Hello [Nickname or First Name],

Please refer to the following checklist with information to assist you in the preparation for your upcoming adventure with us. 

After booking confirmation:

[   ]   Confirm Your Travel Plans

To participate you need to have a current passport valid for 6 months after your return date. Note;PNG Travel Visas are now obtained online for a fee of $50.

To assist you with your travel arrangements, here is the travel planning guide containing information regarding domestic and international travel and the 12 day adventure itinerary. Note, the first and last day of the adventure are required for international travel (e.g. where the dates advertised show 15 - 26 April, you will depart Australia on 15 April and return on 26 April. In this example, the trek will commence on 16 April and conclude on 24 April in time for the ANZAC Day service on 25 April).

[    ]  Review Inclusions & Exclusions

Take a few minutes to review your Kokoda 2026 ANZAC trek adventure package inclusions and exclusions, which are detailed on our website. If you have any questions, require clarification of these details or wish to change any of your booking preferences, please contact us. 

Important: Our Spirit provides all trek meals pre-packed for the group from Australia, including breakfast, lunch and dinner which are prepared on the track. Breakfast and evening meals are supplemented with local fresh vegetables and fruit, when available. Our ability to adequately cater for preferential diets, such as Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten free etc is limited however, we are happy to discuss options for medically related dietary requirements, upon request.

Our adventure packages are very comprehensive however, participants are still subject to additional costs, which are determined by their personal circumstances. Please let me know if you require further clarification in this regard.

[   ]   Confirm Personal Information

IMPORTANT: Please make sure that your first and last name entered are identical to your passport as this information will be used to issue your international airline ticket. If your legal name is different from your preferred name, please use "alias" to enter the name you want us to use when addressing you in all our future correspondence. To make changes to your personal details, please reply to this email.

[   ]   Complimentary Travel Insurance

Our Spirit offer complimentary travel insurance for Australian residents participating in this event to the value of $240 which will be co-ordinated by Michelle Thomas from Travel Managers (M: 0405 447 338 E: michellet@travelmanagers.com.au).  DO NOT ACTION THIS UNTIL FEB 2026

Please note, additional travel cover for pre-existing conditions, policy extensions, etc. will be charged separately. 

To claim the complimentary travel insurance, please review the attached copy of the insurer's "product disclosure statement" and then complete the application form and email directly to Michelle for processing.

If you are not an Australian resident or prefer to use your own travel insurance policy, please reply to this email with your details (i.e. insurer's name, your policy number and insurer's emergency contact details). Additionally, you will need to confirm that your insurer covers you for "evacuation from the jungles of PNG" in the event of a medical emergency.  Once your travel insurance details are submitted, your final invoice will be credited $100 rebate.

If you have any questions regarding travel insurance or you wish to book additional travel, please contact Michelle directly. 

3-4 Months Prior to Departure:

The next step is to review the following information and commence your our trek specific training program. 

[   ]   Obtain Medical Clearance

Although Our Spirit does not generally require proof of medical clearance, we recommend that all participants consult their general practitioner prior to commencing our training program. Obviously, disclosure of Medical Considerations must be made to Our Spirit in a timely manner to ensure individual needs can be met. Please note: non-disclosure of medical conditions to Our Spirit or the Travel Insurer that may compromise the individual or group will result in evacuation from the track at the client's expense.

[   ]   View Hiking Boot Guide

There are many brands of hiking boots available on the market today, so to help you choose boots that will fit and work correctly for you, we have created a Boot Selection Guide. 

[   ]   View Backpack Guide & Fitting

Please review our Backpack Selection Guide to assist you in determining the right backpack for your trek. You will also benefit from reading the following information on Backpack Fitting.

[   ]   Print Trekking Equipment Checklist

We recommend that you print a copy of our comprehensive Trekking Equipment Checklist, which highlights essential and optional items to take on this adventure. If you haven't already done so, please go to the Our Spirit Online Shop where you can order trekking equipment and momentos for your adventure.

Ready To Start Training:

Once you have your boots and backpack and you're ready to commence your training program. We recommend that you review the following comprehensive information about all aspect of training to ensure you are physically fit for the challenge ahead. If you have any questions or concerns about your training/physical preparation for your upcoming adventure, please contact Aidan Grimes directly on 0414 521531 or send him email aidan@ourspirit.com.au

[   ]   View Training Guide

Please refer to the Training Guide for information about the FITT principles, the phases of training and how to monitor your performance and preventing injury.

[   ]   Complete Stretch Program

We recommend that you print out the Stretch Program for easy access. These stretches will help you maintain your felxibility throughout the training program.

[   ]   Complete Training Program

Ideally, we recommend a 3 Month Training Program to physically prepare for the Kokoda Track. However, people who have a fitness level of 5-6 can commence Kokoda specific training, 60 days prior to departure without compromise. 

[  ]    Incorporate Bush Walks Into Your Training

There are literally hundreds of bushwalking tracks throughout Australia which you can utilise to prepare yourself for the Kokoda Track in PNG. We also promote the Club Kokoda Community Bushwalks as a great way to meet past and future trekkers and get yourself fit for the adventure. If you would like to know more about the walks scheduled in your area, please send us an email info@ourspirit.com.au

[   ]   Review Nutrition Guide

It is important to maintain a healthy diet in order sustain your increased activity throughtout your training program. Therefore, we have developed a Nutrition Guide to set you on the right path.

6 Weeks Prior to Departure: 

At this stage of preparation, you should have completed your travel insurance forms (or provided us with your insurance details) and profile information; sourced most of your equipment and be well underway with your training program. Your departure date is getting closer, so the following information will be useful to you at this time.

[   ]   Review Our PNG Travel Guide

Our PNG Kokoda Travel Guide provides information relevant to trekking the Kokoda Track and includes an introduction to the geography, history, culture and climate in PNG. There is also a section on frequently asked questions for your interest.

[   ]   Read Information For Women On Kokoda

We have provided a separate Women's Guide specifically to address the health & hygiene considerations for women on the Kokoda Track.

[   ]   PNG Visas

Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority issued a notification that changes the way in which Australian Passport Holders obtain a tourist visa to visit the country. In summary, Australian Passports holders will now be able to obtain a Visitor visa online,  which will be valid for 30 days. Accordingly, we ask that you please confirm that your passport has more than 6 month’s validity to ensure you can depart Australia. Should this process change, we will notify you with relevant details.

[   ]   Final Payments

An invoice will be sent to you requesting final payment for your trek, plus any extra services (such as porterage, singles supplement) which is due 30 days prior to your departure, so we can secure your travel and accommodation requirements on time.

3 Weeks Prior to Departure:

Not long to go now, so please refer to the following items for your attention.

[   ]   Travel Insurance

If you have not already done so, please complete your travel insurance forms to take advantage of our complimentary travel insurance or provide us with details of your own travel insurance as soon as possible, so we can arrange trekking permits with the Kokoda Track Authority. 

[   ]   Update Personal Information

Since you have been training to prepare for this adventure, your initial weight and activity details are likely to have changed. If there is a significant difference, please let us know via email (info@ourspirit.com.au), so we can update your records for you.

[   ]   Roommate Requests

Please email us with any requests to share a room/tent with another trekker if you did not enter these details into the personal preferences section and make sure to copy in your roommate. Alternatively, twin-share rooms will be allocated according to gender (i.e. females with females and males with males) unless otherwise specified or if a "singles supplement" has been purchased. 

[   ]   Read Our Backpack Packing Instructions

Its a good idea to practice packing and unpacking your backpack, which you will need to do throughout the adventure. Here are some instructions and helful tips on Backpack Packing. 

1 Week Prior to Departure:

Okay, nerves usually start kicking in at this point and that's perfectly normal so, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.

[   ]   Confirmed Travel Itinerary

Your flights and accommodation details will be confirmed and emailed to you along with details about your trek leader. 

Note: your luggage allowance includes 13kg of trekking supplies required for your adventure, which will be taken across by the trek leader. Please remember, your checked in luggage should be no more than 17kg.

[   ]   Read Important Travel Instructions

Please read these Important Travel Instructions regarding your international travel and accommodation, prior to your departure, to clarify expectations. If you have not already done so, please review the Equipment Checklist again, to ensure you have all personal supplies required for this trip.

[   ]   Emergency Contact Details

Here are the Emergency Contact Details that you can leave with your family, whilst you are in PNG. 

[   ]   Share Your Journey

Please inform your family and friends that the trek leader carries a GPS device, which transmits map locations along the track. Subject to accessibility and weather permitting, these links will be intermittently posted on the Our Spirit Facebook page, so they can follow your journey.

Alternatively, you can nominate an email address for a family member or friend that we can forward the gps communications onto. 

Note: The correspondence on Facebook during your trek is a one-way communication, so any urgent matters from home should be directed to our office.

Thank you for taking the time to read our preparation information.

If at any stage you have questions or concerns about your upcoming adventure with us, please contact our office and the appropriate person will reply to you as promptly as possible. 

Kind regards,

The Our Spirit Adventure Team