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Why trek the Kokoda Track with Back Track Adventures?
Back Track Adventures brings to the Kokoda Track 27 years professional trekking experience - worldwide.
- Professional Australian Trek Leaders to co-ordinate the whole adventure, so you have a safe, enjoyable "adventure holiday"
- We are a no nonsense, non pretensious, quality professional trekking operation. We love what we do and we do it well.
- Since 1984, our Trek Leaders have proven to be second to none, guiding people on walking holidays anywhere in the world. Our 2010 Kokoda trekking season was our best ever. Thank you to our trekkers, leaders and trek crew who all contributed whole heartedly in making this season such fun and a complete success.
- Competitive pricing - absolute value for money - our web site, logically and systematically shows you exactly what you pay and what you receive.There are no hidden costs. Ciick here to view our full 2011 costings.
- We are a fully licensed travel agent and members of the TCF (Travel Compensation Fund). This means all your payments are fully protected.
- Comprehensive Pre-departure Information Kit which contains everything you need to know and morew. We welcome your 1300 phone calls for any advice and assistance. Plus,armed with our 50 page, Fitness and Information Guide and pre Departure Info Kit, you'll be well prepared.
- '1300' Kokoda Assist line available to all our trekkers. Our office is open Mon -Fri and Saturday mornings.
- A comprehensive Fitness advice and training programme is provided in the Information kit.
- Professional clothing, gear and equipment advice and discounts with participating gear outlets around Australia. View list of outlets
- Comprehensive battlefield briefings by your Trek Leader. Our trek leaders know the whole story. They will share it with you in a way that will ensure you return with a full understanding and appreciation of the Kokoda Campaign. You will visit every major battlesiteand points of historical interest. Read our client testimonials.
- You walk the exact war time Track that our soldiers crossed and fought along during their strategic withdrawl holding the Japanese advance and later as our soldiers pushed the Japanese forces back to the beaches.
- Our Professional Head Guides and Trek Crew come from Naduri and other villages along the Track. Their companionship and friendship is a major enjoyment throughout your trek. If timing is right, we try to arrange for our trekkers to meet as many family members as possible at a village sing along after dinner on the night we stay in Naduri Village. Naduri is the home of the much loved and legendary Fuzzy Wuzzy angel, Ovuru Ndiki. All the people lIving along the Track welcome all trekkers with friendship and generosity.
- Back Track, with guidance from the Kokoda Track Foundation supports ongoing programmes providing assistance to communities on the Track. As our major support programme for 2011, Back Track will be actively involved with fundraising for a special Village project. Full Details of this project and how you can get involved and support it will be available on this web site later in 2010. Please return and support. Join the Kokoda Track Foundation.
- Back Track actively supports the work of the Kokoda Track Authority in their dedicated efforts to improve the long term sustainabilty of Kokoda Track tourism and the welfare of all the people who live along the Track.A Back Track representative attends all KTA meetings. We are committed to living up to our responsibilities and the ethical guidelines for trekking companies as set down by the Authority.
- We have a Risk Management Programme for our Leaders and trek crew, as part of an ongoing safety awareness programme
- We carry $10,000,000 public liability insurance with Llodys of London for your peace of mind.
- We carry Satellite phones and VHF radios on all treks. (24 hour link to Port Moresby base)
- Our ‘style’ of trekking, based on 27 years experience, offers a sensible........
- itinerary ( allows for bad weather and unforseen contingencies and is designed so you can reach each days objective safely and at an unrushed pace)
- approach to meals ( good wholesome meals, with dinners especially prepared and cooked using fresh food/. We purchase additional fresh fruit and vegetables daily when available to supplement our supplies.
- rest time (a balanced approach to exertion and relaxation)
- local interaction (designed so you have maximum interaction with the local people)
- we supply quality camping equipment, including tents and all eating utensils. Each trekker has their own personal mozzie proof tent. The tents are carried, erected and taken down each day by your trek crew. If you wish you can stay in Village or camp accommodation where provided. The choice is yours daily.
- We use the 4 star Holiday Inn as our base and accommodation in Port Moresby. This hotel, with very friendly staff-provides the highest levels of security, spacious modern rooms-essential for sorting and packing your gear, private facilities, international phone, cable TV, ATM and all modern facilities including a large well maintained swimming pool,laundry, room service, security boxes, secure left luggage facilities, restaurants, bars and entertainment. We believe comfortable, relaxing pre and post trek accommodation is important. The trek is challenging enough.
In conclusion
Back Track Adventures are proud to be a supporter of the principals of sustainable Eco Tourism and applaud all Trekking Companys who have the vision to see eco tourism as a major part of the future of the Kokoda Track. Back Track have organised trekking expeditions to all corners of the globe including PNG for over 27 years.
We are proud that we have the ability to take any Australian prepared to face the challenge, over the exact war time trails linking Ower's Corner on the south side of the Owen Stanley Ranges with Kokoda Village on the northern side.
We achieve this within the framework of a sensible 9 day trekking itinerary. Our itinerary acknowledges the need by all trekkers for personal challenge and adventure mixed with the priority for Back Track to provide meaningful, accurate and detailed history on all the significant battle sites along the Track and for Back Track to provide a safe environment for our trekkers and crew.
We are proud that both serving and ex military personal have chosen to trek with us. We are proud that Australian Army Cadet units and schools have also chosen to trek the Kokoda Track with our trekking company. Read our testimonials.
We are proud of our Trek Leaders knowledge of Australia's war time History and honoured that we have the opportunity to pass this knowledge on to new generations of Australians. However, we never stop learning. We have gained so much 'oral' Kokoda History from the veterans of the 39th Battalion and 2/14th and 2/16 Battalions and we have learnt wonderful stories and snippets of Track history and geography from prominent historians. All this information is passed on to our trekkers as the Kokoda story unfolds during your trek.
Do you have any Campaign Information ? Campaign information also comes from unexpected sources. A member of our Brisbane staff recently discovered that his father was involved in a particularly savage battle in early 1943, fought over many days on a lonley section of road beyond Popendetta towards Sanananda. This action took place during the last days of the Kokoda campaign.
The details of this all but forgotten savage assault on a fixed Japanese position, was detailed in a small book by the Units Chaplin. This book is now preserved as an aging brown relic in a zip locked glad bag. I doubt if there would be another copy in existence. As there are now fewer old soldiers alive, who fought in the PNG campaigns, it is important for us all to collect any information we can, in any form, and pass it on so it can be recorded for future generations. You are welcome to send us information at any time.
Our Kokoda trekking philosophy
We strongly believe that our trek over the Track should be an adventure holiday, a cultural and historical insight, as well as a physical and mental challenge.
Our sensible approach to trekking allows for time to stop and enjoy the villages and the culture as well as gain a good understanding of the war campaign.
We acknowledge that for most trekkers, completing the KokodaTrack will be a tough physical and mental challenge. However, we also note that it should be a fun and rewarding holiday experience as well. Our sensible itinerary provides enough time to explore the overwhelming majority of battle sites and lesser significant historical war locations. There are half days as well ensuring a proper mix of effort and recovery and this recovery, or relaxation time, allows for an opportunity to meet and mix with the local people.
Our Trek Leaders love their job. They love sharing their passion with you for trekking the Track, while explaining the war history, providing an understanding of the culture and sharing the beauty of the jungle environment and the trekking challenge.
Most importantly, they will ensure that you finish the Track safely and with a lasting understanding of what the Kokoda Campaign was all about. The fascinating war stories, relived as you trek, of the soldiers who fought and died along every foot of the Track will never be forgotten.
Our ultimate aim for all our Kokoda trekkers is that we all, in some small way, gain an understanding of the challenges our soldiers faced and overcame, their courage, mateship, endurance and sacrifices.
Your trek over the Kokoda wartime Track with Back Track Adventures will be a safe, fun and a personally rewarding experience.
See you all on the Track in 2011.
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Kokoda Track Map |
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Experienced Leaders |
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Professional leaders ensuring a safe and informed holiday
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