Sunrise Tours
Terms of Hire
Whether we are taking your group up to the Blue Mountains lookouts, collecting your family from the airport or running a corporate shuttle across town, every Sunrise Tours trip runs on the same rules. We have set them out plainly so you know what to expect from us and what we need from you. Please read them before you confirm, and pass on the parts that matter to the people travelling with you.
Last updated: 31 October 2026
1How these terms work
1.1These terms cover every Sunrise Tours service: sightseeing and day tours, private charters, school, corporate and event work, transfers and airport runs. “We” and “us” means Sunrise Tours, “you” means the hirer who makes the booking, and “passengers” means everyone on board. You accept these terms by booking, paying a deposit or travelling, and if you book for a group you accept them on the group’s behalf.
1.2Nothing here limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)); where a term conflicts with it, the Australian Consumer Law prevails. School bookings follow the school terms in section 18 wherever those differ from the rest of this page.
2Quotes, bookings and changes
2.1Quotes are based on the details you give us and stay open for 14 days. A quote does not reserve a vehicle. A tentative hold lapses after three business days unless the deposit is paid. A booking is confirmed only when we have your written acceptance and the deposit; a verbal yes does not bind us.
2.2Prices run depot to depot and include GST, fuel, insurance, kilometres and a licensed driver. Hourly hire in the Sydney metropolitan area carries at least two extra hours for travel to and from the job, which may be more depending on time of day, traffic and the number of stops. You pay for the vehicle, not per head: a 12-seater costs the same for two people or twelve. Weekend and public holiday work attracts penalty rates.
2.3Price depends on the vehicle’s size and layout, the start point, route distance and depot travel, the day and time (including peak, weekend, public holiday and out-of-hours loadings), total hours, the type of service and any overnight or interstate needs. We may decline any booking without giving a reason.
Changes after confirmation
2.4Send every change in writing. Changes depend on availability and attract an administration fee on top of any difference in the hire rate (an upgrade costs the rate difference plus the fee).
| Kind of change | Examples | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Contact name, time shift up to 30 minutes, passenger count within the same vehicle | From $10 |
| Moderate | New route, extra stop, time shift over 30 minutes, larger or smaller vehicle | From $25 per change |
| Significant | New itinerary, several changes, anything needing a fresh quote | From $50 per booking |
| Complex | Several bookings affected, late restructure, heavy office time | Assessed individually, advised first |
2.5Stops added after confirmation cost from $10 for a minimal detour, from $25 within the same area and from $50 for another suburb or a longer route. Regional or interstate stops are quoted separately.
Moving your trip to another date
2.6We do not offer credits, deferrals or postponements. A new date means cancelling the original booking and creating a new one, with a fresh fleet check, a new rate, a new reference and invoice and new driver scheduling.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Rebooking fee | $110.00 including GST for each date change |
| Rate | Charged at the new date’s rate; any weekend, public holiday, out-of-hours or peak-season difference is added, and any saving is credited |
| Notice | At least four weeks’ written notice before the original date avoids the original cancellation fee; inside four weeks, part of that fee may also apply |
| Deposit | Carried to the new booking with more than four weeks’ notice; otherwise kept towards the cancellation fee |
| Same day | Not possible; a same-day request is a non-cancelled service charged at 100% |
| Repeat changes | Each one is a new rebooking with another $110.00 fee; we may refuse further changes that disrupt our schedule |
2.7Availability on a new date is never guaranteed and can only be held with a new deposit. If nothing is free, you may cancel (fees from section 4 run from the original date), keep the original date at no extra cost, or keep the booking and wait. If you wait, the original cancellation scale keeps running, and we have no duty to tell you if a vehicle frees up.
Waiting gets expensive
Inside seven days of the original trip the cancellation fee climbs quickly: 80% at three days out, 100% inside 48 hours. If a date change is uncertain, decide early.
3Deposits and payment
When payment is due
Booking more than 7 days ahead: a non-refundable 20% deposit secures the vehicle and driver (unless we agree otherwise in writing), and the balance is due no later than 7 days before travel. Booking within 7 days: the full amount is due when you book. An unpaid booking inside the 7-day window may be cancelled without notice, with cancellation fees applied.
3.1Non-payment is not a cancellation. A service cancelled for non-payment counts as a non-cancelled service and is charged at 100%.
3.2We may ask for a bond on late-night work, large groups, higher-risk events and school or youth groups. You authorise us to charge your nominated card or keep all or part of the bond for overtime, waiting time, cancellation fees, damage, cleaning, fines, parking, tolls and other costs arising directly from the booking.
3.3Overdue invoices attract interest at 10% per annum from the due date, and you agree to pay our reasonable debt recovery costs, including legal and agency fees, whatever the outcome.
3.4Square’s Payment Processing Fee of 2.25% applies to the amount you pay by card. Square charges it as an administration fee for processing card payments; it is not a credit card surcharge, and it appears as a line on your tax invoice.
| Payment method | Fee |
|---|---|
| Visa, Mastercard and American Express, personal or business | Square’s Payment Processing Fee, 2.25% |
| EFTPOS and Australian bank transfer | 0% |
| International wire transfer | $30.00 AUD flat |
3.5Have your Booking ID ready when you pay, and quote the invoice number and Booking ID on bank transfers. Receipts are emailed. Drivers do not handle cash and we do not accept cheques.
4Cancelling a trip
4.1Email cancellations to sunrisetours.sydney@gmail.com. A cancellation counts only once we acknowledge it in writing; telling the driver, a voicemail or simply not paying does not cancel. A trip never cancelled in writing, or not used after the vehicle has left the depot, is a non-cancelled service and is charged in full.
| Notice before the service date | Cancellation fee (on the full invoice value) |
|---|---|
| More than 7 days | 10% |
| 6 days | 20%, or the deposit if higher |
| 5 days | 50%, or the deposit if higher |
| 4 days | 70% |
| 3 days | 80% |
| Within 48 hours | 100% |
| No-show or non-cancelled service | 100% |
4.2We may reduce or waive a fee in exceptional circumstances at our discretion. No refund is given if a service is stopped for misconduct, a breach of these terms, an alcohol breach or a safety risk created by your instructions.
4.3If a breakdown or something outside our control stops us running your trip, we will try to send an equivalent vehicle. Otherwise our liability is limited to refunding the part not run, with nothing for consequential loss, missed events or third-party costs. Regular school runs and contracted work follow their contract; without one, this scale applies.
5Hours, rates and overtime
5.1Any part of a trip outside standard operating hours carries a loading on that portion, confirmed in your quote:
| When | Loading on the base rate |
|---|---|
| Starting before 6 am | Time and a half |
| Running past 10 pm | Time and a half |
| Running past midnight | Double time |
| Sunday | Sunday penalty rate per quote |
5.2A trip starting between 10 pm and 6 am is out-of-hours throughout and carries a minimum out-of-hours charge however short it is. NSW public holidays attract a surcharge of at least 30% (New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Monday, Anzac Day, King’s Birthday, Bank Holiday, Labour Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day). When Anzac Day (25 April) falls on a weekend and the NSW Government declares the Monday a holiday under the Public Holidays Act 2010 (NSW), both days attract the surcharge. Checking whether your date is a holiday is up to you.
5.3The first 15 minutes after the booked departure time are free. Waiting after that is billed per 15 minutes: $30.00 for minibuses (12 to 24 seats) and $50.00 for coaches (34 to 62 seats).
5.4Your hire covers the hours on the Booking Confirmation plus 15 minutes’ grace. After that, overtime is charged in blocks of at least one hour at the vehicle’s hourly rate, with any out-of-hours loading applied. It applies whatever the cause: events overrunning, late venue access, slow reboarding, extra stops or longer breaks. Delay caused only by traffic nobody could have foreseen at booking is not charged, but Sydney peak-hour congestion is foreseeable and does not count.
5.5Times on your confirmation are estimates. We are not liable for delays from traffic, closures, crashes, weather, compulsory driver rest or other things outside our control, or for flights, events or deadlines missed as a result. Travel or event insurance is worth considering. We suggest these buffers:
| Trip | Suggested buffer |
|---|---|
| International flight | 3.5 hours from reaching the airport to departure |
| Domestic flight | 2.5 hours from reaching the airport to departure |
| Event | 30 minutes before start time |
| Peak hour (7 am to 9:30 am, 4 pm to 7 pm) | An extra 30 to 90 minutes |
| Longer trips | Coaches are limited to 100 km/h by NSW law, so allow more than a car trip planner shows |
5.6Itemised where they apply: tolls at Class B rates at cost; parking at Sydney Airport, Central Station, Sydney Olympic Park, venues and elsewhere; national park and entry fees; overtime; vehicle changes and extra passengers on the day; cleaning fees; change fees; driver accommodation and meals; and fines caused by an illegal stopping point you nominated. We may adjust prices if fuel costs rise materially, a law change materially raises our costs, or booking discrepancies add cost.
6Tour commentary and guides
6.1Sightseeing is our speciality, and the rule that keeps it safe is simple: the driver drives and someone else tells the story. Drivers do not give live commentary on any service. They will pass on safety instructions, timings and meeting points only.
6.2Narrating while driving a heavy vehicle divides attention and slows reactions. The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) requires us to remove that kind of foreseeable risk, the Heavy Vehicle National Law demands safe driving, and under Chain of Responsibility a hirer who asks for commentary can share liability.
6.3For commentary, engage a professional tour guide, who will keep the whole coach engaged and answer questions. We strongly recommend one, and may require one, for Sydney and regional sightseeing, multi-stop and regional tours, educational excursions and VIP or corporate hosting. Alternatively, arrange with us in advance a pre-recorded audio commentary (available in several languages) or a group leader you appoint to handle commentary. Please confirm any guide arrangement before the trip and do not ask drivers to narrate.
7Meal stops and restaurants
7.1Winery lunches and harbourside dinners are part of many tour days, but choosing and booking the venue is your job. We do not recommend, select, endorse or book restaurants or cafes, and we take no commissions from venues. Restaurants are independent businesses whose food, hygiene, allergen handling, pricing and timing we cannot control, and a slow meal can affect the driver’s legal hours and later bookings.
7.2You arrange the booking, confirm group size and time, tell the venue when the coach arrives, handle dietary needs and check coach access and parking. Our staff will not deal with venues, menus or payments for you, though a driver can phone ahead with an arrival time if asked. On request we can name well-known dining areas and advise on coach parking; that is general guidance only, not a recommendation, and not to be relied on. To the extent the law allows, we accept no liability for any dining experience.
8Overnight and multi-day tours
8.1Trips beyond one working day need a room for each driver: single occupancy, private bathroom, at least 3-star motel or hotel standard, with heating and cooling, television, secure access and a quiet, clean setting. It should be at or near the group’s accommodation, though not necessarily the same venue; any transfer between the two must be in the itinerary.
8.2You can book the room yourself (send us the details for approval), or we will book it and charge it at cost. If you supply accommodation, it needs safe off-street parking for the vehicle and any trailer, with enough turning room and clearance; otherwise other parking may cost extra.
8.3A meal allowance of $70.00 per driver per day applies on every overnight and extended trip, shown separately in the quote, even if the group is catering. Drivers must be free to buy food that suits their dietary, health, religious and cultural needs and to eat at times that fit their regulated breaks.
8.4Send a detailed itinerary at least one week before departure and confirm it at least two business days before. It must allow all rest required under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, and we may amend any itinerary that cannot be driven legally. Long trips may need a second driver, and standby, waiting and repositioning may add cost. Accommodation and meals are extra unless quoted. If arrangements fall short, we may arrange compliant alternatives at your cost, pause the service, or decline to continue where safety or compliance is at risk.
9Sealed roads and site access
9.1We drive on sealed, formed roads only: no gravel, dirt or sand, fire trails, rural tracks, construction roads or any surface without bitumen or asphalt. On country tours the last stretch to a lookout or farm is sometimes unsealed, so check. Loose surfaces cut grip and braking, unsettle tall vehicles, risk bogging, damage glass and suspension, and can void insurance cover.
9.2If a pickup, drop-off or destination can only be reached by an unsealed road, tell us when booking so we can agree a sealed meeting point; you may need other transport for the last leg. A driver who finds the only access is unsealed may set down or collect at the nearest safe sealed point.
9.3Give us accurate addresses, contacts and a full itinerary, and make sure each stop has bus access, turning space and a legal place to stop. Warn us about height or weight limits, narrow streets and low branches. Fines from an illegal stop you nominated are charged to you. We may decline or reroute any booking on safety grounds, and routing decisions are ours.
10Which vehicle you get
10.1We price on your confirmed passenger numbers, not a promised make or model. We may send any suitable accredited vehicle of at least the same capacity, and larger groups may travel in a combination of vehicles. A specific vehicle, livery or feature is guaranteed only if agreed in writing. Everyone booked and paid for will be seated safely and legally.
10.2Fewer travellers does not lower the price. If more turn up, extra transport cannot be promised, nobody can travel above the legal seating capacity, and we are not liable for passengers who cannot travel. Short-notice extra vehicles may cost more.
Book for your biggest number
Confirm the most people you expect, not the fewest. Upgrading in advance is cheaper and far easier than finding another vehicle on the morning of your tour.
10.3We are a direct operator with our own vehicles and drivers, and we do not use brokers. In exceptional cases such as a breakdown or sudden driver illness we may use a Transport for NSW accredited subcontractor, working under our policies and these terms; we will tell you as soon as practicable and remain responsible to you. No signs or promotional material may be fixed to a vehicle without our written approval.
11Luggage and belongings
11.1Declare all luggage when you book. We choose the vehicle and price from your declaration.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance | 1 large and 1 small bag per passenger |
| Must be declared | Golf clubs, surfboards, skis, bicycles, eskies, instruments, audio or display gear, prams, wheelchairs and mobility aids, camping gear, tools, boxes, extra or oversized cases |
| Driver lifting limit | 20 kg per item; your group helps with anything heavier |
| Prior written approval | Motorised mobility scooters and any dangerous goods |
| Lost property | Held 60 days; return freight at the owner’s cost |
11.2Vehicles have legal mass and luggage limits and may be checked at roadside weigh stations, where an overloaded vehicle can be fined or held. We will not knowingly run overloaded. Undeclared or extra luggage may delay departure, be left behind, or require a larger vehicle, trailer or second vehicle at your cost if one is available. Refused items become the owner’s responsibility.
11.3Drivers may refuse anything unsafe, too heavy, badly packed or likely to cause injury or damage, along with dangerous goods, items likely to damage the vehicle or other bags, and bulk food or perishables.
11.4Belongings travel at the owner’s risk. Except where caused by our negligence, and subject to the Australian Consumer Law, we are not liable for loss, theft or damage, or for delays or penalties caused by undeclared luggage. Lost property is kept at our depot for 60 days, then disposed of at our discretion.
12Airport transfers
12.1For Sydney Airport arrivals your driver meets the group at the pickup point in your Booking Confirmation. Every arrival quote includes:
| Included allowance | Time |
|---|---|
| Domestic baggage, T2 and T3 | 30 minutes |
| International customs and baggage, T1 | 60 minutes |
| Flight delay allowance | 30 minutes |
12.2Airport parking is charged to you at cost at Sydney Airport’s rate on the day, which depends on vehicle size and time parked and is reviewed every 1 July.
12.3For groups on several flights, the driver arrives about 20 minutes after the last scheduled landing, and earlier arrivals wait in the terminal. You must name one flight monitor who stays reachable by phone for the whole window, tracks every flight, updates us and can make transport decisions. For departures, allow the buffers in section 5.
13When flights run late
13.1We watch arrival times for confirmed pickups. A documented delay to the arriving flight is not charged as overtime or waiting time while it stays within the included allowances. Delays inside the terminal unrelated to the flight, such as customs queues or lost bags, are charged at waiting time rates once the allowance runs out. You still need to follow your flights and update us early.
13.2If a delay will run more than 60 minutes past the allowance, contact us and choose to: keep the driver on site at the overtime or waiting rate; release the vehicle and rebook or make other arrangements; or ask for a later pickup, subject to availability and driver hours.
13.3We may not be able to hold the vehicle if it is needed for later work, and a delay that runs into a driver’s compulsory rest may end the service. We will warn you as early as we can; other transport is then your responsibility. Keep a back-up plan with another provider’s contacts, a clear decision process and, for split flights, a plan to send part of the group ahead, and brief your passengers, as we do not contact them individually.
13.4Ask when booking about optional delay protection (a flat fee for waiting up to an agreed limit) or priority dispatch (a guaranteed vehicle within an agreed time). Short-notice extra vehicles are charged at normal rates and cannot be guaranteed. We are not liable for knock-on costs of flight delays such as missed connections or accommodation.
14On board the coach
14.1You are responsible for your passengers’ behaviour throughout the trip, including boarding and leaving, and for briefing them on these rules, which form part of the contract of carriage.
No alcohol, ever
No alcohol, opened or unopened, may be carried or consumed on any Sunrise Tours vehicle at any time, winery and brewery tours included. We do not run party buses for birthdays, bucks or hens nights. Break this rule and the driver may end the trip on the spot with no refund; you stay liable for the full booking and any cleaning, damage or recovery costs, and police may be called. The ban reflects the Passenger Transport (General) Regulation 2017 (NSW), passenger safety and our accreditation and insurance obligations. There are no exceptions.
14.2No food (including takeaway and snacks) and no hot drinks such as tea or coffee. Bottled water is always allowed. Eating on the move risks choking, hot drinks scald under braking, food exposes others to allergens and spills take vehicles off the road; NSW law also bans eating and drinking on buses, with penalties up to $550. A passenger with a genuine medical need, such as diabetes, should tell us beforehand and tell the driver at boarding.
Rules for every passenger
- Wear a fitted seatbelt at all times (Road Rules 2014 (NSW)) and stay seated while moving; no standing, gathering in the aisle or distracting the driver.
- Stow bags under seats or overhead and keep aisles, steps and exits clear.
- Do not use the onboard toilet, where fitted, while moving. Comfort stops follow the driver’s rest breaks.
- Follow all lawful directions from the driver or our staff.
- No smoking or vaping (Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 (NSW)); smokers outside stay at least 4 metres from the vehicle.
- No loud music, balloons or novelty items near the driver or blocking the view, and no abusive, threatening, intoxicated or disruptive behaviour.
- Do not touch exits, exit hammers, extinguishers or other safety gear, and keep every body part inside the vehicle.
- Take your rubbish with you, and dress suitably (top, shorts, trousers or skirt, and footwear); the driver may refuse boarding otherwise, especially where a venue has a dress code.
14.3Never bring: alcohol, smoking or vaping devices, glass, fuel or generators, spiked or cleated shoes, illegal or non-prescription drugs (lawful over-the-counter medicine is fine), hazardous goods, or bulk food or perishables. Balloons and decorations need our written approval.
14.4The driver is in charge of the vehicle and all safety matters, may change the route where safety or the law requires, and may refuse or remove any passenger who is affected by alcohol or drugs, abusive or disruptive, smoking or vaping on or near the vehicle, consuming alcohol or prohibited food, showing signs of an infectious illness (including active vomiting or a condition notifiable under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW)), ignoring a lawful direction, recorded as a previous offender, or below the dress standard. No fare is refunded and we are not responsible for the passenger’s onward costs.
Cleaning, biohazard and damage
14.5Winding mountain roads can upset anyone, so bring sickness bags, especially for children and travellers prone to motion sickness. A bag used and disposed of properly costs nothing. Contamination of the vehicle requires biohazard decontamination under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW):
| Contamination | Fee (inc. GST) |
|---|---|
| General mess beyond a standard clean | From $88 |
| Vomit on floor, aisle or hard surface | $350 |
| Vomit on upholstery, seatbelt or several surfaces | $550 |
| Faeces, blood or serious biohazard | From $550, assessed case by case |
14.6We may also claim reasonable compensation if decontamination stops the vehicle running a later booking. You pay for damage caused by passengers, such as broken fittings, graffiti, torn seats, cracked glass or luggage bay damage, on our written assessment and on top of any cleaning fee, but not for damage caused solely by our staff.
15Driver hours and rest
15.1Our drivers hold a NSW Driver Authority and the correct heavy vehicle licence and work under the Heavy Vehicle National Law and NSW fatigue regulations, which no hirer can vary. Our own rules are stricter than the national 15-minute break after 5.5 hours:
| Rule | Our limit |
|---|---|
| Continuous driving | Maximum 3 hours, then a compulsory 20-minute break |
| Work in 24 hours | Maximum 12 hours |
| Rest | At least 7 continuous hours stationary between 10 pm and 8 am, or 24 continuous hours on extended work |
| Weekly | Maximum 72 hours in 7 days |
15.2Inspections, cleaning, refuelling, helping passengers, loading bags and paperwork all count as work. Breaks are continuous, fully off duty, and cannot be skipped or delayed.
15.3Give us a realistic itinerary with all stops and waiting declared. Never press a driver to exceed legal limits, set unrealistic deadlines or change plans in a way that breaches fatigue rules. Under Chain of Responsibility, hirers, organisers and agents can be personally liable for unsafe instructions.
15.4To stay legal we may amend itineraries, shift times, add a second or relief driver or decline a booking. Legally required drivers, accommodation or schedule changes are compulsory and charged to you, advised in advance where possible. We are not liable for delays from rest breaks, roadside inspections or compliance. Drivers on school work hold a current Working With Children Check under the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012 (NSW).
16Travelling with children
16.1In NSW a bus has 13 or more seats including the driver’s. Rule 266 of the Road Rules 2014 (NSW), which requires drivers to restrain passengers under 16, exempts buses, and Rule 267 adds further seatbelt exemptions, so children on an accredited bus of 13 or more seats need not legally use a child seat, booster or belt. Vehicles of 12 seats or fewer fall under point to point transport rules, where normal child restraint laws apply in full; the legal seat count decides, not the vehicle’s size.
16.2Crash forces ignore exemptions. Every seat in our fleet has a belt, and wearing it while moving is a condition of travel for every passenger, children included. Buses have no ISOFIX or child restraint anchor points, so bring a portable booster for children aged about 1 to 7; the driver will help secure it as well as the vehicle allows, and it can usually stay on board for the return.
| Age | Law on a bus of 13+ seats | What we ask |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 months | No restraint required | Never hold in arms while moving; rear seat; ask us about arrangements |
| 12 months to 7 years | No restraint required | Portable booster, rear seat, belt on, never shared |
| 7 to 15 years | No restraint required | Fitted belt, one child per belt, rear seats preferred |
| 16 and over | Belt required (Rule 265) | Belt on, one person per seat |
16.3Never share a belt with a child or carry an infant in your arms while moving, and seat children as far back as practical. Prams must be folded, wheel-locked and stowed; on charter vehicles they cannot serve as a restraint. Tell us about infants and young children when booking. Supervision and correct use of belts and restraints rest with the hirer and accompanying adults. This is a general summary of NSW law, not legal advice.
17Accessibility
17.1Passengers with disability are welcome, and we aim for safe, respectful transport in keeping with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Cth).
Before you book
We do not have wheelchair-accessible coaches: no vehicle in our fleet has a lift or ramp. Passengers board using the steps, with assistance, and travel in a standard seat. Folded wheelchairs, walking frames and other mobility aids travel in the luggage hold.
17.2When booking, tell us how many passengers need help, what aids are coming (with size and weight, given the 20 kg lifting limit), whether each person can transfer to a standard seat, and what help they need on the steps. Motorised scooters need written approval. Trained assistance animals are welcome under the Disability Discrimination Act; let us know so the driver expects them.
17.3We are working towards WCAG 2.1 Level AA on our website. If anything on the site or our forms is hard to use, email us or call us on the number shown on our website and we will help manually and offer another format where practicable, responding within five business days. You may also complain to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
18School excursion terms
These terms apply to excursions, sport, camps and events for public and private schools and, where they differ, override the rest of this page for school bookings.
18.1Every school booking needs a Booking ID from our booking system. We email a confirmation and tax invoice to the school or its representative. Prices follow the supplied itinerary, times and locations and may change if those, numbers or requirements change.
18.2Cancellations must be emailed and acknowledged by us. The school scale replaces section 4:
| Notice | Fee |
|---|---|
| More than 72 hours | No charge |
| Within 72 hours | 10% of the booking cost |
| Within 48 hours | 20% of the booking cost |
| Within 24 hours | 100% of the booking cost |
| No-show or same day | 100% of the booking cost |
18.3Where a refund is approved, a $100 administration fee (inc. GST) is deducted and the balance returned to the original payment method within 10 business days of written confirmation.
18.4Changes to date, times, places or numbers must be made in writing at least 72 hours ahead, subject to availability; cost increases bring a revised quote, and later requests are at our discretion.
18.5School overtime starts once the booked time is exceeded and is charged at $55.00 per 20-minute block ($165.00 an hour) inc. GST, invoiced afterwards. Allow at least 15 minutes’ buffer and enough loading time at each stop.
18.6Payment is due on the terms shown on the invoice, in Australian dollars including GST, by credit card, purchase order, EFT or NSW Government P-Card.
18.7No smoking, alcohol or illegal substances; no food or hot drinks (bottled water only); everyone seated and belted; driver directions followed. The school briefs students and staff beforehand. We may end a trip if behaviour creates a safety risk, and the school remains liable for the costs.
18.8A teacher or authorised staff member must be present for boarding, the journey and leaving the vehicle, and the school keeps primary duty of care. The school confirms accurate numbers (extra students may not fit), tells us in advance about medical, mobility or special needs, and ensures safe, lawful bus access at every stop.
18.9We are not responsible for disruption beyond our control such as severe weather, closures, incidents or mechanical failure. The school is liable for passenger damage to the vehicle. To the extent the law allows, our liability is capped at the charter fee for the affected service, with no liability for indirect or consequential loss, and belongings travel at the owner’s risk.
Vomit and cleaning
18.10Vomit is a genuine health hazard. Norovirus, the leading cause of gastro outbreaks in NSW schools, can infect with 10 to 20 particles, while one episode can release over 30 million. They become airborne, circulate through air conditioning and survive on surfaces for up to 60 days. Safe Work Australia guidance and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) treat vomit as potentially infectious, so the vehicle comes off the road for isolation, a certified spill kit, cleaners in protective equipment, an air conditioning flush and seat treatment or replacement, which can take a full day.
| What happened | Fee (inc. GST) | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Vomit into a sickness bag, vehicle clean | $0 | Nothing; bus stays in service |
| General mess (litter, food, dirt) | $88 | Cleaning beyond normal standard |
| Vomit on the floor | $350 | Spill kit, decontamination, air conditioning flush, waste disposal, downtime |
| Vomit on seat fabric | $550 | All of the above plus seat cleaning or replacement and longer downtime |
18.11School cleaning fees are not negotiable, are invoiced straight after the service and are payable within 14 days. Specialist remediation beyond this schedule may be charged extra.
Pack sickness bags
Carry at least one bag per student for any trip of 30 minutes or more, kept by the teacher in charge with the first aid kit. They are cheap, sold at pharmacies, and remove the fee and the biohazard.
18.12Neither party is liable for failure caused by events beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, public health emergencies, government restrictions, industrial action or major transport disruption. NSW law governs. Submitting a booking confirms the school has accepted these school terms and the rest of this page.
19Fleet safety standards
19.1Sunrise Tours is an accredited bus operator with Transport for NSW. Our vehicles are accredited, serviced on a regular schedule and maintained to Transport for NSW requirements, with the safety inspections accredited operators must carry out and a driver check before each trip. Every seat has a working seatbelt, coaches are limited to 100 km/h, and a faulty vehicle is taken out of service and replaced where possible. Roadside inspections by authorities can happen at any time.
20Before-you-travel checklist
Run through this once your confirmation arrives, and contact us if any answer is “no”.
- Paperwork: confirmation and tax invoice received and correct; Booking ID, reference and invoice number noted; invoice with whoever pays it; paid or purchase order raised by the due date; bank transfers quoting invoice number and Booking ID.
- Itinerary: addresses, times, route and passenger numbers still accurate.
- Pickup: a legal coach stopping spot (not a clearway, bus, taxi, loading or no-stopping zone, lane or driveway); written driver instructions sent with gate codes, height or time limits and permits; one assembly point in busy areas; destination paid parking arranged; Live Traffic NSW checked for closures on the day.
- Group contact: one named person on a mobile, with the group all day, who answers the driver at once and calls the driver only when everyone is ready to board. Check your confirmation email for driver details nearer the date.
- Passengers: oversized luggage, prams and mobility aids declared; access needs and young children discussed; medical needs known to the group contact; everyone briefed on belts, water only, no alcohol and no smoking.
- On the day: group assembled before departure; belts on before moving; headcount each leg (teacher sign-off for schools); phone charged; everyone back on time; a final walk-through for lost property and rubbish.
21Liability, complaints and the law
21.1Our services carry consumer guarantees that cannot be excluded, including due care and skill, fitness for purpose and supply within a reasonable time. Beyond those, and to the fullest extent the law allows, we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss such as lost profit or missed events or flights, and our total liability for any service, including for injury or death, is capped at the charter fee for the affected service date.
21.2Passengers must wear available belts, stay seated, follow the driver’s directions and obey the law; the hirer and accompanying adults supervise children. To the extent permitted, we are not liable for harm to the extent it results from a passenger’s failure to do so. We are also not liable for events beyond our control (natural disasters, pandemics, industrial disputes, regulatory change, major transport disruption) or for third parties such as venues, parking, accommodation or ferries, whose own terms apply.
21.3Send complaints in writing to sunrisetours.sydney@gmail.com within 14 days of the service; we handle them under NSW passenger transport legislation and our complaints procedure. These terms are governed by the laws of New South Wales and you submit to its courts. With your Booking Confirmation they are the whole agreement and replace earlier understandings. We may change them at any time, effective when posted here.
22Privacy and copyright
22.1We collect only what we need to quote and run your trip, such as names, contact details, addresses, flight details and any access or medical information you give us. We share it with drivers and any subcontractor only as the trip requires, handle it under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles, and never sell it. Email us to see or correct your information.
22.2The content of this website belongs to Sunrise Tours and is protected by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). You may print one unchanged copy of a page for personal reference, and limited fair dealing for study, criticism or review is allowed with attribution. Copying, adapting, republishing or scraping our content with bots or AI tools requires our written consent.
22.3Playing music or video to a group on a coach is a public performance, even on a private charter. Music needs licences for the composition and the recording (available together through OneMusic Australia), and films need a public performance licence. You must hold these before travel; if you cannot show one when asked, the driver may stop the content. We are not liable for any infringement by hirers or passengers.
Planning a tour or charter
If anything here is unclear, or you would like to talk through an itinerary, email us at sunrisetours.sydney@gmail.com. When you are ready, request a quote or confirm your booking online.
Sunrise Tours acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands we travel across each day and pays respect to Elders past and present.
