Testimonials

Hey Al,
Now that normality has almost returned I just wanted to take the time to send my personal thanks to you and Bee and the team for making my Kokoda experience the most memorable adventure of my life.
I cant stop talking about it...
You should be extremely proud.

Cheers

Brent Mathews. 

 G'day Guys,

Thank you for the experience of a life time. I fell in love with your country, people and the way of life.

Brindis Scheer 

G'day Al,

Thought I'd mail you to say thank you so much mate for a wonderful
experience trekking Kokoda it was for me truly amazing and another dream
come true.

The way in which you run your business is nothing short of outstanding
and a credit to you and your whole team.

Mike Stoakes 

Hey Guys,

we were all a bit sad to be leaving after having such a ball, you guys made it a fantastic experience! 

Bronwyn Young 

Dear Al and the Brigade Hill Mission Tour Guys,

What a fantastic trip! Thankyou so much for making our Kokoda trek one to remember.

For many years the topic (and significance) of Kokoda surfaced in numerous conversations between myself and friends and it was certainly a destination we were extremely eager to experience. Notwithstanding this desire however, we were only too aware that the Kokoda track was not one to be underestimated and that a substantial amount of planning and training was required to not only successfully complete the track, but to ensure that we could absorb everything that the track had to offer. A training program, whilst often challenging, provides a certain level of comfort in that you as an individual can control every aspect, and effectively what you put in is what you will get out. However something which you have less control over is the performance of the tour company, and this without doubt could make or break a trip - probably even more so than a lack of training.

This point was most definitely not lost on myself and colleagues as we extensively searched through the multitude of tour companies operating in the PNG/Kokoda region.

Fortunately I was lucky enough to meet up with a relative of my wife who had completed the track a number of times with various tour companies. He swore blind that South Sea Horizons / Brigade Hill Mission Tours (SSH / BHMT) were by far the most competent and enthusiastic tour company and he would most definitely be returning to Kokoda one day using this same provider.

With the above recommendation my colleagues and myself had little hesitation in choosing SSH / BHMT and wow, we were so glad we did! There was not one aspect you could improve. These guys were the most friendliest, loyal and enthusiastic gentlemen you could possibly hope to meet. They were by your side the entire time ensuring your safety and every need was met. It was obvious that they were best of friends outside of the trekking arena and this certainly made you feel at ease and comfortable in their presence.

All food was prepared, cooked and served by the guys in such an efficient manner - with the different meals really proving a hit with the group! The BHMT guys worked extremely hard in ensuring you were fed, watered and comfortable, so much so that you could almost feel guilty for being waited on hand and foot - not that they would hear any such complaint.

The trek itself was everything I imagined plus so much more. It was re-assuring to know that the BHMT guys were with you every step of the way and were on hand to provide the motivation and encouragement needed to conquer some of those hills which even mountain goats would be reluctant to climb!!

I have certainly conjured up some amazing memories of my PNG / Kokoda trip and there are things that I saw, heard, felt and experienced which will remain with me forever.

I could seriously not have asked for a better trip and one day I will endeavour to return to build on the memories on my Kokoda 2010 Trip! I would seriously urge any of you that are considering tackling the Kokoda Trek to choose the South Sea Horizen / Brigade Hill Mission Tours team - you will not be let down.

 A big thanks to our wonderful porters from Brigade Hill Mission Tours, who kept us on our feet and provided us with some awesome meals throughout the day to keep our spirits and energy levels high.  This was exactly what we needed to tackle the tree roots, mud, gravel, river crossings and climbing some of the steepest hills I have ever seen.  We could not have done it without them

Representatives from both BHMT and South Sea Horizons provided fantastic in-depth history along the track, and we heard many first-hand stories that have been passed down to the porters from their fathers and grandfathers. They seemed to take such pride in telling the stories and sharing the experiences with us.  My highlight was definitely arriving and staying the night in Menari village, the village on the track that all of our porters were originally from.  We received such an amazing warm welcome and tried some local food specially prepared for us.  I have developed a new taste for steamed Choko vines it seems!

After walking the track, we spent 5 days in Rabaul – another historically significant location during WWII and WWI, and we enjoyed doing a local tour and checking out the active volcano.  Relaxing and doing some really spectacular diving was a great way to finish our trip in PNG and I would definitely recommend South Sea Horizons and Brigade Hill Mission Tours

I would like to thank SSH and BHMT for the Fantastic holiday to PNG that included the Kokoda Track and Rabaul. The BHMT guides on the Kokoda Track were informative and ensured all of our group were kept safe on an extremely hard trek.

The food was just what the doctor order after a hard day on the Kokoda. There is some amazing history on the Kokoda Track and I would recommend anyone thinking of attempting the Kokoda Track to book with South Sea Horizons.

Rabaul was a fantastic away to end our holiday with some relaxing  at Rapopo Plantation Resort just outside of Rabaul. The volcano and old town day tour with Alan was good fun and a chance to see how friendly the people are. Take the extra few days post Kokoda and do some diving in Rabaul it is sensational and not to be missed.

The Lark Force Trek was a wonderful experience.  South Sea Horizons has worked with local land owners and villagers to involve them in the trek and this certainly helped to make the experience very positive and satisfying. There is no sense of any local people being exploited by the changes possibly occurring because of the trekkers coming through their villages.  There were many highlights of the trek but the Bainings Fire Dance performance at Mondrabet - which started at 2.30am and continued until 6am, was spectacular, memorable and totally different from anything we have ever seen or experienced.  

We were worried that the trek would be extremely difficult and physically very strenuous but it was pitched at a perfect level for those trekkers who have some level of  fitness, but are not fanatics.  It suited us perfectly and every day was enjoyable and rewarding.

All the South Sea Horizons staff - ie porters, cooks, guides etc - were great - friendly, strong, helpful, enthusiastic, warm and gracious - and willing to carry the Aussie women across the many rivers we crossed  - no shame!

We would do it all again - and look forward to being able to return to PNG for more walking.  It is a fantastic country!

I would just like to take this opportunity to pass on my thanks and appreciation to all involved in making our trip the wonderful experience that it was. I would greatly appreciate if you could pass this on to Sai and the crew at Brigade Hill Mission Tours as well.
The trip was even better than I had hoped. One of the main reasons for this was the friendly and genuine relationships that developed between our party and the porters.They were all fantastic at not only keeping us on our feet but making us feel welcome and introducing us to their "backyard".

Solomon did a superb job as historian. Many of his briefings started with the phrase, "Our grandfathers told us...". This made a connection with me as I learnt much about the war from my grandfather. This also gave a unique locals' perspective into the experience of the war rather than just the Australian history text book version.

My porter Jack did a superb job on what was his first trek at leading the walkers. I know Jack was very proud of this. I greatly enjoyed walking with Jack and I learnt a lot from him along the way.

Also thanks to James for his role as tour leader. He kept us well informed and was a reassuring presence.

Most impressive was the great pride that all the porters and crew have in their company, BHMT, and I wish them every success for the future and hope that their work continues to benefit the villages along the track.

Regards,
Jeremy Fewtrell

Hi Guys,

Received your phone message and wanted to relay our many thanks and best wishes to all (we returned to Perth 4 days ago).
The trip was terrific and even now, Steve wishes we could return or grumbles that we should've stayed longer - 7 days went too quickly. I'm certain we will either return to Rubio again or/and check out the other locations, like Vanimo.
Kori, we ate like kings and Shane and Annette were the perfect hosts. Not only was the surf fun but the side trips to the plateau and Tabar were my personal highlights. Shane's knowledge and enthusiasm for the local breaks was truly infectious.
Steve donated his spare board and we have encouraged our (surfing) friends to do the same package.
Thanks for taking care of us and hope to catch up again in the future. Anne

Dear Kori and Alan

Thank you again for the tremendous work that you and your team put into making our Lark Force Wilderness Track experience so memorable. It truly was one of the most enjoyable holidays that I have ever been fortunate enough to go on.

You have a developed a fantastic adventure holiday, that combines history, culture, personal challenge – and beautiful scenery - into a unique and unforgettable experience.

 I could not recommend the Lark Force Wilderness Track more highly to any potential trekkers who are looking for an adventure holiday with a difference.

Hi Kori, Al.

I just wanted to say thanks again for everything you’ve done to make this Track a reality, and for giving me the chance to experience it.

Being there for the official opening trek made the whole thing even more of an event in every way. It was just a very special thing for me, not just because of the history with my father during the war, but also simply because over time I’ve just personally grown to love the place and its people.

You guys have given me something I’ll never forget, and I’m just so grateful to you and everyone else involved in helping put it together.

"For me, the Lark Force Wilderness Track promised to tell the story of the unknown 2/22nd battalion and provide a spectacular jungle trek. It delivered this and so much more. The standout highlight was the culture of the people of East New Britain. The trek provided a window into the fascinating ancient traditions of these friendly tribes. Beautiful coral reefs, imposing active volcanoes, crocodile-infested rivers and adrenaline-charged deep-sea fishing were unexpected bonuses along the way."

Hi AL and Kori,

Without a doubt one of the most incredible weeks of my life. East New Britain offers the most amazing contrasts from the crystal clear reef waters; to the barren volcanic landscape; to the dense tropical jungles and ruggedness of the Baining Mountain Range; to the crocodile infested splendour of the Mevelo River and finally to the fishing delights of the open waters of the south coast. I feel privileged to have been witness to the extraordinary cultural display and the uninhibited generosity of the local villagers. Being exposed to this diversity of nature and culture added to the solemnity of the remembrance of the sacrifice made by the Lark Force in 1942.
I went to New Britain expecting the unexpected and I got everything I could have imagined and then some. It is impossible to select out any specific highlight of the trip.
I very much hope that our medical contribution to both the porters and local villagers was of value and I would love to be able to contribute in a positive way in the future
Great effort on your behalf
Cheers
David

Josh Mullens - Hostville (Sydney)

The trip was truly amazing – a wonderful mix of war history, a completely different culture, beautiful remote villages and a bloody hard slog. My favourite part of the entire trip was walking through the Choco vines on day 6, see attached. I’ll be doing it again, maybe with my kids.

Sarah Lindsay -URS Australia (Sydney)

When I think of the track I remember never ending climbs, constant tree roots and bucket loads of sweat. It was indeed a great physical challenge and an amazing experience, thanks to the porters we had helping us and caring for us every step of the way. Just like the diggers before us, they looked out for us, caught us when we slipped and most importantly we were able to bond with them, learning about their way of life. I really think it is an opportunity every Australian should experience.

Walking the Kokoda trail was an amazing experience and something I’ll remember forever. The 7 day trek was challenging and at the same time extremely rewarding. The history and emotions I absorbed whilst walking is something a book can’t properly describe. Walking through the dense rainforest and then coming across the oasis like villages lining the trail would have to be my highlight. The week spent in Rabual after was a great to way to relax and also a great experience to tour the town and see the devastation of the volcanic eruption. All in all it was a great 2 weeks in PNG and something I hope to do again one day.

"Thanks heaps for the time up in Rabaul! Had the best time ever up there, couldnt have asked for a better holiday experience, with the scuba diving, game fishing, sight seeing, and just cruising around in general and getting a feel for the culture of the place, was absolutely awesome! The hospitality you and Al showed myself and the others boys was second to none and we were constantly being impressed as there was never a boring moment. I can't speak highly enough of my time up there and the great time i had and all of the experiences i encountered. Have been telling everyone!"

"South Sea Horizon's Lark Force Wilderness Track is one hell of an adventure. You really appreciate what our soldiers went through as they evaded capture from the Japanese. It felt like we were the first people to walk through this pristine wilderness since WWII. Also it was great to hang out with the New Britain locals and see another way of life. I have a new appreciation for PNG."

The Lark Force Wilderness Walk was a very rewarding experience for me as I was able to retrace the footsteps taken by the the 2nd 22nd Battalion when they fled Rabaul during the Japanese invasion in World War II. The trek along with the many War Relics, Tol Memorial Plaque and Biti Paka War memorial allowed me to truly experience first hand the sacrifice many Australian soldiers made for the safety of our great nation.

The fishing and diving in New Britain were some of the best I have ever done. The people were great and their hospitality was second to none. The New Britain Islands are a untouched part of the world located on Australia's door step, I recommend experiencing what this fantastic country has to offer.

"The Macquarie Bank Sports Program seeks to reach out to the youth in remote communities throughout Australia and the South Pacific. With the support of South Sea Horizons, and Kori’s unique knowledge and intimate relationship with PNG, we were able to access the beauty and purity of the untouched New Guinean landscape. The Melanesian people ooze a friendliness and genuine love for humanity that can only be found in these secluded places, which remain largely unblemished by the modern day world."

“My recent trip to New Britain was rich with tropical colour and adventure and complimented by the many friendly smiling faces that greeted me along the way. The Lark Force Wilderness Trek was a great challenge for me both mentally and physically which turned out to be the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Sydney. The estuary and blue water fishing at Baia Wilderness Lodge gave me the opportunity to sport fish for the infamous Black Bass which this time luckily evaded my lure but fishing in these waters is unlike any fishing I have ever done in Australia. South Sea Horizons provided me with a tour with a real a sense of adventure and an appreciation of local indigenous art and culture.”