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.

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

Our PNG Guides and Senior PNG Staff all go through a rigorous training process, which includes track first aid at the start of every trekking season.

A fully qualified Paramedic Trainer provides this training.

We also have access to our specialist Wilderness Nurse who can assist with porter health.

Our Porters and Carriers are also briefed and resourced with knowledge and equipment to allow them to work in a healthy environment.

We provide group porter medical kits.

We pay camp site fees for each of our porters.

Each Kokoda Trek has a trained first aid porter who carries a porter medical kit.

Each Kokoda Trek has a professionally trained rope and river-crossing specialist.

Each Kokoda Trek has trained cooks and camp staff that supply, prepare and cook our Porters hearty and healthy meals.

We pay our Kokoda Trekking Guides and Porters well above the industry average and well above the recommended amount specified by the Kokoda Track Authority.

Our Porters and Guides are on an upwards sliding pay scale from General Porter through too Senior Trek Master. We promote from within giving each porter the possibility of advancing his career.

Our Porters carry less than the specified weight recommended by the Kokoda Track authority and less than the International Porters code. Our Porters carry between 12 -20kgs. The maximum weight our Porters carry on day one of their trek is 20kgs. Our Porters weight is re distributed each day ensuring their pack weights are reduced by a minimum of 2.5 kgs each day.

The Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) approved weight for porters/carriers is 22.5kg.

We pay for Porter flights/transport to and from the Kokoda track or we pay them a walk back wage plus supply them food or food money for the walk.

We supply camping equipment, sleeping mat and sleeping bag and uniform for our staff.

Our porters and guides do not walk at night as this is an unacceptable risk to our employees and trekkers.

We operate our Kokoda treks across the original War Time Track.

Kokoda Spirit is a proud Foundation Member of The Kokoda Tour Operators Association. (KTOA) www.ktoa.com.au

We were also part of the Foundation Committee that assisted in the design and implementation of the Kokoda Trekking Companies Code of Conduct and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors MAICD.

Kokoda Spirit complies with all licence requirements for its operations including the Commercial Kokoda Track Operators Licence, holding Licence No.3.

All our travel arrangements are completed through Spirit Holidays – Travel Agents Licence TAG1611.

We also carry a $20 million Public Liability Policy.

Kokoda Spirit has a comprehensive risk management plan that includes a comprehensive 24 hour back to base communication protocol.

Kokoda Spirit is a specialised Australian and PNG adventure trekking company taking school groups, sporting teams, charities, foundations, corporate groups and individuals across the famous an iconic Kokoda Track.

Our Australian Guides are very experienced with numerous Kokoda Track crossings and our Managing Director Wayne Wetherall has trekked Kokoda in excess of 95 times, and has led more than 130 expeditions including The Kokoda Track, Borneo, Nepal and Kilimanjaro.

All our Australian and PNG guides have a great knowledge of the Kokoda 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 across the Kokoda Trail, risk management and trekker safety.

Our PNG Guides and Senior PNG Staff undertake a rigorous training process at the start of every Kokoda 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 Afghanistan, 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 Kokoda Trekkers. Our staff are focused on ensuring that all of our trekkers cross the Kokoda 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 Track Adventures.

Safety

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

We have developed and adhere to an extensive risk and safety management procedures for all our treks. We have contingency plans in place and 24-hour back up, with satellite phones.

We have First Aid trained guides and first aid kits carried on every Kokoda trip and we also carry $20 million in Public Liability insurance.

We will also provide you with a comprehensive medical form that must be completed by your Doctor before you participate to make sure that you are in peak condition for Kokoda.

Our food is varied with a healthy supply of fresh and delicious meals prepared by our 3 pot Chefs on the Kokoda Track for you.
We do not use dehydrated food or ration packs.

We also cater for specific dietary requirements.

Kokoda Trekkers who engage a porter will enjoy many additional benefits including having their tent put up and taken down each day. We can also supply you a range of trekking, camping and hydration gear that has been tried and tested on Kokoda https://www.kokodaspirit.com.au/booknow/trekking-gearlist-2/

Our packages are designed to eliminate any hidden extras and to make the logistics and organising of your trek hassle free and great value for money.

Kokoda Spirit has helped organise and lead several Defence force treks along the Kokoda Track. A range of testimonials can be found on our website.

OUR ADVENTURE PARTNERS

Kokoda Spirit has helped to organise and lead a host of corporate groups, school groups, Defence groups, charities, individual clients and celebrities across the Kokoda Track.

We have worked closely and trekked with Paralympian and Adventurer Michael Milton, Paralympian Kurt Fearnley (Crawling Kokoda), Paralympian, Author and Motivational, speaker Don Elgin, Rugby League Legend, Paul “The Chief” Harragon, NRL Premiership winning players Mark Hughes and Billy Peden, Australian Rugby League representative players David Fairleigh and Brad Godden, Manu Feidel from MKR, Kate Peck model and MTV presenter, Miss Universe Australia Laura Dundovic and Miss World Australia Erin Holland. Trent Robinson triple Premiership winning Coach with the NRL Sydney Roosters.

In The Media:

Kokoda Spirit was privileged to be the chosen trekking company by the producers of “Kokoda” the movie and has appeared on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night Program, Channel Seven’s Today Tonight program and Channel 9s coverage of ANZAC Day with Simon Bouda. We have also had an ABC Foreign Correspondent trek with us and have had articles published in The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald Age, Courier Mail, Japan Times newspapers and Air Niugini In-flight Magazine.

Our Foundation, Organisations And Charities Have Included:

National Breast Cancer Foundation (Kokoda Chicks)	Heart Foundation	Soldier On	Blind Courage (Guide Dogs Australia)
Smiling for Smiddy	Mission Australia	Indigenous Marathon Foundation	Autism Victoria
RSL Life Care	Mark Hughes Foundation	Kokoda for Koda	ANGLS (Aussie Nurses Giving Life)
Centacare	PTSD Association Canberra	Give Me Five For Kids	Bully Zero Foundation Australia
Cotton On	Coca-Cola	Qantas	CUFA (Credit Union Foundation Australia)
Barrack Gold Corporation	Wood and Grieve Engineers	Zing	Centre Stage Management
Cams Cause	Humpty Dumpty Foundation	Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation	Chocolate Box Training
Alzheimer’s Australia	Wish You Were Here Foundation	Rotarians Against Malaria	EFM Health Clubs
Blue Hope Police Foundation	Lyme Disease Foundation	The Paragon Group Australia	360 Athlete
MTA Travel Agents	TAL	AEA Animal Emergency Australia	Wotton & Kearney
Gotcha4life	Variety	Newcastle Knights	Little Heroes Foundation

Our School Groups Have Included:

Haileybury College	Newcastle Grammar	Berne School	Nhulunbuy High School
Rostrevor College	St Ignatius Riverview College	Hale School	Yarrawonga Secondary College
Mackillop College	Sunshine Coast Grammar	Victorian College of Deaf	Knox Grammar
Ravenswood School for Girls	St Luke’s Anglican Bundaberg	St Hilda’s College (Melbourne Uni)	MASP
Ela Murray International School Port Moresby	Mirboo North Secondary College	Chancellor Park State College	Murray High School
Surf Coast High School Torquay	Yarrawonga College	Brighton Grammar	Lindisfarne School
St Columba Anglican School	Mount Clear College	Edmund Rice

Our Defence & Para Military Force Groups Have Included:

Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA)	Victorian RSL	39th Battalion	Australia’s Federation Guard
HMAS Darwin	HMAS Coonawarra	48th Battalion	Australian Federal Police
Queensland Police Service	RAAF Townsville	Army Logistic Training Centre	Army HQ 1 Div Joint Deployable Force
HMAS Newcastle	Australian Border Protection	Royal Australian Navy Recruit School HMAS Cerberus	HMAS Hobart
RMC Royal Military College Duntroon

Our Leadership & Mentoring Groups Have Included:

Y Lead Youth Leadership Program	MASP Youth Leadership	Kokoda Challenge Youth Program	Jobs Australia Indigenous program
NSW Young Achievers Rugby League team	Camp Quality	Cams Cause	Soulful Concepts
Priority Advisory Group	The Growth Project	Zero79 Foundation

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

For our local PNG led treks our average group size is 7.

For our Australian led treks the average group size is 11.