About Us

We have a wealth of Kokoda Trail experience and have been operating in PNG and along the Kokoda Track since 2004. Over 9500 Kokoda Trail trekkers’ have now successfully and happily trekked the Kokoda Track with us.

Australian Defence Force organisations and Australian Para Military organisations, Corporate, Schools, Sporting Teams, Charities and Foundations have chosen and continue to choose Kokoda Spirit for our professionalism and in-depth knowledge of the Kokoda Track and the battles along the Kokoda trail.

While we love working with our Defence Force groups, we do promise not to treat you like a raw recruit or march you in platoon or company size groups across the Kokoda Trail!

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.

IN THE MEDIA

Kokoda Spirit has also been privileged enough to be the chosen Kokoda Trail trekking company by the producers of “Kokoda” the movie and has appeared on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night Program and Channel Seven’s Today Tonight program.

Journalist and television presenter, Simon Bouda, Channel 9, chose Kokoda Spirit to assist with coverage of 2017 ANZAC Day ceremony at Isurava Memorial on the Kokoda Track.

Our Foundation, Organisations & Charities Have Included:

Our Leadership and Mentoring groups have included.

Our Defence and Para Military Force Groups Include.

Our School Groups have included;

Media

Channel Seven Sunday Night Program, Channel 7 Today Tonight program (twice), ABC Foreign Correspondent, Channel Nine 60 Minutes Program (Twice) articles in The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald Age, Courier Mail, Japan Times newspapers and Air Niugini In-flight Magazine.

We run trips for the annual Queensland Police Service Kokoda Trail trek, and we are proud of our past association with the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program (KCYP).

Kokoda Spirit also continues its relationship with the MASP Youth Leadership Mentoring program in Victoria and has done so for the past 13 years leading trips across the Kokoda Trail.

We have also been involved with Jobs Australia and their Indigenous Youth Leadership programs having led a group of Indigenous Leaders and Mentors across the Kokoda Track in their leadership program.
We organise and lead a number of school trips across the Kokoda Trail. Our school group’s focus is on the history of the Kokoda track, community projects, including immersion, humanitarian and student empowerment and leadership projects.

Managing Director Wayne Wetherall was part of the Foundation Committee that assisted in the design and implementation of the Kokoda Trail trekking companies Code of Conduct. Wayne was also a member of the Kokoda Track Maintenance Advisory Committee.

We do, we really love the Kokoda Trail, which is why we keep going back! We love the Kokoda Trail, its story, we love its people, and we love its beauty and we’re confident that you’ll feel exactly the same after your experience.

The Kokoda Track is a special place that we’re passionate about, that we care about and respect. We want to keep it special and although we’re not perfect, we try very hard to minimise our impact along the Kokoda track by delivering an exceptional eco-trekking experience.

We offer competitive pricing on all-inclusive Kokoda Trail Tour trek packages, including 5 Star pre- and post-accommodation and many extras that some other companies may not mention. We’re reliable and we deliver on our promised Kokoda Trail services!

We provide excellent, friendly pre–Kokoda Trail trek administration and professional advice and fact sheets, with attention to detail in preparing for your Kokoda Trail trek.
We can supply all your Kokoda Trail trekking, camping and hydration needs.

We can provide you with a Kokoda Trail training program, excellent, friendly pre–Kokoda Trail trek administration and professional advice and fact sheets, with attention to detail in preparing for your Kokoda Trail tour.

We can also supply all of your Kokoda Track trekking, camping and hydration needs.

See our Kokoda training plan

We are fully licensed and adhere to the Kokoda Track Trekking Code of Conduct and the laws and regulations of both Australia and PNG. We hold KTA Licence No.3 for trekking the Kokoda Trail.

Not only is ‘going local’ the best way for you to have a real Kokoda Trail tour and Kokoda Track trek experience, but working with the local Kokoda Trail people and their businesses means that the economic benefit derived from your Kokoda Trail trek stays with the local community.

We have excellent relationships with the Kokoda Trail villages, communities and elders along the Kokoda track and will continue to work with the local people in PNG and along the Kokoda Track to ensure everyone benefits from this once in a lifetime experience.

We exclusively use local Kokoda Trail guides who were born or raised along the Kokoda Track. They are all highly qualified, trained and English speaking and their intimate knowledge of the Kokoda track will show you things that you wouldn’t otherwise find. You’ll also experience the Kokoda track from a uniquely local perspective even meeting their friends and family along the journey.

Aside from the benefit to you, the traveller, we are proud to say that by employing locals, we are providing income, training and a career to local people along the Kokoda Trail corridor.

With Kokoda Spirit, you can trek the Kokoda Trail knowing that the money you spend directly benefits your Kokoda Trail local leader, the porters and their families and the local Kokoda Trail community. In as many ways as we can, we support local businesses and communities in our travels along the Kokoda Track, it’s the ethical way. It is the only way to get a true understanding of PNG and the Kokoda Track.

Our locally based Kokoda Trail 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 Kokoda 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 Kokoda Track PNG Guides are professionally trained for the Kokoda Trail in first aid, food preparation, river crossings, risk management and trekker safety.

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

A fully qualified Paramedic Trainer provides this training.

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

We provide Kokoda Trail group porter medical kits.

We pay camp site fees for each of our porters along the Kokoda Track.

Each Kokoda Trail Tour and Kokoda Spirit trek has a trained first aid porter who carries a porter medical kit

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

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

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

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

Our Kokoda Track Porters carry across the Kokoda Trail less than the specified weight recommended by the Kokoda Track authority and less than the International Porters code. Our Kokoda Trail Porters carry between 12 -20kgs.The maximum weight our Kokoda Spirit Porters carry on day one of their Kokoda Trail trek is 20kgs. Our Kokoda Trail 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 our Kokoda Trail 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 on the Kokoda Trail.

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

We can organise Kokoda Track tours and Kokoda Trail treks for private individuals, groups, sporting clubs, schools, corporate organisation, defence force operations and more. We can even personally tailor your Kokoda Trail trek to meet your needs and requirements including options for:

• Kokoda Trail Trek Leaders (PNG Trek Masters or Australian Led groups)
• Dates – Kokoda Trail trekking season runs from March to November
• Direction – beginning or ending in Kokoda
• Number of Kokoda Trail trekking days
• Community projects

All of our Kokoda Trail Tour packages and itineraries are sensible and achievable

We’ve been operating Kokoda Trail Tours since 2004 and we’ve taken thousands of happy Kokoda Trail trekkers safely across the Kokoda Track from start to finish. Over the years we’ve built an army of highly trained and knowledgeable Australian and Papua New Guinean leaders and guides who will make sure you have the time of your life on the Kokoda Track.

We can give you options to the style of Australian Guide you would prefer with an incredibly diverse outlook and experience with life.

Our Kokoda Track Australian Guides range from Military men that have served in Afghanistan, Vietnam, Timor and Somalia.

Our other Kokoda Trail Australian guides are specialist Teachers, Business and Community leaders, Fitness and Health coaches that love to share their knowledge of the history and culture of the Kokoda Track.

Our Kokoda Trail Trek Masters and Kokoda Track Guides are professional, friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about the Kokoda track with an exceptional knowledge of the Kokoda Trail history. They live and breathe the Kokoda Trail! All our senior staff are First Aid or Wilderness First Aid trained for the Kokoda Trail.

Your safety is our highest priority on the Kokoda Trail. We’ve developed and adhere to an extensive risk and safety management procedure for all of our Kokoda Track adventures. We have contingency plans in place and 24 hours back up, with satellite phones. We have a First Aid trained Medic/Guide and first aid kits carried on every Kokoda Trail tour.

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

We also carry $20 million in Public Liability Insurance.

Your Kokoda Trail trek will be physically tough, so we know how important it is to have the right food to keep your strength up. We have hearty food on our Kokoda Trail tours and plenty of it – freshly prepared pastas, stews, rice, potato and vegetable dishes all enhanced with local fresh garden ingredients (not hydrated packages) by our camp chefs! Our Kokoda Trail meals are designed to ensure you receive plenty of carbohydrates and protein to fuel your body.

Prepare yourself for your Kokoda Track tour to be well feed with great food, including treats of pastries, pizzas and even donuts! We cater, for Vegetarians, Vegans and Gluten free.

Our business is registered in Australia as Kokoda Spirit Pty Ltd and we are registered with the PNG Internal Revenue Commission in PNG as Kokoda Spirit PNG Limited.

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 do not subcontract out our Kokoda Trail logistics in PNG to third party organisations.

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

Our locally based Kokoda Trail 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 Kokoda Track and can show our Kokoda Trail trekkers things that you wouldn’t otherwise discover.

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

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

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

A fully qualified Paramedic Trainer provides this training.

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

• We provide our Kokoda Trail group porter medical kits
• We pay Kokoda Trail camp site fees for each of our Kokoda Spirit porters
• Each Kokoda Trail trek has a trained first aid porter who carries a porter medical kit
• Each Kokoda Trail trek has a professionally trained rope and river-crossing specialist.
• Each Kokoda Track trek has trained cooks and camp staff that supply, prepare and cook our Porters hearty and healthy meals.
• We pay our Kokoda Trail Trek Guides and Porters well above the industry average and well above the recommended amount specified by the Kokoda Track Authority.
• Our Kokoda Spirit 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 along the Kokoda Trail.
• Our Kokoda Trail Porters carry less than the specified weight recommended by the Kokoda Track authority and less than the International Porters code. Our Kokoda Trail Porters carry between 12 -20kgs.The maximum weight our Kokoda Track Porters carry on day one of their trek is 20kgs. Our Kokoda Trail 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 our Kokoda Trail 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 on the Kokoda Trail.
• Our Kokoda Trail porters and guides do not walk at night as this is an unacceptable risk to our employees and trekkers.

Kokoda Spirit believes passionately in responsible travel and promotes this through the development of sustainable eco-trekking along the Kokoda Track. This commitment will enable us to assist the local Koiari and Orokaiva people develop the skills and experience to gain employment and develop eco-tourism business across the Kokoda Track.

Kokoda Spirit is also committed to developing and implementing programs to assist the people across the Kokoda track.

We believe people who work for Kokoda Spirit should be treated fairly, paid a fair wage, are supplied with adequate trekking gear, have a safe work environment, have access to health and education programs and further career opportunities along the Kokoda Trail.

We also believe that we should also learn and respect the culture and the customs of the country we are visiting so that we do not offend local people along the Kokoda Trail.
We ensure that local Kokoda Trail people benefit economically from Kokoda Trail tours by employing them as porters, cooks, leaders and guides.

We also train our Kokoda Trail staff in hospitality, customer service, and first aid and assist them with both education and health.

Kokoda Spirit assists programs across the Kokoda track to help with the distribution of schoolbooks, home readers, gardening products and first aid kits.

Our Kokoda Trail Projects have included:

• Village Reader
• Village Garden
• Green Fire
• Lighting up the Kokoda Track (In association with the KTF)

Some of our community groups have included PNG Cricket, Kokoda Village Reader project, PNG Village Gardener project, National Breast Cancer Foundation (Kokoda Chicks), Breast Cancer Care WA, Blind Courage (Guide Dogs Australia), Heart Foundation, Coca Cola, Zing, Victorian RSL, VECCI, Credit Union Foundation Australia (CUFA), Autism Victoria, Aspergers Group, Mission Australia, Centre Stage Management, Qantas, 500 Club, EFM and Centacare Catholic Family Services,ANGLS (Aussie Nurses Giving Life), Cerebral Palsy Centre, Barrick Gold Corporation and Porgera mine. NRL Team Newcastle Knights

Kokoda Spirit also supports and sponsors the Sunshine Coast ‘Give Me 5 for Kids’ program.

We are also Sponsors and Supporters of Smiling for Smiddy which supports the Mater Foundation.

We are members of the 39th Battalion Association, 2/14th Battalion Association and the 2/16th Battalion Association.

Kokoda Spirit is the largest employee of PNG Guides, Carriers and Porters on the Kokoda Trail.

Our business is registered in Australia as Kokoda Spirit Pty Ltd and we are registered with the PNG Internal Revenue Commission in PNG as Kokoda Spirit PNG Limited.

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 do not subcontract out our logistics in PNG to third party organisations for our Kokoda Trail tours.

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

Our locally based Kokoda Trail 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 Kokoda Track and can show our Kokoda Trail trekkers things that you wouldn’t otherwise discover.

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

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

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

A fully qualified Paramedic Trainer provides this training.

Our Kokoda Trail 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 Trail trek has a trained first aid porter who carries a porter medical kit.
• Each Kokoda Trail trek has a professionally trained rope and river-crossing specialist.
• Each Kokoda Trail trek has trained cooks and camp staff that supply, prepare and cook our Porters hearty and healthy meals.
• We pay our Kokoda Trail Trek Guides and Porters well above the industry average and well above the recommended amount specified by the Kokoda Track Authority.
• Our Kokoda Trail Porters and Guides are on an upwards sliding pay scale from General Porter through too Senior Kokoda Trail Trek Master. We promote from within giving each porter the possibility of advancing his Kokoda Trail career.
• Our Kokoda Trail Porters carry less than the specified weight recommended by the Kokoda Track authority and less than the International Porters code. Our Kokoda Trail Porters carry between 12 -20kgs.The maximum weight our Kokoda Track Porters carry on day one of their trek is 20kgs. Our Kokoda Spirit 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 Kokoda Trail porters/carriers is 22.5kg.
• We pay for our Kokoda Spirit 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 on the Kokoda Track.
• Our Kokoda Spirit porters and guides do not walk the Kokoda Trail at night as this is an unacceptable risk to our employees and trekkers.

© Kokoda Spirit Adventures 2021