Safety is our utmost concern, but it is also your responsibility, and we ask that you pay attention to our instructions and ask should something not make sense, we are always happy to take the time to explain further. To help guide you into making the right choices for your safety and the safety of others whilst you are on the island, we ask that you read our comprehensive Terms & Conditions carefully and be aware that you are acknowledge and accept these T&C’s when you book one of our tours.
There are many extreme conditions that our 4WD’s encounter on K’gari, on return from each tour they are thoroughly checked over and serviced, we maintain all our tour vehicles to the highest standards to ensure your safety. Despite our efforts, mechanical failure cannot be completely prevented and can happen through no fault of the driver or Pippies K’gari Adventures. We kindly ask for you to bear with us in the case of a breakdown and trust that it is our top priority to get you back on track as soon as physically possible.
Guest Responsibilities
All guests are responsible for:
- Listening carefully to all instructions and information provided by the Guide, either via walkie-talkie or in-person briefings.
- Drivers must follow the wheel tracks and direction of the Guide-driven lead vehicle, maintaining a safe distance of at least three car lengths from the vehicle ahead. All vehicles must travel in a convoy formation and maintain the original driving order established at the start of the tour.
- All guests must wear seatbelts at all times while travelling in the vehicle. The responsibility for ensuring this lies with the driver.
- Queensland Police patrol Fraser Island, and all Queensland road rules apply. Guests are responsible for adhering to these laws. Fines will apply for speeding or for any instance where the driver or passengers are not wearing seatbelts.
- Vehicles must not be overloaded with passengers, and no luggage or equipment may be placed on the roof of any tag-along vehicles.
- The Guide has the authority to prohibit anyone suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol from driving any vehicle.
- The Guide and Pippies K’gari Adventures Management reserve the right to remove any guest from the tour if they determine the guest presents a safety risk or negatively impacts the tour or other guests’ experiences.
- It is the responsibility of each passenger to immediately notify the driver if they feel unsafe or observe that the driver is acting in a way that could damage the vehicle, including but not limited to speeding or failure to follow these Terms & Conditions or the Guide’s instructions.
- Guests are responsible for any damage caused through negligence to any equipment or facilities at any accommodation provided, including camping equipment or any other tour-related equipment.
- Pippies K’gari Adventures accepts no responsibility for the loss or damage of personal belongings, whether in storage or in transit. Guests are strongly advised to obtain travel insurance to protect their personal items while travelling in Australia.
- Tour itineraries and accommodation options are subject to change without prior notice due to tide times, seasonal variations, weather conditions, or other circumstances such as QPWS closures.
- Should a guest feel unwell and wish to leave the tour early, it is their responsibility to arrange and fund their own transportation from the island via taxi. In the case of a medical emergency, paramedics will be called, and the advice of emergency personnel will be followed.
Driver Responsibilities
All drivers are responsible for:
- All drivers must be a minimum of 21 years old, hold a current full driver’s licence, have held that licence for more than 12 months, and have no convictions or offences relating to drink driving or other violations that led to licence suspension or revocation within the past five years.
- All drivers are responsible for any traffic fines and/or damage caused to vehicles or property belonging to other guests as a result of their negligence.
- Drivers must at all times follow the tracks of the lead vehicle unless it is necessary to avoid an obstacle, seawater, or if it is unsafe to do so.
- Drivers must maintain the pace set by the lead vehicle and should flash their headlights or use the two-way radio to signal any problems.
- Drivers must inform the lead driver/Guide whenever there is a change of driver in any tag-along vehicle.
- Under no circumstances should vehicles be driven in sea or salt water. A $100 fine will be issued if a vehicle is driven into sea/salt water either deliberately or through failure to safely avoid it when such avoidance was possible.
- Drivers must not operate vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They are fully responsible for the safety of all passengers in their vehicle.
- If a vehicle is damaged—whether by flooding, water immersion, being stranded, or through underbody, engine, gearbox, tyre, rim, battery, suspension, handbrake, differential, glass, panel, interior, or accessory damage—due to unsafe or irresponsible driving or violation of the Terms & Conditions and/or Guide’s instructions, the driver is liable for 75% of the total repair cost. Pippies K’gari Adventures will cover the remaining 25% and the cost of lost income due to the vehicle being out of service.
- In the event of vehicle damage or accidents, the responsible driver must pay 75% of the repair costs. If the vehicle is deemed a total loss (write-off), the driver will be liable for costs up to $10,000. The vehicles are insured only with Third-Party Insurance, which does not cover damage to the vehicle due to driver error or negligence, nor for single-vehicle accidents caused by driver fault. These amounts will be charged immediately to the driver’s credit card. A full damage assessment will be provided within 14 business days, with any overcharge refunded accordingly.
- Pippies K’gari Adventures accepts no liability for injuries or fatalities resulting from driver or passenger fault.
Exclusions and Limitations
Pippies K’gari Adventures will endeavour to resolve any issues quickly and with minimal disruption to your experience. However, the company does not offer compensation for:
- Missed connecting travel arrangements.
- Changes to the itinerary or any missed tour components.
- Damage to personal items such as cameras, clothing, backpacks, etc.
- Personal distress or inconvenience caused by vehicle breakdowns.
- Time lost due to equipment failure or adverse weather conditions.
- Impacts to the tour resulting from natural disasters, cyclones, or extreme weather events.
Unused tour components are non-refundable. Tour pricing is subject to change without notice. While we prioritise your safety and care of your property, it remains your responsibility. Pippies K’gari Adventures accepts no responsibility for injuries, losses, or consequences arising from guests failing to follow instructions or acting irresponsibly. Any guest deemed to pose a danger or behaving inappropriately will be removed from the tour without compensation. Any additional costs incurred for removal will be charged to the guest.
General Provisions
- Any incident resulting in loss or damage to a vehicle must be reported immediately.
- Guests release and indemnify the company, its employees, and agents from all claims for loss or damage to personal property left in any vehicle.
- No waiver of any rights under this agreement will be valid unless provided in writing by an authorised company officer.
- All losses or damages per incident are subject to applicable liability or damage charges.
Exclusion of Liability
Under no circumstances shall the company be held liable for any loss, damage, injury, or death to any person or property caused or contributed to by any conduct, act, omission, negligence, breach, or default of the company, its employees, or agents.
All Terms & Conditions, including cancellation and booking policies, are subject to change. You will be required to sign the Terms & Conditions either at accommodation check-in, vehicle pick-up, or electronically when joining a tour. Pippies K’gari Adventures reserves the right to refuse service or cancel bookings at its sole discretion.
Surcharges
Public holiday surcharges may apply and, where applicable, will be included in the tour price at the time of booking.
Tour prices are based on fuel, barge and transport costs as at 1st April 2026. Should these costs increase, Pippies K’gari Adventures reserves the right to apply a reasonable surcharge to reflect the additional cost of operating the tour.
Any surcharge will be fair, proportionate and limited to the actual increase in operating costs. Customers will be notified prior to departure. If a surcharge exceeds 10% of the total booking value, the customer may cancel their booking and receive a full refund of monies paid, subject to the applicable cancellation terms and conditions.