The Kokoda Track
Belay Group Trek 2024
11 Days
8 Day Trek
Meals Included
Advanced
2 Nights Hotel/8 Nights Camp
The Experience
Walking the Kokoda track has become an important experience for every Australian. The physical and mental challenges of the Track, including an understanding of the courage and sacrifice shown by Australia’s diggers, offer a life-changing experience for every trekker.
The story of Kokoda – the heroic defense of our nation against a powerful foreign invader – is finally gaining its rightful place at the forefront of the Australian consciousness. However, one can only begin to understand what really took place on that remote jungle pathway during WWII by actually trekking over its arduous course.
After the war, the Kokoda legend lay dormant for six decades, during which time the New Guinean jungle reclaimed many of its historic sites. After years of painstaking research on the track itself, and with the aid of the fast-thinning ranks of both Australian and Japanese veterans, Bill James has played an important part in uncovering the ‘lost battlefields’ of Kokoda. His publication, Field Guide to the Kokoda Track, is regarded as the ‘trekkers bible’. Bill acts as a historical advisor for On Track Expeditions and has passed his extensive knowledge of the campaign on to our trek.
Itinerary
Walking North
Upon arrival at the airport we will be transferred to the Kokoda Trail Hotel on the picturesque Sogeri Plateau, just outside of Port Moresby. A trek briefing will take place before a group dinner.
We make an early start and travel by bus to Owers’ Corner, the start point of the trek. Here we meet the porters who will accompany the group for the first time. We descend to the Goldie River and then climb Imita, the first ridgeline of the Range. It was at this point where the Australians, camped on the ridge, turned the tide in the battle and forced the Japanese, on the opposing ridgeline at Ioribaiwa, to retreat. We descend into the Ua-Ule creek valley for lunch and then we climb to Ioribaiwa Village for camp.
The morning starts with a climb to the top of Ioribaiwa Ridge. It was here that the Japanese were forced to retreat through exhaustion and starvation, despite being within sight of the ocean and the lights of Port Moresby, their ultimate goal.
After crossing Ofi Creek we make camp at the village of Nauro, perched on a hillside in the Maguli Range.
descend to the Goldie River and then climb Imita, the first ridgeline of the Range. It was at this point where the Australians, camped on the ridge, turned the tide in the battle and forced the Japanese, on the opposing ridgeline at Ioribaiwa, to retreat. We descend into the Ua-Ule creek valley for lunch and then we climb to Ioribaiwa Village for camp.
We make our way through the Brown River valley, where the main crossing provides the most pleasant swimming hole on the track. We then climb up and over ‘the Wall’ to Menari, one of the largest villages in the Range.
We ascend Brigade Hill, the site of one of the most famous battles of the campaign.
It was here that a night-time Japanese flanking manoeuvre saw Brigadier Potts cut off from the three Battalions under his command. The 2/14th and 2/16th Battalions managed to regain the Australian lines, but the 2/27th Battalion, having been in the battle for only one day, became lost in the jungle for three arduous weeks before finally re-emerging in the foothills near Port Moresby.
We pass through the village of Efogi before making camp at Naduri.
We make our way up and over Mount Bellamy, the highest part of the track with an altitude of 2100 meters.
In this area we see some of the track’s more interesting geographical features: the high altitude ‘moss forests’ and the Myola Lakes, huge dry lakebeds that served as important dropping grounds for Australian supplies.
We make camp at Templeton’s Crossing, named after ‘Uncle’ Sam Templeton, Captain of B Company 39th Battalion, a popular and courageous officer who lost his life in the early stages of the battle.
We pass through Eora Creek village. Now abandoned, the wartime village was a regimental aid post during the Australian withdrawal, made famous by footage from Damien Parer’s Academy-Award winning documentary ‘Kokoda Front Line’.
We cross to the other side of the range on a path less traveled to experience the beautiful village of Abuari, where the 2/16th Battalion held off a Japanese flanking movement while the main battle went ahead at Isurava.
Welcomed by the local families Abuari we experience true village life and explore this breath taking location. A tour of the school, gardens and church are included in this great day.
We head off a little later today with a river crossing down at Eora Creek. We pass through the village of Alola and make camp at the Isurava Memorial Site.
Dawn service at the Isurava Memorial. At Isurava we will hear how the 2/14th Infantry Battalion of the AIF joined the beleaguered 39th in the fight against the Japanese.
The breathtaking Isurava Memorial is testament to the courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice of the diggers. We then descend the western ridge of the Eora Creek valley, passing through the fields of choko vines to the village of Deniki.
From here it is just a short descent into the Yodda Valley, though the rubber plantations to the village of Kokoda and the end of the track. We spend the night at Kokoda.
We fly back to Port Moresby on a morning charter flight from Kokoda. We visit the Bomana War Cemetery and have a final group dinner at our hotel in the Port Moresby CBD.
After a nice rest, breakfast, swim in the pool and a hot shower we are transported to Port Moresby International Airport and depart this amazing country knowing we have explored the history, culture, people and Kokoda Track.
Inclusions
10 Nights in PNG
2 Nights in Hotel
Twin share hotel accomodation
8 Day Kokoda Trek
All Meals Included
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks while on the track and in hotels
Personal Tent
No sharing or bivvy camping
All transfers included
All transfers and ground travel arrangements via private bus
Chartered flight
Charter flight Kokoda-Port Moresby – Not a shared charter.
Experienced Australian historical guide
Highly experienced guide with First Aid and Working With Children’s check
Specialist Knowledge
Comprehensive narrative of the Kokoda Campaign
Full Access
Access to all historical sites on the track inc. Isurava Battle Site, Brigade Hill, Myola Lakes and Bomana Cemetery
Local Assistance & Support
Trained and experienced local PNG head guide and group porter crew
Safety Contingencies
Emergency Satellite communications and 24 hour Australian support network.
Risk Management
Detailed Risk Management and Risk Assessment of the Kokoda Track
Public Liability Insurance
Full Public Liability Insurance is included with all of our expeditions.
Officially Licensed
We work with an official Kokoda Track Authority licensed tour operator
Full Permissions
Kokoda Track Authority track permit
Additional Inclusions
The following items are also included in this specific package:
International flights
Personal Porter
Comprehensive Travel Insurance including Medical Evacuation
Not Included
Porter Tips
Soft drink/Alcohol
Single room supplement
Travel Insurance Premium above $200 (depending on age and pre-existing medical conditions)
Gallery
Reviews
Thank you On Track for a wonderful experience. Fully satisfied & content.
Great Australian leader and great local porters.
It was awesome how you guys organise everything along the way so we have just concentrate on walking.
The process from start to finish was great!
I was so moved by the way Bill told his stories, it gave me such tremendous insight to what when on and made the trek so memorable and enjoyable!!!
The whole adventure was fantastic and our porters were wonderful.
Ross was so knowledgeable and passionate about the diggers and war in Kokoda. He spoke from his heart, his knowledge was exceptional and his love for the task was profound.
I had the best experience of my life!
FAQs
PNG Accomodation and Comprehensive Travel Insurance are included in your trek package. Depending on your package, international flights may or may not be included. If flights are not included, our in-house travel agents can find the best airfares to suit your trip.
Anyone who is doing regular exercise is capable of walking Kokoda. We have training programs to guide you on how best to prepare.
We require a $400 deposit to confirm your place on the expedition.
Yes, we have a training program and our expedition guides are available to give you training tips and help with your progress.
Papua New Guinea is generally hot and humid with temperatures in the high 20s or low 30s. The Kokoda Track is in the Owen Stanley Range, where the forest canopy provides some relief from the heat. Our trek is during the dry season, but expect some rain and mud somewhere along the way. We camp tents in grass clearings in local villages. The campsites have toilets and huts for cooking and dining.
On Track Expeditions is commited to ethical and sustainable trekking. We support the local people on the Kokoda Track through employment opportunities, camping and trekking fees, and involvement in community projects.
There is no mobile phone reception on the track itself, however there is coverage in Port Moresby and Kokoda. On the track we have satellite communications in case of emergency but otherwise have a 'no news is good news' policy.
We provide participants with all main meals and snacks. Catering is provided by our partner company, On Track Meals. We don't serve dehydrated food! Examples of dinner meals include spaghetti bolognese, coconut ginger chicken, and even a slow-cooked steak! We can cater for certain dietary requirements such as vegetarian or gluten-free.
We are a 100% Australian owned and operated licensed tourism operator.
Australian Operated
We are proud to be an Internationally accredited tourism operator.
Internationally Accredited
Our guides are trusted and experienced with Australian standards.
Experienced Guides
We are partnered with a number of Australian Bodies & International organisations.
Partners
Why People Trust Us
We have been in operation since 2010 travelling the world and offering guided expeditions to many individuals, schools & groups.
