Health & Safety

Our Commitment to Your Safety

At Cooee Tours, the health and safety of our guests, guides, drivers, and the communities we visit is our highest priority — above schedule, above convenience, above any other operational consideration. These are not just words: every one of our operational decisions is tested against this principle.

If You Are Unwell Before Your Tour

We ask all guests to make a simple self-assessment before departing for a Cooee Tours pick-up. If you are experiencing any of the following, please do not travel:

• Fever or chills
• Persistent cough or sore throat
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea
• Runny nose, congestion, or loss of taste/smell
• Fatigue or muscle aches that feel illness-related
• Any condition a doctor has advised you to isolate for

Illness Rebooking Policy

Where a guest cancels due to a genuine illness and notifies us before tour departure, Cooee Tours will offer a credit or rebooking to a future tour date, subject to availability. This applies even within our standard short-notice cancellation window — we want to incentivise guests to stay home when unwell, not penalise them for doing the right thing.

We may ask for a medical certificate if the cancellation occurs within 24 hours of departure for a multi-day tour or when significant costs have been incurred. Please see our Terms & Conditions for full cancellation policy details.

If You Become Unwell During a Tour

If you begin to feel unwell during a tour, please inform your guide or driver immediately. They are trained to assess the situation and take appropriate action.

What Your Guide Will Do

• Assess your condition and provide first aid where appropriate
• Contact emergency services (000) if required
• Arrange for you to be transported to the nearest medical facility if necessary
• Contact your emergency contact person if you provide one
• Notify Cooee Tours head office to coordinate support

If Symptoms Suggest a Contagious Illness

If your guide believes your symptoms may be contagious and pose a risk to other passengers, they may need to make arrangements to remove you from the group for the safety of others. This is a duty of care obligation and is handled with as much dignity and sensitivity as possible. In this situation, you would be transported to appropriate care and your emergency contact notified.

Travel insurance that covers trip interruption and emergency medical expenses is strongly recommended for exactly this type of situation. See our Travel Insurance guide.

COVID-19 & Respiratory Illness Policy

Cooee Tours' COVID-19 policies are updated in line with current Queensland Health guidelines. At the time of writing:

• If you test positive for COVID-19 before your tour, contact us immediately — we will rebook you to a future date
• Guests who are symptomatic on boarding may be asked to wear a mask or may be declined boarding at the guide's discretion
• Hand sanitiser is available on all coaches
• Coaches are cleaned and disinfected between tours
• Our policies may be updated at short notice in response to government health directives — we will contact affected bookings immediately if requirements change

First Aid & Emergency Response

All Cooee Tours guides and drivers hold current first-aid certificates (including CPR) renewed annually. Every vehicle carries a first-aid kit that is checked and restocked regularly.

What Our Team Is Trained To Do

• Assess and manage medical emergencies including cardiac events, anaphylaxis, and trauma
• Administer CPR and use an AED if available at a venue
• Manage falls, lacerations, and musculoskeletal injuries
• Manage heat exhaustion and dehydration
• Communicate effectively with emergency services (000)

Our guides know the location of the nearest hospitals and medical centres along all tour routes.

Vehicle Safety Standards

All Cooee Tours vehicles are maintained and operated in accordance with:

• Queensland Transport heavy vehicle regulations
• National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) standards
• Regular scheduled and unscheduled mechanical inspections
• Pre-trip safety checks completed by the driver before every departure

Our drivers hold current heavy vehicle licences, undergo regular fatigue management training, and comply with all legal driving hour limits. If a vehicle develops a mechanical issue during a tour, the driver will pull over safely and contact Cooee Tours dispatch, who will arrange an alternative vehicle or transport.

On-Board Hygiene

• Hand sanitiser is available at the coach entrance and throughout the vehicle
• Coaches are cleaned and sanitised between each tour
• Air conditioning and ventilation systems are serviced regularly
• Food and beverages brought on board should be stored and disposed of carefully
• Guests are asked to sneeze or cough into their elbow and to use tissues

Disclosing Medical Conditions

You are not required to disclose all medical information when booking a Cooee Tours trip. However, we strongly encourage you to advise us of any condition that may:

• Affect your ability to participate in all or part of the tour
• Require emergency intervention during the tour
• Require mobility assistance or special seating arrangements
• Require dietary accommodation at included meals or tastings

This information helps us prepare appropriately and ensure your guide can provide the best possible care if needed. All health information is treated confidentially in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Medications on Tour

Guests are responsible for managing their own medications during tours. We recommend:

• Bringing sufficient medication for the full duration of the tour plus one extra day
• Carrying medications in original labelled containers
• Keeping essential medications (e.g., EpiPen, inhaler, nitrates) in your personal bag — not stored in luggage bays
• Informing your guide of any critical medication needs (e.g., insulin, severe allergy medication) at the start of the tour

Cooee Tours staff cannot administer prescription medications. If you require assistance with medication management, please bring a carer or companion.

Emergency Contact Information

We recommend all guests provide an emergency contact name and phone number when booking. In the event of a medical emergency, your guide will contact this person if you are unable to do so yourself.

To update your emergency contact details, email bookings@cooeetours.com.au with your booking reference.