About Kokoda Spirit

Kokoda Spirit is Australia and PNG’s most respected and professional company, specialising in trekking Kokoda.

We have been operating in PNG since 2004 and we have escorted thousands of trekkers safely across Kokoda.

• We have facilitated many activities for the ADF (Australian Defence Force) including leading four current serving ADF Brigadiers across Kokoda in a private trek.
• We have organised and led Exercise Kanga Return 25 across Kokoda for the famous 39^th
• We have organised and led the Kokoda trek for the Australian Army Adelaide University Regiment.
• We have handled specific treks across Kokoda including organising and facilitating Paralympian Kurt Fearnley’s crawl across Kokoda and 4 x Paralympian Michael Milton to trek Kokoda on crutches.
• We also recently worked with the Australian War College as we led and delivered historical battlefield briefings and operations to the team as they participated in a training trek from Owers’ Corner to Imita Ridge and return.
• We also worked with members of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and ADF members out of Murray and Goldie barracks in Port Moresby on one day training sessions from Owers’ Corner to Imita Ridge return.
• We also facilitated a private Kokoda trek for 4 Australian Defence Force Colonels.
• You can check out our testimonials on our web site or under our Google reviews. https://www.kokodaspirit.com.au/leadership-testimonials/
• The Mark Hughes Foundation Back-to-Back Kokoda.
• We have also facilitated on 4 occasions the Coast-to-Coast Kokoda trek. Where we travel from the Northern Beaches of Buna to Kokoda by mountain bike then trek across Kokoda to Owers’ Corner before riding down to Port Moresby. This covers the complete battles of Kokoda and the Northern Beaches.
• We also provide specific treks for Schools, Youth Leadership, and organisations.

Our business is registered in Australia as Kokoda Spirit Pty Ltd, and we are registered with the PNG Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) with our Foreign Enterprise Certification (FEC)Certification Number: 105284 and with the PNG Internal Revenue Commission (IRC) in PNG as Kokoda Spirit PNG Limited.

The Governors of Oro and Central Province which areas cover the Kokoda Trail corridor have stated that they are looking to promote greater involvement in the trekking and tourism industry for PNG National citizens.

Kokoda Spirit support the Governors in their plan for greater involvement of PNG Nationals along the Kokoda Trail and Kokoda Spirit has developed and implemented a 3-year training plan for ourPNG national staff and a three-year localisation plan.

This plan has seen the agreement for Kokoda Spirit to engage the services of 100% local PNG Company Kokoda Lauma (Spirit) which is solely owned by long time Kokoda Spirit Guide Noel Namura. Noel is PNG IPA and PNG IRC compliant and holds the Kokoda Track Authority Licence number 130.

We operate within the laws and requirements of both countries and pay our tax in both Australia and PNG.

Our PNG employees are registered with the PNG Internal Revenue Commission for income tax. This ensures they are covered for tax and superannuation benefits.

We are proud to be an Australian and PNG registered and based company that employs locals and generates real benefits for PNG.

Kokoda Spirit also supports a large range of Charities and Foundations with raising funds and awareness for their causes.

We employ our staff from the Villages and surrounding areas of the Kokoda Trail corridor. Our locally based PNG Guides were born or raised along the Kokoda Track and are all qualified, trained, and English speaking. Naturally they have an intimate knowledge of the track and can show our trekkers things that you wouldn’t otherwise find.

We are proud to employ locals and provide income, training, and a career to the local people of the Kokoda Trail.

Our locally based PNG Guides were born or raised along the Kokoda Track corridor or Northern Beaches areas and are all qualified, trained, and English speaking.

Naturally they have an intimate knowledge of the track and can show our trekkers things that you wouldn’t otherwise discover.

We are proud to employ locals and provide income, training, and a career to the local people of the Kokoda Trail.

Our Australian Guides are very experienced with numerous Kokoda crossings and our Managing Director Wayne Wetherall has trekked Kokoda more than100 times, and has led more than 130 expeditions including Kokoda, Borneo, Nepal, and Kilimanjaro.

All our Australian and PNG guides have a great knowledge of the Track and its history. Our Australian Guides excel at remote first aid

Our PNG Guides are professionally trained in first aid, food preparation, river crossing, risk management and trekker safety.

Our PNG Guides and Senior PNG Staff undertake a rigorous training process at the start of every trekking season.

Our Porters and Carriers are also briefed and resourced with knowledge and equipment.

We are proud of the diversity in experience of our Australian Guides.

Our Australian Guides range from Military men that have served in Vietnam, Timor and Somalia, our other Australian guides are specialist teachers, business and community leaders that love to share their knowledge of the history and culture of the Kokoda Track.

We can give you options with our great cross section of Australian Guides that represent an incredibly diverse outlook on life.

Our priority is the safety of our trekkers. Our staff are focused on ensuring that all of our trekkers cross the Track safely and enjoy their experience.

We do not walk Kokoda at night, deeming it an unacceptable risk to our trekkers and PNG staff.

It is also worth noting that all our Australian led treks have two senior local guides on the trek with you, they are our Trek Master and Trek Leader plus, an Australian Historical Guide.

We provide comprehensive and informative pre trek information and have an exclusive training program, designed specifically for our Kokoda adventures.

You can also find a range of testimonials on our website HERE.