Kokoda Historical: Do I need a porter?

Many people ask us do we think they need a porter. Its a difficult question to answer as it is a matter of personal choice. There are many reasons to avail of the services of a porter and we would not recommend carrying your pack unless you are a seasoned trekker and have undertaken treks of a similar duration and similar nature previously. If you are in doubt then it is probably best that you should get a porter.

The Pros of having a personal porter carry your pack include...

Enjoyment: You have more time to concentrate on enjoying the experience of trekking through the jungle and it takes some of the pressure (and weight!) off you while doing the track.
Safety: It decreases the chances of you injuring yourself as you have more time to concentrate on your footing and making sure you don't slip.
Involvement: You will have the opportunity to interact with the local PNG people more as your personal porter will be there to carry your stuff for you every day. This interaction between trekker and porter will give you the opportunity to learn more about their lives and how they have grown up in vastly different circumstances to how the average Australian has grown up.
Employment: You are giving worthwhile employment to a person who does not have the same access to education or employment opportunities like most of us have had. Kokoda Historical are a socially responsible company that give fair wages and good working conditions to our staff. All the porters that we employ come from the same family and have trekked with us many times.

What does it cost?

The cost of a porter is $580 - this covers the wages for the porter, the cost of their flight to the start or end of the track (we do not believe in making our staff walk the track to get home after carrying a customers pack for 9 days!), their food and accommodation for the duration of the trip plus their food and accommodation for the time they spend in Port Moresby in preparation for the trip. Kokoda Historical do not make any profit from the hiring of a porter - all the money goes to the porter themselves or into the costs associated with them coming on the trip.

Trek Dates

30 Jul – 10 Aug 2010:
Kokoda Track Tour

27 Jul – 10 Aug 2010:
Kokoda Track + Beachheads Tour

20 Sept – 1 Oct 2010:
Kokoda Track Tour

20 Sept – 4 Oct 2010:
Kokoda Track + Beachheads Tour

25 Oct – 5 Nov 2010:
Kokoda Track Tour

25 Oct – 8 Nov 2010:
Kokoda Track + Beachheads Tour

Tour Dates for 2011

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Testimonials

Kokoda Historical: Graham, Michael, Robert and Scott Rosengreen.

We haven't stopped talking about the Kokoda trek since we arrived home. We can't thank you enough David for the wonderful experience you gave us. Your knowledge of the track, the people, and in particular our wonderful military history on the Kokoda track and other battles in PNG is outstanding.
I couldn't imagine doing the trek and not knowing of the lost battlefields that you filled in for us so professionally. Our main reason for going to Kokoda was to walk in the footsteps, pay homage and acknowledge the extreme sacrifice of so many young men who willingly gave their lives for us.
We couldn't have done it without your expertise, and the friendliness and support of the Legends. Thank you so much, Graham, Michael, Robert and Scott Rosengreen.

Kokoda Historical: Shane Aubrey

I want to thank you (David) for a fantastic trip, your entertainment and knowledge of the battle sites was of the highest professional standard I have encountered for many a year. The trek was without question the hardest and most exciting, thrilling trip I have ever been on and I have been on many deployment etc.

Without a doubt we all have a much higher respect for the diggers who served on the track. What those guys endured we will never fully comprehend. To have a taste of what life must have been like, puts our normal dull life back into perspective and something that will always remain with us.

I am so charged after the trip, I feel that I need to go on another adventure ASAP. David, thank you and your troops, they are all excellent ambassadors for your company and it shows that you have a well trained crew of professionals.

Shane Aubrey, July 2009
Business Development Manager

Kokoda Historical: Sean Teasdale, Australian Air Force

I would firstly like to thank the whole team at Kokoda Historical for making my trip one of the best things that I have done in my life to date. The professionalism shown by the team along the track was amazing and the knowledge of all members is to be commended. Gary was a wealth of knowledge and seemed to just love every minute of the track and the history that went along with that. But easily one of the best things about the track was Gary's relationship with the legends which led in turn to all of us being able to bond with the legends, which by the looks of things many other tour groups missed out on. I would definitely recommend Kokoda Historical to any friends and family that were looking to trek the Kokoda Track.

Kokoda Historical: Anthony Fuster

Just wanted to thank and to congratulate Kokoda Historical on the fantastic trip that I had! The organisation was exceptional and our tour guide Gary was superb! His knowledge and passion for the history of track meant that I didn't just leave having walked the track, but left with huge appreciation and awe of those who trekked before in such harsh and treacherous conditions. You know you have a good tour guide on your hands when other tour groups stop to listen in on the background and significance of certain parts of the track!

Our group was also fantastic. Being a part of such a small and cohesive unit meant that we were able to bond more closely then we would have been able to had the group been larger. Although Michael was the only one not from ADFA who was in our group, the humour and common appreciation that we shared meant that we gelled quickly!

Finally I'd like to thank the Legends! Those young men are fantastic and are a testament to those who walked the track before them. The passion they showed for their job made it that much more enjoyable.

Kokoda Historical: Gavin Wright RAAF

Gavin Wright, RAAF

What a wonderful trip, the best and hardest thing I have under taken in all of my 40 years. Dave is a wealth of knowledge on the Kokoda war history as well as local history and current Papua issues. His great sense of humour and attitude kept everyone’s spirits high and helped you forget how hard the day’s walk really was. The legends that walked with us were just that “LEGENDS”. ANZAC day was one of the most moving I have ever attended; Isurava Memorial is very spiritual and picturesque at dawn and the perfect location with all of its history to hold a dawn service. ANZAC day is also a very special and memorable to the Papuans. I will be doing the track again and taking two of my sons next time. Thank you very much for the journey Kokoda Historical.

Read about Gavin's Kokoda Historical Tattoo here!