Sue Fitcher, CEO of Getaway Trekking talks, about her love for PNG and walking in a post-COVID climate.
"My husband trekked the Kokoda Trail for Anzac Day 2006 and came home a changed man. Soon I found myself the proud co-owner of a trekking business, a far cry from working as a financial advisor!
But I’ve found that business fundamentals cross industries and so we work hard to listen to our clients and provide them with an enriching and empowering experience. Many of our clients are new to trekking and we’re proud to be able to support them on this significant journey.
Pre-COVID-19, our flagship trek was the Kokoda Trail. In addition to the incredibly powerful story of the Kokoda Campaign, Papua New Guinea is a stunning country, showcasing magnificent scenery, traditional culture and beautifully warm and welcoming people.
COVID has provided us with time and space we haven’t otherwise had to develop the domestic side of our business. We’ve been re-inspired by our region’s beauty and diversity and have had a great response to our new treks, particularly the Aussie Camino, a pilgrimage honouring Sister Mary MacKillop, along with our Kimberley Trek & Paddle, a remote adventure in the far north of Western Australia.
We’re loving helping people experience the incredible clarity that comes from being in the Australian bush.
We’re really missing our PNG ‘family’ so we can’t wait to take our clients back there. For now though we’re focusing on our Australian and New Zealand treks and adventures, and we’ll continue to grow that side of the business even when international borders re-open.
We’ve created some great relationships with other providers, including a fabulous NZ operator, and we’re really pumped about collaborating to showcase this region as soon as possible.
Unless they’re an experienced bushwalker, we find that most clients love being able to focus on the walking experience while someone else – us! – makes all the arrangements. We give them help preparing for their adventure with information about fitness and equipment, and are always available for questions.
First Aid-qualified leaders add another level of security while it’s fantastic joining a group of like-minded people and being able to connect with them beforehand."
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