"In the footsteps of heroes"

Kokoda Spirit was formed by husband and wife team Wayne and Michelle Wetherall in 2004.

Wayne had recently in 2004 returned from trips to both Vietnam and PNG including the famous and enormously challenging Kokoda Track. These two trips were the impetus for the birth of Kokoda Spirit. Wayne and Michelle had a dream to share the story of the courageous and heroic diggers on the Kokoda Track with fellow Australians.

They started with just two trekkers on their first trek in 2004 and since 2008 will average nearly 1000 trekkers per year, becoming the largest Kokoda trekking company in PNG and Australia. Kokoda Spirit is a specialised Australian adventure trekking company taking school groups, sporting teams, corporate groups and individuals across the famous an iconic Kokoda Track.

Wayne has just completed a detailed research project along the Kokoda Track that included extensive interviews with Veterans of the Kokoda Track including Stan Bisset 2/14th, Keith Norrish 2/16th, Bill Graydon 2/16th, Jim Mackenzie 2/16th and Kokichi Nishimura (The Bone Man) 144th and (Major) Masao Horie 18th Army.

These interviews took place in Australia and Japan during 2007, 2008 and 2009.

He has also researched extensively the archives for the battle records of the Kokoda Campaign and the battle maps. He has chronicled his research into the Kokoda Spirit Work book and the Kokoda Spirit DVD’s.

They have recently trained and employed 4 new guides to meet the increased demands for adventure trekking. They have also taken on a partnership role in the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program in Brisbane. The KCYP is a program which has been developed to help young Australians who are at the crossroad in their lives and require an opportunity to reach their full potential. Kokoda Spirit will be taking 44 young Australian Leaders across the track this year as part of the program.

Kokoda Spirit is Passionate and Committed to the legacy and Spirit that our Australian Soldiers and their Papuan New Guinea Brothers have left for us on the Kokoda Track.

The Story of the Australian Diggers and their Papuan New Guinea Brothers on the Kokoda Track has become folklore, an Australian Legend.

The Courage, Endurance, Mateship and Sacrifice shown by our boys have made them and the Kokoda Track an Australian Icon.

The Kokoda Track is one of the World’s great treks, surrounded by impenetrable jungle, raging rivers that have cut deep into the brooding mountains and then plunge into ragged, tortuous valleys that crisscross the track.

We at Kokoda Spirit are dedicated to providing our trekkers with the Experience of a lifetime, to Experience Adventure to Experience the Spirit and to Experience the Culture and the People this wonderful, fascinating and awe inspiring Country provides. We are truly walking in the footsteps of heroes and in the footsteps of our brothers. Every year Kokoda Spirit organises many expeditions for Schools across the Kokoda Track. Whether the trip is to full fill educational goals or for personal development, it is always more than just a holiday.

We have an emphasis on fostering understanding and celebrating diversity.

Our Kokoda Track adventure is an authentic experience of different cultures, customs and landscapes where our trekkers can develop a deeper understanding of the world around them while still having fun.

Our Kokoda Track trips offer an innovative and safe educational travel experience, focusing on interaction with the local communities and developing a greater understanding of the diverse and rich cultural heritage of PNG. Our trips also focus on our Australian heritage and characteristics and the values that make Australia and Australians unique and one of the most advanced Nations in the World.

Our educational journeys help our trekkers develop a sense of worth and self esteem, along with concepts of teamwork, leadership, motivation, goal setting, and discipline and peak performance and shared responsibility- in addition to simply having fun!

We also provide a comprehensive coverage of the battles that took place on the Kokoda Track, the circumstances that led to the battles and the subsequent success of our tactics and strategies. If you want to understand the battles along the Kokoda Track, challenge yourself physically and mentally over the tough terrain, appreciate the rainforest at first hand, or immerse yourself in the culture of the local communities, then Kokoda Spirit has created an innovative and safe itinerary with experiences that you just can’t get on a regular adventure.

The crossing of the Kokoda Track is an enormous achievement to have conquered one of the World’s great walks is an amazing feeling and a sense of great pride. Each person will experience emotions, feelings and have different experiences but the story of the battles and its heroes along the Kokoda Track is an Australian legend.

We are focused on safety with our head guides trained and qualified in remote first aid and ever watchful to reduce any potential hazards along the way. We carry the latest in satellite phones and back to base radios which are regularly monitored to ensure your safety. Kokoda Spirit also has a comprehensive operation manual and risk assessment plan and policy. We also carry $10 million in Public Liability insurance, to ensure that you are protected on the track.

Our PNG National led treks with mixed group sizes are restricted to a maximum of 16 persons. Our Australian led treks have a maximum 20 trekkers our average is 16. This number allows you to have more space on the track and plenty of space in our campsites and villagers. Smaller groups are more intimate and personal and also allow you the opportunity to learn from your guides, about the history, the sites and the culture of the people, without competing with mass numbers of trekkers.

Our food is always fresh, we do not use ration packs and supplemented by local village crops and fruit. Our menus are very healthy and balanced to ensure our clients are always at their best.

Kokoda Spirit and Wayne Wetherall is always at the forefront of new adventures in PNG. We recently uncovered the remains of four full Japanese Skeletons on the Kokoda Track and worked closely with the Japanese Government on their repatriation back to Japan. We also recently re-discovered the original “Golden Stairs” on the track and two wartime tracks and villages previously not walked on since the battles along the Kokoda Track.

Wayne was recently invited to participate in an Australian/ PNG Government workshop on the sustainability and eco tourism plan for the Kokoda Track.

We have successfully explored and opened up 3 new rivers in PNG for white-water rafting, being the Kumusi, Angabanga and Vanapa rivers. These explorations have been done with the support of the PNG Government through their PNG Tourism Promotion Office. We have also organised treks to Mt Wilhelm and Mt Victoria. We also offer trips to Milne bay, Buna and Gona on the North Coast, the Bulldog Track and the Black Cat track which Wayne and the Kokoda Spirit team have developed along with the traditional landowners.

Kokoda Spirit has offices in both Queensland and Port Moresby. This allows us to provide you with local contacts in Australia, while our strategically based Port Moresby office provides all the advantages of local knowledge and local infrastructure. This support network ensures your trekking adventure is enjoyable and trouble free.

Kokoda Spirit was also the chosen trekking company by the Producers of “Kokoda” the Movie. Kokoda Spirit has also worked and trekked closely with Paralympian and Adventurer Michael Milton, Rugby League Legend, Paul “The Chief” Harragon from Channel Nine Footy show, Coca Cola, Zing, Victorian RSL, VECCI, , Australian Defence Force, Australia’s Federation Guard, Australian Federal Police, Channel 7 Today Tonight program, ABC Foreign Correspondent, articles in The Australian, Age, Courier Mail, Japan Times newspapers and In-flight Magazine, Centre Stage Management, Qantas, 500 Club, EFM, Haileybury College, Mackillop College, Sunshine Coast Grammar and Chancellor Park Grammar, plus a host of other Corporate and individual clients.

As you can see Kokoda Spirit has a wealth of Professional and friendly staff just waiting to ensure your Kokoda Trail experience is everything and more that you imagined.

Adrian Koi is also one of the leading Trek Masters along the track. Adrian was also the chief trek leader for Peter Brune who is the Author of “A Bastard of A Place” and “Those Ragged Bloody Heroes” Adrian is first aid trained and has successfully crossed the track 125 times. Our 5 other senior Trek Masters Gideon Malawi, Alan Malawi, Frank Bogajaiwa, Sai Abel and Joshua Segi have over 480 successful treks across the trail between them.

Joyce Kamburi, who has trained and worked in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry in PNG for over 10 years, manages our Port Moresby office. Helen Tua is our Assistant Manager in PNG, her friendly, efficient and professional attitude, her local knowledge along with her broad grin and infectious laugh will ensure your time in Port Moresby is well organised and enjoyable.

Wayne and Michelle Wetherall runs our Australian office and operation.

Wayne is passionate about the Kokoda Track, the Australian history, the people and the culture of the people along the track.

Wayne has accompanied and Adrian on the Kokoda Track and his explorations of the PNG rivers.

They have established strong bonds with the local villagers, setting up trusts to supply much needed supplies of Schoolbooks and equipment.

Wayne’s expertise in Business, IT and Tourism provides the professional support and infrastructure to the team in Papua New Guinea. Wayne has been exploring PNG since 2004 and has been instrumental in some of the great discoveries along the track. Wayne has an intimate knowledge and passion for the Australian war history on the track and is our Chief Australian Guide. He has also written a number of stories on the history and his experiences on the track. His enthusiasm and knowledge will give you an insight into the Kokoda Tracks history.

Wayne has successfully led exploration treks and tours into Vietnam, Thailand, Borneo China, Germany, Italy and France. Wayne has assisted in opening up the Sandakan track for Tourism in Borneo and Long Tan in Vietnam. Wayne has also successfully climbed Mt Wilhelm in PNG and Mt Kinabalu in Borneo twice including the World’s highest “Via Ferrata”.

Michelle’s enthusiasm, organisation and administration skills ensure that all facets of the business and clients are kept up to date with the latest information. Michelle is the coordinator between the operations and administration ensuring that all goes well for the trek.