Privacy Policy
Aussie Hikers is published by Compass Point Digital ("we", "us"). We respect your privacy and handle personal information in line with the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), where they apply to us.
1. What we collect
Information you give us. If you email us or use a contact or listing form, we collect what you provide. That may include your name, email address, organisation and message.
Information collected automatically. Like most websites, we and our service providers automatically collect technical information when you visit. That includes your IP address, browser type, device, pages viewed, referring site and approximate location (city or region level). We collect it through cookies and similar technologies, described below.
Location features. If you use "Closest to me", your browser asks for permission to share your location. It's used on your device only to sort results, and we don't store it.
Favourites and compare. These are stored in your browser's local storage, not on our servers.
2. How we use information
- To run, maintain and improve the site
- To reply to enquiries and process listing requests
- To understand how visitors use the site (analytics)
- To show advertising, which may be personalised where you consent
- To protect the site against abuse and fraud
- To comply with legal obligations
We don't sell your personal information.
3. Cookies, analytics and advertising
Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use:
Essential cookies and storage, which keep the site working (for example, remembering your cookie choice, favourites and compare list).
Analytics: Google Analytics 4. We use Google Analytics to understand visits and improve content. It uses cookies to collect information such as pages viewed and time on site. Google processes this data under its own privacy policy. You can opt out with the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Advertising: Google AdSense. We may display ads served by Google and its partners. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visits to our site and/or other sites on the internet.
- You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings (adssettings.google.com), or opt out of some third-party vendors' cookies at www.aboutads.info.
- Learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
- Where required (for example for visitors from the EEA/UK), we ask for your consent before using non-essential cookies, through a Google-certified consent tool.
Managing cookies. Use the cookie notice to accept or decline non-essential cookies, and change your choice any time via the "Cookie settings" link in the footer. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, though some features may not work.
4. Sharing
We share information only with service providers who help us run the site: hosting, analytics, advertising and email. We may also share it when the law requires it, or to protect rights and safety. Some providers, such as Google, may store data overseas, including in the United States.
5. Security and retention
We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, loss and unauthorised access. We keep enquiry emails only as long as needed to respond and for reasonable record-keeping.
6. Your choices and rights
You can ask to access or correct personal information we hold about you, or make a privacy complaint, by emailing hello@aussiehikers.com. We'll respond within a reasonable time, generally 30 days. If you're not satisfied, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au).
7. Children
The site is a general audience site and is not directed at children under 13. We don't knowingly collect their personal information.
8. Changes
We may update this policy and will post the new version here with a new "last updated" date.
9. Contact
Compass Point Digital · hello@aussiehikers.com