Upon arrival in Port Moresby, you will be transferred to your accommodation for the night. This afternoon at 5:30pm, we will meet our fellow team members and our guide for our first team briefing. Here, you will be given your packs, walking poles and sleeping mats. Please ensure you bring your insurance details with you to hand to your guide. 

Accommodation: 3-star hotel

Meals: None

Today, the group will visit the PNG National Museum in Port Moresby. The museum displays collections related to the history, culture, and natural environment of Papua New Guinea.  Exhibits include traditional tools, art, and items from various regions of the country. After the museum visit, the rest of the day will be used for trek preparation and briefing for the upcoming Kokoda Trek. This includes going over the itinerary, gear checks, and general information to ensure participants are ready for the walk. 

Accommodation: 3-star hotel

Meals: B L D 

After the dawn service this morning we will fly to Kokoda from Port Moresby. This flight takes approximately 45 minutes. All pack weights and body weights will be checked, so stick to the 12kg maximum restriction for your large back and 8kg for your day pack. Upon arrival into Kokoda, our guide will introduce us to our personal porters and food porters. Our porters will repack our gear to fit in the food supplies, we will walk to the Kokoda Museum and have a look around. 

We commence our first day of trekking as we head to our campsite. On the way, we travel through Deniki village. 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 Hoi we commence our first steep ascent up the Owen Stanley Range to 1,000m above sea level. We follow the ridge around to Deniki, which sits at about 900m above sea level. At Deniki we are greeted with spectacular views across Kokoda Valley. 

Accommodation: Village guesthouse/camping

Trekking distance: 10-12km

Meals: B L D

We will need to depart camp this morning at 5:30am, meaning we will need to be packed and ready to go by 5 am at the latest. Our trek takes us to Eora Creek this morning. Travelling through a number of wild Choko gardens, we will pass through the village of Isurava (1,100m) toward the sacred Isurava Battlefield. At Isurava Battlefield we will hold a short service led by our historians and guides. 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. We will host a small service here with the trekking team. Your lead guide may ask you to read the Ode of Remembrance or a Poem at this service. A laying of 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. 

Accommodation: Village guesthouse/camping

Trekking distance: 9-11km

Meals: B L D

We will be departing camp early this morning at 6:30pm, meaning we’ll need to be ready to go by 6:00am. Our trek today takes us to Templeton’s II (Lukobo). We continue the trek through the village of Alola to Eora Creek, which consists of a 30 minute steep descent down to the first river crossing, followed by several ascents and descents. We’ll continue to follow the ridge around to Eora Creek and then to Lukobo at the base of Mt. Bellamy, where we will be setting up camp for the night. 

Accommodation: Village guesthouse/camping

Trekking distance: 9-10km

Meals: B L D 

A tough day of trekking is ahead of us today as we climb to the trek's highest point, Mount Bellamy. Mount Bellamy is 2,200m 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. The camp site is set in amongst lush rainforest and is just over 2,000m above sea level, so it can get very cold if it is raining. 

Afterwards, 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. Australian troops had utilised Myola’s airstrip during the war to drop in supplies. We will make our way back from Myola to Diggers camp, where we will enjoy a nice cold dip in the river before dinner. Tonight’s camp site is quite cool and temperatures can drop below 6 degrees.

Accommodation: Village guesthouse/camping

Trekking distance: 16-18km

Meals: B L D

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. Be sure to have your hat and sunscreen on hand and it is also recommended that you wear a long sleeve shirt. We have a short break at Naduri and then commence the trek down the ridge towards Efogi I. The descent will take up to 1.5 hours and is very steep and slippery. The climb up to Efogi I is also very steep and slippery. Our personal porters will keep a very close eye on us. We enjoy a well- deserved rest upon reaching Efogi I. The local village will have on display a range of their local fruits and other types of food. Be sure to carry some small change with you so that you can purchase some of their produce, all of which is organically grown.

After the break at Efogi I we continue our trek down to Efogi II, which involves a one- hour descent. This leg is relatively short but will be exhausting and energy sapping as it will be the middle of the day and there isn’t a lot of canopy protection. Make sure you’re hydrated and have good sun cover protection. On our arrival into 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: Village guesthouse/camping

Trekking distance: 16-18km

Meals: B L D

This morning we have an early start as we head towards the village of Manari where we will be having our lunch break. The trek today involves a decent climb up to Mission Ridge following the path taken by the retreating Australian soldiers, which ultimately led to the ambush that took place on top of Brigade Hill. 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. 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. 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. To the southeast are views to Nauro village (our evenings camp) and Magulu Ridge. 

After a quick break at Brigade Hill we head down the back of Mission Ridge for about 2 hours - this is a steep and sometimes very slippery path to walk. 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 will be settling here for the evening. 

Accommodation: Village guesthouse/camping

Trekking distance: 12-14km

Meals: B L D

We have an early climb up to the top of Manari Ridge this morning. This steep climb should take approximately 1.5 hours to get to the top. After a short break at the top of Manari Ridge we then trek down the back, which is an extremely steep and sometimes slippery walk 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. This section can be swampy and unpleasant during the rains, but it is a long flat section and more of a comfortable walk. Our lunch stop is Nauro village which is situated at an old airstrip. There are mosquitoes in this area, so be sure to wear insect repellent. 

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 nice river awaits us at the bottom of the last climb where we can swim and freshen up for the evening.

Accommodation: Village guesthouse/camping

Trekking distance: 18-20km

Meals: B L D

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 than 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, expect 14 river crossings, so we will leave our wet shoes on. At our final crossing we commence the trek up the back of Imita Ridge, which takes up to 1.5 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.

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 2,890 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: 3-star hotel

Trekking distance: 19-21km

Meals: B L 

It will be an early rise to meet at the hotel lobby, no later than 3:30am to make our way to Bomana War Cemetery to take part in the moving ANZAC Day Dawn Service. A private air-conditioned bus will meet us at the hotel at 3:45am and it is approximately a 20-minute drive to Bomana. This ANZAC Day Dawn Service will be of great significance to you and the group, as you’ve just completed a tough trek and learnt of the importance Kokoda holds in the history of WWII, not just for Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, but particularly all the Pacific Region, as well as the world. Following the service, we will head back to the hotel.

Accommodation: 3-star hotel

Meals: B L D

After breakfast, you are free to checkout and depart whenever you would like. If you are needing a transfer to the airport, please be sure to let us know your flight details beforehand. 

Meals: B