Why Adventure Kokoda?
1. Adventure Kokoda is a pioneering trekking company with 19 years experience on the Kokoda Trail.
2. The founder of Adventure Kokoda, Charlie Lynn, is Australia's leading advocate for the preservation of the Kokoda Trail as a National Memorial Park.
3. Adventure Kokoda is the only trekking company to include the whole of the wartime trail in their trek itinerary.
4.
All Adventure Kokoda Trek Leaders are expert in the wartime history of the Kokoda campaign - they are supported by a 24 hour emergency backup in Port Moresby.
5. All Adventure Kokoda trek groups have leaders trained in advanced 1st Aid
and carry a full complement of emergency equipment including satellite phones, VHF radios, ropes, machetes and panels for helipad identification.
6. Adventure Kokdoa only engages experienced Koiari and Orokaiva guides and carriers from villages along the Kokoda Trail.
7. There are no 'hidden' extras in Adventure Kokoda trek prices which include backpacks, daypacks and individual mosquito proof tents.
8.
Adventure Kokoda is the company of choice for media networks who produce prime-time television programs on treks across the Kokoda Trail we are the company of choice for RSL Services Clubs youth leadership programs.
9. Adventure Kokoda trekkers are invited to attend annual Kokoda Reunion Dinners at Parliament House in Sydney and Melbourne each year - after you trek with Adventure Kokoda - you become part of a special fraternity.
10. Adventure Kokoda is the most active philanthropic company operating on the Kokoda Trail - we have a Kokoda Bursary Program with Port Moresby Grammar School; ongoing village health and education programs; we support the PNG Friends Foundation; the 'Buk bilong Pikinnini' program; the Kokoda Sports Development program and Network Kokoda.
This is why Adventure Kokoda is the company of choice for trekkers who wish to maximise the military, historical and cultural benefits of their Kokoda experience.
From Tom Misden - a recent trekker with Adventure Kokoda . . .
“Dear Charlie,
“The main reasons for writing are firstly to compliment our leaders, John and Peter. Their leadership, management and absolute passion for the trail, the people and the history were simply outstanding. John's passion and his commitment to helping us share so much of Kokoda without doubt made our experience so much more valuable. And he seemed to have private time for everybody, an amazing man. And the emotion that surfaced because of John's delivery caught us by surprise, such was his passion for 'Kokoda'. Peter, although relatively 'new' also displays the great affection and relationship with the people, particularly the young, and commitment to the diggers. No doubt he is a great developing asset for Adventure Kokoda, in the mould of John.
“Secondly, now having compared notes with other trekkers, individually or with other companies, it is clear to us that Adventure Kokoda are very professional in all aspects leading up to the trek and then, critically, every aspect on the track is planned and managed. You and your whole organisation deserve every credit for what you do for trekkers, villages, schools and for the memory of our brave young Aussies who 'created' Kokoda. We have only just begun to live the spirit, thanks to Adventure Kokoda that will only grow.”
From Charlie Lynn, founder and director of Adventure Kokoda . . .
My interest in the Kokoda campaign goes back to early childhood 
readings of the 'Khaki and Green' series of books produced at the end of the Pacific War. These books featured short stories, poems and illustrations of diggers who fought in the battles that saved Australia. One of these was my late father, VX 131849, Private Keith Charles Lynn (pictured) who served in Milne Bay, Lae and Finschafen in New Guinea.
The stories I read were etched in my mind from an early age as were my memories of Anzac Day parades and reunions in our small Gippsland town of Orbost. I now know that these stories and memories were replicated in every town throughout Australia after the war. Through the telling of these stories one word captured the spirit of our involvement in the Pacific War - Kokoda!
When I first walked the track in 1991 I was sadly disappointed to find that this important icon had been ignored by successive governments since the end of the war. The jungle had reclaimed the battlesites; no monuments or memorials had been erected by Government along the track; the legendary 'fuzzy-wuzzy angels' had never been issued with a medal; the study of the campaign is not part of our education systems; and no feature film had ever been produced.
“I felt strongly that the spirit of Kokoda deserved better recognition than this.
I therefore organised a special commemorative trek for the 50th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign in April 1992. The trek featured as the cover story of The Bulletin magazine. This led to increased public interest in the story of the diggers who fought against all the odds during the darkest days of our history in 1942.
“Since then I have led more than 50 expeditions involving Australians from all walks of life across the track. During this time we have identified the battlesites of Mission Ridge, Brigade Hill, Isurava, Eora Creek and Deniki. We have encouraged the Federal Government to erect a magnificent memorial at Isurava and have established the Kokoda Trust to have the track proclaimed as a National Memorial Park.
With more and more Australians now wanting to explore Kokoda we have established a specialist trekking company and enlisted the support of experienced trek leaders with a passionate interest in the military historical aspects of the Kokoda campaign. Our aim is to ensure that trekkers can complete the journey safely, learn about Australia’s history and discover something about themselves in the process.
Together we will ensure the spirit of Kokoda is never forgotten.
Hepi trekking - lukim yu,
Australian Army: 1965-1986
Obituary: VX131849, Private Keith Charles Lynn - New Guinea Veteran