A valid passport is required by all foreigners traveling to PNG. For Australian citizens, a visa can be obtained either before or upon arrival in Port Moresby. Passports must have at least 6 months before they expire.

All visitors to PNG require a Tourist Visa, which is valid for 60 days. You will need a valid passport, proof of sufficient funds for your stay and an onward airline ticket with confirmed bookings. For Australian citizens, a visa can be obtained prior to arriving in PNG or upon arrival.  This can be done directly with the PNG Consulate however in most cases we will do this for you. The Visa costs approx AUD$50-$60 and takes approximately 7 days to process. Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return date to Australia. Your Departure tax is included in your international ticket.

Hotel accommodation details (you will need to include in your Visa application) are the Airways Hotel, Jacksons Parade, Jacksons International Airport, Port Morseby, Papua New Guinea or the Gateway Hotel, PO Box 1215 Boroko, Telephone + 61 327 8100, Port Morseby.

The Papua New Guinean Consulate can be contacted via:

Telephone: (02) 6273-3322
Fax: (02) 6273-3732

P.O. Box E6317
Kingston ACT 2604.

E-mail: kunducbr@netspeed.com.auThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance is mandatory for all trekkers. Trip cancellation insurance will reimburse you for any non-recoverable air or land expenses should you have to cancel your trip due to personal or family illness or leave the expedition early due to other reasons. It will also cover any emergency medical evacuation expenses should you become ill during the expedition. We strongly recommend that you take out baggage loss and accident insurance. You can avail of such policies in most western countries. In the event that an aircraft evacuation is required, we will undertake to arrange the evacuation on the condition that the expenses will be reimbursed by the passenger before departing the country.
Note: Accidents caused by the inappropriate consumption of alcohol or drugs may void your travel insurance.

Domestic Flights

Kokoda Flights

Flights for Kokoda will be organised for you prior to leaving Australia, you do not need to worry about this. We usually take the earliest flight of the day so that we can be on the track by mid-morning. The flight from Port Moresby to Kokoda usually takes just over 30 minutes in a twin prop with great views of the Owen Stanley Ranges and some of the Track sites including Isurava Battlefield. A 12kg luggage

Clothing Equipment List

On top of the list below, we recommend you bring a fresh set of clothes to leave in Port Moresby during the expedition. This way you will have a fresh set of clothes to change into when you return from the Track. For men you will need a collared shirt for dinner on the final night and for ladies just a neat casual top is sufficient.

Personal Gear

You will carry your own personal backpack (which is provided for the trip by Australian Kokoda Tours) most of the way so only bring the bare essentials. It is advisable to pack your food and personal items in zip lock plastic bags to protect them from the wet, especially your camera, toilet rolls and confectionery. This way it also cuts down on the weight of your pack. If you wish to lighten your load we can provide a personal porter for the expedition 
for $500.

• 1 pair of light weight quick dry long pants
• 2 pair light weight quick dry shorts (long pants and shorts can be substituted with 1 pair of zip off pants.)
• 2 quick dry t-shirts or 2 quick dry t-shirts and 1 quick dry singlet (supplied by Australian Kokoda Tours)
  
• 1 long sleeve cotton t-shirt (for sleeping in)
• 4 pair underwear
• Light hiking boots or hiking shoes (personal choice)
• Pair of Sandals or thongs to wear around camp and in villages
• 4 pairs of cotton/wool blend hiking socks
• 1 collared shirt for dinner
• Inflatable camping mattress
• Inflatable pillow
• 2 seasons sleeping bag rated at 0C
• Hat with wide brim to keep sun and rain off your face
• Rain poncho (something light weight)
• Quick-dry sports towel/chamois
• Whistle
• Two rolls of your toilet paper or wipes (Preferably 8 packs of travel tissues)
  
• Gaiters (optional) but recommended if wearing shoes instead of boots
• Personal toiletries - Tooth brush and paste, sports deodorant, lip balm, etc, we provide environmentally friendly liquid soap, shampoo & conditioner which can be used in creeks and rivers.
• One-litre water bottle to carry with you or 2-4 litre Camelback depending on how much you drink and sweat or
2 water bottles
• Personal first aid kit – See MEDICINES AND FIRST AID below
• Waterproof head torch and spare batteries
• Any extra lollies on top of the ones supplied in Snack Packs
• Walking pole/stick (Two is preferable as they are prone to breaking, however porters can cut you a bush stick)
• Bathers
• Skins are optional, however they do aid with recovery when worn at night
• Mosquito net if not sleeping in a tent
• Sunscreen
• Tropical strength insect repellent
• Sunglasses (optional)
• Beanie (if you feel the cold)
• A book or something to write in
• Purification tables (preferred brand is Micro-Pur Forte disinfectant tablets to preserve purified water for up to six months. They're fast, they're effective, they're easy to use, and they're the only EPA-certified purification tablets on the market today. They're also the only sterilisation system effective against viruses, bacteria, cryptosporidium, and giardia. No unpleasant taste)
• Camera etc
• Spare bag to leave fresh set of clothes in at the hotel

*If you have something you are particularly prone to, ear infections or sinus problems; bring what you need with you.
Also please advise us of any allergies.

Sleeping Gear

To sleep on, we will supply foam sleep mats. These are really only adequate to protect your own thin inflatable mattress. To sleep in we suggest you bring a two season sleeping bag rated at 0C and a bed liner of the type used at youth hostels.

Trek Wear

Most experienced trekkers recommend wearing shorts because they are comfortable and there maybe times where you will wade knee-deep through running creeks. Leeches are not a problem anymore.

Optional Equipment

• Camera, film, camera batteries, lens cleaner & paper.
• A small supply of favourite snacks.

NOTE:
If you have any questions regarding the above list or any other items that you want to ask about please contact us.
We can provide you additional information at anytime.

Supplied Equipment

• All meals on the track
• All eating and drinking equipment
• Snack packs
• All safety equipment including satellite phones, track radios, safety ropes etc...
• Two person tent
• Foam sleeping mat
• Clothes line and pegs
• Wilderness First Aid Kit
• One litre water bottle is also supplied
• 2 Quick Dry T-Shirts
  

Snack Packs

You will be given prior to your expedition a Snack Pack that will contain:

• 7 Soups
• 7 Muesli Bars
• Lollies
• 8 days of Gatorade (if you are an excessive sweater, you may need to bring more)
  
• 2 packet of tuna

12 Kg per person

For trekking expeditions, porters will carry up to 20kg (this is the internationally accepted limit though they normally carry between 15kg and 18kg). If you have additional weight there will be extra baggage charge of approx $10-$15 per kilo over 12kg on the flight to Kokoda, so please ensure the weight of your pack before we leave the hotel.

If you have additional items (heavy camera equipment, etc.) that you do not wish to carry or you wish to only carry a small day pack we can arrange a 'personal porter'. A personal porter can also be shared between two people to lighten the load. In this case a maximum weight of 20kg is allowed for a shared porter (An internationally recognised weight limit). If you find you require a personal porter on the track at any stage, the services of a porter can be arranged at $60 per day.

You do not need to be superhuman to complete the expedition but the fitter you are the more enjoyable you will find it.
All members should be either walking or jogging (i.e. stair climbing, hills, inclines and anything that goes in the upward direction)on the days we are not group training. The training is designed to help YOU, so it extremely important that you get to as many, if not ALL of the scheduled training sessions as possible.  Every participant needs to consult a physician well before the expedition date and make sure that they do not suffer from any chronic heart, lungs, cerebral, physical or any other serious illness. We will provide you with a medical clearance form to be filled out that can usually be bulk billed by most doctors. However we are not a medical facility and we take no legal responsibility for medical or other emergencies that may arise on the course of the training or the trek. However as your service provider and hosts we will take all necessary steps needed to evacuate injured or ill clients with the greatest of care.

If you cannot attend the scheduled training sessions, a training program will be provided for you.

All trekkers are recommended to carry a personal first aid kit with medicines for common ailments, cuts and bruises, pain killers, etc. Anyone using any prescription medicines regularly should carry a supply for the whole duration of their expedition.

Please consult your doctor and include items and medicines that may be required for you. We provide a first aid kit and all guides are minimum level 2 first aid qualified but we do not supply any medicines and will take no legal responsibility for any medical treatment or professional medical support to clients.  

*If you have something you are particularly prone to such as ear infections, sinus problems or mild asthma bring what you need with you. Also please advise us of any allergies as we do use nut’s in our cooking.

We will be carrying an extensive Wilderness First Aid Kit.

Your personal first aid kit should contain:
Bandaids, paracetamol, deep heat or other muscle liniment, disposable gloves, second skin blister pack dressings, crepe bandages, antibiotic cream for bites, grazes, cuts and scratches, 'Imodium' tablets, strapping tape (for knees and ankles), anti chaffing cream e.g. Paw-Paw cream, foot powder, waterless antibacterial hand disinfectant/gel, anti-malarial drugs (see your doctor), gastro stop, anti-inflammatory cream/gel, broad spectrum antibiotic tablets and insect repellent.

On top of the normal health consideration, women are advised to bring a tube of Canestan and tampons. The Canestan is used for the treatment of thrush (which can be very painful if left untreated) and can be applied to both internal and external thrush. The tampons are used to apply the Canestan internally.

No vaccinations are required for entry to PNG. However you should consider cholera, typhoid and hepatitis vaccinations and make sure your tetanus cover is up to date. We also strongly recommend Malaria medication. Plan ahead for getting your vaccinations, some of them require an initial shot followed by a booster, while some vaccinations should not be given together. This also applies to some malaria prophylactics, which have to be begun at least a week before you leave home.

The currency in PNG is the Kina (K). Exchange rates vary depending on the strength of the US dollar. As of March 30th, 2012 an Australian dollar was equal to approx  2.65GK. Cash and travellers’ checks are readily accepted and can be exchanged for Kina at the airport, hotels or banks in any major city. Credit cards such as American Express, Visa and MasterCard are accepted in many hotels, shops and restaurants in major towns and cities. Bankcard is not accepted in PNG. For spending money while on expedition it is best to have money in local currency (K). Although you can usually obtain a better exchange rate in PNG, it is safer to exchange in Australia as time delays can prove difficult. You should approximately allow for $350 - $650 for the 10 days. We usually get a better rate if we exchange our money as a group, so I will contact everyone closer to departure to organise a time for the group to exchange their money.

You will require to budget spending money for (Allow $350 - $650 for the 10 Days):

1. First night and last night dinner. Australian $60-$80 each night
2. Personal items such as laundry, phone calls, snacks, etc.
3. Alcoholic/bottled beverages and drinks including bottled water.
4. Tips. All tipping is at your discretion. (A usual tip is approximately 80 Kina or $50)
5. Souvenirs and handicrafts.
6. Tourist Visa K$100 or $50 (Usually obtained in PNG but can be obtained in Australia)
7. Small snacks along the Track $30 in small Kina notes 1K, 2K and 5K

Tipping

If you would like to show your appreciation to the local team you may show it by providing a tip. A usual tip is approximately $80 Kina or $50 though this is at your discretion. Please give the tips to the Australian Guide who will then distribute them at the last dinner. Please mention particular team members for good or bad performance to the Australian Guide. The local team also appreciates gifts. If you like you can give them your shoes and clothing at the end of
the expedition.

Many of our trekkers want to give to local communities they pass through. We encourage this and recommend either sports balls such as tennis, soccer or Australian Rules balls. Alternatively, educational equipment such as pencils, pencil sharpeners, paper, chalk and small chalk boards are greatly appreciated. As these things can weigh a fair bit, don't over do 
it or you may not get to the villages to hand them out. (Or as a group we can share the expense of a personal porter to carry the load).

PNG has the same power plugs as Australia and thus you do not need to purchase an adapter for your electronic items.

More information and guidelines will be furnished during Trek training prior to your departure for your expedition.
Topics discussed then will include the following subjects.

• How to walk.
• Lodging, meals and other conditions while on expedition.
• Security and safety.
• Tipping.
• Evacuation Procedures.
- Cultural and Environmental Considerations.
• Other relevant information.

Please make sure you have the following items before you travel to the airport.

1. Luggage - back pack with personal clothing/equipment, etc.
2. Day pack (back pack) as hand luggage.
3. Valid passport.
4. Photocopy of the main page of your passport.
5. Return Air-tickets with confirmed seat and other travel documents.
6. Medical/travel insurance papers/certificates.
7. Traveller’s' checks, credit cards, cash dollars for expenses while in PNG.

Upon your arrival on please go through to collect checked luggage and then please come out of the EXIT door. Outside you will see many people waiting for arriving passengers. There will be our operations staff waiting for you upon your arrival. Please go direct to them and introduce yourselves. You will be taken straight to your hotel, issued rooms, time for Expedition Briefing etc. Do let us know if there are any last minute changes to your arrival time.