Generally between November and mid-March, the entire Yarra Valley experiences a fire season. This can change according to weather forecasts and is exacerbated with low rainfall and hot, dry and windy conditions.
This year’s fire season is scheduled to finish on:
May 1st, 2023
In the meantime, we want to remind you of a few things to keep everyone as safe as possible. We have a fire plan in place and will be in contact if we experience a total fire ban during your stay.
Firstly, please remember that there’s no smoking allowed on the balconies. If you do need to smoke, please make sure to use the sand bucket by the table and chairs out the back of your cabin to put out your cigarette butts.
While we can’t supply firewood during the fire season, we’ve got you covered for cooler nights with a heater in your cabin and extra blankets. And if you’re really feeling chilly, why not take a soak in the spa? It’s a lovely way to warm up and relax.
If the fire season ends early (fingers crossed), we’ll be sure to bring firewood straight to your cabin.
Bushfires
The ridge you are staying on has experienced bushfires in the recent past. You can see evidence of the 2009 Chum Creek fires along our driveway. Therefore we have a bushfire policy in place. This is for your safety. On occasion you may be requested to evacuate if the conditions pose any risk to you.
Our Bushfire Policy
By making a booking at Kangaroo Ridge Retreat you have agreed to the terms and conditions set out in the Kangaroo Ridge Retreat Bushfire Policy (see below). Due to this we recommend that all guests purchase appropriate travel insurance when visiting Kangaroo Ridge Retreat.
A bushfire within close vicinity (within 50km) of Kangaroo Ridge Retreat can prevent guests from reaching or leaving Kangaroo Ridge Retreat because it would be unsafe to do so.
Kangaroo Ridge is located in the CENTRAL DISTRICT. The location of Kangaroo Ridge Retreat has in the past been subject to bushfires. On days listed by the CFA as EXTREME or CODE RED we will attempt contact with you to discuss options.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure the safety of all guests at Kangaroo Ridge Retreat. If access to Kangaroo Ridge Retreat is officially cut off (as determined by CFA and Victoria Police) and is still cut off at 12pm on the day the you are due to arrive; your booking will be cancelled and you will receive a gift voucher for the full value of your cancelled booking.
If roads are subject to closures in the area, but access is not officially cut off by CFA and Victoria Police at 12pm on the day of your arrival, you may proceed at your own risk and your booking will not be cancelled. No refund will be given if you choose to cancel your booking. Where a road is officially cut off (as determined by CFA and Victoria Police) but a reasonable alternative route is available; you may proceed at your own risk and your booking will not be cancelled. No refund will be given if you choose to cancel your booking. If access is cut off (as determined by CFA and Victoria Police) and you are prevented from leaving Kangaroo Ridge Retreat, you must pay for any additional accommodation at Kangaroo Ridge Retreat resulting from your prevented departure.
If the conditions deteriorate during your stay and the CFA has released a ‘Watch and Act’ alert for our area we will attempt to contact you and may ask you to evacuate to the local area evacuation location or to an alternative overnight accommodation in a safe zone. We will alert you when conditions are safer for return. You will receive a gift voucher for the value of the missed nights accommodation. Alternative accommodation is at your cost. Due to this we recommend that all guests purchase appropriate travel insurance when visiting Kangaroo Ridge Retreat.
Your safety is very important to us. Any changes to bookings or access routes resulting from a fire event will be attempted to be communicated to all guests with sufficient notice by the Kangaroo Ridge Retreat team via phone as a preference or any means practical after that.
