Note: This adventure is delivered by a licensed operator, Peak Learning Adventures. 

Upon arrival in Port Moresby, make your way to the motel. There will be a representative in the arrivals hall who will show you to the shuttle bus. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to relax and meet the guides and rest of the team.

Accommodation: Kokoda Trail Motel

Meals: D

In the morning, there will be a pre-trek briefing including an overview of the Kokoda campaign. This is followed by a demonstration of how to pack efficiently as well as a final gear check. There will be time to prepare ourselves for the days ahead, and then have the option of spending a relaxing afternoon sitting on the deck, or alternatively we have a swim in the beautiful Crystal Rapids.

Accommodation: Kokoda Trail Motel

Meals: B L D

We have an early morning start, leaving the Hotel at 7.30 am for our drive to Owers Corner, the start point of the Track. We begin one of the world’s toughest treks by dropping down from the memorial arches at Owers Corner into the Goldie River some 40-minutes walk. After fording the river and passing Dump 66 we begin the climb to Imita Ridge. This is when our training and preparation will be tested as there are no shortcuts to the top. After descending Imita Ridge we follow the Ua’ula Creek system for a couple of hours before a climb half-way up Iriobaiwa Ridge to our campsite. The sunsets from this campsite are extraordinary.

Accommodation: Camping

Trekking distance: 14.8km

Meals: B L D

We climb onto the top of Iriobaiwa ridge where we quickly come across the remnant gun pits of the furthest forward positions of the Japanese advance. From the upper slopes of the ridge we can see the coastline and pause to reflect on how tempting it must have been for the Japanese to make a dash to Port Moresby. But they obeyed the orders they received here and retreated. We have lunch at Ofi Creek before tackling the biggest challenge of the southern section of track, Maguli Ridge, rising to 1,338m. Our overnight stop is at the village of Nauro.

Accommodation: Camping

Trekking distance: 11.8km

Meals: B L D

We continue to descend to the ‘swamp’, a long walk through muddy and marshy terrain. This area was indefensible during the war so soldiers from both sides moved through here as quickly as possible. We will ford the Brown River and then make our way to the base of ‘the wall’, a tough climb of 400 vertical metres to Menari Gap. The grassy clearing at the top is a relief to the eyes. We are treated to great views of our track to Menari and Brigade Hill. A short descent takes us into the picturesque village of Menari. This was the location of the famous oration by LtCol Ralph Honner, the CO of the 39th Bn where he commended his men on their bravery at Isurava.

Accommodation: Camping

Trekking distance: 9.7km

Meals: B L D

We commence our walk with a brief stop at the Menari Primary School next to the airstrip. We descend into the valley, cross a major stream and then climb solidly for over two hours onto Brigade Hill where we stop for lunch. Brigade Hill was the site of one of the major battles of the Kokoda campaign. The Japanese 42nd Regiment outsmarted the Australians in an audacious flanking manoeuvre. This threatened to overrun the Brigade Headquarters located to the rear of the three Infantry battalions. After paying our respects to the 99 fallen diggers, we trek on to Efogi Village, a wonderful overnight spot shaded by citrus trees, and a feast from our pre- arranged food drop and local fruit.

Accommodation: Camping

Trekking distance: 9.1km

Meals: B L D

Today’s trekking takes us through the grassy Naduri village, the highest on the Kokoda Track. After lunch, we trek past vegetable gardens and take in sweeping views of the Efogi valley and Kagi village before we move back into the canopy and trek through a striking pristine forest of ferns, huge split pandanas and rare orchids. We enjoy a short side trip to the smaller of the two flat Myola grasslands where in WW2 the ‘biscuit bombers’ dropped some of their loads. We camp in a forest glade near a crashed Mitchell bomber, a beautiful and serene campsite next to a refreshing mountain stream. A special evening activity gives us a memorable experience of what it must have been like for the soldiers to be out here.

Accommodation: Camping

Trekking distance: 11.9km

Meals: B L D

We head out from Bombers Camp for a side trip to the larger Myola 2 Lake. This extinct volcano was used as a makeshift airstrip, logistics dump and medical evacuation point. We then trek to Tin Shed and climb gently to the stunning forest clearing at Kokoda Gap, the high point of the track at 2,250m above sea level. We descend to Dump No 1 (also known as Templeton’s 1) for lunch. After lunch we trek to Templeton’s Crossing, then climb up a steep ridge before descending steadily past many Australian weapon pits to Eora Creek. Our campsite is located next to the thundering Eora Creek. This area has a fascinating wartime history with the first and second battles of Eora Creek. In the first battle, the Australians fought a rear-guard action during the withdrawal from Isurava. The second battle saw the Japanese resist the Australian advance for more than a week in late October 1942.

Accommodation: Camping

Trekking distance: 18.2km

Meals: B L D

The section we trek today is the location of four major battles between the Japanese and Australians, so we take time out to explore the terrain and the history. We visit the site of the Japanese gun position perched high above Eora Creek. Immediately we can see why it took the advancing Australians one week to take the position. We then traverse through Alola Village (with possibly the best passionfruit in the world), and on to Isurava Battlefield. Having walked the majority of the Kokoda Track, our respect for the efforts of the soldiers is much magnified by the time we get to the beautiful and atmospheric Isurava Battlefield. This was the scene of Private Bruce Kingsbury’s brave actions in 1942, for which he was awarded a Victoria Cross.

Accommodation: Camping

Trekking distance: 8.9km

Meals: B L D

We commemorate the courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice of those who fought and died on the Kokoda Track with a dawn service at the Kokoda Track Memorial at Isurava Battlefield. After breakfast we begin the last day, walking down through abandoned village gardens slowly reverting to jungle and overrun by choko vines. We have lunch at the picturesque village of Hoi (often full of flowers and fluttering butterflies) before walking on the wide flat track through cocoa, palm oil and rubber plantations to the large village of Kokoda. This marks the end of one of the world’s toughest treks. We will have climbed and descended over 6,500 metres. A terrific effort! A celebratory cool drink, pizzas and shower might be in order as we spend our last night at the track’s end.

Accommodation: Camping

Trekking distance: 16.3km

Meals: B L D

Our charter plane flies out of Kokoda at about mid-morning (as the weather and lifting cloud permit) and takes about 30 minutes to re-cross the Owen Stanley Ranges that has cost us all sweat and effort. It’s a great experience to spot the ridges and valleys of the Kokoda campaign and our own adventures on the track. Back in Port Moresby we pay a visit to Bomana War Cemetery where many of the Kokoda diggers are buried. After paying our last respects we transfer back to the tranquillity of Kokoda Trail Motel in good time for a shower and lunch. In the afternoon you may wish to spend some time relaxing, in the garden enjoying a cool drink or adding finishing touches to your diary before our celebration dinner.

Accommodation: Kokoda Trail Motel

Meals: B L D

Transfer to the airport and depart Port Moresby to head home. When booking your return flight, avoid the early morning flight out of Port Moresby and aim for the early afternoon departure. The motel is located in the Hinterland and is a 45- minute drive to the airport and an early morning departure may require a 4 am wake-up plus the cost of a security escort (this is standard policy when driving at night with most hotels in PNG).

Meals: B