COVID-Safe Policy

Last updated on the 26/11/2022. 

 When traveling/touring with Great Northern Birdwatching Tours our priority is your health and well-being as well the health and well-being of the people and the communities we visit.

On our extended tours we do visit remote communities in remote regions. Often these areas have limited health resources and can be home to vulnerable peoples with underlying health conditions. We need to do everything possible to minimise the risk to these communities as well as to each other. Understanding that our contact with locals in most situations are extremely limited and we practise safe-distance protocols.

Our covid-safety plan will be regularly updated to try and keep up with everchanging State Government Health advice.

‘Key requirements’

# All guests will need to be ‘Fully Vaccinated’ with an approved Australian Government vaccine. Any guest who cannot be vaccinated for personal health reasons need to contact us immediately.

# Mask wearing (at the time of this update) is now not mandatory, but may be required in some instances eg. indoor/outdoor dining and at any given time inside  the vehicle if the driver/guide deems it important for everyone’s health and safety due to altered circumstances. For ease and comfort, we recommend that you bring your own mask with you. 

# We recommend and require that all attendees (including driver/guide) undertake their own personal ‘Rapid Antigen Test’ and receive a negative result 24 hours prior to embarking on the tour. This negative test result can be forwarded/texted to G.N.B.Tours on 0411 348120 prior to departure. Also asking that any guest who feels at all unwell or suffers flu-like symptoms on the day of departure, does not enter the vehicle.

# Cleanliness and hygiene while traveling with a small group is of the utmost importance. There will be a daily focus on our already clean vehicles, with on-going sanitation to high touch points. Anti-bacterial air-conditioner treatments and anti-bacterial wipes on hand for optical equipment, as well as hand sanitising dispensers.

# Our personalised tour groups are considered to be a (travel bubble) so we can interact without extra social distance requirements. As much fresh air as possible will be practised and encouraged with regular leg-stretching (birding) walks when on our longer drive stretches. Breakfasts and lunches to be taken in the outdoor fresh air.

# Important Note:   Once an extended tour has commenced there cannot be full refunds given, if in the unfortunate instance of a ‘Covid-19’ positive contraction is incurred amongst our small group. Many costs will still be liable to G.N.B.Tours for the duration of the tour and with discussion and resolution between parties a  partial refund will be given at the discretion of G.N.B.Tours.

# If during the tour any guest develops flu-like symptoms, we’ll have procedures and test kits available to respond quickly and discretely. This may require isolating and returning from remote locations. If this were to occur it would be based on test results, health advice and operational requirements. This may involve additional costs and downtime which may be at the guest’s expense. Again, stressing the importance of your own personal ‘health/travel insurance’.

# As previously mentioned, our laws and travel restrictions are constantly changing, we do travel as a small team, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Great Northern Birdwatching Tours.