation terms. If payment has not been made by the specific date which you are advised, your bookings may be cancelled and funds paid to date will not be refunded. Payments may be made by direct deposit, BPay or credit/debit card.
- Under no circumstances will HGTE accept cash payments.
- HGTE will not be liable for any loss caused by a failure of a third aparty to make payments to HGTE for travel/tours and services on your behalf.

Credit/Debit cards may incur a merchant fee: Any fees will be advised at time of payment.
Travel Insurance: It is a condition of booking that all participants have travel insurance to adequately cover for cancellation, medical, activities being undertaken, indemnity and protection of personal and hire items.
- You warrant that you have made appropriate enquiries and sought advice on your specific travel insurance requirements and waive any claim against HGTE in respect of any loss or damage you may suffer as a result of you failing to take out any or adequate travel insurance.
Refunds: If your travel arrangements are cancelled for any reason (including force majeure) after you have paid, no refund will be available to you until HGTE receives the monies from the third-party suppliers involved. In most cases, the third-party suppliers will charge a cancellation fee and, in some instances, you may not be able to claim a refund.

4. Health, Fitness, Safety & Personal Conduct

Activity Levels: You are responsible for ensuring your fitness level and capability matches your chosen tour and electing to participate is your decision alone.
Participation: You acknowledge that at anytime you have the option to cease any activity being undertaken and that you will advise the tour leader and/or support staff if you feel unwell, are injured, have concerns about your ability to participate or have any safety concerns for yourself or others.
Inherent Risks: You acknowledge that inherent risks come with the selected activities and travel being undertaken, such as physical exertion, collisions with vehicles or pedestrians, equipment failure, varying road/trail conditions, political instability, varying standards of medical care, infrastructure challenges in foreign jurisdictions, extreme weather, altitude, and reactions to local food or beverages.
Medical Disclosure: You must notify us of any pre-existing conditions that may require assistance. We reserve the right to request a medical clearance for strenuous tours.
Safety:
- On cycling tours, helmets are mandatory and participants must respect local road, alcohol and drug laws.
- On all transport, seatbelts must be worn where provided and any other safety equipment provided for other activities utilised as per guidance.
Right of Removal: The Company and its Tour/Travel Leads reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to terminate the participation of any individual at any time, without refund, if their behaviour is deemed:
- Dangerous: Consistent failure to follow safety instructions or endangering others.
- Disruptive: Verbally/physically abusive or harassing behaviour that impacts the tour for others.
- Illegal: Possession or use of illegal substances and/or illegal actions under the laws of the destination country.
- Note: If removed, I am responsible for all costs associated with my own return travel and lodging and no refund is due for any component of the tour/travel after my removal.
Participation Active Tours/Travel Packages: A further waiver and/or Terms & Conditions may be required for participation in tours/travel packages that include active components. This will be advise to you at time of booking if required.
Third-Party Supplier Waivers: Third-party suppliers may require their own waivers to be signed. These will be shared with you when available.

5. Changes to Itineraries

While we strive to follow every itinerary to the letter, the nature of global travel and events means changes can happen.

Amendments by You: Changes will be approved at our discretion and may incur a cost which will be advised to you at the time and payable ahead of any changes unless otherwise approved.
Amendments by Us: We may adjust routes due to weather, road closures, group experience, additional opportunities, and/or safety concerns. No refunds or compensation will be due for changes however where possible alternative activities will be provided in the event of activities needing to be cancelled.

6. Force Majeure

If a tour is cancelled or materially altered due to events beyond our control (natural disasters, pandemics, political unrest, war, etc.), we will refund your payments less unrecoverable third-party costs and a reasonable fee (not exceeding 15%) for the work already performed. No refund of third-party costs will be provided prior to the funds being received from the third-parties.

7. Corporate, Group or Multi-person Bookings

For corporate. group or multi-person bookings, the person making the booking warrants they have the authority to bind all participants to these conditions.

8. Responsibility & Liability

Independent Suppliers: Many components (hotels, airlines, local tours & services, transport, guide services and rental equipment) are provided by third parties. HGTE is not liable for the acts, omissions, or bankruptcy of these independent contractors. Any claims must be brought directly against that supplier in their local jurisdiction.
Inclusions: The relationship between HGTE and You is only for the items included in the tour and/or travel packages. Any activities or items that are organised and/or paid for by You or a third party are directly between You and that third party and HGTE is not liable for anything related to these activities or items.
Inherent Risk: You acknowledge that cycling and international and domestic travel involve risks. By booking, you accept these risks and agree to follow the directions of our guides at all times.

9. Release & Discharge

To the extent permitted by law, by accepting the additional inherent dangers and risks associated with the tour or travel package that you have booked, you release, waive and discharge all HGTE representatives (including our ground operators in the country/countries in which your tour/travels will take place) from all claims, actions or losses for personal injury or death, property damage, loss of services, loss of profits, consequential, exemplary, indirect or punitive damages or otherwise which may arise:

out of or occur during your tour/travel in connection with the tour or any activities conducted in conjunction with the tour/travel unless caused by the reckless conduct of HGTE representatives, or
in connection with any optional activities which you may undertake during the course of your tour but which do not comprise part of your tour itinerary and you accept that any assistance given to you by HGTE representatives in arranging such optional activities will not render the HGTE representatives liable to you in any way.

10. Images

You certify that your image may be used without charge by HGTE for promotional purposes including but not limited to the website, printed promotional items and promotional presentations, unless you notify us in writing that you do not wish to have your image to be used for these purposes.

11. Complaints & Feedback

If something isn't right, please tell your guide/tour leader and contact info@hgte.com.au immediately. This gives us the best chance to fix it on the spot. If the issue remains unresolved, please submit your feedback in writing within 30 days of the tour's conclusion.

12. Passport and Visa Requirements

Prior to confirming your travel arrangements, you should check your passport is valid for entry to the countries you will visit and establish that it will remain current for the entire period of your travel. Certain countries require that your passport remains valid for a period of up to twelve months after the date upon which you are scheduled to leave such country. You may be denied entry to a country if your passport expires within 12 months. You should clarify visa requirements with the Embassies of the countries that you plan to visit as certain countries may require you to have a visa dependent on whether you are travelling on an Australian or a foreign passport. Some countries (including the USA) require holders of Australian passports to have a visa for entry into their country where the traveller has been sentenced or imprisoned or been convicted of certain types of criminal offences. A visa may be required where a contagious disease or a serious health problem exists. It is the responsibility of each member of the travelling party to ensure that they have a valid passport and the necessary visa/s for the destinations to be visited.

New entry requirements to the United Kingdom from 25 February 2026
Australian passport holders travelling to the UK are required to have an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
If you are a British or Irish dual citizen you will need to use a valid British or Irish passport or another valid passport containing a Certificate of Entitlement

13. Re-entry Visas for Australia

Re-entry visas will/may be required for travellers leaving Australia holding a foreign passport. If you hold a foreign passport then it is your responsibility to make your own enquiries and satisfy yourself as to the position in regard to your passport and/or visa requirements before leaving Australia.

14. Vaccinations and proof of vaccination

Certain countries and Principals require that travellers be vaccinated against specific infection and/or diseases. HGTE strongly recommends that you check with your doctor and the embassies of countries to which you are travelling to with respect to any health requirements.

Whilst HGTE may assist you in navigating travel requirements you are ultimately responsible for all medical and travel-related documentation required by state, federal or international authorities that allow entry or exit into their state, territory, return to Australia or overseas travel from Australia to another country. You should ensure that you have satisfied yourself that you have all the required documents before booking your travel and keep yourself up to date on any changes to these requirements.

15. Checking Travel Arrangements

We have exercised care in putting together the arrangements requested by you in regards to your travel and accommodation. It is important that you check all of the documentation handed to you for your proposed travel and accommodation to ensure that it fully meets with your requirements and to ensure that there have been no misunderstandings. All documents, in relation to international travel, must be issued in the name of the passport holder. You may be denied carriage if the name varies.

We strongly recommend that you contact your airline prior to any travel to ensure that the scheduled departure time has not changed.
We strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with current travel advisories/information from smartraveller.gov.au before you travel.
Payment of any excess baggage charges is your sole responsibility.
Carry-on baggage is subject to security rules on the carriage of various items. It is your responsibility to check with the relevant authorities.

16. Your rights under Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in these terms and conditions is to be read as excluding, restricting, or modifying your rights under the Australian Consumer Law and other legislation given to consumers in relation to the supply of goods and services. If any part of a condition is illegal, unenforceable or invalid, it is to be treated as removed from the conditions, however, the remainder of the conditions are not altered.

Governing Law: These conditions are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.

Updated 17 April 2026