Back Track’s Kokoda Track Trekker Testimonials

Excellent group of trekkers and trekking crew and porters along with the guides were very good and have made this one of the best and most memorable trip I have done.

One of life's real experiences, a truly wonderful adventure with both physical and emotional challenges. Thank you for the opportunity to participate.

The group I had was absolutely sensational. You guys should be very proud and privileged to have John as an employee of Back Track. He did a great job,  was very insightful and was great company to be around.

It is an adventure that keeps giving from the scenic flight to Popondetta, enjoyable transfer to the Kokoda start point, briefwalk to Hoi and first nights salubrious accommodation. I could not have wished or hoped for a better crew or team as without them the experience would not have been the same. look after John as his insight and knowledge brought the Track to life.

John's first tour as a guide was very well conducted and I would not hesitate to do a further trek with him. I had a great experience, Thanks.

Our trek leader , John, could not be more informative. Exceptional. Would recommend you use him in the future. Editors note:- We will. We are very proud of our Leaders - they are without exception great people to trek with.  

The whole experience from beginning to end was wonderful, can't complain about a thing.

John was amazing as trek leader - kept everything on track, was very knowledgeable and above all ensured everyone was having fun.

The whole experience was amazing. Well done John as he was a great leader and everybody in the group worked together and helped and pushed each other along. Would definitely do another trip with John as Team Leader. Well done John.

Trek leader was excellent, made sure everyone was looked after and stayed together. The trek crew were great and looked after us extremely well.  The service on Brigade Hill , spending time with Ovoru Ndiki  and the singing by the kids and our crew were the highlights.

Trek leader, awesome knowledge of Track and history. The PNG Team and leaders were amazing also.

Walking the Kokoda Track was a life changing experience.  The entire Back Track team were excellent from Kelly in the office to the trek crew and porters. They were all very caring and helpful.  Dan our trek leader was exceptional. He has a great knowledge of the Kokoda Track history and is a great guy which made it easy for everyone to get along.  Overall a fantastic experience.

Thank you to our Trek leader, Ian, what a guy.  When I was down, he was there every step of the way, he was an important asset to our Team.  As Emergency Services y Personal, we know how important it is to lead from the front and Ian had it all., leadership, mateship, understanding, compassion and knowledge...well done guys. I'll be back for our next trek in 2 years time and can't wait. Thank you very much !!

Ian was an excellent Leader - answered every question and would find answers if he didn't know.  Highly recommend.

Excellent trip, thank you guys very much. The experience has been one of the most important times of my life. It has enlightened me immensely and brought me closer to my compadres. Robbie was a great Head Guide and his entire porter Team was excellent.  Ian our leader was great.

Ian was an outstanding leader, his knowledge , easy going nature made the trip a very enjoyable experience. overall great trip. ..would certainly use Back Track for next adventure

Thank you very much for an excellent adventure!!!!! Overall an amazing group to do it with.

Ian was an excellent Leader and fitted in perfectly with our Team. We have talked with him about being our future leader for more treks. Great team with many wonderful memories.

I had a fantastic time on the trek. The porters were very helpful. Robbie did a great job guiding his first trek. Ian , our trek leader, did a really good job and has a solid knowledge of trekking. All in all, a good job Back Track

Trek was kind of a last minute decision...loved the experience. Dan was a wonderful leader, informative and always very positive. Thought our Team did a phenomenal job on Track and motivating other trekkers. Unbelievable experience . Intend to do more.

Dan as a trek Leader was amazing. He was so informative and so approachable. Also, thankyou to the whole of the Back Track Team, this trip was amazing even though it was tough it still felt like a holiday.

Great experience by all staff and crew.

We could not have asked for a better trek Leader. Dan was  most informative. His military knowledge was exceptional. Dan was also friendly and polite. He didn't make us feel foolish for misinterpreting historical information. Instead, Dan gave us clear interpretation of events at each site.  The porters also exceeded our expectations. They were patient and kind. We rate this trek 10/10, thankyou.

Unbelievable experience !! Thank you Back Track. Great people.

We were fortunate to have Dan as our Leader, a wonderful group of crew and porters and the best group of trekkers come friends one could wish for. We will never forget this experience and the boys harmonies in the midst of the PNG jungle will stay with us forever. Thank you to my porter Tixie, for helping me through each day.

Very good trek leader, well informed and a good guy.

Dan was a fabulous trek leader. he had time for everyone and was patient and understanding. The porters and crew were also amazing. I will definitely be recommended back track  to friends and relatives who are considering the Kokoda Track.

Amazing, supportive and well organised trekking crew. Team Leader was great. Appreciated the historical perspective and knowledge of the tracks and WW2 sites provide by the Trek leader.  - very much appreciated by all Team 18 members. Felt safe at all times. Many thanks for an unforgettable experience.

Fabulous trek. Leader made it awesome. Well done Steve ! Plenty of food.

Fantastic trip ! thankyou.

It was fantastic - thank you. A life changing experience. Chris and Steve  were great leaders, made it a great experience.

Great trip, great guides and porters. I would definitely recommend this trip to others.

No complaints at all. Everything was fantastic !

Great trip. Awesome!!

Cannot say more about the crew. My porter was David and without him I couldn't of done this. he is the best!! My leader Sarah was so great.

Great adventure. I wouldn't have missed it for the  world. Another item ticked off the bucket list. At 64 this will be my last adventure of this type but I did it and I'm proud. sarah is amazing and an asset to your company.

Leader was excellent. Energy and general demeanour was great. Local crew were fantastic, made the experience amazing. Thank you, had a great time.

Sarah our leader was fantastic throughout, always encouraging, thoughtful and upbeat.  Porters - caring, gentle and overall - AMAZING!!

Crew were amazing. Couldn't fault the overall experience as it has definitely been an overwhelming  and life changing experience.

The boys who were our porter crew and trek crew were fantastic. Bincey our Head Guide was great. the whole experience and interaction with the crew and leader was great.  

The trek was amazing, I will definitely be coming back with Back Track. Sarah our leader was full of information and was easy to get along with. I loved every moment.

Thanks Guys, It was such a rewarding experience, Kathy as a leader was fantastic and you guys organised everything to perfection. Once again I thank you all for a fantastic life experience. cheers

Thanks, so good. The best !

Thanks to Back Track and thanks to Team 16. Awesome trip and thanks to Kathy our lader.

Great trek & amazing experience. Very satisfied with Back Track and would consider trekking with them again.

From the information night in Sydney to the very end of this experience, I would like to thank Back Track for making it an unforgettable one. The delivery and expertise of electronic and written documentation from your Qld  staff in regard to booking etc made the whole process an effortless task on my behalf. To Jo, our trek leader and Michelle the trainee leader, from the warm welcome at Port Moresby to Jo's knowledge of the events of the war here in 1942 and her humble warmth to the PNG people, I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to do the Track to request to be on her Team. Both Jo and Michelle ensured our Team's ( T14) adventure was safe and enjoyable. To your PNG Team, from the Head Guide, porters and crew it is easy to understand how the bond was formed between our wartime heroes and the Fuzzy Wuzzys. Along the whole Track their care and concern for you to enjoy the experience was amazing. They are amongst the most resourceful, happy people I have ever met. I would definitely recommend Back Track to anyone wanting a carefree trek anywhere on our wonderful planet. Kind regards Browny  (and also on behalf of Meffie)

I was extremely impressed with the logistics and organisation of the trek and how caring and enthusiastic the trek leaders, Jo and Michelle were. Although the trek group themselves were a great bunch, it was Jo and Michelle who showed leadership while also enjoying this extraordinary experience with all of us.

Fantastic trip overall. Tony and Jason were amazing guides and imparted their passion and knowledge for the Kokoda campaign to the group.

I have had the best experience with Back Track. Everything was very well organised and ran very smoothly. Tony and Jason were excellent leaders, always enthusiastic, friendly and supportive. The PNG crew were also brilliant, an amazing group of men. Thanks for a great experience !

I had an amazing and challenging time and the longer the trek went on, the better everything was.  Tony and Jason were so motivating, patient, kind and  informative. I hope all your leaders give this amount of knowledge to all trekkers. BTA Note:- All Back track Guides are very informative.

Overall was a great trek with an awesome crew that was very professional and organised.

I thought the passion and the history provided by the trek leaders was exceptional and made it a special experience considering my needs as I don't think I will have this opportunity again. The trek leaders gave me the reassurance, confidence in not only going to unfamiliar territory, but in the challenges that lay ahead. The alterations  that occurred to the programme  were intelligent and were conducive to enjoying the experience  even more.  I had a great time and roughing it, although part of the deal was expected and added to the challenge which was also great for my needs. The meals provided helped to enjoy  the experience even more. The PNG crew  were also passionate  and welcoming. Go Back Track !!

On speaking to trekkers in other groups, anyone looking for the history as well as the mental and physical challenge, I recommend Back Track as the perfect choice. Tony and Jason did a perfect job with the perfect mix of history, fact points, and a bit of fun and joking along the way.I would have no hesitation to recommend Back Track to everyone.

I had a wonderful trip. the leaders were knowledgeable & generous with their information.  The food was great considering the fact that we were in the jungle. The boys making a cake for Mikes birthday was really special. All in all, a good trip.

Food was better than I expected. Tony and Jason were very informative and always willing to assist and answer questions.  Crew were wonderful. I enjoyed the experience being a 'Team effort' and not a competition. Tony & Jason always ensured we moved forward as a unit.

The trip was very well organised. Jo is a natural leader. She is very knowledgeable as to the military history and of the Track. Her approach to guiding a large group is excellent. She is patient, understanding, and kind. Everyone including the porters are treated equally and with respect. Good trek !!  Rock & Roll !!!

Excellent organisation of trip. I left my sleeping mat in Australia and Andy and Jo organised one straight away. I will be recommending to others

Could not have asked for a better group to trek with. So very lucky to have had Damian filming and the re enactments by the trekking crew. A very happy trekker......JO, you did a great job!!

Fantastic Experience ! Wonderful Team both PNG and Australia.

Our trek leader, Jo was very informative and bright. She was excellent, as were our porters who almost carried us over some sections of the Track. Meals were excellent considering the conditions.

The service provided by the Trek Leader, crew and Porters was superb and made the trek very enjoyable.  the porters in particular did a fantastic job and were very attentive and helpful on the track.

I would like to thank Back Track for arranging what I believe were the best porters. My porter Tom, ws amazing and helped me through areas that were quite stressful for me. He knew every step where I needed him and then knew exactly when I didn't.  They were all polite and friendly and made this experience even more unforgettable. Thank you Jo and Damian, their personalities and passion for PNG and their job is to be commended.

Whole trip was fantastic with the highlights being the singing and re-staging of some of the critical moments and aspects of the war by the local crew. I had a great experience and would not hesitate  to recommend Back Track to others- particular the leaders Jo and Damian. NOTE: re enactments are not a normal part of all treks.

Good company to trek with, well organised. I would recommend them to anyone wanting to do the trek.

The BT guys  Damian and Gary did a fantastic job. I had an  awesome  time and felt very looked after. A trip and memories of a lifetime. Thanks.

I will be back with my sons  and hopefully lead my own group. Cheers . Garry was a terrific guide and a very informative man - really knew his stuff.

An amazing experience and one I will never forget. I'll be recommending Back track !!

Garry was great, he knows his people and knows what needs to be done to get the job done - well done !

The experience Back track provided was beyond comparison. It is clear that the trek leaders  take pride in the history and its importance to Australia. Thank you to the entire team for being able  to solve the difficulties at the start of the trek with the delayed flights from Australia and making the trek such a huge success.

Amazing experience!! Thank you Back Track and Dan. Love the locals.

What an amazing adventure. I have never been involved with such a supportive and encouraging company.  Our tour leader Dan is a great bloke. Nothing was ever too difficult for  Dan. he was supportive from the start such a positive motivational guy. I will be recommending Back Track to all of my friends and family.  The crew and the porters ...how lucky we are to call these guys our neighbours. Please continue  the awesome friendships  we have with these guys  for many years to come. Thank you Back Track !!

I 've loved, loved, loved every minute of this holiday. Thanks to Dan our Leader who met us at the very beginning and organised us  the whole way through. He accommodated the different trekkers on the the tour and was flexible in changing  the schedule  to suit. this was great. there  was great communication between dan and the PNG trek Guide and this meant  everything  went so smoothly and we had lots of time  to have fun without worrying about the organisation. Thanks Back Track...it was a blast !

It has been 10 days since I have looked at myself in a mirror. Thanks to the experienced gained on the trek, I know that when I look at myself now in the mirror- there will be a better person

I would just like to say that this was the most encouraging trip I have done. All staff at Back Track from the office staff to the trek leader Dan, to the crew staff , especially my porter, Rexy, have been not only encouraging but the biggest help.  I could not have completed this trip without the help and support of Dan and the ground crew. I hope to encourage more people to come and enjoy this trip. Sorry for the essay. Kind regards.

Dan is truly the best guide I have come across. The PNG crew are some of the nicest people inmour world. I will talk about them forever. I will definetly recommend this trek and company to everyone I talk to. Thankyou for the experience of a lifetime.

This has been an amazing and memorable experience. I struggled every step of the way but the crew , Dan and the others were so incredibly supportive. They got me through  and kept me smiling most of the time.  I can not speak highly enough of Dan( our trek leader) he was always there for me and helping me get through. he was very knowledgeable and supportive. My porter Norris, was also incredibly supportive. I could not have made it without him.

I enjoyed the trek immensely and would not change a thing. We were extremely lucky with the weather which was a bonus.  I have no hesitation in booking with Back Track again and will recommend them to others.  Thanks for a great trek.

To damian and the Back track Crew and management. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much for this amazing Kokoda Trek experience. You have far exceeded all of my expectations...and shown me the REAL Kokoda. I am a new person and will never again complain about anything being too hard. I cannot appreciate enough how wonderful it was to spend this time in all of the villages along the Track and to have my wonderful porter, Jessie, helping me along the way. The mateship and respect the porters had for us  and each other is phenomenal ! Truly amazing experience. The highlights include:- Pushing yourself to achieve what initially seemed impossible, 9 days trekking  through one of the harshest environments in the world....sharing the experience with like minded people......having an amazing team of porters with us and having them sing to us was simply incredible.... wonderful food along the way was delicious....Andy,  Terry and the management  crew in PNG were always very friendly and proud to show us Aussies around their beautiful country.... sharing stories along the Track and laughing at all our slips , falls and stumbles.

Trek Leader Damian was great and knew his job very well. Local crew were very helpful. Would recommend this company to other people considering a trek. Whole trip was very well organised. Would consider another trip with Damian in the future.

Would highly recommend other people go with Back Track. Damo and Kath are great trek leaders. Highly recommend them to anyone. If it was not for his experience in trekking, I would not have completed the trek Thank you so much, highly appreciate it. keep up the great work.

Damo was an excellent guide, full of information, great to be around and has a wonderful sense of how he presents what he has to say to you. Kath was like a mother to us all. She will make a fantastic guide. I thoroughly enjoyed my trek with these 2 people and the trekking crew. I will never forget it. Back Track are lucky to have them.

Damian ( Dam0) was a fantastic tour guide-friendly supportive, and has a load of information. I would do another trip with him any day. I believe Kathy is going to become a wonderful guide also. She is very much a people person and a load of fun to have around. Back track are lucky to have 2uch wonderful people on the team.

Thank you for an unforgettable holiday. I will be recommending Back Track to everyone as well as your Kokoda trek. I could not talk more highly of Damo. His knowledge of the history of Kokoda , the Track itself and his care of all the crew and us trekkers was second to none. He also made our trek truly unforgettable. I would also like to thank Kathy the trainee guide who will be a great guide or you as well in the future. The crew in PNG were amazing.

Matt our Trek Leader really made my experience of Kokoda fantastic. His passion &  knowledge was outstanding. His only downfall wasthe state he was born in !!!!  QUEENSLANDER

Thanks Jim for helping me get the medical supplies to the Kokoda Hospital.

Porters were beyond exceptional, helped out beyond what was called for. Every trek should include a mountaintop State of Origin Game. Awesome. BACK TRACK NOTE:  A colour TV set and generator, aerial etc was purchased by us for the use of the village school and for entertainment. In 2014 BackTtrack treks will be in Naduri village to watch the S.O.R games. Join us in 2014 for State of origin on the Kokoda Track!!!

Great trip. Highlight was watching Sate of Origin on the Track.

The trekking crew were excellent. I really enjoyed the trip. Highlights include:- Watching State of Origin  match in Naduri -Queenslander, great camp sites, sing sings by the crew and villagers, the boys all lining up at the end under the arch at Owers Corner.

Been back in AUS for 5 days now, with many enduring memories of our trek. Had a fantastic time and wanted to commend Back Track on such a well run operation. Matt Bragg on his first time as a solo Team Leader did a fantastic job. Myself and other members of Team 8 all had a great time largely due to Matts interest and passion for the Kokoda campaign. Could you please pass on my thanks to all at Back Track.

Brad is a good guide, reliable, emphatic, knows his history and assures  safety.  The birthday gift was a nice touch. Thank you.

I would like to congratulate Back Track on the very professional approach to the Kokoda Track. I found the companies whole approach from enquiries to booking and actually doing the trek was tremendous from the time  we left Brisbane and returned to Port Moresby everything was fined tuned. I will definitely recommend Back Track to all my friends ( well done). I found Brad  to be a natural leader, well prepared, well organised, and has the ability to change things  when changes are needed.  We all loved his charismatic character and when times were hard he got us through. Will definitely be following Brad's movements in Back Track for future treks. To the Back Track crew, Andy and all his men, what can I say but thankyou. Very impressed with the way they handled themselves and will leave an impression for a long time to come. Overall thankyou Back Track, had a great experience, a life long dream come true. ( well done Brad)

Brad has led the group with good humour and a sense of teamwork. The locals were extremely helpful and we felt safe at all times.

A fantastic experience with a knowledgeable and passionate leader. The crew were always there to help in any way.

The 9 days on the Kokoda Track was a unique experience and enhanced by the professionalism of Back track and by our Team leader Jason. From the time of booking with Back Track until we departed Port Moresby, the organisation and arrangements for our needs was clearly evident. The information provided by Back Track was useful and very beneficial in terms of preparing for the trip.  It would seem however that I did not receive some of the emails that other Team members received prior to departing, however, this is only a minor point.  The Back Track Team in Brisbane  were always helpful with any questions or queries prior to departure. The Back Track Team in PNG were great, particularly the crew that accompanied us along the Track.  The amount of and quality of the food  provided  to us along the Track was amazing and Robert John ( cook) did an amazing job.  Lastly our Team leader Jason. On top of the professionalism of Back Track, the trekking crew and the wonderful people of PNG we met along the way, we had a fantastic group of individuals and a great trek leader in Jason. He has the perfect disposition and attitude for such a role and his passion for the Kokoda campaign and what it stands for  resonated in all of us.  Thanks to Back Track  for making such a unique experience for us to remember.

This was an introduction  to trekking for me. I am very pleased that it was with Back Track and particularly with Jason and the crew from PNG.   I hope to trek more and will definetly be using Back track as my first choice. Thank you

Jason is a fantastic trek leader. He has a great passion and knowledge for and about the history of the Track. Jason is very inspiring and I could not imagine having a better leader.

Words don't describe the experience - Jason was an excellent leader, watched over us all, is well informed & respectfully & passionately told the Kokoda Story. The Brigade Hill service was very tasteful & quite emotional. Congratulations for tyelling this amazing Australian story. Thank you Back Track.

We had a great group and everyone got along. U think that was from the trek leader Tom Chen getting the group to gel from the start. He did a great job and needs to be commended on his performance for Back Track

Tom was nothing short of amazing, he is so passionate about everything to do with the people , the history of the trail and taking people on this journey………..organisation of the whole trip was very very good which is great for very busy working people like us. ……..overall I would recommend Back Track to anyone and might look into an Africa tour one day very soon.

“Thankyou for a truly memorable trek along  the Kokoda Track! Our guide Chris, was exceptional. His ability to converse with all trekkers during difficult circumstances was simply outstanding! The well organised and well organised and well run efforts of all involved especially the porters and their crew was excellent, and not to be underestimated. I had an emotional trek and I expect the other trekkers did too and I have already recommended BackTrack to my friends who have shown interest in ‘doing Kokoda’. Many thanks to Chris and BackTrack team as this experience will be one I cherish for many years to come.”

The trip was beyond amazing. I had such a fantastic time and i also found it very emotional.  Thank you so much for the opportunity to do it. Jim from back Track was an outstanding leader as well.

Thanks- it was full on – so hard, but so rewarding and amazing and eye opening. What a beautiful country PNG is !

Kokoda was fabulous, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I actually missed the walking  after the rhythm of the 8 days. I was impressed with Back Track and our trek Leader Gareth was faultless. Which is really amazing as I have had some dodgy tour leaders in my past travels. Everyone loved him. We were lucky with the weather and the mud wasn’t too bad. I have the PNG national anthem imprinted in my mind as the crew were our live entertainment, always singing. Such beautiful harmonies.

The trip was great – tough but worth it. I’m exhausted after it. Gareth, the Guide, did a fantastic job. Aiming for a story in our January issue 2012, but may be the following issue.

Would recommend Backtrack to anyone doing this it was very professional and made the journey easy. Gareth is an asset to you, he also made this a lot of fun and never dropped the ball even in the toughest conditions. Have a great xmas and all the best for the new year

Didn’t really get an opportunity to thank you for such a well run adventure for Trek 14A. Your passion for the track and PNG people shone through and made the experience memorable. I have sent the feedback form to you via post but wanted to let you know that despite my own personal battles to get through the track, I still valued the experience. I honestly thought with the effort I put in with my training and weight loss prior to departure that I’d kill the beast easily – how wrong I was. The mental and fatigue factors are nothing you can prepare for. I was also very grateful to your mate Bill who helped me overcome a moment of self doubt on the second day when I became ill and began having serious doubts as whether I could do this. From this I was able to pay it forward and hopefully assist a couple of others who also at times were struggling to get through the trek. My personal highlight was the time we spent at Brigade Hill when you and Vince spoke with such passion. I am not one who follows fake patriotism with anthem singing at sporting events and awarding Anzac Day medals to footballers or cricketers (I see that as disrespect for our diggers who are real heroes to me), however Brigade Hill was the first occasion I have ever sang our national anthem and I sang it with pride – proud to be an Australian. Thankyou for the opportunity – it will live with me forever. My other highlight was bonding with my porter Scoy. I took a lot of good natured ribbing from the others over the attention and assistance that Scoy gave me. If you could have seen the joy in Scoy’s face when he introduced me to his family and showed me his family home in Naduri – it was priceless and I felt very humbled. I know the others were only jealous of the relationship we had. I have Scoy’s address so I can send photos and correspond with him. Despite what others may think, I won’t be bestman at his wedding in June 2012 and a mancrush did not develop further! I was very appreciative of your story telling and factual information. It was tough, harsh and at times damn difficult but I’m glad I achieved something that for me was an overwhelming experience.

Jason, our trek leader, always felt safe under your leadership. Looking forward to ctching up at CHOGM. To Back Track..a truly outstanding piece of orginisation and coordination. the meals (quite adequate) just kept coming, even down to Arnotts Biscuits. I was well prepared historically and physically but totally unprepared culturally. These lovely gracious people in what I would call ‘happy poverty” what an eye opener. I think the cultural experience became the highlight of the trip for many of the group. The early battlefields where our innocent “ teenage soldiers”  gave their all ( for many their last and lasting gift) will always remain the highlight for me.

Jason our trek leader was approachable, informative of the Kokoda campaign and had a real passion for the outdoors. He ensured at all times both the safety and well being of trekkers and crew. Respected by all. A great advocate for your company. The porters and crew are a truly wonderful group of humble and respectful people. To my own fuzzy wuzzy angel ‘Stanley’ from Naduri Village, thankyou for being there when I always slipped, fell, overbalanced making sure not once did i fall over.  It appeared to me from my observations of other trekking groups on the Track at the same time, that there did not appear to be the same level of bonding/camaraderie like with the Back Track crew. A huge plus in my opinion, made for a memoriable trip.  To all our fellow trekkers, a big heart felt thank you for making this journey for myself and Kym extra special. it felt as though we were all one  big family from Day 1. I will certainly not forget the the laughter, friendly banter, sweat and tears. The whole trip was a standout, but the dawn service at Brigade Hill, Isurava Memorial, the welcome at Naduri village including meeting Ovaru and Bomana Cemetery receive special mention. Make no mistake this is an extremely physical and demanding trek, but well worth the effort  that every abled bodied Australian should undertake.  The trek programme provided by your company was both sensible and flexible, dependent on those forces which are out of control, ie weather. I would not hesistate to recommend you to our family and friends. Finaly to the valiant heroes from both Australia nd PNG who sacrificed their lives during this campaign to ensure we have the freedom that we enjoy today. lest we forget.

Trek Leader Jo was incredible – a real credit to Back Track and a real inspiration to all of us trekkers.  Thankyou for an amazing experience -once in a lifetime.

All 16 of us had the most wonderful time and that is due in no small part to the best trek leader ever, in Jo. She really made the trip and exhibited immense professionalism ( and patience)  while immersing herself in our group and joining in on our humour. She is truly a great asset to back Track ( and a wonderful woman to boot.)

Peter, our fearless, tireless leader,along with Binseyled us all the way and we conquered Kokoda feeling a great sense of achievement, privilege and humbleness. Lest we forget. PS…thanks to Jim, my husband and son were able to follow our progress on Jim’s Trek Trakka, GPS Site.

When I first expressed interest in walking the Kokoda Track to an experienced travel agent friend of mine, she immediately became enthusiastic in referring me to BackTrack. I’m very glad she did. Since my first involvement with them, the people at BackTrack have without exception provided friendly, professional, timely, and ongoing service. Those terms are almost cliché in today’s retail world, but these are real people, with real passion for what they do, and real intention for their clients to  have a great experience. I have just completed the trek, with my three sons and a son-in-law.  Apart from the wonderful experience the Track provided intrinsically, I believe the itinerary was very well timed, the logistics were well planned, the tour leader was knowledgeable ( esp the military history ), capable and personable . Some groups offer a shorter trek, but we can see no sense in that – they must miss a great deal on offer, and have very high fatigue levels. The support on the ground with the porter crew was just excellent, and it was also clear that office backup was ready and able. Some may think it a minor matter, but important to us was the fact that we always had plenty to eat. The food was basic but very appropriate to the trek and its energy demands. It is clear to us that Back Track has had a definite culture of constant and continuous improvement, during its long years of experience. They really know what they’re doing. They  have our very great recommendation – well done Back Track!

Thank you for an overall wonderful holiday. I had the pleasure of completing the trek with my 73 year old grandfather and a wonderful group of trekkers. I felt I made a great connection with our trek leader Dan. He did a tremendous job in answering a series of repetitive questions day in and day out, always with a smile and a laugh. I was very impressed with the care the crew showed to my grandfather consistantly throughout the nine days. He would not have made it without them. Overall a wonderful trek made possible by a great trek leader.

I can’t thank you enough for the fabulous trek I had……Chris was an amazingly kind, patient and honest leader. I also wish to congratulate Back Track on the fabulous crew of porters provided – with a special mention of Charlie and Thomas who were there with me every inch of the way…..thank you Back Tracki for being so organised and proficient at what you do. I will definetly recommend your company to others wishing to endure the Kokoda experience.

Damian, thank you for running such an enjoyable trek. The level of understanding of the history of the Track was outstanding. The crew were amazing; always there with a helping hand seconds before a sure disaster. We were blessed with good weather and good company. I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. When I am an old man I will look back at this experience with much fondness.

Damian the trek leader was awesome. In fact, the entire Back Track crew were awesome. My Personal porter Robbie was incredibly patient and always there to assist. Back Track exceeded my expectations with their organisation, the food and the excellent local porters. Everyone seemed to have a wonderfully happy disposition and I just loved the crew singing each night. Overall, it was an awesome experience and I am very happy that I chose Back Track to do Kokoda

I was especially grateful for nutritious and tasty food which the porters had to carry. I didn’t expect for them to help me out as much and always have my pack, that definitely adds to the experience. It’s also great to have a sense of community and teamwork within the group, which is easier when everyone stays together and encourages each other. At the end of the day it’s such a rewarding feeling that is especially enhanced by the enthusiasm of the leader.

Back Track have a great focus on the history of the campaign and encourage great respect for the diggers and the local villages…this is something I consider very important. As for the trek leader Damian, I have the greatest admiration for his knowledge of both the Track and the history and his ability to foster mateship amongst the team and crew

Tony always pauses before he speaks. He thinks before he speaks. When he speaks it is to the point, measured and sometimes profound. He is a good leader, make no mistake, he has an ability to extend himself to a broad range of trekkers

Thoroughly enjoyed the trek. Tony’s knowledge and attention to detail on trek and history of the Kokoda campaign was great and made it a most enjoyable trek even though it was tough

Tony led a fantastic trek. Great knowledge of Kokoda history and made sure we got the best out of the experience. I will be recommending Tony’s trek to others

The porters and crew were exceptional and went above and beyond…please thank the crew for their efforts! God I wish I could sing half as well as them…As for our guide Nick, well he’s a computer geek but we loved him to death. He was informative and placed safety up front. He got us through to the end

Our guide Jo was brilliant, not only did she show genuine care to every member of our team but created a spirit that made our trip even more special. Jo has a skill in her personality that makes it a pleasure to be part of the Kokoda Team. We were 14 individual people at the start and by the end we were all looking out for each other. I could not imagine any better experience. Thank you – I will be back

Our trek ran very smoothly with no hiccups or issues Megan was excellent as our leader. The local guides and crew were also excellent. My personal porter, Matthew from Efogi was very good to me. Chris was informative and should and will develop into a very good and reliable guide. I would recommend Back Track to others.

Great work by Megan and Chris – clear instructions, kept everyone organised and coordinated, encouraged people with difficulties, always positive and upbeat. Outstanding trekking crew, made all trekkers safe at all times, went above and beyond their role. Thanks for a fantastic experience. Looking forward to trekking with Back Track in the future.

Well organised. Trek leader Megan had a great knowledge of the area and told us everything we wanted to know and when it was going to happen. I would like to thank Megan for making my dream come true of following the Aussie Diggers footsteps.

Megan was an excellent trek leader – knowledgeable, considerate and lots of fun. Chris as a trainee was also excellent, I am sure he will make a great trek leader. I had a fabulous time and would recommend Back Track to anyone wanting to trek Kokoda. The overall experience was exceptional. Thank you for 9 days I will never forget

Megan and Chris were excellent leaders – knowledge, organisation, personality, humour, fitness. The porters were brilliant, always looking out for us day and night without fuss and with good cheer. Overnights were very comfortable, even in the wet. The trek was achievable but not easy – exactly as it should be.

both Megan and Chris were fantastic. They really paid attention to the trekkers and could gauge what to do/what to say based on that. They were so friendly and supportive and fun. They really added a lot to the team and its morale. I could hardly imagine better leaders. I also liked the fact that the porters did not chew the betel nut or smoke. They were well selected and great. Thanks for a fantastic trek.

This is one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. The entire experience, from the time I booked with Back Track to the time I crossed the line at Kokoda, was one I won’t forget. Both Nerida and Nick were sensational. A wonderful holiday, great memories, amazing photos, and well worth it. Information from Back Track was great. No complaints, no regrets, can’t wait to book my next trip!!

Nerida was fantastic as a trek leader. She is a genuine person and very caring. Her attention to each individual in our group was outstanding and the way she handled the medi-vac was great. Her positive and encouraging attitude was invaluable to me personally. All round an outstanding trek leader and great person. I think Nick has potential to be a good trek leader. His encouragement and positive attitude was an important factor in helping me finish. He always had strategies to help keep me moving. He had great knowledge of the history of Kokoda and delivered the stories in an entertaining way.

WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE a once in a lifetime with a great group. Gareth’s comic relief and interaction with the team was great, despite great pressures faced. Good work, keep it up

Porters were exceptional, I cannot speak highly enough of them. Food-dinners were great, mixed and varied. Great adventure and I take back fond memories. Thanks Gareth and Back Track.

Gareth rocks. Very informative, much patience. If anyone can, Gareth can. Can splash mud up without leaving a foot print. Good fella. Took a hit for the team and deserves a mention for his ability to accept all evils. Good guy. Very informative, always helpful, easy to get along with. Gareth is a top chap. Very patient and knowledgeable. Thanks for your encouragement

THIS CLIENT SUFFERED A SEVERE ILLNESS AND HAD TO BE EMERGENCY EVACUATED I want to emphasise the care and support provided to me by everyone on the track in my group and particularly Tony and Jim, the team leaders…there swift action in cooling me down and getting me out. My doctor in Australia has indicated that I am very lucky… their action was crucial in stabilising my condition which was in his view , critical. …I would recommend Back Track as the company to deal with. Jim and Tony deserve to be commended for dealing with the situation – I am grateful to everyone.

THANK YOU back track for providing a wonderful Kokoda experience. I loved it and am so pleased that I have been able to complete the Track. Tony and Jason were the best trek leaders and I think they did an amazing job. They deserve so much credit.. I loved it. Thanks heaps Tony and Jason – keep up the amazing work

Tony and Jason were fabulous. I loved the tone that Tony set from the very beginning. He is very approachable and a brilliant trek leader. I loved how much history we covered and him taking the time to stop and point things of importance to us. The Brigade Hill service was very moving. I loved how you gave people the opportunity to speak. Really special.  A very moving trip. Thank you for everything. It was amazing

Very impressed with the whole deal – very professionally presented and executed. Well done and thank you for the trip of a lifetime

For Jim – wonderful trip. Your knowledge of the history was great. Found it really excellent that the trek was allowed to move to the pace of the individual as things like adjustment, injury, age and fitness mean that anyone can walk the Track and experience the history and culture, not just the superfit and those with a good constitution. For Sarah – energy level and motivation was outstanding and a really good attitude for a leader to possess in such difficult terrain. Friendly manner and smiling face much appreciated.Thank you to all members of the back track team, it has been a pleasure to have been involved and part of the experience and i will certainly look to Back Track for any future trips

Organising the group so most trekkers were of same or similar age group and interest made the experience more enjoyable. Pace of trek was good ensuring all members reach rest points with time to recover before going on. Jim’s knowledge of the trek and history was excellent and gave the trek more meaning. sarah’s energy and personalityu kept the team spirits up particularly during tough trekking times. Her assistance and support was never ending. Agreat experience, the challenge of Kokoda track was both physical and mental to absorb the history of what occured during the war and planting each footstep.

Very enjoyable trek. Having Jim as a leader was really good, very knowledgeable and passionate which made the trek great. Having Sarah as a trainee was exciting, she made the trek really fun and i recommend her definitely for a spot as a trek leader

Really good trip. Impressed with consideration to: 1 The environment. 2. History 3. Local people 4. safety. Martin did a great job bringing the group together. Andy and the crew were excellent. Really impressed with the way that the programme is run. Well done to all involved…

An amazing adventure, loved every minute of it. I will definetly recommend this to my friends and family and maybe we will get some more NZ contingency…

Its been about 4 weeks now since we finished our Kokoda Trek, and I still think about it every day. I just want to say that I am glad we chose Back Track  to go with. One of my work colleagues did the Trek about a month before us  with another Co,but he said it was like boot camp and unfortunately he wrecked his ankle on the 5th day and  had to be evacuated. Tony you were  fantastic, We didnt feel under pressure at any stage and in fact it was great that you would  make us stop and look at and appreciate the views. I also appreciated your knowledge of the history that you shared with us. That part of it was important to me because my main reason for going was that my Father fought on the Kokoda track, and I wanted to learn more about it. I still dont know how the diggers did it. Quite unbelievable. Bye for now Jacky …

Really enjoyed the journey. Tony did a great job. Great knowledge of the history. Great Team leader. Trek crew were fantastic, amazing instinct for when to help and when to let us go. Food was great especially Andy’s milo cake. Fantastic journey. ….

Thanks for an amazing holiday! All of my crew (Kylie, Al, Jo, Andrew (Donnie), James (Stretch)) asked me to thank you guys for a professionally run tour and that it by far exceeded our expectations. Things that stood out straight away were the food, tents and porters – the track stands out but we were expecting the unexpected there! We were expecting to sleep in small tents and eat minimalistic food – but we ended up eating like kings and sleeping in luxury! The relationship you have with Andy, his boys and Naduri really touched the group and we felt really lucky to have briefly enjoyed their overwhelming hospitality. Other tour groups we came across on the track didn’t seem to have the same connection with their group let alone with their porters (we came across one poor old man alone with his porter a good 2 hours behind his mates with The Wall in front of him and 2 hours til nightfall!!). We all got the impression that there was a lot going on in the background that we didn’t even come across – things like security (the boys were sometimes up all night and people would bump into them patrolling the camp during late night toilet trips), food and tent prep (like the food being flown in at Menari?), and or course the hours the porters put into our walking stick carvings and the hours Steve has put into memorising history! It was nice to see that professionalism of keeping the behind the scenes stuff behind the scenes even in such a remote and harsh environment...

This trek is by far the most emotional , most challenging, life changing experience I have ever done in my life. For a large group (17) everyone gelled so well and it has been so hard to even think of saying goodbye. The crew were second to none and I can say that if I did not have family in Adelaide I would move to PNG and live as  ‘homestay’ in Naduri.  I have struggled to come to terms with the fact that this trip is going to come to an end. I would have, if I  had the choice on reaching Ower’sCorner, quite happily walked the entire length back to Kokoda. I have really fallen in love with this trek so much. Thankyou so much for these memories I will treasue forever. Steve (Scuba Steve) was the most wonderful, most inspiring trek leader I have ever come across. I have spoken to Steve about becoming a trek Leader for Back Track and will drop a subject at Uni to study the campaign solely in an effort to greatly increase my knowledge so that maybe I can achieve my dream of becoming a Kokoda Trek leader with Steve as my mentor. So with thisIi must conclude that with tears in my eyes and a breaking heart  I must say so long for now and I hope dearly to hear from you soon so that if all I do in my life is become a great leader like Scuba Steve – it is my passion. – thank you Steve and thank you Back Track & PNG for this experience of a lifetime….

Our leaders knowledge  of the Kokoda campaignwas exceptional. When i was sick on the 2nd last day, the care, support and encouragement he gave was beyond the call of duty. I could not be more grateful for having him there. he is simply the best. The Kokoda experience was even better than i expected. Back Track have helped me achieve a goal. Thank you for the wonderful and everlasting memories.….

Back Track’s approach to the trek was outstanding. The support from Megan and the local team was brilliant. The pace set, campsites chosen and gear were all first class. The food was excellent. This was a lifechanging experience and one I will treasure for many years to come. Thank you Back Track…

Thanks for a wonderful trip. Megan is a  fantastic leader who brings out the best in everyone while gently pushing us along. Her care for each person was first rate. The trekking crew were fantastic, all very helpful and friendful.I would definetly recommend Back Track to anyone considering doing this trek.

This was such an extraordinary experience. I wont say once in a lifetime in case my wife gets me to come back. Back Track was incredible ! No more poignantly highlighted then as we relaxed at Templeton’s Crossing and watched another trekking company push an already exhausted crew and team further.  Megen is a real credit to the company and should be very proud of her trek leading skills. Not once did I feel fearful-anxious at times, but never fearful. And there was so much jocularity and fun amongst our Team and crew which only enhanced the experience.  I will never hesitate to recommend Back Track – your professionalism is outstanding, as is your general approach to trekking a very taxing trail. Thank you.

It would be remiss of me Jim to not send you a letter of our appreciation for the way in which Back Track conducted our recent trek along the Kokoda Track. From day one when we made contact you were more than helpful and went out of your way to accommodate the needs of the children and staff of the school. The constant e-mails and phone calls between Back Track and myself were crucial to ensure that we had all trekkers physically and mentally prepared for the trip. Your assistance to accommodate the contact back home with the local newspaper not only provided the parent back home some comfort but also some normality to the children and we thank you greatly for this….

However I would like to thank Megan, my fellow trekkers and the entire support team for their assistance and constant help during my journey across the track.  I was always the last into each camp and without the support and aid of the Crew I know I would not have completed the journey.  The entire organisation of the trip by Back Track was so professional and you could see for yourself once on the track and passing other groups how well we were looked after and the effort that was put into making the trip a successful one.  I have very fond memories of the arduous journey which I undertook for my own personal reasons – however once again mateship and concern for your fellow trekkers showed that the real Aussie spirit is still alive. The Support Team were absolutely fantastic – Well done boys

I have just completed the Kokoda track with Back Track (Team 3). I would like to let you know that I found the whole tour experience to be fantastic. Megan ( trek Leader), Andy (head Guide),and David (my porter) were all superb in facilitating, organising and executing this trip It will be my pleasure to recommend Back Track to future Kokoda trekkers

Even though this was the heardest thing I have ever done in my life, it was by far the best.The Back Track crew were unbelievable and got me through. Jim helped me with every aspect that I needed and if it wasn’t for him, I can say I would not have made it. Thanks jim

What a great experience… Gareth is an exceptional trek leader. he has a great attitude and a great knowledge of the Kokoda campaign. I would highly recommend anyone to go with Back Track…

if it hadn’t been for Gareth believing and trying to convince me I could do this at day 2, I would not have believed I could have finished it. Thank you Gareth for everything… even the painful massages!!! .. .food was great and i did not lose weight  it was that good...

An absolutely fantastic trip that i am sure none of us will ever forget. Gareth did an amazing job as trek leader. and the crew were great value. – lots of laughs and really helpful. Trekking with a smaller group alowed for some really close bonding. the food was great and helped sustain energy…. I would not hesitate recommending Back Track in the future.  I will certainly  look into Everest Base camp with Back Track...

I would like to thank you for the perfect Kokoda trek which Back Track provided.Right from the initial dealings with you I could in no way be any happier with the help-infomation-service & experience in which Back track and all your support staff provided me.From the first meeting with you at the infomation day to all the training at Mt Cootha & Mt Glorious onto the trek,the friends that I have met along the way  will last with me.A special thanks to Steve Foster,the unbelievable knowledge of Steve mixed with his fantastic attitude and love of his position is an absolute credit to him.The high light was ANZAC day,iT was perfect,I have no hesitation in recomending anyone to Back Track and I will continue to walk at Mt Coot tha with a eye on Shaggy Ridge in the coming future. Once again thankyou for helping me fullfill a dream!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Back Track Adventures- trek of a life time. ‘2 more minutes – 1 more minute – Packs on – Lets Rocks n Roll’ who can forget the porters who were total gentlemen and always there if needed.  Steve our team leader’s  knowledge of the New Guinea campaign and all the battle sites was astonishing – Steve you are a legend.  I found Anzac Day dawn service on Brigade Hill very moving and meaningful, thanks.      Back Track Adventures approach to safety was reinforced by the limitation of team numbers to 14, provision of hygiene gel, the ability to contact Port Moresby by satellite phone in an emergency and knowledge of the safe drinking watering points, all so important to ensure our whole team was able to comfortably complete the trek. Back track adventures you have fulfilled and surpassed my life time dream.   I hope to be able to do another trek in the future.

Just thought I’d share this little story with you all… Looks like some of the stories that I’ve re-told from Jim’s passionate version plus the info in the Bill James book has rubbed off on my kids. Each night I have been reading a day from the diary I kept along the Track to my kids – Kate (10yo) and Will (7yo). They have also been present when my parents came over and I went through the highlights of the Track again with map out, and again talking about some of the very moving stories of the conflict and the individuals who stood so tall. So, tonight Will is telling me about his day at school and the play he had at school and then afterwards at home  - they played army. He says, “at school, I set up this big battle and I was Bruce Kingsbury and Marcus (his mate) was Butch Bissett. We fought all the 13 of the girls and beat them all” Then he says when Marcus came home they played again and Will was Stan Bissett and Marcus was “ichi, ni, san” (which is Japanese for one, two three – they learn Japanese at school) and I beat him of course. My parents were wrapped with the report on the trip and have taken the book to read as well. Mum’s Uncle apparently served in PNG and we have a lot of his medals etc but they never knew anything specific about the conflict. These guys are now household names here and we had not heard of them 2 weeks ago. Makes me feel very proud.

Just a quick note but I know that sometimes immediately after an event is not always the best time to provide feedback as you tend to be caught up in the euphoria of the moment. But I am now back in the real world of work where I consume cold water, use a bathroom and only flatulate in the privacy of my office when I am alone so wanted to share with you that I am walking around now with an extra spring in my steps and great eagerness to embrace life like I cannot remember when. Any thoughts of my time on the Kokoda Track immediately brings a smile to my face. So now in the face of reality and normalcy, I wanted to again thank you personally and express my great appreciation of the efforts and services of your company  and also for your personal efforts and great companionship and leadership on the track. I have met many people in my life but I shall never forget my friends from the trek.

Jo is an awesome trek leader. We have enjoyed the trek immensely and I could not think of a better person then Jo to have lead this trek. The porters were fantastic and they certainly contributed to the experience..I will recommend Back Track to my family & friends and I look forward to my next trip with Back track and Jo.

When I signed up for the trek I was preparing myself for both a physical and mentally tough challenge. At the conclusion of the trek, I found the journey rewarding emotionally and extremely worthwhile. The care and attention given by the crew was second to none. trek Leader Jo should be commended on her manner  and energy. I cant think what it would be like trekking without her.  I have no hesitation in recommending Back Track to any of my friends or family. Well done.

Just wanted to send a quick email for a few reasons. Firstly, just to thank you guys for the amazing experience I had with the team and my Dad on the Kokoda trip, team 8! We had a great team, and a fantastic leader, Damo, who really made the trip what it was. His historical knowledge was fantastic, and it meant we didn’t have to go trawling through our guide books at every site along the track. He knew so much, and even took us out onto the Track one night to sit there and feel what it would have been like for the soldiers on the Track at night, a truly moving experience. He made the trip a lot of fun and really helped a few of us through on the tough days, even though he was feeling sick for the last few days himself. We had a great team, and were very lucky not to get sick or too injured, just a few rolled ankles, especially given the tradgedy of the plane accident of late. Secondly, thanks for meeting us at the airport! It was great to put a face to a name and it was a lovely way to rap up the rest of the trip! Finally, I was wondering if we received the official team photo and certificate of completion? And if Dad’s and my own could be sent to my address? I was wanting to get them framed up as a surprise for him for fathers day. Thank you again so much! I can’t really express what a fantastic trip it was and wouldnt dream of doing it with any other company, although dad is now talking of kilamanjaro in 2012!.. Can’t wait to travel with your team again.Thanks doesn’t seem enough! Rach..xx

Thank you so much for the opportunity to trek with Back Track, and I’m fairly confident I’ll try some more challenges with you before the bones expire. Garry does a great job and if I was a couple of years younger, I would be interested in doing the same as he (and my old Navy Clearance Diver mate Graeme Johnson) does with you. My son and I had a fantastic time and in fact there was one humorous situation where we were climbing a very steep section and Stewart was right behind me when I had to stop and the top of his head hit my butt. He commented along the lines “any closer and I could have seen whet you had for breakfast dad” to which I replied “ I was hoping this trip would bring us closer together!” Our group was fairly bunched up at the time so lots of laughs at the exchange between Stew and I. I’m in the process of compiling a DVD of our trip which will include some sound tracks of recordings of our porters singing along with photos both Stew and I took, and some others sent to me by fellow Team 10 trekkers. Again, many thanks for the experience.

The trekking crew and porters were exceptional….they were there to lend a hand,collect water whatever was needed…..we are all that much richer for having them as part of our holiday.  Food,service,equipment-all faultless. Our leader Gary was faultless,fun,knowledgeable. He lead us when required, but allowed both the personalties & skill sets within the group to also shine.

Nerida was very caring and supportive throughout the trek,couldn’t have asked for a better leader. knowledgeable without getting too involved in detail. She was always super positive and happy at all times which was sometimes hard for us to understand. This trek was  very challenging, well planned, and really enjoyed the campsites chosen. Thanks for everything.

This is my second Kokoda trek with Back Track and I found it to be equally enjoyable, interesting and as challenging as the first - a great adventure. Martin, ( leader) was absolutely brilliant. I learnt so much about the history from him and he was a considerate and caring leader. Great bloke who got us all home even nursed Greg through a potentially serious episode.

I have enjoyed this trip. Gareth’s information and knowledge and the way he conducts the trek is fantastic! I would recommend other people use Back Track without hesistation. The food was better than what a lot of us cook up at home and thought the idea of us helping the cook was enjoyable and gives us and the porters time to get to know eachother a lot more. Overall if I choose to do this trek again which will probably happen, I will be booking with Back Track.Thank you for a memorable and inspirational adventure. I am very happy with it.

I felt the trek was fantastic. Gareth our Leader/guide made the trip – he was exceptional. However, if he could take a guitar & sing as well that would be sensational. Equipment was good. The half day trek is a good idea, allows trekkers tired muscles to ease, wash and dry clothes.The food/meals was totally unexpected, I never thought I would eat so well. Contract porters were good and got on well with the whole Team. My dealings with Back Track prior to the trek were faultless, thankyou. Everytime I rang or emailed I got a response. I would have no hesistation in recommending Back Track to any of my friends/family.Thanks again

Steve our guide was amazing and had exceptional knowledge about Kokoda etc. The crew were fantastic-always there to help, friendly. Had a really really really great holiday – thank you |

What a week ! Lots of ups and downs, literally, but overall an exxceptional experience that i’ll never forget. thanks to Back Track and to Steve for bringing us home safely.

On behalf of our merry band of Government House trekkers, thank you for a great trip over the Kokoda Track.We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience which in no small way was due to your detailed planning and effective leadership. Your passion and detailed knowledge brought the military history of the campaign to life and enabled us to satisfy the goals of the journey. I think we were all impressed with your genuine affection for the local people and the practical way in which you are driving the much needed assistance programs. As I mentioned on the Track, our group is keen to become involved in some small way with helping the local community. It would seem that Andy Ndiki at Naduri would be ideal. We look forward to hearing in due course, how we can help. Again, from all of us in the Government House team, Adelaide, thankyou for a memorable experience on the Kokoda Track. With best wishes

Just a short “thank you” for the well organised Kokoda adventure. I appreciated all the info that you shared with us and your attention to all the details to make the trip work so well. Thanks again  The Cultural Ambassador  Colin

What an adventure!!   Sorry I did not get to talk much at the airport, I was keen to get home as you could imagine.  Gareth ( our trek leader) was great, I guess you could say we did have a time of our life! Attached is a photo for you.

Your trek leader has exceptional people skills and is very entertaining. His sense of humour is fantastic and makes the trip more enjoyable. His explanations of the history is better than any book I have read. Not only did I enjoy the trek, I learnt so much and would recommend Back Track and your guide anytime. Well done!

Back Track’s pre trip seminars and information were all good as presented by Jim and certainlyhe and other Back Track staff were very accessible and helpful if I had any questions or needed any information via the phone. Jo, our trek leader is a winner…… and most importantly she can ‘walk the talk”.   A most rewarding and satisfying experience.

A trip of a lifetime says it all, the trek, the country, were all more that I could have ever imagined. Our trek leader Gareth was an amazing guide, his knowledge of Kokoda, was like watching the History Channel, his ability to keep it and us all together under some trying circumstances was fantastic, and that sense of humour of his kept us all in stitches. Thank you Backtrack Adventures for all you have done, I will be recommending your services to all.

Coming from the country and knowing noone, I was made to feel welcome and part of the Team immediately. The pre trip emails and correspondence were excellent.  Living in the country I was not able to access other people who had done the trek so having my questions answered promptly was very much appreciated. Thank you. Also not being a frequent traveller, the information sent to me before departure was excellent. Having seen how other groups were walking the Track and the equipment they were using, I am grateful that I chose Back Track.

I have just finished walking Kokoda with Megan and the rest of Team 3 and as you probably know we all went very well. I write to thank you for your help since I first dreamt of doing this walk in 2003 which seems so long ago now. I have had a few obstacles before I could even get to Port Moresby but I never doubted that I would, one day, complete the track. I had a fantastic time and while it was not easy it went as smoothly as I could ever have hoped for. I have no doubt your training programme was a major factor in my success. Till next time, maybe in Nepal or maybe in South America.

By the time we left we had both been reading and training a lot! Also Scott was ringing and asking Jim and the Back Track team all of our questions, and there were a lot….nothing seemed to phase the Back Track team!!. We met our group at the Brissie airport, all wearing our supplied polo tops which made it easy to work out and off we went! Our guide was Gareth. ………He was cheerful at all times, helpful, incredibly informative and researched (he even carried laminated photo, diagrams and extracts to share at the appropriate times) and most of allhe was “one of us” except when he needed not to be. Gareth’s motivation kept our trek humming along, and allowed enough time for a few small side treks (like to see a Japanese plane that didn’t clear  Isurava ridge, something we wouldn’t have known about except when he told us about it, and it was only about 200 metres from the track - although it seemed very steep!)…….He also kept us up to date with local customs and manners, and how to behave when we were lucky enough to visit with a genuine WW2 Fuzzy Wuzzy. We were also kept up to date with what was happening along the track currently. I was rapt in the trek, the organisation and the company (both those we were with, and Back Track!) there seemed no division between us and the porters or guides, and it seemed like a bunch of mates following the track and enjoying each other’s company all day and around the camps and lamps at night. Most of all I was really impressed with the serious side of the trek, that of remembering those who had fallen 65 years before in the same areas we were now walking… quoting veterans as they spoke of their experiences, and talking of their lives before the war and after, of the mates they lost, and the mates they returned with…… Gareth’s research was impressive, his delivery spot on, and he hit that raw nerve in all of us. Bravo Back Track (or should I say “On ya blokes, top stuff!”)………I I do not hesitate to recommend Kokoda by “BACK TRACK” in any way. Thanks again.

Recently I had the privilege of walking the Kokoda Track under the guidance of Back Track Adventures. To say I am delighted to have done this is an understatement. To have done it with Back Track made it all more enjoyable. Our Team Leader was Megan and she was an absolute delight. Accessible, friendly, diplomatic……………….I have no hesitation in recommending Back Track to my friends.

Thanks for a great trek, absolutely fascinating, very informative, and challenging and a great eye opener. Your leadership was excellent, the trekking group was great. I will keep in touch.