Privacy policy

The short version

Explore SEQ (exploreseq.com) is a guide to things to do in South East Queensland, run by RJG Mediaworks in Brisbane. You can read the whole site without telling us who you are. We collect personal information only when you choose to give it: by subscribing to the newsletter, leaving a comment or sending a message. We do not sell personal information.

What we collect and why

The newsletter

When you subscribe we collect your email address and, if you give it, your first name, so we can send you the newsletter and greet you by name. Our email provider, Brevo, stores the list and sends the emails for us. Every email has an unsubscribe link, and unsubscribing takes effect straight away.

Comments

When you leave a comment we collect the name and email address you enter and the comment itself, along with the internet address and browser type it was sent from, which helps us stop spam. Your name and comment are shown on the post once the comment is approved. Your email address is never shown. If you tick the box to save your details, your browser keeps your name and email in a cookie so you do not have to type them next time.

Messages

When you use the contact form we collect your name, your email address and your message so we can read it and reply. If you suggest a place or an event, we also keep the details and any photos you send, so we can write about it.

What stays on your device

Saved places

The places you save with the heart are kept in your own browser, on your own device. They are not sent to us and we cannot see them. Clearing your browser's site data removes the list.

Your location

If you choose Near me, your browser asks for permission to share your location. It is used on your device to sort places by distance. It is not sent to us or stored.

The newsletter prompt

If you close the newsletter prompt, or subscribe from it, your browser remembers that for 30 days so the prompt is not shown again. That note stays on your device.

Other services the site uses

• Maps. Map pictures are loaded from Esri, and the map software from a Cloudflare library service. Like any website, those services see the internet address the request comes from. Google Maps opens only when you choose a Google Maps or Directions link.
• Visitor statistics. We use Google Analytics to see which pages are read and how people find the site. It uses cookies and reports totals, not names.
• Page counts. The site counts how many times each page is opened, as totals with no personal details, so that popular places can be shown first.
• Advertising. The site may show a small number of ads through Google AdSense. When it does, Google and its partners may use cookies to show ads based on your visits to this and other websites. You can turn off personalised ads in Google's Ads Settings.
• Spam protection. Forms are protected by Cloudflare Turnstile, which checks that a form is being sent by a person.

Who we share it with

Only the services that help run the site: our website host, Brevo for email, and the Google and Cloudflare services listed above. Some of them store information outside Australia. We do not sell personal information or pass it on for anyone else's marketing.

How long we keep it

Your email address and first name stay on the newsletter list until you unsubscribe. Comments stay with the post they were left on unless you ask us to remove them. Messages are kept for as long as they are needed to deal with them.

Seeing, correcting or removing your information

You can ask what personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it, including a comment you have left. Use the contact page and we will respond within a reasonable time.

Complaints

If you think we have mishandled your personal information, please tell us first through the contact page so we can put it right. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.

Changes to this policy

If the way we handle personal information changes, this page will be updated and the date at the top will change.