TERMS AND CONDITIONS
By booking an Outward Bound course you agree to the terms below. Jump to our Privacy Policy.
Booking and payment
Your place on a course is confirmed once you have booked and paid the required course deposit. Full payment must be received at least 8 weeks before your course start date unless otherwise agreed. Course fees are listed in NZD and include GST and are valid at the time of booking.
Transfers and cancellations
Outward Bound courses require significant preparation and limited places are available. Because of this:
Course fees, including deposits, are non-refundable.
If you cannot attend your course, you will not receive a refund.
You may request one transfer to another course date at least 30 days before your course start date, subject to availability. Additional transfers may incur a fee.
Transfer requests within 30 days of course start may not be possible. If you do not attend your course, arrive late, or leave early, your course fee will not be refunded or credited.
All deposits are forfeited after 6 months where you have not booked on a course.
Medical information
You must fully disclose all medical and mental health conditions, medications, and relevant history during enrolment. Your place on the course is subject to approval by Outward Bound.
You must:
Complete all required medical forms
Provide accurate and up-to-date information
Inform Outward Bound of any changes before your course begins
If information is withheld or inaccurate, your booking may be cancelled, or you may be sent home from the course at your own expense without refund.
Fitness and participation
Outward Bound courses are physically and mentally demanding and take place in outdoor environments.
Participants must:
Meet the fitness requirements of the course
Always follow staff instructions
Act respectfully towards others and their property
Participate fully in course activities
Participants who are unable or unwilling to participate safely may be withdrawn from the course without refund.
Safety and risk
Your safety is our highest priority. Outward Bound operates under a robust, independently audited safety management system. However, outdoor adventure activities carry inherent risks which cannot be completely eliminated.
Activities may include:
tramping and camping
sailing and kayaking
swimming
rock climbing and high ropes
other outdoor activities in all weather conditions
By attending a course, you acknowledge that participation involves risks including injury, illness, or in rare circumstances serious harm or death. You agree to follow all safety instructions provided by staff.
Behaviour and conduct
Outward Bound maintains a drug, alcohol, smoking and vaping-free environment.
Participants who:
bring prohibited substances
behave dangerously or disruptively
fail to follow staff instructions
may be removed from the course at their own expense without refund.
Illness on course
If you become ill before your course begins, you must contact Outward Bound. If you become ill during your course and are unable to continue, refunds or credits will not be provided.
Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by New Zealand law, Outward Bound is not liable for loss, injury, delay, or additional costs incurred as part of participating in a course.
Participants are responsible for:
their own personal belongings
their travel to and from the course
any additional costs resulting from leaving a course early.
Shop purchases
Items purchased through the Outward Bound shop may be returned in line with the Consumer Guarantees Act. Refunds will not be provided if you change your mind. Shipping costs are not refundable.
Pins
Students who complete a course are gifted an Outward Bound pin. If this pin is lost or broken, it will not be replaced.
PRIVACY POLICY
1. What information we collect
Outward Bound collects personal information to manage course enrolments, deliver programmes, communicate with participants and measure programme impact.
Information we may collect includes:
Contact details
Medical information required for participation
Course feedback and survey responses
Website usage information (see Cookies and Tracking Technologies below)
2. How we use your information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
Contact details — to manage your enrolment, communicate with you about your course, and keep you informed as an alumnus, donor, supporter or prospective participant
Medical information — solely to support safe participation decisions during your course
Course feedback, survey responses and other participation data — to improve our programmes and measure their impact, including through research partners
Website usage information — for the purposes set out in Cookies and Tracking below.
We only use your information for the purpose it was collected for, unless you've agreed otherwise or an exception applies (such as the sharing circumstances described in clause 5).
3. Cookies and tracking
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to understand how visitors use our site, improve the enrolment experience, and show relevant advertising.
These technologies may be used to:
Understand website traffic and visitor behaviour
Run website testing and improve site usability
Manage email communications and understand engagement with our campaigns
Measure the effectiveness of our advertising and show Outward Bound content across platforms
You can control cookies through your browser settings or you can manage your preferences here (note: disabling cookies may affect site functionality).
4. How we store and handle your information
Your information will be stored and handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020.
Your personal information is held in a controlled and secure environment. We use appropriate technical, organisational, and administrative security measures to protect any information we hold from loss, misuse, and unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration and destruction.
5. Who we may share your information with
We may share relevant information:
With medical professionals involved in your participation
With course sponsors (such as donors), if applicable
With service providers who support our operations
With research and impact-measurement partners such as Outward Bound International, Stats NZ and Research NZ
Where required by law
Separately, information collected through website cookies and tracking technologies may be shared with the technology providers who help us operate those tools (Google, Zoho and Meta). This does not include information you provide through enrolment forms, applications or medical information.
Some of our service providers may store or process data outside New Zealand. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information continues to receive a comparable standard of protection.
6. Photos, video and testimonials
Outward Bound may also use photos, video or participant comments taken during courses for promotional purposes unless you request otherwise.
7. Your rights
Individuals (including prospective participants) may request access to or correction of their personal information at any time by contacting info@outwardbound.co.nz.
If you have a concern about how we've handled your personal information, you can contact us directly at info@outwardbound.co.nz. If you feel that hasn't resolved things, you can also contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (privacy.org.nz).
8. Website use
By using the Outward Bound website you agree to our website privacy practices, including the use of cookies and analytics tools to improve the website experience. You understand that you can manage your preferences here.
9. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will always be available on our website.
If you would like to contact us about these terms, please email info@outwardbound.co.nz.