Effective Date: April 2026

These Equipment Hire Terms & Conditions (Hire Conditions) govern all hire of equipment by Heritage Hikes Australia (ABN 66 102 528 209) (HHA / us / we) to participants (you / Hirer).

In these Hire Conditions:

• “Equipment” means the specific hire items listed in your Hire Agreement and Inspection Record.
• “Hire Period” means the period from handover of Equipment to you at the designated meeting point until return of Equipment to HHA at the end of the walk.
• “Handover” means the point at which Equipment is physically provided to you following completion of the Pre-Hire Inspection.
• “Hire Conditions” means these Equipment Hire Terms & Conditions.
• “Hire Fee” means the fee payable for the Hire Period as specified at the time of booking.
• “Inspection Record” has the meaning given to it in clause 6.1.
• “Security Deposit” means the deposit held by HHA for the duration of the Hire Period.
• “Fair Wear and Tear” means deterioration resulting from reasonable and ordinary use of Equipment consistent with its intended purpose.
• “Pre-Hire Inspection” means the joint inspection of Equipment conducted by HHA and you at Handover, documented in the Hire Agreement and Inspection Record.

Equipment hire is offered as an optional add-on to a confirmed HHA walk booking. Equipment hire is only available to persons who hold a current, confirmed booking for the associated HHA walk.

Hire bookings are confirmed upon full payment of the Hire Fee and Security Deposit at checkout.

Equipment is hired for use on the specific HHA walk associated with your booking only. Use of Equipment outside of that walk, or transfer of Equipment to any other person, is not permitted without HHA’s prior written consent.

HHA reserves the right to decline a hire booking where:

1. Equipment is unavailable; or
2. HHA reasonably considers the requested hire is unsuitable.

Equipment availability is managed through date-based inventory. Booking confirms that the specified items are available for your walk dates. HHA does not guarantee availability of specific brands, models or colours.

In the event that the confirmed Equipment becomes unavailable prior to your walk (e.g. due to damage from a prior hire), HHA will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable and offer one of the following:

1. a suitable substitute item of equivalent or greater specification; or
2. a full refund of the Hire Fee and Security Deposit.

Handover occurs at the designated meeting point for your walk, at least 30–40 minutes prior to the scheduled walk departure time. This time is mandatory to allow for:

1. Pre-Hire Inspection and signing of the Hire Agreement and Inspection Record;
2. fitting and adjustment of backpacks and other Equipment, as required under the Australian Adventure Activity Standard (AAAS) Bushwalking Good Practice Guide;
3. familiarisation with Equipment operation and any relevant safety briefing.

You must arrive at the meeting point at the time specified in your pre-activity information to allow sufficient time for Handover. Failure to arrive on time may result in Handover being delayed at HHA’s discretion. HHA will use reasonable efforts to accommodate late arrival but is not obliged to delay Handover or the scheduled walk.

No Equipment will be handed over until the Hire Agreement and Inspection Record has been signed by you.

For overnight Equipment (tents, sleeping mats), pitching or set-up, guidance will be provided by the guide at the campsite during the walk. You are not required to pitch tents at the meeting point.

Equipment is provided for use in outdoor environments where performance may vary depending on conditions, including terrain, weather and usage. HHA makes no warranty that Equipment will perform in any particular way in field conditions. It is your responsibility to satisfy yourself as to the suitability of any Equipment for your intended use.

If Equipment is not of acceptable quality or fit for purpose at the time of Handover, please notify the HHA guide before commencing the walk. HHA will use reasonable endeavours to provide a replacement item or, if unavailable, refund the Hire Fee.

A Security Deposit (in AUD) is charged at the time of booking for the following Equipment categories:

The Security Deposit is charged to your payment method at checkout alongside the Hire Fee.

The Security Deposit will be refunded in full within 5 business days of the walk end date, provided Equipment is returned in the condition noted at the Pre-Hire Inspection, subject to Fair Wear and Tear.

Where damage or loss is identified on return, HHA will notify you in writing of the assessed cost of repair or replacement, and the Security Deposit will be applied against that cost. Any amount exceeding the Security Deposit must be paid by you within 7 days of receiving written notice from HHA.

Where the Security Deposit is applied in accordance with clause 5.4, HHA will refund any remaining balance of the Security Deposit (after deduction of any reasonable amounts properly incurred) within 7 days after providing you with written notice of the assessment.

The Security Deposit is not a cap on your liability for damage or loss to the Equipment. However, any amount claimed by HHA will be reasonable and proportionate to the liability actually incurred.

Prior to Handover, HHA will conduct a Pre-Hire Inspection of each item of Equipment in your presence. Both parties will note the condition of each item on the Hire Agreement and Inspection Record (Inspection Record).

You will be given reasonable opportunity to inspect each item and raise any concerns before signing the Inspection Record.

By signing the Inspection Record you confirm that:

1. you have inspected each item of Equipment and accept it in the condition described;
2. you have received any applicable fitting or operational guidance from HHA staff;
3. you understand and agree to these Hire Conditions; and
4. you accept responsibility for the Equipment from the time of Handover.

On return of Equipment, HHA will conduct a return inspection. Where practicable, this will be conducted with you present at the end of the walk. Condition findings will be compared against the Inspection Record.

Timestamped photographic records of Equipment condition are maintained by HHA at each inspection and form part of HHA’s documentation.

During the Hire Period, you are responsible for the care, safe use and security of the Equipment.

You must:

1. use Equipment only for its intended purpose and in a manner consistent with its design;
2. not modify, damage, sublet or transfer Equipment to any other person;
3. take reasonable precautions to protect Equipment from avoidable damage, theft or loss;
4. notify HHA’s guide immediately if Equipment is damaged, lost or becomes unsafe during the walk;
5. return Equipment clean, dry and in the condition it was received (subject to Fair Wear and Tear).

You are liable to HHA for:

1. the reasonable cleaning fee of any Equipment that is returned in a condition that requires cleaning beyond Fair Wear and Tear;
2. the reasonable cost of repair of any damage to Equipment beyond Fair Wear and Tear;
3. the reasonable replacement cost of any Equipment lost, not returned by the end of the Hire Period, stolen or damaged beyond repair, taking into account the age and condition of the Equipment;
4. any reasonable costs incurred by HHA in recovering possession of Equipment not returned.

HHA will assess damage and loss costs based on the current repair or replacement value of the item at the time of the relevant hire. Assessment will be conducted in good faith and HHA will provide you with written details of any claim.

Fair Wear and Tear (normal deterioration from ordinary use consistent with the Equipment’s intended purpose) will not be charged to you.

You indemnify HHA and its staff and guides against any third party claims arising from your use of the Equipment, except to the extent such claim is caused or contributed to by HHA’s negligence, wilful misconduct or breach of these Hire Conditions.

Hire cancellations by you are subject to the same timeframes as your walk booking cancellation under HHA’s Booking Terms & Conditions:

1. Day walks: cancellation with ≥48 hours’ notice — full refund of Hire Fee and Security Deposit;
2. Multi-day walks: cancellation with ≥7 days’ notice — full refund of Hire Fee and Security Deposit;
3. Late cancellation or no-show — Hire Fee is forfeited; Security Deposit is refunded in full.

If you are entitled to transfer your walk booking, the Equipment hire booking will be transferred to the new activity date, subject to availability.

If a hire cancellation is made outside the applicable timeframes under the HHA’s Booking Terms & Conditions, the Hire Fee will not be refunded and no transfer or credit will be available. The Security Deposit will be refunded in full within 7 days from the date HHA received your hire cancellation in writing.

Where HHA cancels the associated walk for any reason, the Hire Fee and Security Deposit are refunded in full. Hire bookings are contingent on the walk proceeding.

If you do not take Equipment that was reserved for you at Handover (other than through a timely cancellation under 8.1), no refund of the Hire Fee will be made.

Cancellations must be made in writing to HHA during office hours (9am–5pm Monday–Friday) and not on weekends or public holidays. Notice is not effective until received by HHA.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, HHA excludes all liability in connection with Equipment hire except as expressly set out in these Hire Conditions.

Nothing in these Hire Conditions excludes or limits consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). Where the ACL implies terms that cannot be lawfully excluded, those terms are included to the extent required by law.

HHA’s liability for breach of any non-excludable guarantee is limited, to the extent permitted by law, to the resupply of the Equipment or the payment of the cost of resupply.

Subject to clause 2, HHA is not liable for any indirect or consequential loss arising from the hire or use of Equipment, including but not limited to personal injury, property damage, or loss of enjoyment, except to the extent caused by HHA’s reckless or wilful conduct.

Subject to clauses 9.2 and 9.4, HHA’s maximum aggregate liability to you in respect of any one claim or series of connected claims under these Hire Conditions, whether arising in or for breach of contract, negligence or other tort, breach of statutory duty, or under an indemnity or otherwise is limited to an amount equal to the amount paid by you to HHA for the hire of the Equipment.

Equipment is provided for use on HHA-guided walks in natural environments. Inherent risks of outdoor use, including terrain, weather and environmental conditions, are acknowledged by you as part of your broader risk acknowledgement under HHA’s Booking Terms & Conditions. You acknowledge that use of Equipment in outdoor environments involves inherent risks. You agree to use the Equipment in accordance with HHA’s instructions and accept those risks to the extent permitted by law.

Personal information collected in connection with Equipment hire (including the signed Inspection Record) is handled in accordance with HHA’s Privacy Policy available at heritagehikes.com.au/privacy-policy.

These Hire Conditions constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between you and us and govern your hire of the Equipment, superseding any prior or contemporaneous agreements, communications and proposals, whether oral or written, between you and us (including, but not limited to, any prior versions of our terms and conditions).

Any ambiguities in the interpretation of these Hire Conditions will not be construed against the drafting party.

The failure of us to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Hire Conditions will not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

These Hire Conditions are governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. Any disputes will be resolved in the appropriate courts of New South Wales.

Heritage Hikes Australia
Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: heritagehikes.com.au

Contact: Please fill in and submit the contact form on the Heritage Hikes Australia website