Welcome To Kokoda Spirit

Kokoda Spirit was built from the ground up in 2004, founded on a passion for adventure, leadership, and Australia’s rich military history.

After making our first trek across the Kokoda Track in 2004, we were captivated by its extraordinary beauty, its immense historical significance, and the courage, endurance and sacrifice of the men who fought there under brutal conditions.

We also fell in love with the people and communities along the Kokoda Track, and with the story of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, whose loyalty, care and courage played such an important role in the Kokoda campaign.

Kokoda Spirit was founded by Wayne Wetherall, who has been leading treks in Papua New Guinea since 2004. Under Wayne Wetherall’s leadership, Kokoda Spirit has safely escorted thousands of trekkers across the Kokoda Track and built a reputation for authentic storytelling, strong leadership, and professionally run expeditions.

Today, Wayne Wetherall and the Kokoda Spirit team specialise in Kokoda treks for elite teams, schools, corporate groups, military organisations, and individuals seeking a meaningful and well-supported experience.

Experience you can trust.

Over the years, Wayne Wetherall, Kokoda Spirit and our PNG team have organised and led a wide range of significant expeditions and leadership programs, including:

Kokoda Spirit was founded by Wayne Wetherall, who has been leading treks in Papua New Guinea since 2004. Under Wayne Wetherall’s leadership, Kokoda Spirit has safely escorted thousands of trekkers across the Kokoda Track and built a reputation for authentic storytelling, strong leadership, and professionally run expeditions.

Today, Wayne Wetherall and the Kokoda Spirit team specialise in Kokoda treks for elite teams, schools, corporate groups, military organisations, and individuals seeking a meaningful and well-supported experience.

Experience you can trust.

Over the years, Wayne Wetherall, Kokoda Spirit and our PNG team have organised and led a wide range of significant expeditions and leadership programs, including:

 

• • activities for the Australian Defence Force, including leading four currently serving ADF Brigadiers across Kokoda on a private trek.
  • Exercise Kanga Return 25 across Kokoda for the 39th Battalion.
  • a Kokoda trek for the Australian Army Adelaide University Regiment
  • leadership and battlefield interpretation programs for the Australian War College
  • one-day training activities for members of the NZDF and ADF from Murray and Goldie Barracks in Port Moresby
  • a private Kokoda trek for four Australian Defence Force Colonels
  • the Sydney Roosters NRL team
  • specialist treks including Paralympian Kurt Fearnley’s crawl across Kokoda and Michael Milton trekking Kokoda on crutches.
  • the Mark Hughes Foundation Back-to-Back Kokoda
  • the Coast-to-Coast Kokoda expedition on four occasions, covering Buna to Kokoda by mountain bike, trekking across the Track to Owers’ Corner, then riding down into Port Moresby

We also provide tailored Kokoda experiences for schools, youth leadership groups, sporting organisations, and corporate teams.

What Kokoda Spirit stands for.

Kokoda Spirit was founded on several key values:

1. Telling the Kokoda story accurately, authentically, and passionately from the Australian, Papua New Guinean and Japanese perspectives.
2. Creating safe, sustainable opportunities for trekkers, our Kokoda Spirit PNG guides and porters, and the communities along the Kokoda Track.
3. Delivering professionally planned, world-class Kokoda expeditions with a strong focus on preparation, safety, and support before, during and after the trek.

A proud history of meaningful expeditions

Some of the highlights of Kokoda Spirit over the years include:

• organising and leading a Kokoda trek for Australian Paralympian Kurt Fearnley as he successfully crawled across the Kokoda Track
• enabling Michael Milton and Don Elgin to complete Kokoda expeditions
• trekking with sporting figures including Paul “The Chief” Harragon, Mark Hughes, Billy Peden, David Fairleigh, Kurt Gidley, Matt Gidley, Danny Buderus, Matty Johns, Russell Richardson, Steve Menzies, Brad Godden and Trent Robinson
• leading treks with Manu Feildel, Kate Peck, Laura Dundovic and Erin Holland
• being chosen by the producers of Kokoda the movie
• appearing on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night and Today Tonight
• assisting Channel 9 presenter Simon Bouda with live coverage of the 2017 75th Anniversary ANZAC Day service at Isurava

Our structure and commitment in PNG

Kokoda Spirit is registered in Australia as Kokoda Spirit Pty Ltd and is also registered in Papua New Guinea with the PNG Investment Promotion Authority and the PNG Internal Revenue Commission.

Kokoda Spirit also engages the services of Kokoda Lauma (Spirit), a 100% local PNG company solely owned by long-time Kokoda Spirit guide Noel Namura, who is PNG IPA and IRC compliant and holds Kokoda Track Authority licence number 130.

More than a trek

At Kokoda Spirit, we believe trekking Kokoda is about far more than crossing a track. It is about history, perspective, challenge, mateship and personal growth.

It is deeply rewarding to watch people achieve what is often a lifetime dream — and sometimes something they once thought was impossible. We are continually inspired by the people we meet, the stories we tell, and the lives that can be changed through shared hardship and purpose.

Wayne Wetherall and Kokoda Spirit look forward to sharing this extraordinary story with you across the Kokoda Track.

Kokoda Spirit Team