Email: nathalieg@budgettravel.com.aufor further information and let her know kokoda trekking sent you.By the way, two options with our truck….hire it completely or jump on with everyone else and have the experience of a lifetime!Photograph: Two of the longest walkers of the Kokoda Trail, L to R – Osborne (over 300) & Russell (287), having only…[Read more]

Hi Robert, the answer is no as the only time Airlines of PNG fly into Kokoda is on Wednesday's and Sunday's. You would have to travel down to Popondetta the following morning on our truck and catch a flight out from there as they have daily flights.Be prepared for an early morning rise however as our truck leaves Kokoda at 3:30am and it takes…[Read more]

Hi there and tks for joining as a member and contributing to our message board.Having walked the Kokoda Trail in November, it was honestly the best thing I have ever done in my life. When I started helping Russell build up a business of leading his own treks, I had absolutely no idea where it would lead me.In January 2000 when I commenced work on…[Read more]

Lest we Forget!anzac4.jpg

This is absolutely wonderful news. I know we ourselves have several Anzac bookings but this article indicates that this year will see the biggest crowds ever come to PNG.Last year I was at Bomana War Cemetery and it was a very moving ceremony indeed. In January we met up with Stan Bisset who served in the 2/14 and who was at Isurava during the…[Read more]

Hi there, nice to see your post on our website. We would welcome you back anytime you would like to visit. Russell my JV Partner lives in Kokoda and everyone is always welcome especially when the are members of the Kokoda Club which you clearly are.My girlfriend walked with me in November at 65 and she did better than I did. I do not know about…[Read more]

All good things have to come to and end and so with these two guys from Kokoda and Sogeri, its time to head back home and in no time at all they will be taking the likes of yourselves along the Kokoda Trail to their backyard that they call home.Eric has 77 treks and Russell has 287 treks to their credits and this year in 2005 they are looking at…[Read more]

During their time in Australia they both found they had plenty of time on their hands and filled up their day by walking around; doing some gardening etc.Russell especially suffered from not having enough to do. He is used to getting out of bed at 3am onwards and either going in his PMV from Kokoda to Popondetta with paying passengers or working…[Read more]

It wasnt all play and no work, the guys seen here in our Australian office….yes we did get to discuss lots of Kokoda subjects and also plan for the year ahead.The guys seen here in the office situated on the Gold Coast:100_2729___office.jpg

Another highlight of their trek was the chair lift at Dreamworld. Russell said he never even imagined such a thing existed and said it reminded him of flying foxes rigged up on the trail to get back packs across rivers when there is heavy rains.Russell Eroro & Gail Thomas at Dreamworld:000_0065___chair.jpg

In December I took with me to Australia my sub contractor Russell Eroro and also Eric Uwea one of our senior guides. When trekkers come up here to PNG they all want to stop and meet one of the last surviving fuzzy wuzzy angels in a place called Naduri. Hence I thought what a wonderful thing for these two guides to meet someone who fought on…[Read more]

Russell & Eric also got to sample all kinds of food such as McDonalds; Kentucky Fried Chicken; Subway; Pizza Hut; Lone Star Saloon and so on. They mentioned that trekkers had sometimes talked about big MAC's but they had no idea what they were…..now they know! Sometimes they would go for a walk on Surfers Paradise Beach and have McDonalds…[Read more]

At Dreamworld after some coaxing, Eric & Russell decided to have a turn on the slippery slide. At first Eric decided against it, however after watching Russell, he changed his mind and not to be outdone he took off his shirt, picked up his float and away he went.The guys said it was quite scary but worth the effort as they enjoyed cooling off…[Read more]

A trip to Dreamworld would not have been complete without holding a Koala and having your photograph taken.Both Eric & Russell lined up to do just that and now with their photographs to show their families, they have memories forever of their trip downunder.Click on page 2 below to continue reading this article:Russell Eroro smiles at the camera…[Read more]

To celebrate the New Year, everyone headed off to Byron Bay. Would you believe at Byron Bay it costs $60 per vehicle just to park your car. The alternative is to park on the outskirts of the town and be ferried in by bus and or walk.The guys could not get over how organised it all was. Car after car was stopped and told where to go and what to…[Read more]

When it came to ten pin bowling, Russell was a natural but Eric found it hard to hit any balls at first but was determined to practice more until he got the hang of it.The night before they returned to PNG he once again wanted to have a go at ten pin bowling.Russell Eroro & Eric Uwea seen here in the Paradise Centre:DSC01279.jpg

Jupitors Casino was also an eye opener for these guys who at 1am in the morning were going for a joy ride from Jupitors to Broadbeach. Both places were full of people enjoying an outing.Here in PNG you would not be sitting on the sidewalk at a restaurant at that hour in the morning. This sort of thing was quite a shock to these guys that as…[Read more]

On the way back to the Gold Coast from the Sunshine Coast, the guys were hungry so it was decided to pull in somewhere to get something to eat. Everyone ended up at the Lone Star Saloon, a steakhouse on the outskirts of Brisbane near Logan Road.This turned out to be a real hit as the meal was the best you could possibly imagine. Everyone has the…[Read more]

Gail saved the most exciting thing for them till the very last day….now what could that be you might well be asking yourselves.Would you believe it is to own a pair of army trousers! Yes, this is the prize gift of all for a kokoda guide or porter.In December when they arrived Gail took them to Nerang Disposal Camping Store to show them all the…[Read more]

No trip to Australia for two png lads would not be complete without a train ride as there is no such thing here in PNG.In this photograph you will see Russell & Eric catching the train from Robina to Helensvale.They commented they thought it was a great way to travel but wondered why it was not full and so many seats were empty.Here in PNG all…[Read more]