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 a deposit for accommodation we undertake to reserve high quality fully furnished residential accommodation for your party in accordance with the descriptions contained in any quote, advertising material or web sites for the period stated in our emailed or written communications with you. In particular we agree to provide you with professionally cleaned premises with sufficient clean linen, cooking equipment, crockery and utensils for all members of your party. We will provide bathroom toiletries (including toilet paper), dishwashing detergent, salt and pepper and on-arrival tea and coffee making supplies.

Subject to the terms and conditions below you will have access to all open space on our property, except dams, and, if you require it, to a common laundry. Our aim is to facilitate the quiet enjoyment of your holiday or function 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 or use our premises or equipment than have been quoted for or damage occurs as described below or cleaning up takes longer than our standard allowance there will be no charges additional to the quoted tariff. Except as stated in para 14 below no bond is payable.

We will take it that you have read and agreed to the following terms and conditions applying to your stay:-

That you are aware that we have two deep unfenced dams with opaque water and steep sides. Both of these dams are more than 100 metres from guest accommodation. 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.
That the quoted tariff applies only to the number of hours, nights and/or people stated on documents exchanged between us. We charge extra on a per person basis if more people than quoted stay or use facilities.
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 weekend accommodation standby (reduced tariff available for bookings only from the Sunday preceding the next non-peak weekend) is 100% of the quoted standby tariff.
All payments made in advance will be fully refunded if:-
1. You tell us within 48 hours of booking that you do not accept this contract or we tell you within 48 hours that we cannot accept your booking due to a bookings clash,
2. for some reason we become unable to provide the accommodation you have booked (in which case we will suggest alternative providers), or
3. highway closures on the start date prevent you taking up at least part of your booking. In this case refunds will apply pro-rata to the days such closures exist.
Our cancellation policy is as follows:-
1. If you cancel an off-peak accommodation booking more than 2 weeks before it is due to commence we will charge a cancellation fee of $50 for each cottage cancelled. This $50 can be applied as part deposit for a replacement booking commencing within 6 months.
2. If you cancel an off peak accommodation 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 night cancelled. Should someone else book cancelled nights then the cancellation fee will be refunded less an admin fee of $75 for each cottage cancelled.
3. If you cancel a peak summer accommodation booking more than 6 weeks before commencement we will refund your deposit only to the extent it exceeds a cancellation fee of $150 for each cottage cancelled.
4. If you cancel a peak period accommodation booking less than 6 weeks before it is due to commence (even if booked within this notice period) then we will refund your deposit only to the extent it exceeds a cancellation fee equal to 50% of the tariff for each night cancelled. Should someone else book cancelled nights then the 50% component will be refunded less an admin fee of $200.
5. If you cancel a function booking more than 6 weeks before the booking we will retain a cancellation fee equal to 25% of the bare room charge. If you cancel such a booking less than 6 weeks before the booking then we will charge a cancellation fee of 50% of the bare room charge.
6. If you cancel a booking described as being "last minute" or "standby", unless booked through an agent where different cancellation policies are advertised, there will be no refund.
7. If you do not cancel and do not utilise a confirmed booking then the whole of the tariff quoted for the period booked will be due to us. There will be no deposit refund.
That you will be liable to pay any outstanding balance for your booked stay upon arrival. We will retain any credit card details you provided and, if for some reason the balance of the account has not been settled during your booked stay, we may use such details to settle the balance of the account (plus any credit card fees applying). Such credit card details will be used for no other purpose.
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 new 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.
That no-one in your party will smoke in our buildings, conduct illegal activities or disturb other guests.
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 require that dogs be restrained from annoying other guests and/or their pets, hunting and/or chasing native animals and reptiles, barking and/or roaming at night and from using any carpeted room, beds or other furniture. Dogs should be protected against ticks.
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.
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.
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 but only for use locally. 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.
That, if you are an accommodation guest, you will not arrive before 3pm on arrival day except by special agreement. Departure time is normally 11.00am. When departure day is the last day of a weekend booking or a Monday of a long weekend booking departure time can be extended to noon on request. In circumstances where there is no follow-on booking, and depending on housekeeping schedules, we may be able to extend departure time to mid afternoon.
A cottage booking does not permit you to hold a party in which alcohol is available that includes more than 2 people who are not booked to stay that night at Bawley Bush Cottages without special arrangements being made with us.
That you or an adult nominee advised by you to us remains sober at all times during any function to monitor and supervise the behaviour and healthy participation of all attendees at any function. You or such nominee will immediately cause all attendees to comply with all requests we may need to 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.