39th Battalion Treks
Walk in the footsteps of the brave as we follow the war diary of Warrant-Officer Jack Wilkinson as he led his young bravehearts across the Kokoda Trail in 1942:
7 July: 0800 hrs. We left Ilolo in a hurry carrying packs. What a weight. Uncle Sam (Templeton) in the lead. Arrived Uberi 1730 hrs. Several chaps sent back here with fever and bad knees. Hell of a strain on knees on down grades. Had busy time patching feet.
8 July: Made Ioribaiwa. Had carriers for our packs and just as well. Two long hills to climb. Missed out on tea as I was with last of troops. Had a job to get some of them to make it. Uncle Sam came back and helped me about half-way up last hill. Was carrying four rifles and three haversacks and had doubts about making it myself. Uncle Sam insisted on 
carrying all my gear as well as that of others. Had a busy time when reached camp. Many feet blistered and chafes from haversacks and rifle slings. Camp cold and wet. Made a brew of rum and lime and hot water which revived some. Many non-drinkers among these kids. Rum turned out to be mostly metho spirits. Doled out by Steve (Captain Stevenson, Second-in-Command, B Company). Had a bad, cold night.
9 July: Made Nauro. A long hard day but not too bad. One man broke down but we all made camp. Good camp and nice place. Bothered by native bees enroute crawling all over us after the salt in sweat. No stings. Last downhill to camp very hard to take. Many falls as knees gave way. General condition of troops good. One man severe 
exhaustion. Conference with Uncle Sam and decided to stay here for one day to give troops a spell.
10 July: One man shows signs of dysentery. Age about 48. Oldest man in company - first war also. Has son in company and trying to keep up. Said nothing about being sick hoping he would improve. Decided to leave him here to come on later.
11 July: Made Efogi. A long day but not too bad. Menari is nice spot in between and we had lunch there. Troops in good shape. Day's spell worked wonders. Uncle Sam very annoyed about the rum and metho. Pity any QM blokes he can pin the blame on.
12 July: Made Kagi. Only a short walk but steep. Fairly high and cold. Peter Brewer (Assistant Resident Magistrate at Kokoda) here to work with carriers from Kokoda. Long talk about track ahead.
13 July: To Eora Creek Crossing No 2. Long day over range. Rain forest and lawyer vines. Deep moss and 
slippery track. Rain and mist. Cold and dreary. Camp not too good. Creek roaring loudly. To bed with wet clothes. Hope my feet stand up to it a bit longer.
14 July: To flat below Deniki. Long day but reasonable walking. Could see Kokoda from hilltop. Kienzle, Uncle Sam and Brewer to Kokoda first and sent back tents for troops. Much warmer than in hills. Troops in good form. Some bananas and pawpaws for 'kai'.
15 July: To Kokoda. Nice place. Glad to be here. Took over native hospital. Got some potash permanganate and made troops soak feet for an hour. Then to sit in sun and dry out.
Source: To Kokoda and Beyond by Victor Austin
All 39th Battalion treks are led by a professional Australian trek leader from Adventure Kokoda. The size of each group is limited to 15 trekkers.
Battlesite briefings are conducted at Imita Ridge, Ioribaiwa Ridge, Menari, Brigade Hill, Kagi, Templeton's Crossing, Eora Creek, Isurava and Kokoda.
Personal PNG Carriers
Personal porters (grandsons of the famous 'fuzzy-wuzzy angels') are available to carry your backpack for you. This is a recommended option if you are not an experienced trekker. The cost for a personal PNG carrier for the duration of the trek is $590.
Our Adventure Kokoda Trek Itinerary
Day 1
Check-in at departure airport for flight to Port Moresby. Met at Jackson's airport by your Chief Guide. Drive to
Bomana War Cemetery for an inspection and briefing.
Transfer to the Sogeri Lodge. Meet in conference room for a team briefing on the strategic situation in PNG in 1942 and an overview of the Kokoda campaign.
Your trek leader will provide a safety briefing and provide an insight into the Koiari/Orokaiva cultures along the track.
You will then receive your backpacks/daypacks. Your trek leader will assist with 'fitting' your backpack and gear for the trek.
After the trek briefing you will join your fellow trekkers and PNG guides and carriers for introductions over dinner.
Day 2
Vehicle transfer to Owers Corner via the original start of the Kokoda Trail at McDonalds Corner.
Trek briefing
at Owers Corner then trek down to the Goldie River. Cross here and proceed to the abandoned village site at Uberi. Here we depart from the 'eco-tourist trek' and proceed along the wartime track as described by war journalist, Osmar White:
'After leaving Uberi the route lay along the river flats for a while. Then it slanted up a razorback into which more than 1000 steps had been cut. In three or four miles it rose 2000 feet. We camp on a creek below the southern crest of Imita Ridge.
Day 3
Climb to the crest of Imita Ridge. Battlesite briefing and inspect the weapon pits. Proceed down to Imita Creek and traverse the jungle clad creeks
to the base of Ioribaiwa Ridge. Climb to Dump 44 then follow the original wartime track to the crest of Ioribaiwa for a battlesite briefing. The Japanese forces were ordered to withdraw from this position which was in sight of their objective of Port Moresby. Descend to campsite at Ofi Creek.
Day 4
Climb the Maguli Range. Inspect a Japanese defensive position - climb 'Japs Ladder' and descend to the village of Nauro. Continue down to the Brown River for a crossing then trek through the low lying swamp area to our
campsite at Agulogo.
Day 5
Cross the Ladavi Saddle and descend to the village of Menari. Meet a surviving 'Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angel' and view the area that Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Honner briefed his 'ragged bloody heroes' after the heroic battle of Isurava. Grueling climb up to Brigade Hill. Battlesite briefing at the gravesite found by Charlie Lynn in 2002. Inspect the Brigade Hill and Mission Ridge defensive positions. Camp on Brigade Hill.
Day 6
Trek via Mission Ridge to the wartime village site of Efogi village then down the valley and up to Kagi via the original track. Cross the range from Kagi and follow the footsteps of the 39th Battalion through the moss forest, via Mt Bellamy to Templeton's Crossing No 2. This route was discovered by Charlie Lynn and a small party of Koiari elders and Adventure Kokoda guides in January/February 2009. View weapon pits discovered during the clearing of the track. Battlesite briefing at Templetons Campsite.
Day 7
Trek to Eora Creek - the wildest creek crossing along the Kokoda Trail. Battlesite briefing on the old abandoned village site filmed by wartime cameraman, Damien Parer. Continue to Alola village then onto our campsite at 
the Isurava Memorial.
Day 8
Dawn Service and Battlesite briefing at the Isurava Memorial. Inspect the battlesite position. Trek down to Deniki village for another battlesite briefing. Continue to Hoi village then onto our campsite at Kovello village.
Day 9
Trek to the Kokoda plateau. Battlesite briefing at the monuments. Inspect the position defended by the gallant 39th Battalion on 29 September 1942. Trek down to the airfield - join our charter flight from Kokoda to Port Moresby. Check into our hotel for briefing, dinner and awards.
Day 10
Bus to the Port Moresby International airport. Flight from Port Moresby to Brisbane and Sydney.
