Coronavirus Policy (Summarised)

Overview:

The government has now eased restrictions for travel regarding vaccination requirements.  Clients travelling on tours or staff employed, are no longer required to be vaccinated.

We travel through many Indigenous communities on our tour.  These communities have many elderly people, who may be more susceptible to Covid-19 than others.  We must be considerate to other travellers and people in communities. I am aware that most of our clients are 60-80 years of age, and many with pre-existing conditions.  If you are concerned about this tour, PLEASE contact me at your soonest availability.

Booking

From 2020-2023, we were very flexible with bookings and clients. Moving forward, we will continue to do our best to be fair with bookings and refunds.  Anyone booking with us, is booking direct to the operator which has benefits of flexibility.  Section 8 in the Terms and Conditions outlines our cancellation policy, regarding unforeseeable events.  As Covid-19 has become part of life, it no longer qualifies as ‘Force Majeure’.  Cancellations due to personal or other reasons will follow the conditions in section 7 of the Terms and Conditions.

Before & During Tour

Pre-screening:

We must screen everyone that comes on tour. This is to protect everyone that is on the tour, as well as anyone in Cape York. This means if you are unwell before the tour and test positive to Covid-19, you will be excluded from the tour.

If anyone IS symptomatic on departure day or the days leading up, you must let us know ASAP.  You will be required to self-test. If positive, unfortunately you won’t be able to go on tour.  We need everyone to be honest about this, as you would expect others to be on tour as well.  We will be taking temperatures on pickup day before boarding.

My advice is to be incredibly diligent with your health, hygiene and activities leading up to a tour, especially the 2 weeks prior to departure.  Visiting busy shopping centres or bars for example would be high risk.  This puts you, and your fellow travellers at risk.

Actionable items for you:

• Take a RAT test the day before departure (no earlier) and email or text (0404 309 308) a picture of it through. Please include a declaration stating that your test is true, taken the day prior to departure, you don’t have Covid-19 or symptoms of it, and haven’t been in close contact with someone who has had it in the past 7 days.
• Have your temperature checked by Cockatours staff at pick-up on departure day

During Tour

Clients are expected to be respectful of everyone on tour.  Please take care of yourself and others by maintaining a good standard of hygiene.

Cleaning Practices

There will be hand sanitising on board and handwashing outside the bus.  Hands should be sanitised frequently.

IF someone tests positive for Covid-19 during a tour

• If anyone BECOMES symptomatic on tour, we will provide a self-test for you to take.  If positive, we will assess whether you need to leave the tour.  If you are required to leave, we will liaise with you to organise travel home. We will of course assist you with supplies and other items needed.
  • This sounds extreme, but please consider if you were the other 19 people on board, and whether you would feel comfortable travelling with someone that has tested positive
• Travel insurance now provides options for cover for Covid related incidents.  If you are concerned about the above, this may be a good option.  Whilst we are generally flexible and take care of our clients as best we can (regarding cancellations), our policy states that cancellation on tour due to illness is a 100% loss of money paid.  I don’t have any suggestions for travel insurance sorry, please look this up yourself.

This is indeed a tricky obstacle to navigate.  Hopefully, if everyone is careful before tour, we won’t have any issues.

I must re-iterate: if your tour departure is within 2 weeks, PLEASE, consider your movements and hygiene in the lead up.  I hope you understand the above process.  We must consider the health of everyone on board.