Privacy Policy

The short version

• You don't need an account. We never ask for your name, email or phone number.
• Your location is used on your phone to tell you when you reach a point. We never store where you go.
• We count how the app is used (for example, how many people finish a trail) so the organisations behind each trail can see what visitors enjoy. These counts are linked to a random ID, not to you.
• We don't sell your information, show ads, or track you across other apps and websites.

An anonymous app ID

The first time you open the app, it creates a random ID for your copy of the app. It isn't linked to your name, email, phone number or advertising ID. The app uses it to load trails, post your reviews and tie together the usage statistics described below.

Your location

With your permission, the app uses your precise location, including in the background while a trail is running, to alert you when you reach a point, show how far away the next one is, and keep the lock screen card up to date. You can choose "While Using" instead of "Always"; you just won't get alerts with your phone locked.

This happens on your phone. If a trail's points aren't already saved on your phone, the app asks our server for the points in the area around you. That request isn't saved in our database, though our hosting provider may keep standard server logs for a short time. We never keep a record of your location or the route you walk.

Tracking stops when you end the trail, or after two hours without use.

Usage statistics

To help organisations understand how their trails are used, the app records events such as:

• starting, finishing or ending a trail, and how long it took
• reaching or opening a point, and playing its audio or video
• sharing a trail or point, opening a shared link or scanning a sign, and downloading a trail
• viewing a local supporter's card and tapping Directions, Call or Website

Each event records what happened, when, and which trail, point or supporter it was about, along with your anonymous app ID and a random ID for that walk. It never includes your location. Events are saved on your phone and sent when you have signal. Each organisation can see the events for its own trails, points and supporters, and we use them to improve Visitour. We keep them for up to three years.

Reviews

If you review a trail or point, we store the name you enter, your star rating and your comment. Reviews are public: anyone using the app can read them. Before a review is published, its name and comment are checked by an automated moderation service (Google's Perspective API) to filter out abusive content. You don't have to use your real name, and please don't include personal details in a review.

Camera and notifications

The camera is only used to scan QR codes on trail and point signs. Nothing it sees is saved or sent anywhere. Notifications about nearby points are created on your phone; we don't collect a push notification token.

Crash reports

When something goes wrong, the app sends an error report to Sentry, our crash reporting service, so we can fix it. Reports include technical details such as the error, your device model, operating system and app version. They are not used to identify you.

Saved on your phone

Downloaded trails, the points you've visited, your favourites, your place in audio and video, and your settings are kept on your phone and aren't sent to us. Deleting the app removes them.

Who we share information with

We don't sell or rent your information. We only share it:

• with the organisation that publishes a trail, point or supporter: the usage statistics for its own content, and the reviews posted on it
• with service providers who run parts of Visitour for us: Supabase (database and sign-in), Cloudflare (photos, audio and video), Sentry (crash reports) and Google (review moderation)
• when the law requires it

Maps are shown by Apple Maps on iPhone and Google Maps on Android, and Directions opens your maps app. Those services, and the App Store or Google Play, handle information under their own privacy policies.

Where it is stored

Our service providers may store information outside Australia and New Zealand, including in the United States. We choose providers that protect information to a standard comparable to the Australian Privacy Principles.

Keeping it safe

Information is sent over encrypted connections, and our database only lets each organisation see its own statistics. No system is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect what we hold and keep as little as we can.

Your choices

• Turn location, camera or notification access off at any time in your phone's Settings. Trails still work without location; you just won't get alerts as you walk.
• Delete the app to remove everything saved on your phone. Your anonymous ID is deleted with it, so new usage events can no longer be linked to past ones.
• Email us to ask for a review to be removed, or for a copy or correction of information we hold about you. Because the app is anonymous, we may need details (such as the review you posted) to find it.

Children

Visitour is for a general audience, including families. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children. If you think a child has included personal details in a review, email us and we'll remove it.

Questions and complaints

Email support@visitour.com.au with any question or complaint about privacy, and we'll reply within 30 days. If you're not satisfied with our answer, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au) or, in New Zealand, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (privacy.org.nz).

Changes to this policy

When we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top. If a change affects what we collect, we'll let you know in the app.