By purchasing and/or using a Kiwi Experience travel pass, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions. In these terms and conditions, references to “you” or “your” mean the purchaser of the travel pass and/or the passenger using the travel pass as the case may be. References to “Kiwi Experience” or “our” mean Tourism Holdings Limited.
Kiwi Experience travel passes (Travel Passes) are valid for travel in one direction for the route stated on the Travel Pass, repeating sections is not possible.
Travel using the Travel Pass must commence within 12 months of the date of purchase unless otherwise stated. Travel Passes are valid for 12 months from the first date of travel, or until you have travelled once over all sections of the Travel Pass, whichever occurs first.
Travel agent vouchers or website E-Tickets are not valid Travel Passes and must be exchanged for a valid Travel Pass (your welcome email will do) before you can travel on a Kiwi Experience service.
Travel Passes that have expired may be extended on the following terms. A Travel Pass can expire either because you did not use it within 12 months of purchase (or such lesser period if stated in the specific terms of purchase) or you have not finished your travels within 12 months from the first date of travel. Extensions must be requested and paid for before the expiry date of the Travel Pass. A charge of NZD$50 per month (period) of extension applies to all extensions. Further, if you wish to extend your Travel Pass before your first date of travel and the current Travel Pass price is higher at the time of extension than the price you paid for your Travel Pass, the difference must also be paid. There are no refunds if the Travel Pass price at the time of extension is less than the price you paid for your Travel Pass.
Kiwi Experience Travel Passes are non-transferable.
Unlimited Travel applies only to The Whole Kit & Caboodle and the Funky Chicken pass. To qualify for unlimited travel, an entire route circuit must be completed. Backtracking isn’t permitted, and point-to-point journeys can not be repeated without completing the entire circuit. Only the first return inter-island ferry crossing is included in the pass. Any additional crossings are at the pass holders’ expense. These can be purchased via the Kiwi Experience bus planner. No limits are imposed on completing entire route circuits. All other T&Cs still apply.
All national passes include Inter-Island ferry crossings in line with the itinerary of the pass i.e. (one-way or return). Inter-Island ferry tickets are for walk-on passengers only and do not include food and beverage, lounge access or excess luggage. These are at the expense of the traveller. Kiwi Experience reserves to right to use multiple provides on this crossing.
Cancellation policy for Travel Passes: In the event you have purchased a Travel Pass and subsequently wish to cancel it, Kiwi Experience may refund your Travel Pass at its sole discretion, in which event you will be required to pay a cancellation fee as follows: a. where the purchase price of the Travel Pass is less than NZD$200, the cancellation fee shall be equivalent to the price paid for the Travel Pass; b. where the purchase price of the Travel Pass is greater than NZD$200, the cancellation fee is NZD$200. No Travel Pass may be cancelled following the first date of travel. The Milford Explorer and Cape Reinga add-on passes are 100% non-refundable.
Travel reservations are recommended on Kiwi Experience services and should be made at least 14 days before departure to give you the best chance of a seat in the summer period (1 January to 30 April), and 7 days before departure to ensure a seat at other times. Changes to reservations must be made at least 24 hours prior to departure and are subject to availability. All reservations and changes must be made by contacting our reservations department:
Ph: +64 (9) 336 4286 or email: [email protected]
No Shows: Should you fail to show for any booked and confirmed departure your Travel Pass will become invalid unless and until an NZD$50 fee is paid to reinstate the Travel Pass. This does not include the Milford Explorer and Cape Reinga add-on passes, which are 100% non-refundable and require full payment to reinstate the booking if a no-show occurs.
Kiwi Experience reserves the right to vary any fares, routes, overnight stops, pricing, inclusions, accommodation operators, departure dates, times and locations without notice. Kiwi Experience reserves the right to substitute other vehicles in place of our own. Kiwi Experience product inclusions and advertised accommodation operators are not guaranteed and will be provided where possible.
Kiwi Experience will endeavour to adhere to stated departure and arrival times but will not be liable for any failure to meet those times or for any cancellation or delay of Kiwi Experience services.
Kiwi Experience shall not be liable for any loss or damage of any kind, including indirect or consequential loss or damage, arising directly or indirectly out of a cancellation or abandonment of, or delay to, any trip, however caused.
Kiwi Experience has preferred agreements with accommodation providers however we cannot always guarantee your first choice of accommodation.
Luggage is limited to one piece at 23 kilograms. For additional luggage, charges may apply.
Kiwi Experience reserves the right to refuse to carry any passenger, luggage or goods at its sole discretion.
Kiwi Experience will not be liable for the sickness of, injury to, or death of, any passenger, or the loss of, or damage to, any personal effects, whether caused by Kiwi Experience’s negligence or otherwise. There is no travel insurance cover included in the price of a Travel Pass and Kiwi Experience recommends that you obtain travel insurance to cover any sickness, injury, or loss that may occur while you are travelling with Kiwi Experience.
You agree to indemnify Kiwi Experience against any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by Kiwi Experience, its officers, employees, agents or related companies as a result of any claim by any third party whose claim arises from your use of your Travel Pass or your acts or omissions while travelling on any Kiwi Experience service.
Where the services of another operator are provided as part of the Travel Pass it is agreed and understood that Kiwi Experience has no responsibility whatsoever for any default of that operator.
Passengers must be 18 years old at the time of travel. Proof of identification and age may be requested, and failure to provide such proof may invalidate your Travel Pass.
Kiwi Experience does not offer the Waitomo sector on routes heading North. No Kiwi Experience Travel Pass that includes the Waitomo sector can exchange the Waitomo sector going Southbound for a trip operated by the Waitomo Wanderer going Northbound.
These terms and conditions are governed by the law of New Zealand and you and Kiwi Experience agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of New Zealand in any dispute. Nothing in these terms and conditions affects your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.
Kiwi Experience may, at any time and without notice, vary any of these terms and conditions.
Kiwi Experience will not be liable for breach of, or any failure to perform its obligations under, these terms and conditions where such breach or failure is caused by anything beyond Kiwi Experience’s reasonable control including, but not limited to, war, civil commotion, hostility, act of terrorism, strike, lockout, other industrial act, weather phenomena or other act of God, or governmental regulation or direction.
If any part of these terms and conditions is held to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal for any reason, they will be deemed to be amended by the addition or deletion of wording necessary to remove the invalid, unenforceable or illegal part, but otherwise to remain unchanged to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law.
Small-Group Tours Terms & Conditions
Pricing: all fares published supersede all prices previously advertised.
Deposit payments: to confirm your booking for a Small Group Tour, a 10%non-refundable deposit is required. The remaining balance for your Small Group Tour must be paid at least 45 days before your departure date. Missing the final payment deadline may result in the cancellation of your Small Group Tour booking.
If we cancel or change a Kiwi Experience Small Group Tour Kiwi Experience reserves the right to make changes to their itineraries or cancel any tour, including a guaranteed tour, at any time prior to departure if something beyond the control of Kiwi Experience deems it necessary; including natural disasters, political instability, terrorism, weather, cultural conditions or other external events. Kiwi Experience will inform all booked customers of any changes or cancellations by email or phone. Kiwi Experience holds no responsibility for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking being cancelled. If the alternative tour chosen is of a lower value than that originally booked then you are entitled to a refund of the price difference. If the difference is higher you must pay the difference
Itineraries are subject to alteration without notice & are intended as a guide only. Kiwi Experience reserves the right to change the itinerary without any notice. Any additional expenses incurred by the passenger is not Kiwi Experience responsibility. Kiwi Experience can give no guarantees as to the exact arrival & departure times for carriers and operators used by Kiwi Experience & will not be liable for the failure of any services or attractions beyond its control.
Liabilities: Kiwi Experience does not accept any liability of whatever nature for the acts, omissions, or default (whether negligent or otherwise) of those properties/suppliers providing services in connection with your reservation pursuant to a contract between them and yourselves and over whom we have no direct and exclusive control. Kiwi Experience, its respective servants, agents and employees shall not be liable for any death, injury, damage, loss, property (including baggage), additional expenses, accident, delay or irregularity, whether in property, person or otherwise resulting directly or indirectly from delay, changes in accommodation, breakdown in equipment or vehicles, weather, strike, sickness, theft, cancellation of or changes in itinerary, or other causes beyond their control. Kiwi Experience reserves the right to alter the price, cancel or withdraw any property, component, service or tour. Kiwi Experience will take all reasonable steps to provide an enjoyable tour, it accepts no liability for any loss of enjoyment experienced by passengers due to circumstances Kiwi Experience deems as beyond its control. Kiwi Experience further accepts no liability for any loss beyond its reasonable control and provides no warranties in addition to those set out under The Fair Trading Act 1986, and nothing herein restricts any passenger from exercising their rights and remedies to pursuant to Law. Your Travel Agent will forward booking confirmations and other payments to Kiwi Experience on your behalf, but your Travel Agent is not our agent for the purpose of receipt of monies. Receipt of booking confirmations and subsequent payments by the Travel Agent does not constitute receipt of those monies by Kiwi Experience and the Travel Agent has no authority expressed or implied to receive monies on our behalf. There is no liability on the part of Kiwi Experience in respect to any monies paid to the passengers Travel Agent unless and until Kiwi Experience notifies the passenger (by way of a booking confirmation advice) that monies have been received by Kiwi Experience. The optional tour excursions are not operated by, or at the direction of, or on behalf of Kiwi Experience, its employees or agents or any other persons or companies associated with Kiwi Experience. All optional activities are an additional cost to the tour price and by taking bookings for these tours, Kiwi Experience acts as the agent for each of the optional activity suppliers. These tours include the services of operators other than Kiwi Experience e.g Hoteliers, Airlines and optional tour excursions, which are not under the direct control of Kiwi Experience & whilst all reasonable care is taken in selecting these operators it cannot accept responsibility for the operators conduct or the conduct of the representative employees or agents or for any ramifications of that conduct. On tours including activities such as trekking, swimming & snorkelling, passengers accept that degrees of risk are involved. No passenger will be permitted to embark or continue on tour while their mental or physical condition is, in the opinion of any representative of Kiwi Experience, such as to render them incapable of caring for themselves or whereby they become objectionable to other passengers or they become a hazard to themselves or other passengers. Kiwi Experience will not be responsible for any expenses resulting in such persons being precluded from completing the tour.
Cancellations: Tour Cost is inclusive of any additional activities and pre/post-accommodation. Outside 45 days: Loss of 10% of overall booking. 8 – 44 days: 50% of tour cost, Within 7 days: 100% of tour cost, Please be aware if you are booked through a third party such as a travel agent, their cancellation policy and terms and conditions may differ from our own. Be sure to check their particular terms. No refund will be given if you voluntarily leave a tour for any reason.
Changes to your booking: Changes to activities & additional accommodation is not permitted within 45 days of departure to tour. If you need to change to an alternative departure date you may do so in accordance with the below fee table. If the tour you are changing to has a higher price you are liable to cover the difference. Outside 45 days: No fee. 8 – 44 days: $500 admin fee. Within 7 days: 100% of tour cost.
General Terms and Conditions: All contracts for bookings with Kiwi Experience are governed by New Zealand law. Kiwi Experience does require a minimum number of bookings in order for a tour to be financially viable & to have a pleasant group atmosphere. This means that in the event of our minimum numbers not being reached, it may be necessary to cancel a scheduled tour. In this event, we will endeavour to offer an alternative tour date. The last possible date on which a decision for a tour to be cancelled will be no later than 14 days prior to departure. Kiwi Experience restricts guests number to a maximum of 16 pax per tour. Prior to booking any flights or making any travel arrangements customers are required to receive a confirmation from Kiwi Experience to confirm their place on tour. In this case, it would be a ‘welcome letter’ sent via email from Kiwi Experience
Accommodation: Our included accommodation for our standard small group tours is dorm share. While our maximum number of guests is 6 per room on the odd occasion this may be more.
Age: Policy Kiwi Experience small group tours are designed for travellers that are young at heart and ready for an adventure. Due to the vast majority of accommodations we use, we cannot accept anyone who is under the age of 18 on our tours. People of any age are welcome to join our tours but please just be aware that a moderate level of fitness is required. If you have any concerns surrounding your health on our tours please contact us and we will be more than happy to discuss your options.
Luggage: Within New Zealand each guest on a tour is entitled to take one case, the sum of its length, width & depth not to exceed 160 cm (63 inches), a weight limit of 20 kilos alongside a small day pack. Your luggage should not exceed airline regulations. Over-limit luggage cannot be carried due to limited space.
Pre-booked activities and inclusions: Activity pricing is set by third party operators and may rise at any time and is outside of our control. Therefore at 45 days out Kiwi Experience reserves the right to charge the customers any difference in price in order to match the most recent price charged by operators at the time. We estimate prices go up at a rate of around 2-5% per year. Activities that you book whilst you are on a small group tour are charged at a Kiwi Experience retail rate. Some activities are available for purchase through Kiwi Experience, however, most activities are paid directly to the operator at a special discounted ‘Kiwi Experience rate’. Your contract for these activities will be with the operators directly and not with Kiwi Experience. All activities booked through your tour Guide require 72 hours notice in order to be cancelled without you incurring a charge. This is as per the cancellation policies of the activity suppliers
In trip customer feedback: If a problem occurs during your tour then it is in your own best interests to inform your Tour Guide immediately. This will ensure steps can be taken to resolve the problem straight away. If for any reason you do not feel comfortable consulting your Tour Guide then the next best thing to do is to give our head office a call and inform the team.
Travel insurance is your responsibility. The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs And Trade strongly recommends that you obtain travel insurance at the time you pay for your travel. Failure to obtain travel insurance is at your own risk. When obtaining travel insurance you must comply with the insurers’ regulations & disclose all information relating to your tour. If for any reason you are unable to travel within the cancellation policy due to illness or medical reasons Kiwi Experience is not liable to reimburse you however we will provide a detailed description of your tour for your insurers.
What’s not included in our tours? Airfares to & from the tour starting point, airport taxes, passport & visa costs, airport & ferry transfers to the tour departure point, insurance, laundry, phone calls, beverages, meals not specified in the itinerary, excess baggage fees, additional activities.
Small Group Tour details: Any inclusions whilst on the road that you do choose not to partake in will not be refunded to you. Kiwi Experience aims to provide a safe & enjoyable environment for all passengers and personnel onboard our tours. Therefore please make a note of the below conditions: Kiwi Experience does not tolerate any form of abuse, verbal or otherwise, of our personnel. Any person abusing or threatening Kiwi Experience personnel or associated representatives will automatically forfeit their right to onward travel. There might be times when Kiwi Experience personnel and/or representatives have to make decisions within the best interest of safety for its passengers. It is a condition of booking that you comply with the authority and decisions of the appointed representative of Kiwi Experience. Should you choose not to comply with the said representative or are not compatible with the general enjoyment and well-being of members of the tour, Kiwi Experience reserves the right to refuse to allow you to continue with the tour. In such case that you are removed from the tour, Kiwi Experience will not be liable to provide you with any refund, compensation or any additional costs incurred by you. Kiwi Experience cannot accept liability for the behaviour of others on your tour nor if any facilities are curtailed as a result of their actions. Kiwi Experience representatives may take on tour photos and video recordings of you whilst you are a passenger. These may be used in the Kiwi Experience brochures and/or advertising and publicity material (including social media) without obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of such photographs and/or films Kiwi Experience may use any text written in comments books, recorded in customer surveys or input to online forums, in brochures, websites and/or advertising and publicity material without obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of comments.
Covid-19: In the event that you are caught in a lockdown, or asked to isolate for 14 days by the Ministry of Health in New Zealand, Kiwi Experience will not cover any costs incurred, other than whats included in the inclusion list of the tour. We highly recommend you factor this into your plans and encourage you to have travel insurance.