This is both a warning and to see if anyone else has had the same problem.

We booked a 16 day holiday tour in Northern Australia. We examined all the options and decided on an Australian company. We checked it up and it was advertised by the State Tourist Board and was "Accredited". We also had our own "standard" British Travel Insurance. All went well until day 8 when it rained! It rained so hard that the Australian Government closed the roads. The Tour Operator then cancelled the tour and said goodbye!

We were stranded. The Tour Operator refused to refund any money and our UK Travel Insurer has done the same. It seems that in Australia all such risks ARE COVERED by the Travel Insurance but in UK we would expect ABTA or similar to pay.

Has anyone else met this situation and does anyone know how we can cover ourselves in future. Dave