Youth Leadership and School Top End Adventure

It’s very important for all participants to prepare properly for all of our Northern Territory adventures including our Larapinta Trail, Kakadu and Litchfield adventures.
The correct equipment and hiking gear and preparation is critical for a safe and successful trip.

The Northern Territory’s weather can vary from minus 2 in the morning to plus 40 degrees and 90% humidity in the afternoon, so it is best to prepare for all conditions.

It’s important that you undertake a training program that encompasses lots of long walks, hills and stairs. The ground in the Northern Territory is generally rocky, hard and dusty.

We can be walking in excess of 10km a day on hard and rocky ground so it’s important that you up your training schedule to suit the conditions. The more you train the more you will enjoy the trek.

You will also be required to carry a day pack which could weigh up to 8kgs, so it’s important to train with a pack.

It is essential that you have a good pair of walking boots that are worn in, comfortable and have a good grip.

Foot care is important so make sure you have good socks and take adequate precautions to prevent blisters. I find using a small amount of Vaseline on my feet helps to minimise blisters.

It is important that you get use to the heat as dehydration can be an issue on the Larapinta Trail and our Northern Territory adventures. It’s important to use a recommended hydrolyte like Trek Fuel.

Kokoda Spirit and Wild Spirit Adventures has an excellent reputation when it comes to developing the fitness and preparation of our clients. We are proud of the success rate of our trekkers! You do not have to be super fit or an Olympic athlete to complete the Larapinta trail, Overland Track, Kokoda, Everest Base Camp, or indeed any of our tours but you do need to have excellent endurance and stamina along with a strong cardiovascular system and a desire to complete one of the world’s great journeys.

 The advantage of having a suitable fitness level lies in your ability to complete the trek, safely and enjoyably and interact with locals, go for a swim or take a side trip to a waterfall after the days trekking is completed. Training also provides enormous health benefits and improves your general well-being.

The type of training you undergo should reflect the activity that you will participate in. In this case a trek involving several hours daily walking up steep ascents and walking down equally steep descents.

The intensity that you expect during the Trek should be reflected in the training program. That is, several hours of walking each day for several days on end.

To gain a training “effect” you must overload the various “systems” within your body. That is, your cardiovascular, muscular-skeletal systems etc. Overload is achieved by increasing distances, decreasing time taken or increasing pack weight.

Daypack 30/40 litres with good harness (Essential)

Walking poles

Sunglasses

Wide Brim Hat

Head Torch (and spare batteries)

Camp torch

Water Bladder and Water drink bottles 4 litres

Fly net

Electrolytes Essential Dehydration is a potential problem on the walk. Trek Fuel

Zip lock bags

Antibacterial Hand Gel

• Medications as Prescribed by your Doctor.
• Headache Tablets
• Strong Pain Relief
• Diarrhea Tablets
• Travel Calm Tablets
• Anti-Inflammatory medications
• Antihistamines (e.g., Telfast etc,
• Blister Pads (optional)
• Roll of strapping tape (finely woven)
• Vaseline (blisters)
• Large size band-aids (cloth type)
• Antiseptic lotion/cream
• Papaw ointment
• Stop Itch/Stingoes cream (for bites)
• Sunscreen

• Any extra food requirements
• Munchies (muesli bars, lollies, beef jerky, protein bars etc salted peanuts, trail mix etc)

• Walking boots with good ankle support
• Sandals/or casual runners for wading in and out of waterholes and thongs
• Long cotton pants or equivalent and long shirt / thermal (for night-time)
• Rain jacket
• 2 x Shirts for trekking/sleeping.
• 2 x Walking shorts or walking pants and sleeping.
• Swimwear (for rivers and hotel)
• 3 x Pairs of hiking style socks
• 1 x Jacket fleece/wind break Polar fleece etc.
• Beanie
• Comfortable underwear / bras (micro-fibre recommended)
• Gaiters essential
• Microfiber Towels
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Roll on deodorant (odorless recommended)
• Rolls of toilet paper
• Wet ones
• Moisturiser
• Small soaps
• Ladies’ hygiene products

Kokoda Spirit was established in 2004 and has been running small group tours in the Northern Territory since 2017. Kokoda Spirit founder Wayne Wetherall has personally visited all the sites and destinations on the itinerary and has hand crafted the itinerary based on his experiences in working and travelling in the area.

We are passionate about what we do and with intimate knowledge of the areas in which we operate, allows us to pass on this knowledge with all who travel with us. We pride ourselves on the dedicated people within our team who work tirelessly to turn dreams into reality.

We have accredited guides for walking tours of Nourlangie Aboriginal art site, Ubirr art site and sunset or similar, staff or sometimes rangers at Bowali Visitor Centre, Top Didj Cultural Experience is usually operated by their local guide Manuel and the Arnhem Land Tour is operated by Kakadu Cultural Tours.

Our partners and Kokoda Spirit work closely with many of the traditional landowners in the regions in which we operate. While all our guides are experienced in Aboriginal Culture, history, and Dreamtime, we believe that to get a thorough understanding of the Northern Territory then meeting and interacting with local Aboriginal people is paramount. They have been living in the area for more than 20,000 years and have a unique history and relationship with the land. To hear their stories first-hand will give you an insight you won’t forget in a hurry.

We are proud to partner with Aboriginal owned and operated companies in the Northern Territory.

Arnhem Land is one area in Australia where indigenous culture is still dominant. The local Aboriginal people have a long history interacting with other cultures such as the Macassens who visited the shores of Arnhem Land for more than five hundred years to harvest sea slug. They came by sailing boats from the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi and left their legacy with the Aboriginal people. Then the Europeans arrived and their impact on Aboriginal people was far-reaching and profound. Arnhem Land today has weathered all the storms and it has managed to remain as a last frontier and homeland of around 20,000 people.

Our itinerary has us travelling into Arnhem Land where a traditional Aboriginal guide will take you up Injalak Hill and show you excellent and prolific examples of Aboriginal rock art. This area has some of the best rock art examples in western Arnhem Land.

The view from the top of the hill is simply breathtaking with views out over the floodplains and across to the breathtaking escarpment. Visit the award winning Injalak Art and Craft Centre and browse or purchase goods from this non-profit Aboriginal organisation. The art centre is simply stunning, and the range of artwork is inspiring. There will also be time to watch the traditional Aboriginal people painting and an opportunity to see local women weaving pandanus baskets.

We are providing fully accredited ECO Guides and fully accredited hosts plus Kokoda Spirit Managing Director Wayne Wetherall will accompany the trip.
Our team members are professionals, dedicated to our clients’ needs and looking after the environments we visit. With our highly experienced team, we strive to deliver excellent service while minimising the impact on the flora, fauna and landscapes for everyone to enjoy and experience in the future.