Terms & Conditions

We reserve the right to cancel a tour at the last minute due to adverse weather conditions, staff illness or minimum number requirements not being met.  In this event full refunds will be issued.

Gift vouchers issued by our company cannot be redeemed for cash and must be used before their stated expiry date. Special offers associated with gift vouchers cannot be combined with any other promotions or discounts.

Please note that promotional codes and other deals are subject to change or withdrawal at any time without prior notice.

Combo Deal promo codes are only valid for guided tours, and do not include kayak or paddleboard rentals.  Combo deal activities do not need to be completed on the same day.

For families with children under 3 years, we offer a special Kayak Discovery Tour tailored to suit younger participants. For more details about this tour, please visit www.franzjoseftours.co.nz/kayak-tours.

All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult during the tour. Additionally, children must be at least 8 years old to join our Guided SUP Adventure. These guidelines ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Kayak and paddleboard rentals are not eligible for use with any promotional codes or special offers. Equipment hire is strictly weather-dependent, and rentals will only be available when conditions are deemed safe.

Our team reserves the right to decline kayak rentals on the day if a hirer’s kayaking ability or experience is deemed insufficient for safe use. Please note, we do not provide transportation for rental customers.  Customers must have their own transport to and from Lake Mapourika.  We do not allow customers to transport our equipment.

All hirers are required to bring a working mobile phone capable of making calls or sending texts to a New Zealand phone number. This ensures contact can be made in case of an emergency.

For safety reasons, drivers and passengers are not allowed to swap roles during the tour.

All customers must pass a test track before participating in the tour. If a driver fails the test track, we will do our best to accommodate them as a passenger or by providing a buggy to drive, if available. If different bike types are not available, the participant will not be able to join the tour, and refunds will not be issued in these cases.

Drivers must be at least 16 years old. Drivers with passengers under 17 years of age must be a minimum of 18 years old.

Quad bike passengers must be able to reach the footrests, which requires a minimum height of 145 cm. For self-driven (3-seater) buggy passengers, the minimum height requirement is 110 cm. Please ensure children are measured before arrival, as refunds will not be provided for children who do not meet the height requirements upon arrival.

A combined weight limit of 220 kg applies for double bikes.

Customers may be liable for up to $1,000 in damages to quad bike equipment if the damages are caused by careless driving or failure to follow tour regulations.

5-seater buggy vehicles are driven solely by tour guides.

Children aged 4 years and older may join as passengers in the 5-seater buggy, regardless of their height.

Children under the age of 3 are welcome to join our boat tours free of charge. Children aged 3 to 17 years will be charged the applicable child rate.

For those joining our CRUISE & WALK TOUR, please note that we may ask passengers who are unable to safely walk through the forest track to remain on the boat. We aim to address this matter before the tour departs, but if you have any concerns about your walking ability, please contact us in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements for your safety and comfort.

Please note, we do not guarantee a catch on our fishing tours. Any fish caught that are below the legal limits set by Fish & Game NZ must be released.

We accept no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, any personal property belonging to clients during any trip. Guests are encouraged to take appropriate precautions to secure their belongings.

Participation in any activity operated by Franz Josef Wilderness Tours Ltd. involves inherent risks that may result in personal injury, property damage, or loss. By joining a tour, participants acknowledge these risks and agree to take full responsibility for their own actions, behavior, and the consequences of those actions during the activity.

Franz Josef Wilderness Tours Ltd., its officers, and employees are not responsible for any injury, loss, damage, or expense sustained by any participant arising from their participation in a tour, except where required by law. This includes, but is not limited to, circumstances where a participant fails to follow instructions, acts recklessly, or does not comply with safety guidance provided by staff.

Participants are responsible for ensuring they are physically fit to join the activity, and for managing their own belongings and personal safety throughout the tour. Franz Josef Wilderness Tours Ltd. is not liable for the loss, theft, or damage of personal property during the tour.

Franz Josef Wilderness Tours Ltd. also takes no responsibility for the actions, omissions, or defaults of third-party service providers involved in any part of a tour.

The company reserves the right to change or cancel a tour at its discretion and accepts no liability for any resulting inconvenience, costs, or disappointment.

The passenger agrees to indemnify Franz Josef Wilderness Tours Ltd., its officers, and its employees against all claims, losses, damages, or expenses. This includes any costs, such as legal fees, that may arise from such claims, whether valid or not. This indemnity extends to any claims, losses, damages, or expenses asserted by the passenger, their executors, administrators, next of kin, successors, or assignees.

Franz Josef Wilderness Tours Ltd. accepts no liability for any losses or additional expenses incurred by passengers due to circumstances beyond its control. This includes, but is not limited to, sickness, adverse weather conditions, strikes, delays or changes in air or other transport services, force majeure, or Acts of God.

Please note, due to aerospace regulations and National Park laws, drones are not permitted on any of our tours.

+ CLICK HERE TO READ OUR PRIVACY POLICY