Charlie's Premium Kokoda Campaign Trek

'Blackbirding' was a term associated with the kidnapping of Pacific Islanders to work in the Queensland sugar-cane fields in the late 19th Century - it was later outlawed as a form of slavery.

The practice, and its ugly connotations has been adopted by shady Australian trek operators who have sought to benefit from the increasing interest in trekking Kokoda in recent years.  These operators are able to get away with the exploitation in Papua New Guinea because they do not have systems in place to protect their villagers against such abhorrent practices and because many Australians are seeking the 'cheapest' deal.

Blackbirders can be flushed out by asking the following questions:

• Do you have a maximum weight limit of 18 kg for the local guides and carriers you engage?
• Do you provide each of your local guides and carriers with a sleeping bag and mat each?
• Do you provide each of your local guides and carriers with a full trek uniform i.e. a cap, shirt and shorts?
• Do you pay each of your guides and carriers PGK 70 per day?
• Do you pay each of your guides and carriers a 'Walk-Home-Allowance' of PGK 250?

If they cannot answer an affirmative 'Yes' to each of these questions - no ifs or buts - you are dealing with a Blackbirder.

We provide a personal tent for each trekker. 

Our tents are fully screened and provide protection from malarial mosquitos, leeches, cockroaches, mice and other creepy-crawlies.

For personal protection, privacy, comfort and convenience our guides will set up your tent each night - pack it up the next morning - carry if to the next campsite and have it ready for you again.

Guesthouses in villages along the trail are built from local bush materials - they offer basic shelter from the elements but don't have any privacy or screened protection from malarial mosquitos, leeches, cockroaches, rats and mice, etc!

The increase in trekker numbers over recent years has led to an increase in infestation in villages guesthouses.

If you have to sleep in these because your trek operator does not provide mosquito proof tents make sure you sleep with your mouth closed and that you don't mind the pitter-patter of little mice running across your forehead - if you are a bit sensitive in this area the only guarantee you have against the local infestation is to sleep in an insect proof tent.

There is also no protection from the inevitable snorer in guesthouses where everybody is required to bunk together.

1. Adventure Kokoda is the only specialist trekking company operating on the Kokoda Trail - we do not trek to any other location - Kokoda is all we do.
    
2. We have the most professional and experienced trek leaders - our team has 160 years combined military experience - we have led more than 560 expeditions safely across the trail over the past 29 years.
    
3. We specialise in the wartime history of the Kokoda campaign.
    
4. We are the only trek operator to have established a philanthropic Not-for-Profit company - Network Kokoda - to provide assistance to local villagers in the fields of health, education and local agriculture.
    
5. We pioneered the Kokoda trekking industry - we had been operating on the trail for more than a decade before it was 'discovered'' by eco-tour operators.
    
6. We operate from a secure lodge at Sogeri which has 24/7 back-up communications and our own helipad for emergencies. The owner of our lodge is a former PNG Patrol Officer who has lived in PNG for 52 years.
    
7. We are the only trekking company to provide for the welfare of our PNG guides and carriers by issuing them with sleeping bags, sleeping mats and a full trek uniform to our guides and carriers.
    
8. We are the only trekking company that limits the maximum backpack weight for our guides and carriers to 18 kg which was the maximum weight allowed during the Kokoda campaign in 1942.

Each village has a designated area for trekkers to camp.  They also have dedicated toilets for trekkers. Your guides will identify these areas for you.

There are also separate bathing areas for males and females.  To avoid embarrassment you should ask your guides to show you where they are.  Ladies should wear a sarong to their bathing area. 

NO! PNG trek guides are masters of their environment however their knowledge of the Kokoda campaign and their presentation skills do not rate at this stage of their development.

Adventure Kokoda organises PNG led Kokoda treks for groups who are looking for a physical challenge in preference to learning about the wartime history of the Kokoda campaign.

Whilst our PNG leaders have been well trained in expedition leadership and are the best in the business they do not have the knowledge of the military history of the Kokoda campaign or the presentation skills to conduct battlesite briefings. 

Trekkers meeting PNG support crew on arrival at Kokoda airfield