Adventure Kokoda

04/11/2024

A wonderful Kokoda Day Service at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway with a large attendance and many past and future Adventure Kokoda trekkers paying their respect.

Charlie Lynn OAM OL, a Director of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway delivered the prologue for the service.

Congratulations to Alice Kang OAM, Hon Secretary Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway for compiling the moving tribute to the New Guinea 'Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels' - a must watch!

2024 Kokoda Day Commemoration Service - PAPUA NEW GUINEA

02/11/2024

Today is the 82nd anniversary of the day our troops recaptured Kokoda after a bitter 3-month campaign against all the odds on the Kokoda Trail.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day our troops raised the Australian flag on the Kokoda Plateau. We honour the occasion by acknowledging it as ‘Kokoda Day’.

Our flag would never have been raised if it had not been for the support and selfless sacrifice of the unsung heroes of the Kokoda campaign – the New Guinea wartime carriers who became known as ‘fuzzy-wuzzy angels’.

I had the honour to meet one of those, Mr. Ovoru Indiki, on many occasions during our treks.

Ovoru died on 13 November 2013 – following is the tribute I paid to him in the NSW Parliament.

https://blog.kokodatreks.com/2024/11/01/kokoda-day-tribute-to-mr-ovoru-indiki/

17/10/2024

Illegal Kokoda Blockade: Timeline & Consequences for Kokoda Tourism

Illegal Kokoda Blockade: Timeline & Consequences for Kokoda Tourism - OUR VIEWPOINT

09/10/2024

It's heartening to see the new PNG Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture take a stand to have responsibility for the Kokoda Trail transferred to his portfolio so it can be managed as a commercial tourism enterprise for the economic benefit of his people rather that as an 'environment park' by the Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change through his aid-funded Conservation Environment Promotion Authority.

Nation Kokoda track still closed over responsibility confusion By The National October 9, 2024 Share FacebookWhatsAppEmail THE closure of the Kokoda Track to tourist traffic cannot be settled as there is confusion over which government agency is responsible for the track, it has been revealed. Touri...

08/10/2024

Call for the PNG Government to acquire the Kokoda Trail as a National Tourism Asset

Call for the PNG Government to acquire the Kokoda Trail as a National Tourism Asset - OUR MEDIA

30/09/2024

15 years ago it was not possible to book a campsite on the Kokoda Trail and there was not a single hygienic toilet anywhere along it.

Since then Canberra has engaged advisors, officials and consultants on eye-watering 6-figure salaries on their $60 million plus 'Kokoda Initiative'.

Today, it is still not possible to book a campsite; there not a single hygienic toilet anywhere along it, they haven't invested in a single battlesite; and trekker numbers have fallen by 46% under their watch!

Time for PNG to reclaim ownership and run it as a tourism enterprise for the benefit of trekkers and customary landowner communities rather than as an environmental park for the benefit of Australian advisors, officials and consultants!

From our Adventure Kokoda Files Circa 2009 - OUR VIEWPOINT

27/09/2024

ABC Radio James Valentine talks to Charlie Lynn about the issues that has led to the blockade on the Kokoda Trail.

27/09/2024

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/27/kokoda-track-shut-to-walkers-png-landowners-protest-government-payments-marape

Mount Kodu landowners petition prime minister to pay outstanding commitment the government made to them to preserve the track

26/09/2024

25/09/2024

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/blockades-threaten-kokoda-businesses/104392482?utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared

Hiking the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea is usually a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But plans have been cut short for hikers due to start the trek this week… after local villagers set up a blockade.

25/09/2024

Nauro landowners have a genuine grievance and they have made their point. It’s now time for both the Australian and PNG governments to come clean with whatever commitments were made in 2008 and honour them.
It’s also time for the landowners to dismantle their blockade and return to Port Moresby to continue their negotiations through their elected representatives and allow their fellow ‘Wan Toks’ across the Trail to get jobs with tour companies and allow villagers to earn money through hiring out their campsites, performing ‘sing-sings, selling food and souvenirs, etc

https://www.facebook.com/abcnews.au/videos/1074061721014931

23/09/2024

https://www.postcourier.com.pg/illegal-kokoda-trail-closure-sends-an-ominous-message-to-the-nrl-re-supporting-a-png-team/

The sudden closure of the Kokoda Trail, PNGs most popular tourism destination, without any warning sends an ominous message to the NRL considering basing a team in PNG, according to Charlie Lynn.

21/09/2024

PNG is the only country in the world which allows its most popular tourism destination to be managed as an environmental bureaucracy for the benefit of aid-funded officials rather than as a tourism enterprise for the economic benefit of traditional owners of land sacred to our shared military heritage.

This has happened under Canberra’s watch.

The 46% fall in trekker numbers since they took control of its management 14 years ago has led to increasing tensions among village communities who have been denied the opportunity to earn a sustainable living from the growth of pilgrimage tourism.

This culminated in the illegal blockade and closure of the Trail last week.

Hopefully it was act as a catalyst for the management of the Kokoda Trail from the Conservation Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) to the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) under the auspices of the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture where is should always have been.

Our blogs relate to our involvement with the challenge of developing a viable pilgrimage tourism industry across the Kokoda Trail over the past 32-years,

Index: Major Charlie Lynn's Adventure Kokoda Blogs - OUR VIEWPOINT

20/09/2024

Anarchy on the Kokoda Trail as Port Moresby based dissidents shut it down to extort money from Government at the expense of village-based landowner communities.

Kokoda Tourism: The Cost of Anarchy! - OUR VIEWPOINT

16/09/2024

Happy 49th Independence Day from Adventure Kokoda PNG General Manager and his family.

16/09/2024

Tonight Adventure Kokoda trek led by Dave Sherry are settled at Efogi campsite. Efogi is the largest village along the trail. They enjoyed watching the Independence Day celebrations and football games. All are well.

15/09/2024

Adventure Kokoda trek led by Dave Sherry left Templeton's Crossing early this morning. They are settled at their campsite tonight at Bombers. Everyone is in good spirits. Tomorrow they are heading to Efogi Village via Kagi.

14/09/2024

A review on Adventure Kokoda trek led by Peter Morrison ...
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME!
Aug 2024 • Family
I recently completed the history trek with Adventure Kokoda with Peter Morrison as our trek leader. It was the most challenging, brutal, beautiful rewarding thing I’ve ever done and would strongly recommend this company to anyone planning on doing this.

Peter’s knowledge/passion of the war history was outstanding and his story telling was mesmerising. He is also one of the nicest worldly people you will ever meet which made the days easier and more enjoyable as he’ll chat to you about all sorts and makes you feel comfortable every step of the way.

It’s also very clear he’s loved by all the villages we passed through.

I brought my 14yo son with me and the support he was given was amazing. His personal carrier Rex was with him every step of the way either behind him holding his pack down steep descents or sliding down rocks or cutting through the jungle to get in front to help him down hard and dangerous parts.

We also both have coeliac disease which was accommodated for with a variety of different options.

This was well above my expectations and would 💯 use them again if I ever go again.

13/09/2024

Adventure Kokoda trek led by Dave Sherry at Deniki this morning. They are settled at their campsite overlooking the Isurava memorial getting ready for Dawn Service in the morning. All are well.

13/09/2024

https://blog.kokodatreks.com/2024/09/13/our-kokoda-pilgrimage-treks/

Our Kokoda Pilgrimage Treks - OUR TREKS

12/09/2024

Captain Reg Yates Adventure Kokoda trekkers all looking pleased receiving their Certificate after their 10 day trek across the Kokoda Trail.

12/09/2024

The start of it all ... Adventure Kokoda trek led by Captain Reg Yates at the start of their journey from Owers Corner and their finish at Kokoda this morning. They flew back from Kokoda - paid their respects at Bomana War Cemetery before returning to their accommodation for a relaxing afternoon. Dinner and presentation this evening. Congratulations - Well done everyone.

Our thanks to Reg and the PNG team.

12/09/2024

Adventure Kokoda trek led by Dave Sherry left their accommodation this morning for the Charter flight to Kokoda. They appreciated an early afternoon arrival to their campsite at Hoi in preparation for the days ahead. All in good spirits. We wish everyone a great trek.

11/09/2024

Dave Sherry's Adventure Kokoda trekkers all arrived safely at Port Moresby and are settled at their accommodation. Trek briefing followed by dinner and an early night for their trek start tomorrow.