Adventure Kokoda Blog
Protecting our heritage
Kokoda is much more than a trek. It is almost a spiritual journey for those who wish to connect to the historical significance of the Kokoda campaign. It is also an empathetic bridge for Australians and Papua New Guineans to better understand each other.
Our Charity
Our charitable work includes the provision of health support, school supplies, scholarships, and emergency medical assistance to villagers across the Kokoda Trail.
Our Media
National features stories of our treks on all major television networks, newspapers, and magazines.
Our Reviews
Trekker feedback, Trip Advisor reviews, and personal reflections.
Our Treks
Everything you need to know about our treks, our trekkers, training tips, gear selection, and some handy hints.
Our Viewpoint
Charlie has been the leading advocate for the protection of our Kokoda heritage, and the welfare of villagers across the Trail, for 30 years.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Interesting articles relating to our close association with PNG, and our shared wartime heritage.
Latest News
All Kokoda People Must Benefit – by Maclaren Jude Hiari MBE:
Papua New Guinea war historian, Maclaren Jude Hiari MBE, is currently researching and documenting the recollections of war experiences of native carriers, medical orderlies, policemen and soldiers during World War Two in Papua New Guinea, particularly the Kokoda Trial...
Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels deserve a medal
One of the most shameful omissions of successive Australian vernments since the end of the Pacific War has been their neglect to issue a civilian service medal to the New Guinea Carriers who were indentured to support Australian troops during our darkest hour in 1942....
Trekking to Hell and Back
OVERCOME by emotion Dr John de Courcy halts mid-sentence. Lying almost flat, his head propped against the thatched wall of a smoke-filled hut in the remote ranges of Papua New Guinea, he tries to describe those who have influenced his life. After a short pause, he continues without inhibition and his audience listens with empathy. It’s the kind of exchange that only a collective experience – bordering on near hell – is likely to deliver.
CHAPTER 12: Correspondence re Fraud Allegations against KTA Board Members
During the period 2004 – 2008 Kokoda tourism was managed by an expatriate CEO, Warren Bartlett, with a part-time office assistant. Bartlett was a former Patrol Officer (Kiap). He had worked in PNG for 39 years – was a skilled Government administrator, was fluent in Tok Pisin, and had an empathetic understanding of the Melanesian Way.
The Kokoda Tourism Authority which was proclaimed in 2003 was required to be self-funded as neither the Australian nor PNG Governments were willing to provide any financial support.
CHAPTER 10: A Discussion Paper on Kokoda Tourism
After the PNG Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) was established by the Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs in 2004, the number of trekkers rose dramatically by 225 percent from 1584 in 2004 to 5146 in 2008.
At that stage neither Government was prepared to provide any financial support so the management was left to a former Australian Kiap, Warren Bartlett, on a salary of $11,000 (K25,000) with no office support (apart from a part-time assistant), and no allowances.
Mr. Bartlett was required to safeguard the funds collected for trek permits and assist villagers with the basics such as plastic toilet pots and portable ovens to help meet the demands of trekkers.
He also had to deal with increasing demands from more than 100 landowners, more than 50 tour companies, and various government officials at National, Provincial and Local Level.
But his greatest challenge was dealing with a Board of Directors which became increasingly corrupted as trek fee income escalated.
Kokoda Gazetted as a Place of Historic Significance to Australia
INCLUSION OF PLACES IN THE LIST OF OVERSEAS PLACES OF HISTORICSIGNIFICANCE TO AUSTRALIAPublished by the Commonwealth of Australia, No. S150, Friday, 10 August 2007Cat. No. S15007, ISSN 1032-2345, Commonwealth of Australia, 2007Environment Protection and Biodiversity...