Our mutual accommodation commitments (includes safety alerts)

This is our accommodation contract between us as hosts and you as guests

In exchange for you having paid us for an accommodation or event booking we undertake to reserve high quality fully furnished residential accommodation and/or event space and facilities for your party in accordance with the descriptions contained in any quote, advertising material or web sites we maintain for the period stated in our electronic or written communications with you. In particular we agree to provide you with professionally cleaned facilities with sufficient clean linen, cooking equipment, crockery and utensils for all agreed members of your party. For accommodation guests we will provide bathroom toiletries (including toilet paper), dishwashing detergent, salt and pepper and on-arrival tea and coffee making supplies.

Except for dams and subject to the terms and conditions below you will have access to all open space on our property. Our aim is to facilitate the quiet enjoyment of your holiday or event and we undertake to respond as promptly as practicable to requests by you to rectify any supply or comfort oversights and/or faulty equipment or services problems that may occur. The quoted tariff includes linen, gas, water, electricity, firewood, departure cleaning and GST. Unless more people stay than have been quoted for or damage occurs as described below there will be no charges additional to the quoted tariff.
 
We will take it that you have read and agreed to the following terms and conditions applying to your stay:-

1.     That you are aware that we have two deep unfenced dams with opaque water and steep sides. Both of these dams are at least 100 metres from guest accommodation and event facilities. You agree that you will ensure all children in your party or who may be guests of your party are supervised so that they are unable to approach dams except under the active supervision of an adult. Swimming by guests in dams is strictly prohibited.

2.     That the quoted tariff applies only to the period and numbers of people stated on documents exchanged between us. We charge extra on a per person per night or day basis if more people than quoted stay.

3.     That a deposit of at least 25% of the tariff is required for us to hold a booking for you. For a peak period booking the deposit must be made up to 50% by the 1st November preceding the peak period. The deposit for a stay commencing within a week of booking is 100%.

4.     All payments made in advance will be if:-

a.     fully refunded if you tell us within 48 hours of booking for a stay commencing more than 48 hours ahead that you do not accept this contract,

b.     fully refunded if for some reason we are unable to provide the accommodation you have booked (in which case we will use our best endeavours to find alternative local accommodation for you), or

c.      partially refunded if emergency highway closures on the start date prevent you taking up part of your booking. Refunds will apply pro-rata to the days such closures exist.

5.     Our cancellation policy for a booking made directly with us is as follows:-

a.     If you cancel an off-peak booking more than 2 weeks before it is due to commence we will charge a cancellation fee of $50 for each accommodation unit and function room cancelled. This $50 can be applied as part deposit for a replacement booking commencing within 6 months. 

b.     If you cancel an off peak booking less than 2 weeks before it is due to commence (even if booked within this notice period) then we will charge a cancellation fee calculated as the lesser of 50% of the tariff or $75 per unit per night cancelled. Should someone else book cancelled nights then the cancellation fee will be refunded for those nights less a total admin fee of $75.

c.      If you cancel a peak or summer holiday booking more than 6 weeks before commencement we will charge a cancellation fee of $150 for each accommodation or function unit cancelled and refund you all amounts paid in excess of this.

d.     If you cancel a peak or summer holiday booking less than 6 weeks before it is due to commence (even if booked within this notice period) then we will retain a cancellation fee of 50% of the tariff for each night cancelled and refund any excess paid. Should someone else book cancelled nights then we will make a further prorata refund but we shall retain a cancellation fee of $200 per unit. 

e.     If you do not cancel and do not utilise a booking then: if it is an off-peak booking we will charge for the first night’s accommodation; if it is a peak period booking then the quoted tariff for the whole of the period booked will be charged.

1. The cancellation policy that applies to a booking made through a third party agent is the cancellation policy disclosed on that agent’s website or paperwork and may differ in some aspects from the policy above.
   
   
2.  That you will be liable to pay any outstanding balance for your booked stay or event at the commencement of your booking. We will retain credit card details you have provided and, if, for any reason the balance of the account has not been settled during your booked stay, we will use those details to settle the balance of amounts due (plus any credit card fees applying). Such credit card details will be used for no other purpose.
   
   
3. We accept Mastercard and Visa without credit card fee but we charge 3.5% for transactions undertaken with an Americam Express card. We accept no other cards.
   
   
4. Unless and until we are specifically advised by you not to do so we may use your email or street address to occasionally inform you of tourist related local news, accommodation specials or developments on our property with a view to prompting you to make a return visit. We will not disclose your email, street address or phone number to a third party.
   
   
5. That no-one in your party will smoke in our buildings, conduct illegal activities or disturb other guests.
   
   
6. Pets are not permitted except that if you want to bring a dog you can do so provided you pre-arrange this with us, you pay our current dog tariff, you keep such dog under restraint or close visual supervision and pick up droppings. Additionally we ask that dogs be prevented from hunting and/or chasing native animals and reptiles, barking and/or otherwise disturbing other guests, roaming at night and from lying on any carpeted floor, beds or furniture. Dogs should be protected against ticks.
   
   
7. Unless it occurs other than through reasonable wear and tear, as a result of a fault, has a cost-to rectify or replace of less than $50, or is covered by our insurance we will ask you to fully replace or pay for the repair or replacement of any items of our property any member of your party loses or damages. If we have insurance for such an item your liability may be limited to payment of our insurance excess.  Apart from that required by law we take no responsibility for the security or safety of any tenant’s personal property.
   
   
8. If any member of your party wishes to walk around our property outside the immediate vicinity of your accommodation whether or not on marked tracks or on the adjacent public reserve they should do so only if fit and agile, wearing sturdy footwear and are willing to take personal responsibility for their safety and comfort. Branches could fall from trees. There are trip-and-fall risks such as slippery surfaces, retaining walls, logs, uneven ground, roots, rocks and tussocks that require alert attention to safely negotiate. There are also reptiles and bugs common to this region including flies, ticks, mosquitos and, in damp conditions, leeches that could conceivably bite you. If you do choose to venture outside we recommend you use insect repellent and wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. It is your responsibility to inform all members of your party that these and other conceivable bush and bush-walking hazards exist.
   
   
9. Lake Willinga and immediate surrounds is a public reserve. We have two sea kayaks by the lake and backrests, paddles and life-vests in our shed. You may borrow these from us by request without charge entirely at your own risk and only for use on Lake Willinga. If you choose to borrow these you will be entirely responsible for the safety of the people using them and for the return in good condition of all of the equipment after each use.  We make no warranties as to the suitability of any of the items for any purpose.  After use kayaks should be left above high water mark and the equipment returned to our shed. You will be responsible for making good any damage to equipment or losses.
   
   
10. That you will not arrive before 3pm on arrival day except by special agreement. Departure time from cottages is before 11.00am. Even if you are staying on site attending a function that has different start/finish times all personal belongings must be removed from cottages by 11am. In circumstances where there is no follow-on booking, and depending on housekeeping schedules, we may be able to extend departure times without charge upon request.
    
    
11. Access times to the Cockatoo Room for a function are by negotiation.
    
    
12. A booking for Café Cottage does not include use of the Cockatoo Room, its verandah, the Cockatoo Room servery or that Room’s externally accessed toilets unless the Cockatoo Room is co-booked.  However a Café Cottage booking does include use of the shared foyer between the buildings and, for a Café booking of more than 2, use of the handicapped toilet and shower accessable off the foyer.
    
    
13. If you wish to use the Cockatoo Room and its verandahs for a function you can do so on agreement to pay a flat daily tariff plus an additional tariff based on the number of people using it. Additional per person charges may apply to use of furniture, whiteboard, use of table tennis table, its use as a sleeping venue, use of audio/visual equipment and any failure to replace equipment in a clean condition in its storage cupboard. It is the responsibility of each hirer to report on breakages and to return all equipment in a clean condition to its original storage location.
    
    
14. If during your hire of the Cockatoo Room you engage a third party to provide services for reward then a specific condition of use is that the third party carries adequate professional indemnity insurance for the service being provided. We will not be responsible for any claims arising directly or indirectly from services provided by such third party.
    
    
15. If you hold a party, event or function that includes more than 25 attendees, whether staying in cottages here or not, then Clause 10 above is suspended and all breakage and/or damage that occurs during such an event will be recoverable by us from the person in your party who paid us the deposit for the accommodation. We hereby advise we may deduct such costs from the credit card given us at commencement of the booking.  Irrespective of how many guests there are at your party we will require that the person making the booking or another delegated adult remains sober at all times during such an event to monitor and supervise the behaviour and healthy participation of all attendees. You or such nominee will immediately cause all attendees to comply with all requests we may make for behaviour modification or noise reduction. If, in our opinion this is unsuccessful, we may require you to terminate your party and/or tenancy. Additionally we may terminate utilities and call police if we judge circumstances warrant it.   

Issue date: 2/12/2010