These papers, submissions and articles in the following blogs encapsulate my 32-year involvement with the Kokoda Trail in particular, and PNG in general. During this time, I was able to lead 101 expeditions across the Trail and share the experience with more than 2,000 wonderful Australians from all walks of life.
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The following blogs were written 15 years ago soon after Australian officials assumed management control of the Kokoda Trail on eye-watering 6-figure salaries loaded with generous allowances and tax deductions. Back then Kokoda tour operators held high expectations …
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Anarchy – ‘a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of...
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The illegal blockade of the Kokoda Trail without warning by a dissident group of Port Moresby...
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This paper exposes the evolution of Wayne Wetherall’s carefully crafted transition from an unknown...
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If Canberra had engaged with the Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) when Frontier Resources announced...
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The Kokoda Trail ‘Just a day’s travel from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane and you can be on the...
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‘Covid exposed the failure of DFAT-Kokoda Initiative environment officials to establish a...
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Why? Because we are expert on the military history of the Kokoda campaign – and because we engage professional expedition leaders for our treks. This is why we have been rated No.1 on Trip Advisor for the past nine years.
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The Kokoda Trail: 10 Essential Facts
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This paper is based on my experiences leading 101 expeditions across the Kokoda Trail over a 32 year period between 1991-2023.
Prior to this there was no Kokoda tourism industry and subsistence villagers earned zero income.
During my time in PNG I spent 95 percent of my time on the Kokoda Trail working with our guides and carriers on the Trail and either living in their villagers or with them on the Sogeri plateau.
My purpose is to summarize the situation which led to the rise of Kokoda tourism under PNG management from 2004 – 2008; its demise under the management of Australian environment officials from 2009 – 2023; and its potential it as a world-class pilgrimage tourism destination.
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Michael Pender, an accredited Military Heritage Architect from HPA Projects was commissioned by Network Kokoda to develop a Master Plan for the Kokoda Trail for the 70th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign in 2012.
The plan has been ignored by the DFAT Kokoda Initiative in PNG as they regarded the development of a World Heritage Listing for the Owen Stanley Ranges as a priority.
Since then, a 2015 report from an Australian expert on World Heritage listings, Dr Peter Hitchcock AM and Dr Jennifer Gabriel concluded that the Kokoda Trail does not meet the criteria for a World Heritage listing.
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