Welcome to Papua New Guinea! Today you will be travelling from your destination through Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. After clearing customs at Jackson’s International Airport, you will be met by your guides who will assist with transport to the accommodation.

After you check in to your room, there will be a briefing session at 5:30pm in the foyer of the hotel. This is where you are issued your packs, walking poles and sleeping mates. Dinner is at your own leisure.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Nil

This morning we board our 45-minute chartered flight to Kokoda. In Kokoda, our trek team will be waiting for us, and your lead guide will introduce you to your porters. We will have the opportunity this morning to walk to the Kokoda Museum and have a look around.

Once our trek team are ready, we will start our Kokoda journey. Tonight, our destination is Deniki Campsite, which is the first position the 39th Battalion regrouped at when the Japanese Imperial forces occupied Kokoda.

The journey to Deniki from Kokoda commences with a nice flat walk, passing through rows of palm oil and rubber tree plantations. We pass through Kovelo and Hoi village along the way and, after the final crossing at Hoii we commence our first steep ascent up the Owen Stanley Range to 1000 meters above sea level. We follow the ridge around to Deniki, which sits at about 900 meters above sea level. At Deniki we are greeted with spectacular views across Kokoda Valley. We will set up camp here for the evening.

Accommodation: Campsite

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We will need to depart camp this morning. Today our trek takes us to Eora Creek. Travelling through a number of wild Choko gardens, we will pass through the village of Isurava (1,100 meters) toward the sacred Isurava Battlefield. At Isurava Battlefield we will hold a short service led by our historians and guides. This memorial was built by the Australian Federal Government and is maintained by the Australian War Graves Department. The four pillars encapsulate the battle along the Kokoda Track with the four words - ‘Courage, Sacrifice, Mateship and Endurance’. These are four words we are sure to take on board with us for the remainder of our journey to Owers' Corner.

Your Historian will tell you about the heroics of Private Kingsbury, a real estate agent from Victoria who was enlisted to fight in New Guinea with the 2/14th Infantry Battalion. His heroics at Isurava earned him a Victoria Cross when he was said to have held off an onslaught of invading Japanese soldiers with his Bren gun. This event was enough to give the retreating Australian troops enough time to escape from total annihilation and the opportunity for the reinforcement troops to arrive.

We will host a small service here with the trekking team. There will also be the opportunity to lay flowers here followed by a small break for you to enjoy this special site. Following our break at Isurava we continue for 1.5-2 hours to the village of Alola. This is a beautifully located village that sits on the mountainside overlooking Eora Valley and Auberi. At the time when the Australian troops commenced their retreat of Isurava, they decided to split up with one party trekking across Eora Creek to Auberi and the other following the ridge down to Alola. This split was planned to act as a diversion for the Japanese and to place the Australian troops at the best vantage points across the valley.

We continue the trek to Eora Creek which takes roughly 2 hours. We commence with a 30-minute steep descent down to the first river crossing, followed by a number of ascents and descents, which follow the ridge around to Eora Creek where we will set up camp.

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today is by far one of the hardest days of trekking we will face on the track. A tough day of trekking is ahead of us today as we climb to the trek's highest point, Mount Bellamy. Mount Bellamy is 2,200 meters above sea level and provides some spectacular views across the Owen Stanley Ranges. The track towards Digger’s Camp can sometimes be one of the more challenging legs, especially in wet conditions. It is not too steep but can be muddy and slippery.
At Digger’s Camp we are accommodated at a local village guest house for the evening. After we will drop our bags and take a quick walk to Myola, which is a beautiful flat plain of grassland with little creeks flowing through.
We will make our way back from Myola to camp, where we will enjoy a nice cold dip in the river before dinner. Tuck into a hot meal before taking a well earned rest after a long day of trekking.

Accommodation: Camping

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We start off this morning heading towards the northern face of Mount Bellamy, where spectacular views can be shared looking over to the villages of Naduri, Kagi, Brigade Hill, and Nauro and, in the distance, Imita Ridge.
The leg down to Naduri is a long and steady descent and we will be exposed to the harsh sun as the majority of this sector passes through open Kunai grassland. We have a short break at Naduri and then commence the trek down the ridge towards Efogi I. We enjoy a well-deserved rest upon reaching Efogi I.

After the break at Efogi I we continue our trek down to Efogi II, which involves a one-hour descent. On our arrival at Efogi II we are greeted by the local village and accommodated at our cooperative guesthouse owned by the Siosi family. Efogi II is the largest of the Koiari villages along the trail with an estimated population of 400-500 people. The elementary school has more than 150 students. The kids of Efogi are a lively bunch with plenty of vibrant energy.

Accommodation: Guest House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Wake up to a crisp morning and a fresh breakfast. Following breakfast, we head towards the village of Manari where we will be spending the night. Today's trek involves a decent climb up to Mission Ridge following the path taken by the retreating Australian soldiers, which ultimately lead to the ambush that took place on top of Brigade Hill.

The Aussie troops had occupied the Seventh Day Adventist mission during the war, using it as a shelter and storage facility. After the first climb of the morning, we can turn back and look over Mount Bellamy, Efogi I and II and Kagi villages in the distance. Just imagine the sight of 20,000 Japanese troops marching down Mount Bellamy towards Kagi village with lanterns lighting the sky, which seemed to the Australian troops like a sea of fireflies lighting the night sky. Their advance was so swift and clinical that within a few days they had completely occupied the base of Brigade Hill.

The walk to Brigade Hill from Efogi takes approximately 1.5 hours. It is a decent walk following the ridge of Brigade Hill or Mission Ridge, as it was referred to during the war. Upon reaching Brigade Hill we first come across a huge tree trunk that looks big enough to shelter a person - and where the famous story of the Bone Man from Kokoda will be told.

At Brigade Hill, our trek leader and local historian will relate the story about Brigade Hill and how the Australian troops were engulfed or ambushed by fast-approaching Japanese troops. Over 75 Australian soldiers fell at Brigade Hill and this is commemorated by a plaque, which sits at the top of the hill. Glorious views can be enjoyed from the top of

Brigade Hill and, on a clear day, we can see across to Mount Victoria- the highest mountain in the region. From Brigade Hill we head down the back of Mission Ridge for about 2 hours. At the bottom of the valley is a beautiful waterway and from there it's a 40-minute climb to Manari village. At Manari we are welcomed by the local villagers and we will be shown to our guest house for the evening.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We have an early climb up to the top of Manari Ridge this morning. After a short break at the top of Manari Ridge we then trek down the back, that should take us about an hour and a half.

At the base of Manari Ridge we enter Nauro Valley, where we pass through Agu Logo campsite and then cross the mighty Brown River. Our lunch stop is Nauro village which is situated at an old airstrip.

After lunch - we take on the Nine False Peaks to the top of Maguli Ridge. This involves roughly 3 hours of serious uphill trekking. We pass by New Nauro village and enjoy a quick recovery break before pushing on to Maguli Ridge.

From here we commence our first of many descents, with our first break being at Jap's Ladder. We have a good rest at Jap's Ladder and then continue our march down towards Ofi Creek (approximately 2 hours). A gentle river awaits us at the bottom of the last climb where we can swim and freshen up for the evening.

Accommodation: Campsite

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning is an early climb to Ioribaiwa. It was here at Ioribaiwa that the Japanese troops were turned back. From Ioribaiwa we will be able to see quite clearly Imita Ridge, which is less then 5 kilometers away as a crow flies, and in the background (if lucky and only on clear days) we may be able to see Port Moresby.

From Iorribaiwa our journey continues down a steep slope that leads to Uaule Creek. At the base of the Ioribaiwa Ridge we make our way across a myriad of river and creek crossings (nine in total) until we reach Uaule Creek so make sure you have your wet shoes handy.

From Va’Ule Creek's expect 14 river crossings. At our final crossing we commence the trek up the back of Imita Ridge, Which takes up to 11⁄2 hours to climb.

At the summit of Imita Ridge we enjoy a stunning view looking back across to Ioribaiwa and Maguli Ridge. From the top and looking southwest towards Port Moresby, we trek down what was known as the Golden Staircase. This flight of stairs was built by Australian troops during the war to help with transporting artillery and other supplies from Port Moresby. The ‘staircase’ no longer exists, but some historians and operators believe that they have identified its original location. After a good break and recovery at the summit of Imita Ridge we head downhill towards our campsite at Goodwater.

We make our final push to Owers corner. From Goodwater we travel onto Goldie River which takes close to 3 hours. From Goldie River we climb our final hill towards Owers' Corner. After a short 30-minute climb up to the top, we can finally say that we have completed the Kokoda Track! We are met at Owers' Corner and transferred to Port Moresby. Along the way we stop to visit Bomana War Cemetery where 2890 Australian soldiers were laid to rest at the end of World War II.

This evening our trekking team will meet us for a drink and catch up at our hotel; a great way to reflect on our recently-completed trekking adventure with our new mates from Papua New Guinea.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After an unforgettable experience and no doubt a well earned rest, it’s time to depart Papua New Guinea to reflect on and share the stories of your recent adventure.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before being transferred to Jackson’s International terminal for your flight.

Accommodation: N /A

Meals: Breakfast