General Information

The Kokoda Track was the scene of bitter fighting in 1942 as the Japanese advanced towards Port Moresby. Many Japanese and Australian soldiers died along the Track, both in battle and from malaria. As interest in Australia’s cultural identity and recent history grows, walking the Kokoda Track has become a rite of passage for a new generation of Australians.

Walking the Kokoda Track involves 50 hours of hiking over 90km of sharp, timbered ridges, steep-sided valleys and fast flowing rivers. Vantage points along the Track reveal magnificent mountain landscapes, and a wide variety of flora and fauna is encountered. Trekkers pass through local villages where descendents of the wartime “fuzzy wuzzy angels” continue to live simple traditional lifestyles while providing a warm welcome to passing trekkers.

The best time of the year to walk the Track is the dry season, from May to October. Walking during the wet season is also possible but is much more challenging because the Track is muddy and slippery, and river crossings may even be impassable after rain.

We offer guided Kokoda Track expeditions which can be booked for any week of the year for any group size from 1 upwards. We also have scheduled departures that anyone is welcome to join. All food, equipment and guides (including an Australian guide) are provided. You only need to bring your personal gear and bedding.

We take a slightly different approach from some other trek operators who camp out every night of the trek and fly all food and drink in for the occasion, thus almost needing a camel train to carry all their supplies. We engage village guest houses along the Track to supply accommodation and some meals for our trekkers and porters, thus not only reducing the amount of food and equipment carried by the trekking party, but also injecting greater economic benefits into the micro-economies of the village communities along the Track.

Our food includes coconut milk curries, vegetarian pastas, fried rice, prawn crackers, damper etc. We use no rehydratable vegetables and we don’t supply baked beans, just delicious and nutritious meals. 

We also supply a portable shower tent so you can either wash in the rivers without soap or in our shower with soap which is kept away from water courses. We supply the soap. We can even provide a hot shower anywhere along the Track.

Our Porters are well paid, well fed and motivated to provide you with a great experience. They set up tents, boil water, help you along the Track and at night, sing songs. On our trek you will sleep in village guest houses for half the nights along the Track. The other nights involve camping in locations where there are no villages (bush camps).

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk one of the most famous tracks in the world
• Understand what Australian soldiers endured during WWII
• Amazing terrain and river crossings (great swimming)
• Walk through the most pristine rain forests in the world
• Wonderful people with beautiful singing voices

Undertake something that will push your body and spirit to new levels

Note: This 8 day 7-night trek is a demanding walk that requires an above-average level of fitness.

ATTENTION: We have some of the most experienced guides on the Track. We also have an Australian guide to compliment the local guide on each trip. Our groups are small in comparison to others. Large groups place undue stress on local villages and can seriously affect your enjoyment level. Our food is unbeatable and our environment policy ensures that you have as little impact on this pristine environment as possible.

ITINERARY

Day 1
Arrive Port Moresby and transfer to Hotel. Free time to yourself. Expedition briefing with your Australian Guide late afternoon and then off to dinner.

Day 2
Depart Port Moresby 0700am on Airlines PNG flight to Kokoda. At Kokoda Village you will be
introduced to your local trek guide and porter/s, who will accompany you on a brief walking tour of Kokoda township, including the Kokoda museum, and Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel memorial.
We will then head off through the plantations to Hoi and finally Deniki, which overlooks the Kokoda Valley. (3 hours walking).
You will be accompanied on your trek by your Australian and local guide and one or more porters (carriers) who will carry camp food and equipment.

Day 3
After a billy tea breakfast with fruit and cerealswe will start the hike to the Isurava ANZAC war memorial via New Isurava. The memorial was opened by Australian Prime Minister John Howard in August 2002 to commemorate 60 years since the ferocious four day battle was fought there in 1942. After lunch we will continue on to the small village of Alola with great views down the valley. (6 hours walking).

Day 4
Camp breakfast. Hike from Alola to Templeton's One via Eora Creek and Templeton's Two – long ascents and descents with heaps of gunners pits along the way. Camp lunch. Overnight camping at Templeton's One at the base of Mt Bellamy, the highest pass on the Track. Bush camp. (9 hours walking).

Day 5
Camp breakfast. Hike from Templeton's One to Kagi via Nadoori. Today you will ascend Mt Bellamy, the highest point of the Kokoda Track. Good views at the Kokoda Gap Lookout. Descend to Kagi village and airstrip via Nadoori where we will see the last Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel. Overnight at our purpose built No Roads guest house. (9 hours walking)

Day 6
Today you will hike from Kagi to Menari village. During the morning you will climb Brigade Hill and then begin a long steep descent to Menari village which will weary your feet and legs. You will sleep well tonight. Overnight village guest house. (7 hours walking)

Day 7
Hike from Menari to Naoro village. Relatively easy day. After climbing a steep saddle you will descend and pass through a number of river crossings including Brown River (where we can swim) to Naoro village. Overnight village guest house. (6 hours).

Day 8
Hike from Naoro to Wa-ule Creek. Climbing through open grasslands you will mount the Maguli Range and take a long steep descent to Ofi Creek and Wa-ule Creek campsite. Overnight camping. Camp dinner. (7 hours walking)

Day 9
Camp breakfast. Hike from Wa-ule to Ower’s Corner. Short day. There are a number of river crossings and a long steep climb up Imita Ridge. The descent on the other side of the ridge is known as The Golden Stairs which leads down to Goldie River. After wading through the river the Kokoda Track then concludes with a final steep ascent to Owers Corner. You will arrive at Owers Corner in the late morning and will be met by a 4WD vehicle with a picnic lunch and cold drinks that you will share with your guide and porters. You will be driven down the picturesque Sogeri Gorge via the Bomana War Cemetry to Port Moresby and dropped off at your accommodation. Tonight we celebrate our sucess with our Porters and guides at the Port Moresby Yacht Club.

Day 10
After breakfast, transfer to airport for your next destination.

EXPEDITION SCHEDULE FOR 2008

7th October - 16th October 2008
18th October - 27th October 2008
28th October - 6th November
22nd November - 1st December 2008
29th November - 8th December 2008