Itinerary Guide
Your Kokoda Trek package starts when you arrive in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
You will be met at the airport by an Investa Treks staff member, and be transferred to the Gateway Hotel for refreshments, and to meet the rest of the trekkers (This is the time to leave any unwanted gear at the hotel to pick on your return).
The trekkers will then hop onto the transport and head towards Owen Stanley Range in preparation for your trek.
On the way a few stops will be made, and the first stop will be at the supermarket for people to top up on last minute supplies. The next stop is just out of POM, at the Bomona War Cemetery. Standing in the car park, it is not long before trekkers start to walk amongst the graves in reverence to the soldiers who died during WWII in PNG.
You are able to find the names of soldiers and reflect, as you stroll amongst the graves, take photos, and look at the memorials.Many trekkers bring details of loved ones or friends who may have served during the campaign.
Other significant places along the way, include Rouna Falls, the Junction, and Macdonalds Corner, so keep your camera handy.
The last stop for the night is at Vesilogo, where you will meet your porters who you will journey with you over the following days.
In the later afternoon, trekkers will meet, get supplies and be briefed on what will happen while on the track. If you have any questions, the guide will be more than happy to answer them for you. Your group will enjoy a nice meal and discuss the adventure ahead. Then the night is yours to rest up before the onward journey the next day, but we recommend an early night.
Day 1
At 7am your team will share breakfast, and move to Owers Corner which marks the start of the Kokoda Track.
At Owers Corner the group will have the time to check out the memorials, before trekking through the Kokoda Gates.
Note: Prayer marks the start of each days trekking. With the group ready to move out our guide will commit the day to God, and Pray for the protection and safe onward journey for the trekkers. All participants are asked to respect this time.
While trekking, the porters will assist you wherever possible, to make your experience even more enjoyable, and will keep you informed about the availability of water along the track.
At the bottom of the first decent is Goldie River, where the group will stop to view the Salvation Army Memorial, placed on the track to remember the Sally Men who served in WWII throughout PNG.
After crossing the Goldie Creek you will trek up through abandened wartime Uberi. During the Kokoda Campaign while there was no fighting in this area, there was a buzz of activity of soldiers moving forward, the wounded making their way south, and Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels resting after carrying supplies and the more seriously wounded.
The food supplies and the Regimental Aid Post (RAP) were tirelessly working, and the Salvo ‘Hop In’ Centre at the foot of Uberi serving refreshments to the soldiers, was a very welcomed sight. After continuing through the rainforest one can soon forget where they are, as it may seem as if you are walking along a nice bushwalk in Australia.After a few hours you will arrive at the first nights stay. Goodwater as it is called by the locals, is at the southern foot of the Imita Ridge.
The group will set up their tents with the help of their porters, and enjoy a nice wash before the evening meal. After tea, the group will share over a hot drink and receive a briefing on the next days movements, before heading off to bed.
Day 2
Waking early the group is eager to move forward up to Imita Ridge, which is the southern most point the Australian withdrew to during the Kokoda Campaign. At the top of the ridge you will be briefed on the events that occurred here before moving on. Down the Northern slope of Imita ridge takes you into yet more beautiful rainforest, and you will follow and cross the Ua-Ule creek a number of times before trekking up to Dump 44 for Lunch.
Just before Dump 44 you will stop at the creek to fill your water bottles before the long climb up to Ioribaiwa after lunch.Post War Ioribaiwa is located on the patch of Kunai grass where the Australians against the Japanese were involved in an almost suicidal attack, before the Australians withdrew back to Imita Ridge.
After a rest you will move up and over the ridge onto camp for the night at Ofi Creek. Ofi Creek guesthouse is nestled high above the beautiful creek and trekkers will sleep with the sound of the creek below.
Day 3
Waking to the sound of birds in the surrounding trees, after breakfast it is time to pack up and move down to cross the creek.
The vision before you now is the start of climb up the Maguli Range. The next few hours can be a frustrating climb as the clearing up ahead often just means the track is changing angle or degrees slightly. These false peaks come to a welcomed end when you will stop for a bite to eat, before moving onto the Japanese ladder for Lunch. It was in this region that the Japanese mountain gun was located firing on Australian positions across the valley.
After a welcomed break you move up an over the ridge followed by a steep decent down before getting a view of New Nauro Village below.
You will continue down the ridge and proceed through the more open kunai grass before decending into New Nauro Village. The view from New Nauro is hard to believe and the direction forward is marked by the small v on the horizon.
Before moving on you will view wartime Nauro down in the valley below, on the banks of the Naoro River.
The next 2 hours you will trek through the muddy swamp below following the Naoro river, before stopping at Trumpet Guesthouse for the night (possible night stay option Agulogo 30 minutes away).
Day 4
In day 4 you wake to enjoy a nice breakfast before trekking out. Shortly after Trumpet, you will round the bend to see the Brown River. After you get photos, the group continues to the end of the swamp and has morning tea before facing the wall.
After trekking up the wall you welcome the idea that you’ve made it and camp is only a short distance away. The track can be slippery in places and the group looking out for each other encourages slow and steady steps.
You will continue down and reach the village of Menari for lunch, and a welcomed rest.In the afternoon you may take the opportunity for a swim and a maybe a game of football with the locals.Our friends at the school will come and see us and do a presentation, which is warmly accepted, and trekkers have the opportunity to give gifts to the school.After a rest the group enjoy the evening meal before the nights rest.
Day 5
Morning comes around and you again enjoy your breakfast before trekking down along the Menari Airstrip. The group is briefed on the history of Menari and the events of the war. The Japanese in an elevated position (During the Australian withdrawal) had the upper hand and Australian soldiers were scattered and forced to retreat. This is an impacting time when shortly afterwards you stand in a similar position to the Japanese, over looking the now peaceful village.
Past the Airstrip you follow the short steep decent down to the Vabuiagi River, and on the other side of the log crossing the group gather for a short break, then start the extended climb up to Brigade Hill.
After you have had Lunch, the group is briefed on the significance of the hill, the Brigade Headquarters and Japanese positions. A minutes reverent silence is given to remember those who lost their lives.
The group again puts on their packs and follows the track around to Mission Ridge where the trekkers pause to imagine the Japanese lantern parade, which was viewed by the northern troops. While witnessing such an extraordinary sight, the Australian troops occupying wartime Efogi were ordered to withdraw further up the ridge closer to supporting fire. The group then moves on and follows the track down and progresses up past the Efogi airstrip into Efogi 1. You can enjoy a swim before conquering the climb up to Efogi 2. After lunch the trek continues down before crossing the Efogi River before the long climb up to Naduri.
At Naduri the group will visit Ovuru Ndiki, one of the last remaining Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, and trekkers are welcome to get photos for 5-10 kina per shot. Trekkers will enjoy a nice shower and rest before dinner, and an early night to bed.
Day 6
In the morning after breakfast you will proceed along the track up the to the gap that overlooks Naduri, Efogi and Kagi. After morning tea, you will continue through the forest and divert to Mayola 1 a major supply dump and the group can walk into the open and see the advantage of such a drop zone. You can also view the weapons pit near camp. Photos are 10 Kina.
Moving on, you will arrive in at camp around lunch, providing the opportunity for the energetic to take the trek to Mayola 2, with the option to trek across the lake and onto the Kitty hawk plane crash site. This trek adds around 4 hours to the day, but trekkers can leave packs back at camp for an easier walk. Mayola is the furtherest point that the Salvation Army went in the Australian Advance before being forced to withdraw, hearing enemy fire only a short distance away. At Bombers Camp the you can also view the B25 American Bomber plane crash site, after which the camp is named. This night will be rather cold, and the river to wash in, is the the coldest so far.
Day 7
On the morning of day 7 you may experience a cooler morning, but within a short time trekkers are reminded of the humidity of such a climate.
Only 35 minutes walk you trek through 1900, before trekking up towards the highest peak along the track.
Shortly after reaching the top you can stop to rest at The Gap, that on a clear day looks down into the valley Kokoda is located.
The group has a longer day ahead and morning tea is enjoyed at Templeton’s Crossing one.
The group continue on moving at a good pace due to the terrain and into Templeton’s Crossing two for Lunch. The afternoon trek is still 3-4 hours long, depending on the pace of the group. The trek after lunch seems to be extended, and the track drops alot leading down into Eora Creek. Coming down into Eora Creek, it is easy to recall the war time photo taken by Damian Parer, as you descend past the location where he stood to get the picture of the village in full action.
You will enjoy a great wash in the creek and will welcome the opportunity to stop and rest the feet.
The night meal will be shared and the evening briefing times as as usual. it is early to bed for a good rest.
Day 8
After breakfast you are briefed on the events that took place in this area.
The situation that surrounded the Australian soldiers during their advance was hard to fathom. Eventually being trapped with the Japanese soldiers in an elevated position, the Japanese were only over run and forced to retreat when Australian troops we able to come around an attack from an elevated position. The response from the Japanese was one that had to be recorded as they ran off screeming. Your group will take a short detour up to view the Japanese position, and it is a very impacting time. Some trekkers do not take this detour, but we recommend this.
You will continue along the track and climb up to Alola for Morning tea before moving onto Isurava for lunch, and a memorial service. The group reflect on the events of the war, the lives of the soldiers, and the battle at Isurava. Isurava is where the soldiers dug in, stood their ground and fought as hard as they could against the oncoming Japanese force. During this confrontation they were out numbered about 8 to 1, and the stone pillars, that stand today, mark the characteristics displayed by the men:
'COURAGE, ENDURANCE, MATESHIP, SACRIFICE'
This service is very significant and impacting on the group, and also provides a time to appreciate the porters.
After an extended stop over it is another hour and a half onto camp at Isurava.You will get to enjoy a shower or a wash in the small creek before having a rest before tea. The journey thus far has been challenging but very worthwhile, as you have been able to learn, grow and to appreciate what is ‘Kokoda’
Day 9
Isurava onto Deneki is amazing as you trek through choko vine that has overtaken the vegetation along this part of the track. At Deneki, you are able to see down in the valley the Kokoda Airstrip in the distance, and with the end in sight the group move on.
You will then trek for 40 minutes down the final decent into Hoi.
After Hoi there is a futher 2.5 hours trekking along the flat into Kokoda.
At Kokoda Celebrations are everywhere.
Trekkers have lunch and head either to the shower, or to the river for a wash and a swim.
In the afternoon trekkers also have the opportunity to go and see the Kokoda War Museum.
Trekkers are encouraged to make the most of the afternoon to wash and clean their gear before getting back to POM.
At the end of the trek, it is common for trekkers to pass the hat around, and tip the porters. The Guide will distribute this money evenly amongst the boys.
On the last day, it is around a 20 minute walk to the airstrip, and on the way you will have the chance to visit the Kokoda fruit and veggie markets.
(Some groups may proceed onto Popondetta for the returning flight to POM.)
At the airstrip your bags will be lined up, followed by the wait for the chartered plane to arrive.
The chartered flight takes around 25 minutes back to Port Moresby, and where possible, a short detour is taken to fly over some significant sites (this is dependant on weather conditions).
At Port Moresby you will be transferred to the Gateway Hotel, where you can enjoy a refreshing shower, clean up and a rest. Be sure to collect all your personal items that you had left at the hotel while trekking.
Trekkers usually meet together for final celebration meal to reflect on the trek, before the trip home the next day.
Home day
You are free to do as you choose, before being transferred to your flight back to Australia.
Remember:For the Kokoda trekkers, unwanted gear can be left at the Gateway Hotel before your trek, and picked up when you return.
There are many villages and jungle camps along the track, so night camps do change and as a result we support different locals along the way.
With this in mind the following itinerary table is given as a guide of where you may stay.
On average the trek days starts at 6-6:30am till around 3-4pm. This will vary somewhat, depending on the pace of the group.
Owers Corner to Kokoda
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NIGHT 1
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Imita base camp
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NIGHT 2
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Ioribaiwa / Ofi Creek
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NIGHT 3
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Nauro V
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Menari
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NIGHT 5
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Efogi 1 / Naduri
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NIGHT 6
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Bombers Camp
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NIGHT 7
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Eora Creek
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NIGHT 8
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Isurava
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NIGHT 9
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Kokoda
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|
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Day 10
Your group after breakfast will do a final pack before heading down to the Kokoda Airstrip.
Kokoda to Owers Corner
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NIGHT 1
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Deniki
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NIGHT 2
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Alola
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NIGHT 3
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Templeton’s Crossing
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NIGHT 4
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Naduri
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NIGHT 5
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Menari
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NIGHT 6
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Trumpet Camp
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NIGHT 7
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Ioribaiwa
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NIGHT 8
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Goldie Creek
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NIGHT 9
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Port Moresby
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|
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On day 9 your group will go down the Owen Stanley Range back to Port Moresby, via the Bomona War Cemetery.