Customer terms

1. The service

Southern Guides provides personalised travel research and adventure planning for independent travellers across the North Island, South Island or both. Recommendations are tailored to your intended route, interests, budget, pace, experience and comfort. Your guide is a curated selection for your trip, not an exhaustive directory of every region or attraction.

2. What is included

• One planning conversation of approximately 30 minutes.
• A personalised, flexible digital guide organised for choice rather than a fixed day-by-day itinerary.
• Handpicked adventures matched to your stated interests, experience and comfort.
• Selected accommodation, camping, food and local recommendations where relevant to your brief.
• Practical alternatives, indicative costs and useful booking or information links.
• A personal Google Map containing the selected places.
• One consolidated revision after you review the first version.

3. What is not included

Unless agreed separately in writing, Southern Guides does not:

• Make bookings, receive money for third-party operators or act as a travel agent.
• Provide physical guiding, transport, emergency monitoring or real-time itinerary management.
• Guarantee weather, access, availability, prices, opening hours or the safety or suitability of a third-party service.
• Provide medical, legal, insurance or professional outdoor instruction.

4. Your planning brief

You are responsible for providing accurate dates, transport details, budget, interests, existing bookings, experience, relevant limitations and other information reasonably needed to prepare your guide. Southern Guides bases its recommendations on the information supplied. Missing, late or inaccurate information may affect the suitability of the guide or its delivery date.

5. Price and payment

The standard personal guide price is NZD $225 for one trip covering the North Island, South Island or both, for up to one month and two travellers. A 50% deposit of NZD $112.50 is due before research begins. The remaining NZD $112.50 is due after you review the first version and before the final guide and personal map are delivered.

Trips longer than one month, groups larger than two, additional trips or work materially outside the standard guide are quoted in writing before you commit.

Accommodation, transport, activities, permits, food and other third-party costs are not included. Planning figures are estimates unless a supplier provides a current quote directly to you.

6. Timing and revision

Southern Guides will normally deliver the first version within seven calendar days after receiving the deposit, completed questionnaire, planning conversation and any essential follow-up information. If the brief changes or information arrives late, a revised delivery date may be agreed with you.

One consolidated round of reasonable changes is included within the original brief. A major change to dates, route, traveller needs or regions may require a new quote. Any additional cost will be explained before further work begins.

7. Changes and cancellation

You may cancel by email. If research has not begun, payments will be refunded. After research begins, Southern Guides may retain a reasonable amount for work already completed and any non-recoverable costs, then refund the remainder. If Southern Guides cancels, you will receive a refund for any part of the service not delivered.

Nothing in these terms removes any right or remedy available under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, the Fair Trading Act 1986 or other applicable New Zealand law.

8. Bookings, conditions and safety

You are responsible for making and paying for bookings, reading each supplier’s current terms and confirming important details before relying on them. Availability, prices, schedules, access rules and operating conditions can change after your guide is prepared.

Southern Guides provides planning information, not a safety assessment for the day of travel. You remain responsible for checking current weather, track, river, road and access information; following official advice; carrying suitable equipment; using qualified guides where appropriate; arranging insurance; and deciding whether an activity is suitable for every traveller.

9. Use of your guide

You may use the guide and map for your personal trip and share them with your travelling companions. Southern Guides retains ownership of its original writing, layout and planning materials. The guide and map may not be sold, republished or used commercially without written permission.

10. Questions and complaints

Email southernguides@icloud.com as soon as possible if anything is unclear or there is a problem with the service. Southern Guides will review the concern promptly and try to agree a practical solution. These terms are governed by New Zealand law, and your statutory rights remain unchanged.