Matt Schumacher

Matt first trekked the Kokoda Track in 2024 as part of a Zero79 Foundation trek, returning in 2025 for his second crossing. On that second trek, he trained and conditioned his 15-year-old son, who completed the Track alongside him without the assistance of a porter. Sharing that journey and watching his son’s resilience grow day by day remains one of Matt’s proudest moments as a father.

For Matt, Kokoda is unlike any other trek. It challenges people physically and mentally, while also teaching powerful lessons in perseverance, teamwork, and belief in oneself. The remoteness of the Track, its history, and the shared hardship create bonds that endure long after the trek is complete.

Matt grew up around Newcastle, New South Wales, in an outdoor-focused family, with a childhood shaped by camping, surfing, fishing, hiking, and team sport. These experiences helped form his values and eventually led him to join the Australian Army, where he completed three combat tours of Afghanistan before discharging in 2010.

Now living with his wife and three children, Matt continues to embrace adventure and the outdoors as a family. Teaching his children the importance of service, respect, and giving back is central to their family values, and these principles strongly influence the way he guides on the Kokoda Track.

As a guide, Matt sees Kokoda as far more than a physical challenge. It is an opportunity to mentor, support, and encourage others — particularly younger trekkers and families — while helping them understand the significance of service, sacrifice, and community. Guiding on Kokoda is an absolute honour, and meeting the local people, sharing the history, and helping trekkers discover what they are truly capable of is at the heart of why Matt returns.