Today we set off for the adventure-of-a-lifetime to walk in the footsteps of heroes. Upon arrival in Port Moresby you will be greeted by your trek leader and taken to your hotel.
Accommodation: Stanley Hotel
Kokoda Track
Need to know
- Best time to travel: April-October
- Duration: 11 days
- Trekking duration: 8 days
- Challenge grade: 5/5
- Group size: 10-16 pax
- Minimum age: 18
Tour from AUD: Prices available upon request
Trip at a glance
Join us on a journey through history as we conquer the Kokoda Track. Beginning the trip in Port Moresby, meet your fellow travellers and guides for a night of anticipation and excitement, preparing to depart by road to Sogeri on a trip of a lifetime the next day.
Starting with a steep descent, the Kokoda track winds down to the Goldie River right into the heart of the jungle. Stepping into the shoes of our Aussie heroes, we tackle the trail before spending our first night in the wild.
Spend the next seven days trailing through the jungle, discussing the past tragedies with your teammates and wondering what it might have been like for our troops. Climb steep ridges with breathtaking views across the land, walk barefoot through the winding creeks and visit local villages dotted throughout this vast region.
Our expedition takes us past multiple historical battle sites such as Ioribaiwa Ridge and Ofi Creek, both areas rich with the past and worthy of our respect.
Stories of brave soldiers are told during a battle briefing near Kingsbury Rock, which is also where we will hold a memorial service to remember the lives lost and the sacrifices made on both sides.
Finally reaching Kokoda, spend the night reminiscing about this extraordinary experience that will stay with you for life.
Give back
We know travel is better when you can give back as much as you get. That’s why we have designed our trips around contributing, supporting and participating in local projects and community initiatives that have a positive social and environmental impact.
Each of our tours provide a unique way to get up close and personal with the destination and incorporate a fundraising target or donation into the travel costs, which enables travellers to connect, give back, and travel with purpose.
If you are a charity, corporate or a private group interested in the Kokoda Trek, please get in touch.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Australia
Day 2: Port Moresby – Good Water Camp
Today we travel by road from Port Moresby via the Bomana War Cemetery to pay our respect to the fallen soldiers. We then travel to Sogeri where there is a white stone monument marking the beginning of the Kokoda Trail. Our road journey then takes us to McDonald’s Corner, this is where “B” company of the 39th Battalion commenced their walk to Kokoda and then onto the North Coast area. “B” company was led by Captain Sam Templeton and guided by Bert Kienzle. They departed McDonald’s Corner on July 7 1942 and arrived in Kokoda on July 15 1942.
We continue to Owers’ Corner with an air of excitement and apprehension for the journey ahead. There is time to relax along the road and take photographs of the spectacular scenery. On our arrival at Owers’ Corner we make final checks and preparations for the trek ahead and meet our personal porters. Owers’ Corner was also the place where our Australian troops first received the morale boosting artillery support from the gunners. Three 25-pound guns were positioned on the ground and fired 800 rounds over three days into Ioribaiwa Ridge, where the Japanese made their last big push; it took 25 seconds for the projectiles to cover the 15 miles across Imita Ridge into Ioribaiwa.
Our troops also dragged down the hill one of the 25-pound guns across Goldie River and up towards Imita Ridge. Have a look for the original zig zag track cut along the way which wound its way down the ridge and up towards Imita Ridge. We start the Kokoda Track with a steep descent down to the Goldie River. The trail crosses the Goldie River and past the abandoned village of Uberi. The first camp is deep jungle, in an old wartime campsite location of Dump 66/Goodwater at the foot of Imita.
Ridge. Dump 66 was a major supply/logistic area and also had a medical aid post.
Campsite: Good Water Camp
Meals: B,L,D
Trekking: approx. 3 hours
Day 3: Good Water Camp – Ioribaiwa
The first full day of the Kokoda Trail walk includes the ascent up Imita Ridge. Although this is not the steepest or the highest of the mountains along the trail, it will give you an indication of things to come. We stop on top of Imita Ridge and soak in the atmosphere of the place. Imita Ridge was our last line of defence, the line was drawn in the sand here, there was to be no further withdrawal. There was a set of ‘Golden Stairs’ on both sides of Imita Ridge and up towards Ioribaiwa Village. It is important to remember across the Kokoda Track that there was more than one set of Golden Stairs. We descend down Imita Ridge into the beautiful Ua-Ule Creek area (Pronounced Fa-Lay). Here we take our boots off and put on our adventure sandals to cross the creek 22 times. After the creek crossings we put our boots back on and make our final ascent for the day up the gruelling Ioribaiwa Ridge. You will now know that all that training was now worthwhile. Our walk today finishes at the Village of Ioribaiwa.
Campsite: Ioribaiwa village
Meals: B,L,D
Trekking: approx. 7 hours
Day 4: Ioribaiwa – Agulogo
We have an early start today as we leave Ioribaiwa Village and make our climb up to the top of Ioribaiwa Ridge. This is the furthest spot that the Japanese made across the Kokoda Track, before being ordered to advance to the rear back to Buna.
From this point on the ridge the Japanese could see the lights of Port Moresby. Ioribaiwa Ridge was also the spot where our artillery was pounding the Japanese and the scene of bloody fighting. There is also a series of both Australian and Japanese trenches in this area. Our journey takes us down towards Ofi Creek which was the scene of a very successful Australian ambush on the Japanese. Our journey across the Kokoda Trail sees us climb one of the most difficult and tiresome sections of the track up and over the Maguli Range to the village of Naoro; this is a long climb up that appears to never end. Naoro is another village we see in our travels and is a very pretty place. On the way up there is a concealed Japanese trench system at the Japanese camp where the Japanese mountain gun was being used to pound the Australians on Ioribaiwa Ridge.
From Nauro we then descend down through the swamps of Nauro. This area was also used for aerial drops or biscuit bombing. This area is very swampy and hard going after rain. We cross the fast-flowing Brown River before walking into camp at Agulogo.
Campsite: Agulogo
Meals: B,L,D
Trekking: approx. 9 hours
Day 5: Agulogo – Brigade Hill or Efogi
After breakfast we take on “The wall.” The wall is a steep hard climb that takes us to the Menari Gap with views across to Brigade Hill. We have a steep descent down to Menari Village. Menari is also the village where the Commanding Officer of the 39th Battalion Lt Col Ralph Honner immortalised the 39th Battalion with the Ragged Bloody Heroes photo taken by legendary Australian Photographer Damien Parer.
From Menari we have a long tiring, hot climb up to Brigade Hill. Brigade Hill and Mission Ridge was the scene of a major battle 6-8 September 1942 where 101 Australian Soldiers lost their lives.
At Brigade Hill we stop and discuss the battle on Brigade Hill and Mission Ridge before participating in our commemoration service to pay our respects to the soldiers who served us so gallantly during this battle.
We now descend down from Brigade Hill and stop at Nishimura’s stump. Nishimura is the Japanese soldier who pledges to recover the remains of his deceased comrades. He is known as the “Bone Man”.
Our journey continues past the Mission Ridge turnoff. The scenery along this part of the track is spectacular, with views to Mt Bellamy and Kagi.
We walk into the Village of Efogi for camp.
Campsite: Overnight Brigade Hill or Efogi
Meals: B,L,D
Trekking: approx. 10 hours
Day 6: Brigade Hill or Efogi to 1900
After an early breakfast, we commence our climb up to Efogi 2 before commencing a hard climb down and up to Naduri. We continue our climb up towards the moss forests of Mt Bellamy and we trek towards camp which takes us through an ancient Arctic beech forest with magnificent giant pandanus and beech trees.
Campsite: Overnight 1900
Meals: B,L,D
Trekking: approx. 6 hours
Day 7: 1900 - Eora Creek
Today is a great day on the track as we cross the highest point of the track at 2190m. The scenery is spectacular as we cross down through Templeton’s 1 and along Eora Creek to Templeton’s 2 for lunch. After lunch, we have a 3-hour walk through some very pretty country before arriving at our camp Eora Creek. The area from Templeton’s 1 down to Eora Creek was the scene of major battles both during our fighting withdrawal and our advance across the track. We stop along the way to inspect the weapon pits and defensive positions.
Campsite: Overnight Eora Creek
Meals: B,L,D
Trekking: approx. 8 hours
Day 8: Eora Creek- Isurava Village
Today after breakfast we cross Eora Creek and make our way up to the Japanese defensive positions on the lower “Lost Battlefields”. We view the Japanese mountain gun shells and other left-over armaments. This area was the last major fight during the battles on the Kokoda Track. The Japanese fell back to Oivi and Gorari and left the Australians to re-occupy Kokoda unopposed.
We continue our climb up to Alola village, Alola is a spectacular village perched on top of the ridge with stunning views down to the Eora Creek Valley and across to Abuari. Alola was also the Headquarters for Brigadier Potts during the battle of Isurava. After morning tea, we continue our journey onto the Isurava Battlefields passing by the Isurava Rest house area, Surgeons rock, and the area the Butch Bisset passed away.
At the Isurava memorial, we have time to visit and inspect the battle sites and reflect on the heroic deeds performed by our boys. After our battle site briefing, we hold our memorial service near Kingsbury Rock before group photos are taken. We then trek a further hour to Isurava Village.
Campsite: Overnight Isurava Village
Meals: B,L,D
Trekking: approx. 8 hours
Day 9: Isurava Village - Kokoda
Today is a very exciting day for all the trekkers and porters as we descend down from Isurava to Deniki. At Deniki we can see our final destination, Kokoda. Deniki was also a defensive position of the Australians during our fighting withdrawal back from Kokoda. From Deniki we descend down to the beautiful village of Hoi for a refreshing swim and the realisation that you are now off the mountain. It is now a fast walk to Kokoda and the realisation that you have achieved your dream. We inspect the battle site of Kokoda and discuss the actions that took place in the area. Tonight, we will stay overnight in Kokoda.
Campsite: Kokoda
Meals: B,L,D
Trekking: approx. 7 hours
Day 10: Kokoda - Port Moresby
This morning we have an early morning flight back to Port Moresby and then return to our Hotel for a welcome shower and refreshments.
Accommodation: Stanley Hotel
Day 11: Departure Day
Today we say goodbye to our Kokoda team and transfer to the airport for our flights back to Australia.
Meals: B
- What's included:
- Internal flight Kokoda to Port Moresby
- Transport from Port Moresby to Kokoda
- Airport/Hotel accommodation transfers
- Twin Share accommodation in Port Moresby and guest house or tent accommodation along the Kokoda track
- Kokoda Specific Training Program
- Visit to Bomana War Cemetery
- Australian Guide and an experienced and professionally trained PNG Trek Master and Experienced PNG Trek Leader plus camp crew and group porters
- Group Camping and trek equipment
- Two-person mosquito proof tent and groundsheet per person for the duration of the trek
- All meals during the trek
- Village campsite fees
- Village Kokoda Track Authority fee and permit
- What's not included:
- International airfares
- Personal Porter cost $720.00 (to carry your rucksack or backpack) RECOMMENDED
- Anti-malaria medication and / or inoculations as recommended by your Doctor
- Personal first aid and personal care items
- Medical Assessment (we provide each person with a Doctors letter to take to your local Doctor)
- Passport
- Personal Travel Insurance (Insurance needs to include provision for an emergency airlift out of the Kokoda Track if required)
- Personal expenses in Port Moresby (e.g. telephone calls, drinks, meals, room service etc)
- Extra night’s accommodation in Port Moresby
- “Trekking Gear List” items.
- Any expenses relating to a Medical Evacuation
* Travellers are responsible for valid visas throughout the duration of the trip
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