Naturetrek was founded in 1986 and our first tours specialised in birdwatching and botanical treks to remote and mountainous areas of the world. Thirty-two years later, we still offer many such treks, but our portfolio of holidays now includes 450+ holidays to over 90 different destinations worldwide. Today, we offer the world’s largest selection of professionally organised natural history holidays.

What Can I Expect on a Naturetrek holiday?

All of our holidays are expertly guided by a leading naturalist. In addition, we often take an expert local guide(s). Birds, mammals and plants are usually the main focus of our tours but we do incorporate as many other aspects of the natural world as possible, and many of our tours also include cultural highlights. Our holidays are often longer than other wildlife tours and, because they tend to be slower-paced (with the exception of our Bargain Selection), offer more time for detailed wildlife exploration, photography, relaxation and to take an interest in the region’s people, culture, history and architecture. We generally spend as much time as we can in an area searching for birds, mammals and plants on foot, though we do travel by minibus at least some of the time on most of our tours.

Papua New Guinea is one of the wildest and least explored regions on earth. Its astonishingly rich avifauna includes nearly 400 endemic species, amongst them the exquisite birds-of-paradise. This group of birds forms one of the principal objectives of this 16-day birdwatching tour. Starting in the capital Port Moresby, our tour visits Varirata National Park, Rondon Ridge, Karawari Lodge and finally the world-famous Ambua Lodge, encountering en route a wonderful variety of birds including many of the unique and fantastically plumaged birds-of-paradise. The lodge is situated at Tari Gap in the central highlands, home of the Huli tribe, or ‘wigmen’, known for their ornate ceremonial wigs, and dances and songs fashioned on the mating rituals of the birds-of-paradise.

Australian Kokoda Tours is a family owned business, having run treks over Kokoda sine 2006.

Australian Kokoda Tours, only treks Kokoda therefore all our attention and energy are focussed on your trek. We take pride in our treks and our record, both on and off the track and only stay in the quality, safe 5 star Airways hotel with 24 hour security facilities.

We have run treks for VFL & AFL clubs, AFL umpires, sporting clubs, schools and instil teamwork and leadership into the group, assisting you to form a bond amongst your fellow trekkers. We introduce some fun and entertainment along your journey, which creates a relaxed environment.

We guarantee after finishing your journey with Australian Kokoda Tours you will feel a fabulous sense of self achievement and the Kokoda track will have changed your life.

Our Point of Difference:

All Australian guides are Remote Wilderness First Aid Accredited
Luxury Accommodation at the exclusive ***** 5 star  Airways Hotel
All meals are incorporated, including meals at the hotel (excluding Ex Port Moresby Package)
All site fees are incorporated in your trek
We provide backpacks for you to use on the track which you will be responsible for returning to us after you finish your trek
Cleaning of all backpacks and boots upon completion
We carry a fully equipped automated external defibrillator
Satellite phone for emergencies & to contact Australia contact each day
We provide daily website and Facebook updates
We provide a comprehensive 8-week training program specific for Kokoda
We provide walking poles to use on the track which you will return to us after you finish Kokoda
We provide 100% biodegradable body wash
We provide a wilderness first aid kit
We have payment plans and options to assist you with payment of your trip
We have a 99% success rate for all our participants
You receive extensive historical information about the Kokoda campaign
You receive a comprehensive Kokoda pack including a nutritious snack pack for your journey
No trekker will be required to provide or carry any utensils, food, tents (apart from snack-pack issued prior to the trek)
No trekker will be required cook any food or clean any utensils
You will receive 8 days’ electrolyte replacement capsules
We provide water purification steripens (one between 2 trekkers)
You will receive an official track t-shirt for your trek
You will receive a certificate of achievement
You will receive a copy of the official track permit
You will receive a fully edited professional video of your Kokoda experience
Safety is our priority, therefore Australian Kokoda Tours only run Australian Guided Treks
2-way radio communication throughout trek leaders on the track
VHF back to AKT & Kokoda track Authority base in Port Moresby

Experience authentic Papua New Guinea expeditions with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic. Accompanied by an expert team, undersea explorative tools and a fleet of Zodiacs, you’ll explore up close and personally.

The Lindblad Expeditions partnership with National Geographic means you can travel on a fleet of ships to extraordinary places in the company of world-renowned naturalists, researchers, and photographers.

For further information and bookings, contact:

New York office, email explore@expeditions.com or call 1 800-397-3348

Australia office, email auinfo@expeditions.com or call 1300 361 012

The nation of Papua New Guinea (PNG) comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, second largest island in the world, as well as many other Pacific islands, some of a considerable size such as New Britain and New Ireland, and many much smaller islands and atolls.

The most linguistically diverse country on earth, PNG has more than 850 mutually unintelligible, indigenous languages reflecting at least as many different traditional tribal societies. This astonishing cultural variety has given rise to many different forms of expression, including art, carving, dance, singing, music and flamboyant costumes and hairstyles. The colourful cultural heritage is celebrated annually at numerous large regional festivals and sing-sings, including Goroka and Mt Hagen and lesser-known Tumbuna and Kundu.

Habitats range from dense tropical rainforest to savannah and wetland plains, volcanic mountains to white sand beaches and coral reefs. The forests are home to many rare species of marsupial such as tree kangaroo, insects including the Queen Alexandra birdwing (the world’s largest butterfly) and birds such as the cassowary. However, PNG is best known for Sir Richard Attenborough’s favourites: the brilliantly coloured birds of paradise, with 38 of the 43 known species found there.

Papua New Guinea is truly one of the world’s last travel frontiers. Nature and humanity unite in a heady mix of sights and sounds, and many parts of the country remain blissfully unaffected by the ever-advancing ways of the western world. However, PNG is definitely up and coming (it received the Most Emergent Destination award from Wanderlust Magazine in 2014) and, now that Reef & Rainforest can put together tours at reasonable cost, there should be many more visitors, so go now while it’s still authentic and unspoilt.

The country’s ancient cultures still thrive and age-old traditions are still practised – visitors can attend fire-dancing ceremonies and interact with the masked mud-men of Goroka – while remnants of more recent historic events still litter some of the towns and jungles; Japanese war relics are still present in New Britain province from the second world war.

Visitors can find themselves heading to the Highlands to discover the country’s incredible birdlife, before experiencing first hand the culture and traditional lives of the indigenous Huli Wigmen, with vibrantly-painted faces and extravagant headdresses. The explosive Mt Tavurvur – an impressive stratovolcano on the coast of New Britain – is a ‘must see’ when exploring the country’s eastern islands and active travellers seeking a challenge can opt to tackle part of the gruelling Kokoda Trail through rugged landscapes to retrace the steps of wartime POWs.

The video above, courtesy of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, offers a glimpse into the annual Sepik River Crocodile & Arts fetival, a cultural celebration held by the traditional communities of the Sepik River area, in which the freshwater crocodile is revered. Speak to Stef about joining our brand new group tour which attends this event in 2019, and learn about the beliefs and legends that surround this animal.

Rondon Ridge overlooks the Wahgi Valley and Mount Hagen town in the Western Highlands Province.

A 40-minute drive from Mount Hagen town, this Trans Niugini Tours lodge is situated in a pristine rainforest where birdwatching and nature-walks form part of the accommodations activity options.  Guests are also offered tours of the Western Highlands, sampling the provinces unique culture and history.

Through Rondon Ridge, Trans Niugini tours also offer tours to the Kuk World Heritage site – a prehistoric archaeological site where the worlds oldest gardening implements and plots were first discovered.

Rondon Ridge has some of the finest dining options in the province, a fully stocked bar, gift shop and a unique reception showcasing portraits, painting and crafts from the Trans Niugini Tours collection representing the Highlands and the Sepik.

For further information and bookings, email: service@pngtours.com or call +675 542-1438

BESONDERE REISEN ZU AUSSERGEWÖHNLICHEN PLÄTZEN
Horizont Tours ist Ihr Spezialist für individuell gestaltete Privat-und Kleingruppenreisen zu den interessantesten und schönsten Plätzen der Erde – von außergewöhnlichen Safaris in Afrika und Kulturreisen in Asien über Wüstenexpeditionen in der Sahara, Flusstouren mit dem Kanu in Kanada, Selbstfahrerreisen in Chile und Trekking im Oman bis hin zu unvergesslichen Begegnungen mit anderen Menschen und Völkern in Äthiopien und Papua-Neuguinea.

Aufwändige, sowie maßgeschneiderte Reisen, Kombinationen von erlesenen Reisebausteinen, Hotels und Lodges nach Wunsch und Reisebudget sowie ein bequemer Rundum-Service lassen Ihren Urlaub von Beginn an zu etwas ganz besonderem werden.

Ihr hoher Anspruch, Ihre Wünsche und Reisevorstellungen sind unser Ansporn, um für Sie die perfekte Reise zu organisieren.

Horizont Tours wurde im August 2005 aus der Taufe gehoben. Seither haben wir unser Angebot ständig erweitert. Vor Ort, im jeweiligen Reiseland, arbeiten wir nur mit den besten, von uns ausgewählten Agenturen zusammen. In einigen der von uns angebotenen Destinationen haben wir selbst gelebt und gearbeitet. Diese Erfahrung garantiert Ihnen aussergewöhnliche Reisen  und kompetente Beratung.

Bismarck-Archipels – eine ganz besondere Reise erwartet Sie!

Zum Maskenfest nach Papua-Neuguinea

17 Tage, 13 Nächte
Port Moresby – Tari – Mt. Hagen – Goroka – Rabaul – Masken Festival – Port Moresby

Aufbruch ins Unerwartete – Papua Neuguinea, Paradiesvögel und unberührte Landschaften

17 Tage, 13 Nächte
Port Moresby – Tari – Mount Hagen – Wewak – Sepik – Wewak – Madang – Rabaul – Kokopo – Port Moresby

Zur Goroka-Show nach Papua-Neuguinea

17 Tage, 13 Nächte
Port Moresby – Wewak – Sepik Region – Mt. Hagen – Goroka – Goroka Show – Rabaul – Kokopo – Port Moresby

Flugexpedition Papua-Neuguinea

11 Tage, 10 Nächte
Port Moresby – Mt. Hagen – Lake Murray – Tari – Sepik Region – Port Moresby

Zur Mount Hagen Show nach Papua-Neuguinea

17 Tage, 13 Nächte
Port Moresby – Madang – Wewak – Sepik Region – Wewak – Mt. Hagen – Goroka – Rabaul – Kokopo – Port Moresby

Trekking mit Besteigung des Mount Wilhelm

14 Tage, 13 Nächte
Port Moresby – Mt. Hagen – Wahgi-Tal – Ambulla – Mt. Wilhelm Trek – Gipfel Besteigung – Goroka – Madang – Port Moresby

Goroka’s Iconic Landmark, the Bird of Paradise Hotel is conveniently located in the centre of town, accessible to major business services and close to the airport.  The perfect location for a meeting or conference, providing well equipped function rooms with a friendly efficient team.

The Bird of Paradise features an outdoor swimming pool, access to a Fitness Centre with Goroka Squash Club located within the hotel grounds.  Enjoy the pleasant surroundings of the Deck Bistro, offering Buffet and A la Carte dining options, featuring mouth watering modern dishes from around the globe.  A popular meeting place and home to renowned Enzo’s pizzas, available dine in or take out.

Offering neat, clean and secure accommodation, including Premier Rooms and Suites.  For those looking for longer term accommodation, fully serviced one bedroom apartments are available.  Either Qantas Frequent Flyer or Air Niugini Destination points can be earned on eligible rates by presenting your card upon check-in.

Pacific Gardens Hotel is in Goroka town, Eastern Highlands Province in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The province is home of the famous Asaro Mud Men displayed at shows and festivals in the province and country.

Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea. It is a town of approximately 25,000 people, 1600m above sea level. It has an airport (in the centre of town) and is on the “Highlands Highway”, about 285km from Lae in Morobe province and 90km from the nearby town of Kainantu also in the Eastern Highlands. Other nearby towns include Kundiawa in Simbu Province and Mount Hagen in Western Highlands Province. It has a mild climate, known as a “perpetual Spring”.

Pacific Gardens Hotel is in Goroka town, Eastern Highlands Province in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The province is home of the famous Asaro Mud Men displayed at shows and festivals in the province and country.

Goroka is accessible by road and air. It is approximately 400km from Port Moresby, the capital city of PNG. There are regular flights available to and from Goroka by Air Niugini and Air lines PNG.

Goroka Show is a probably the most known tribal gatheringand cultural event in Papua New Guinea. It is held every year close to the Independence Day (16 September) in the town of Goroka. About 100 tribes arrive to show their music, dance and culture. This festival started in the mid 1950s from the initiative of Australian Kiaps. In recent years it became an attractive tourist destination because it is one of a few opportunities to see the traditional tribal culture.