Papua New Guinea Tours - Expedition Papua New Guinea

Who We Are!

Expedition PNG is wholly owned by No Roads Expeditions. No Roads Expeditions is a Licenced Travel Agent and as such you and your money are protected under the Travel Agents Compensation Fund. No Roads Expedition is the owner and operator of all adventure travel in Papua New Guinea therefore you are dealing directly with the operator, not a middle man. The company is fully insured for your peace of mind. The way we operate in PNG and how we treat our team and the environment seperate us from the rest of the pack. For more on this see our "Putting Back" page.

The Expedition PNG team is made up of an eclectic group of Guides. While the PNG team are full time employees many of our Australian Guides are Police Offices, Ambulance Offices, Fire Fighters and Outdoor Ed Teachers. They all have excellent Emergency Management skills, First Aid Qualifications, excellent knowledge of the Track and understand the needs of our trekkers.

We are proud to introduce them to you.

Peter Miller. Peter was one of the founders of No Roads Expeditions. He is now the Managing Director however this doesn't keep him indoors. He likes to say he has an MBA (Management By Absence). Peter's extensive travel led him to founding No Roads Expeditions. He saw too many people and environments being abused by operators and believed that things need to be changed. He also recognized an inflexibility by operators taking the adventure out of adventure travel. Peter has traveled extensively throughout the Pacific, Asia, Africa and Europe. He is the father to four children, Max, Jett, Kane and Coco who he hopes will share his passion for travel and adventure. Short term goal is Cho Oyu an 8000m+ summit for his 40th birthday.

Jack is our No Roads PNG Manager. He is from the central Kokoda Track Village of Kagi, which is the home base for No Roads along the Track. Jack is the father to two children in Port Moresby.

Jack has very strong links to his community in both Kagi and Port Moresby and is always looking for new opportunities in PNG for No Roads. He is the face of PNG, greeting guests at the airport, greeting trekkers at the end of their expedition and ensuring our team is well looked after. Jack has overseen the expansion of No Roads in PNG from its beginning and responsible for No Roads being the largest Kokoda operator.

Jack has plans to visit Australia in the near future and to travel to as many No Roads countries as possible.

Terrance is one of several lead guides in PNG. Terrance however has another role in Port Moresby, co-ordinating the porter team and ensuring all expeditions run smoothly and professionally.

From Kagi, Terrance has ambitions of getting into accounting via study through correspondence. While a young man, Terrance is a natural leader and we have great plans for his future at No Roads.

Phil Monteduro. After completing a degree in Physical Education/Outdoor Education in 2001, Phil worked six months in Australia then packed up his life and travelled to London. Living in Europe was a fantastic opportunity for him to travel extensively experiencing the diverse cultures and natural environments the northern hemisphere has to offer including the fumaroles of Mt Vesuvio in Italy, the ice glaziers of Jungfraujoch and places of historical significance such as the battle fields of Gallipoli and the concentration camps of Poland. Phil returned to Australia in 2003 and has worked full-time as a secondary teacher, exposing students to a wide variety of outdoor adventure activities in a range of natural environments, both domestically and internationally. Since being back in Australia he has managed to further his passion for travel by using his holiday breaks as an excuse to get away. Phil hopes to continue adventure travelling throughout the world sharing his experiences with others that are prepared to take up the challenge and join him. His dream is to climb one of the worlds spectacular 8000m peaks and experience the biodiversity of as many different natural environments the planet has to offer.

Ben Pritchard. Ben is 31 year old living in the northern suburbs of Melbourne with his wife, Belinda, and three daughters. They spent two and a half years from 1999 in a 4WD, on pushbikes and backpacking around Australia. This included extensive time in Cape York, the Pilbarra and South East WA, also enjoying time in Shark Bay with dolphins, dugongs and turtles, and snorkelling the Ningaloo Reef.

Ben and Bel have spent (not nearly enough...) time in the South Pacific, including the Tahitian Islands; and a trip across the Tasman to New Zealand exploring the Marlborough Sound, ski fields and wine regions. Part of 1996 was spent backpacking the UK, drinking warm beer, looking at Stone Henge and staring briefly at Buckingham Palace.

Ben now works with the Ambulance Service as an Ambulance Attendant and also with Bel as a personal trainer. His spare time is spent playing cricket, watching the North Melbourne Kangaroos and travelling with No Roads.

My name is Norman Lu and I am lucky enough to be a No Roads guide. I’m 39 years old with a passion for the outdoors and have always had a keen interest in wildlife and experiencing the wilderness. I have previously worked as a Rainforest Guide and Canoe Guide in Far North Queensland.

My day job as a Firefighter with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade now allows me the opportunity to get out and regularly challenge myself. Expeditions with No Roads have given me the opportunity to continue pushing myself, and at the same time see more of our wonderful planet.

My ultimate trip would be to explore regions of South America, particularly around the Orinoco River.

I consider completing the Kokoda Track to be one of my biggest achievements, and helping others to achieve their goals one of the most satisfying. I’ve been fortunate enough to go on a couple of No Roads Exploration trips, conquering Gunung Rinjani from the South and have just returned from a fantastic Komodo Kayaking adventure. I urge anyone who gets the chance to go on an exploration trip to do so. It is an amazing feeling going places where other people haven’t been.

Originally from Canada I now enjoy spending my time in the warmer climates of South East Asia, Fiji, and PNG. I am blessed with a wonderful and understanding wife and have a couple of fantastic young children who keep me on my toes.

Barry Gray: If there is an opportunity to go somewhere I haven’t been sign me up. I love to travel and love working for No Roads. PNG and Africa are my primary destinations but if it somewhere else you are interested in going I am sure I can find the time to guide you. If you are thinking Africa it is worth the effort! When not working for No Roads I like to travel and if not planning to travel. Cultures, languages and religions all intrigue me and look forward to studying them more if my current uni degree ever ends. My list of future places to visit with my soon to be wife is endless, unlike my time and resources to do so, thank goodness for No Roads.

Robert Armstrong. I was born on the Channel Island of Jersey. My father was there as a professional lifeguard from Freshwater Surf Club. Not long after we headed back to Sydney, where I spent 13 years swimming and surfing, before moving to Melbourne. Now I’m 43 years old and have worked as a professional fireman for 23 years. Prior to joining the fire brigade I completed a 2 year Diploma in Recreation. I spent 18 years at Portsea Surf Club, 6 of those years as a professional. Was junior and senior club champ. trekked through Nepal. Was a crewman for the Westpac helicopter, and became addicted to extreme adventure holidays. My hobbies now are surfing, snow skiing, golf ( Kingston Heath ) and just keeping fit. I have fallen in love with PNG and just can’t wait to be back on the track. My next adventure is to climb Rinjani, and then sail to Komodo Island.

Richard Godden. I was born in to a family with a long military history, my father’s great, great uncle was at the Charge of the Light Brigade. My Grandfather was in the British Army for over 25 year and served in the Great War with Worcestershire Regiment. My farther was in the 2/2 Pioneers and served in the Middle East, Greece and New Guinea.

I grew up walking the Blue Mountains in NSW with Paddy Pallin while in the scouts .This experience lead me to join 1st. New South Wales Regiment ( Commando) now known as 1 Commando Regiment as a canoeist and small scale raid soldier.

I am very well known in the theatre industry for my work at South Australian Theatre Co., The Melbourne Theatre Co. Victorian Opera Co where I was Technical Director, I have also worked in film and television and was a awarded a Myer Foundation Scholarship in 1975 to study theatre overseas.

In 1983 I was asked to serve in the Army at the Army Reserve Recruiting Unit in Melb. My passion for many years has been bush walking and being a member of 1 Commando Ass, and 2 Commando Ass where I was the Activities Coordinator for some 9 years, where I arranged for the Association to walk the Kokoda Track in 2001 and 2002.

I was then asked to act as a historical guide on the track which I have done since 2002.

Hi, my name is Brett Hamill and I love being a No Roads guide. I enjoy the oppurtunity to travel, see new things and meet new people. I have been trekking for the last few years after completing the Kokoda Track for the first time in 2004. I love my leisurely (?!?) strolls in the jungle with the ability to learn and experience what our forefathers endured during the war years.

I currently live in Melbourne with my wife and daughter and work as a Firefighter with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

I would also love to go to South America and travel through Peru, Chile and Argentina and Antarctica. My ultimate travel adventures would be to travel to Africa and explore the Zambezi River, Okavango Delta and climb Mt Kilimanjaro (next year please boss?!?!).

David is 45 years old and lives with his wife and 3 children in Caulfield in Melbourne's east. David started hitchhiking to the beach when he was 12 y/o and hasn't stopped travelling since. While exploring for surf in Vietnam in 1994, DC met his French femme fatale and since then they've dragged their kids across the globe, living in Dublin in 98/99 and then spending 2002 & 2006 living in the south of France, David has done his upmost to confuse his children, confound his wife and test the patience of the chief of the MFB where he has been tolerated for 19 years. David has a passion for military history and physical exertion, a combination that is well suited to a noroads guide.

Hi, I'm Drew Gordon. As a recently retired state manager of a private investigation company I am now free to pursue my passions for bushwalking, kayaking, weight training and dog obedience training. Unfortunately, I now also have time to share the gardening and a wide range of domestic tasks!

I live in the outer reaches of Melbourne on the mighty Yarra River and have an interest in indigenous flora and fauna. I share the garden and bush with my partner Trudy and my Boxer Gromit.

I’m infamous for my love of pavlova and have been known to overdose on this delectable dessert for breakfast. The person who can invent a freeze-dried pavlova (with cream and fruit) will be a winner with me. I also love meat and only tolerate vegetables, much to my vegetarian partner’s disdain.

I am interested in Australian military history - in particular the Gallipoli Campaign, WW2 Air Force POWs in Europe, Kokoda Campaign and the Independent Companies (Commandos).

I served for eight years with 2 Company, 1^st Commando Regiment (Australian Special Forces). I continue to maintain close links with Commandos through my involvement with the Regimental Association.

My dream challenge is to participate in a dog sledding trek in Canada.

My personal goal has been to work with an ethical trekking company like No Roads Expeditions and in the capacity as a trek guide, to ensure that all members of my group achieve their personal goals and expectations as well as having a memorable positive experience!

Hadyn Hewitt - 40. A Chartered Accountant but now work as a Risk Consultant. In '99 I entered an Australian competition "why accountants aren't boring?" Here's my winning entry! 35 countries, Sydney to Melbourne on the Young Endeavour, High Country by horse, slept in a Grampians cave, climbed Ayres Rock, played 120 games of Aussie Rules (2 premierships), California to Canada by 1973 V8 Pontiac, visited 41 USA states, rock climbed in Banff, an extra in Brad Pitt's ‘Legends of the Fall’, skied a season at Lake Louise in the Rockies, dog sled in Canada, swam a Canadian glacially-fed lake, rode a luge in Canada, scuba dived Key Largo, body surfed Waimea Bay, sunrise on a Mayan pyramid, Guatemala to Mexico by canoe, kicked a footy on ‘The Oval’ in London, golf at St Andrews, sat on the Berlin Wall, Pope's midnight mass in Rome, Spain, Portugal & Morocco by double-decker bus, Sahara Desert by camel, Rolling Stones’ concert in Budapest, St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, ran the bulls in Pamplona, drank steins in Munich, hitch-hiked Ireland, climbed Mt Ben Nevis in Scotland and Mt Ben Lomond in New Zealand, saw Australia v. England at Wembley, Bob Dylan in New Orleans, Weddings Parties Anything in Calgary, the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, hiked the Grand Canyon, Yosemtite and Yellowstone, saw Ireland beat Italy in the USA World Cup, stood on the beach at dawn, climbed the cliffs and stood in the trenches at Gallipoli on Anzac Day 1995, Santorini by motorbike, crossed Sth Africa by train, rappelled Table Mountain, climbed Mt Kilimanjaro (5,898 metres), Equator to Cape Town by truck, Okavango Delta by dug-out canoe, rode an ostrich bare back, bungee jumped 111 metres - Vic Falls, Zambezi by white water raft, sky dived, snow boarded, jet boated and para-glided in Queenstown - pretty boring really.

Since then I've settled down a bit: Served 6 years with 2 Commando Company (Australian Special Forces) - 20 static line jumps from C130's, rappelled & fast roped from Blackhawks, jungle warfare training with Brunei Special Forces, parachuted into the South China Sea, visited another 5 countries, Hellfire Pass on the Thai-Burma Railway, slept on a River Kwai river boat, bungeed 143 metres in NZ, sailed the Sydney to Hobart, did a sub 24 hour Oxfam 100km Trailwalker, 10 triathlons, ran a half marathon, hiked Kokoda, became a "No Roads" guide and sometimes I go to work! But my proudest achievement is my marriage to the beautiful Kirsty & my 3 kids, Jamie, Joshua & Hope.

A self confessed military history tragic - specifically Gallipoli (where pa served), Kokoda & Commandos. Working as a guide with No Roads - I am living the dream!

Stewart Kreltszheim – 43 years old – born on a tea plantation in Sri Lanka and migrated to Australia in 1969 as his family escaped the increasing death toll of the civil war between Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan Armed forces.

Stewart’s love for Australian War History started when he was 18 yo and worked for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and at The Repatriation Hospital at Heidelberg – caring for war veterans.

In 1993 he joined the Fire Brigade (CFA) and spent his early years working as a firefighter around Dandenong & Springvale. He became CFA’s technical rescue officer in 1998 and moved to the North East in 1999 as officer in charge of Wangaratta Fire Station.

In 2006, Stewart was deployed to the USA as part of The ANZAC firefighting force of divisional commanders sent from Australia. In 2006/07 North East campaign fires he was Incident Controller & Operations Officer in the King Valley, Tolmie, Jamieson & Mt Buller for the full 69 days of the firefight.

Stewart in now Operations Manager for CFA in Region 23 which encompasses the areas from the Murray River at Yarrawonga throughout the Benalla, Wangaratta, Mansfield Communities to Woods Point in the south.

Married with 4 children aged between 9 and 16 he plays cricket and umpires football and spends a lot of time trekking through the King Valley near Cheshunt when he is not chasing after the kids and their sport.

My name is Justin Kibell, I am aged 37, married with two children and live in outer Melbourne where I am kept busy renovating, keeping my kids entertained and trying to keep fit for the next No Roads Expedition!

I have a passion for outdoor activities including caving, abseiling, kayaking, hiking, rogaining, and four wheel driving to name a few. In the mid 1990’s I worked for several outdoor adventure companies and they specialised in taking clients through wild caves, kayaking at night down the Yarra River and abseiling over some of the more senic cliff faces around Victoria.

Luckily I had the chance to travel a little bit touring most of Europe, Bali, Fiji, the Phillipines and lived in England for a year as a school kid in the mid 1980’s. My first trip to PNG to trek the Kokoda Track was in 2007 with the “Respond for the Kids” fundraising group and have been hooked ever since. A combination of the amazing jungle, beautiful PNG people, my love of Australian military history and sense of adventure with my mates prompted me to want to become an expedition guide.

In 1990 I joined the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) in Eltham becoming an active volunteer for the next 15 years responding to all sorts of emergency situations. My focus on rescue operations, especially rope rescue, land search and road crash rescue training kept me very busy even becoming involved in State and National working parties and competitions. In July 2005 I took a paid position at the VICSES State Headquarters in State Operations as the State Operations Planner. Operationally as a State Duty Officer, I now co-ordinate the response to large scale incidents affecting the State of Victoria such as wide spread flooding, severe storms and other significant emergencies that VICSES becomes involved in.

I believe my experience in the SES leading emergency teams, my passion for everything outdoors, adult training background and my slightly warped sense of humour all help me as an expedition leader to make your trek fun, rewarding and safe. I am proud to be part of the No Roads Expeditions team and look forward to leading you on your next adventure!

My name is Rhys Livingstone and I am married with two children. I am 46 years of age and grew up in Melbourne where I worked in the police force for 24 ½ years. We made the ‘sea change’ 2 ½ years ago and moved to the Sunshine Coast where I manage holiday units in Caloundra.

I played football for over 20 years and also played lacrosse, basketball & cricket. I enjoy being outside, love camping and have found great bushwalking locations in the local hinterland to maintain my fitness. In the mid 90’s I completed the ‘Murray Marathon’ and hope to find the time to do more kayaking.

In my early 20’s I joined the army reserve and was attached to the 1RVR infantry unit. From that time I developed an interest and great respect for the feats and history of our military. I have had the fortune to travel extensively through South East Asia and used the opportunity to visit Changi & walk through Hellfire Pass.

I saw the Kokoda as a great personal challenge and first went over in 2006 & again in 2008. I have experienced the highs and lows of the track as I became ill on my first trip but enjoyed a great trek last year. The scenery, physical challenge, interaction with the locals and the overall magic of the place has given me a real passion for PNG and gave me the desire to become an expedition guide. I chose No Roads as they are professional, environmentally focussed and show a real respect for the villagers and porters they employ. My initial focus is on Kokoda trips but I also hope to climb Rinjani and experience the Komodo kayaking adventure. My ultimate goal over the next few years will be to walk the track with my son Conor.

I love a good joke, enjoy a challenge and have years of experience working within a team environment. I hope this will assist me to make your trek a fun, rewarding and safe adventure. I look forward to sharing the experience and challenges with you all.

Phil My name is Phil Miller and I live in Melbourne. I am married to a fantastic country girl and have two amazing boys. During my spare time I like to renovate my home and spend as much time with my boys before they become teenagers.

I have worked for various companies including Ansett and Qantas, thus my love of travelling started. I have travelled extensively throughout South-East Asia and Australia. I am now working as a carpenter and studying building and construction as a part-time course.

I first walked Kokoda back in 2005 and have gone back again and again for the adventure. Being a guide for No Roads has its many rewards. Not only do you meet the fantastic locals along the track, you also experience a journey with your fellow trekkers. There is no greater reward then walking into Owers Corner and saying “I have just walked the Kokoda track”.

Looking forward to seeing you on the track one day.

Daniel_Green Hi all,

My name is Daniel Green and I will be your Australian Guide for your upcoming Kokoda Trek.

First of all I would just like to say that I am very excited about our trip and I can’t wait to get amongst the wilderness and show you some of what PNG and the Kokoda Track has to offer.

I am a 23 year old young man born and bred in the central North Island of New Zealand in the small city of Rotorua.

I am a single dad to a beautiful 3 week old baby boy and I’m loving the challenges that fatherhood is throwing at me, even the poo’s and spew’s.

I work as a Graphic artist and digital printer in Carrum Downs as my full time job and currently reside in Aspendale right by the beach; spectacular - especially in the summer.

Some of my hobbies include spending as much time as I can with my son, bush walking, snowboarding, mountain biking, cooking, training at the gym, playing pool, trying to learn Swedish and watching Flight of the Conchords and Bear Gryll’s documentaries. I am a huge sports fan and I love going to watch live matches especially when the Melbourne Victory play at home. I love socializing with new people and working amongst the community, I have recently applied for the MFB to hopefully one day join the ranks as a fireman.

Working for an adventure company has always been a passion of mine, I have been with No Road’s as a guide for over 12 months now, leading expeditions and working behind the scenes doing weekend walks with clients and going along to schools and gyms to talk about upcoming expeditions as well. My ultimate goal would be to one day travel the world on exploratory trips finding more untouched parts of the globe to take likeminded adventurers along to visit.

My name is Chris Chalmers and I live in Geelong with my wife Corrine and our 2 young children, which keeps us both very busy. I have made a wonderful life for myself living in Geelong, as it is the base for everything which I have achieved in my life and a great place to raise my family.

My wife Corrine and I own Physical Revolution Lifestyle Club and run one of the largest Bootcamps in Australia. I also work as a Stunt Actor on film and TV and Surf as much as I can which is a great outlet for some ‘time out’. I have worked in films, T.V & television commercials doing a wide range of stunts ranging from, cliff jumps, diving, crashing cars, sinking cars, doubling actors, motorbike stunts & many more.

I have spent 20 years in Martial Arts winning numerous Aus & State titles competing and training throughout the USA, Hawaii, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Bali, PNG, New Zealand and all over Australia. Following the WW11 history throughout the pacific has been a passion during these visits as well as trekking over these countries. My martial arts background is something which I put years of training and dedication into, providing me with incredible achievements which my wife keeps telling me I should be very proud off!!

Early in 2006 I organized a charity fundraiser with United Way to Trek Kokoda, we raised over $35k and I was immediately hooked on the track. It’s not just the history that attracts me, but the whole experience itself. The environment, the people and the challenge you get while just being “out there.”

I do not take short cuts and believe in putting safety first and ensuring that all my trekkers follow strict guidelines in regards to hygiene, equipment and food preparation.

My experience running training days for large companies, Service Personnel, kids and community groups with a bit of bent humor thrown in gives me the platform for running great Treks. I am proud to be part of the No-Roads Expeditions team and look forward to having you part of it as well.