Terms & Conditions

CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT PROCEDURE

Cowrie Retreat is a private, key access accommodation.  It is recommended that guests arrive before dark.

Check-in is from 3pm onwards.

Check-out is strictly before 11am.  Guests departing after 11am will, at the discretion of Cowrie Retreat Management, be charged for an extra night.

At 11am Housekeeping and other staff will arrive to clean the property.

Early check-in or late check-out is often not possible.  Requests can be made when completing your online booking but, in some circumstances, may only be confirmed 48 hours prior to arrival.

A two-night minimum stay applies to all bookings, except long weekends and peak periods where longer minimum stays may apply.

Certain holiday periods and days that fall between Monday – Thursday will attract the higher per night rate and will be highlighted in the booking calendar.

BEDROOMS

Cowrie accommodates a maximum of eight guests in three King-sized beds, and two king singles. If you have chosen a discounted rate based on either one or two bedrooms, the other bedrooms will NOT be accessible.  A maximum of two people are allowed per bedroom.

GUIDELINES

Cowrie Retreat is located in privately owned sand dunes which are extremely fragile. To protect our dunes and wildlife we ask that you abide by the following rules:

• Please observe SA bushfire regulations and fire bans at all times. No campfires anywhere on the property or naked flames permitted.

• Please do not throw food scraps to animals.
• The seagulls may be fed on the shore.

• No touring of the property in any type of vehicle.

• Cowrie Retreat is part of a small community. Please drive with due care when passing houses in the vicinity.

LIABILITY

The owners and staff accept no responsibility for loss or damage to guest property during the rental period.

You acknowledge that the Cowrie Retreat property is unsupervised and that there are inherent risks in bushwalking, swimming, and being in close proximity to native animals.

You agree to take due care at all times for your own safety while using the facilities of Cowrie Retreat (including proper clothing, footwear and appropriate equipment) and at all times while on the property, and to properly supervise other guests requiring supervision or assistance.

You acknowledge that you and your guests will be staying at the Cowrie Retreat property at your own risk. To the extent permitted by law, Cowrie Retreat disclaims all liability for any loss or damage suffered (including physical injury and liability for negligence) while staying at the Cowrie Retreat property.

To the extent permitted by law, you will indemnify Cowrie Retreat for any loss or damage suffered by Cowrie Retreat in relation to your stay and those of your guests at the Cowrie Retreat property, except to the extent caused by the wilful default of Cowrie Retreat.

ADDITIONAL CHARGES

Additional charges will be applied if there is damage to the house or any equipment, contents, fixtures or fittings etc.

Obvious indiscriminate mess left in the Retreat will attract an excess cleaning charge for any extra cleaning required over and above the ordinary course of cleaning the property.

Extra cleaning deemed necessary includes, but is not limited, to cleaning dirty BBQ and kitchen appliances, dirty dishes, pans, excessive spills and stains on furniture and linens.

These will be charged to your credit card within 30 days of your stay, and you will be made aware of these charges via email.

Your credit card will only be debited in the event of not adhering to the terms and conditions, damage to the property, furniture and equipment breakages, missing items or if extra cleaning is required at the discretion of management.

PAYMENT POLICY

A 50% deposit and 2% booking fee for accommodation is required before the booking can be confirmed. The remaining 50% will be charged one month prior to your stay. In the instance where the booking is made less than thirty (30) days before the stay the full amount will be charged at the time of booking.

Current and valid credit card details are required when booking.  We do not charge a bond and as per the “Additional Charges” clause above, we will charge your credit card for any damage or extra house cleaning.

Please ensure your credit card has sufficient funds at the time of booking and again approximately one month prior to check in when the balance owing will be deducted.  Please also ensure your credit card is current and valid on each occasion.

CREDIT CARDS – We accept online payments by Visa, Amex and MasterCard.

SMOKING

Cowrie Retreat and the grounds are strictly no smoking including the use of e-cigarettes.  Smoking and e-cigarettes are strictly prohibited on site and inside any rooms, decks, or anywhere on the property.

CANCELLATION POLICY

A 50% deposit and 2% booking fee for accommodation is required. Any cancellations prior to 30 days of arrival date attract a $100 administrative fee.

Any cancellations within 29-15 days will attract a fee of 50% of your total booking. Any cancellations within 14 days and non-arrivals attract the full tariff being charged.

As many bookings are made well in advance, we recommend guests purchase travel insurance so that you can cover any unforeseen circumstances such as illness or family emergencies preventing travel etc.

Cancellation by Cowrie Retreat

We may need to cancel bookings from time to time due to events or circumstances outside of our control, including (but not limited to) the occurrence of any damage to the property, fire or other weather conditions which create a risk to the safety of guests, government laws, regulations or directions which prevent or materially limit access to or the occupation of the property or the inaccessibility of any access tracks to the property.

If we need to cancel your booking, we will notify you as soon as possible and you will be entitled to a full refund of all amounts paid by you to us on account of your booking OR you may defer your stay to another date when the property is available.

To the extent permitted by law, this refund will be your sole remedy against Cowrie Retreat, and Cowrie Retreat’s sole liability to you, for or in connection with the cancellation of your booking and you unconditionally and irrevocably release and indemnify us from any other claim you or your guests may have against us arising out of or in connection the cancellation of your booking.

AGREEMENT

Agreement to these terms and conditions is a condition of staying at the Cowrie Retreat property.

By making a booking at Cowrie Retreat you are deemed to agree these terms and conditions.

You acknowledge that certain products and services at the Cowrie Retreat property (including food services and massage services) are provided by independent contractors and that Cowrie Retreat will have no liability to you or your guests in relation to the provision of those products and services by independent contractors.

From time-to-time staff, maintenance tradespeople and delivery services may attend at the Retreat to carry out essential services.

To the extent permitted by law, these terms and conditions apply to the exclusion of any implied terms including terms implied by law. However, these terms are to be read subject to any laws of mandatory application or terms implied by law that cannot be excluded, including any rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

You agree to these terms and conditions on your own behalf and on behalf of your guests.

For the purpose of these terms, “Cowrite Retreat” includes SIGA Pty Ltd and its directors, employees, and agents, and SIGA Pty Ltd holds the benefit of these terms and conditions on trust for its directors, employees and agents.

The Management of Cowrie Retreat reserves the right to request guests to leave the retreat should they breach any of the above Terms and Conditions.