Kokoda History Trek 9 days

If you lead a sedentary lifestyle you will need a minimum of three months physical training and preparation.

You should start with a complete medical check-up then consult with your local gymnasium to prepare a personal training program aimed at increasing your aerobic fitness level. As a guide we recommend you start with minimum of 45 minutes of aerobic activity (walking, power-walking, jogging, cycling, tennis, etc) at least four times per week.

You should aim to increase your work rate by ten percent each week after that.

Your training needs to include extensive walking, preferably in a hilly-area, carrying a weighted pack. In the last month of your training you need to be capable of walking at least 10 km daily, carrying 3 to 5 kg more than the weight you expect to carry on your trek.

Think of your training as a deposit in your fitness account – everything you do between now and the trek will pay a dividend on the trail.  If you haven’t made enough ‘deposits’ into your fitness account you will have to go into ‘debt’ on the trail – and debt of any kind is always painful!  

You can’t cheat yourself on Kokoda – if you have done the work you will complete it OK – if you haven’t you will be a candidate for an emergency evacuation!  

39th Battalion preparing for the Kokoda campaign on the Sogeri plateau in 1942

We contract PNGs premier air charter operator, TropicAir to fly our trekkers directly into and out of Kokoda. 

We do not try and cut costs by using scheduled flights into the Oro Provincial capital at Popondetta, then subject trekkers to a bumpy 90 km ride in the back of a truck to get to Kokoda.

Scheduled flights into Popondetta are notoriously unreliable and often result in tour companies arriving into Kokoda after dark then having to reorganise themselves for a 3-hour night trek to their first campsite at Deniki.

The Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) is a PNG Government 'Special Purpose' body administered by the Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs.

Unfortunately the employment of officials without any commercial management qualifications or experience has led to gross incompetence, poor governance, and corruption.

The KTA has not published a financial report for more than 10 years - most of the money they collect for trek permit fees now circulates in Port Moresby will little reaching village communities across the Trail.

They have not updated their official website since 2012 – it is no longer a source of reliable information.

They no longer conduct due-diligence checks when issuing tour operator licenses – as a result most Kokoda tour companies do not comply with the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) and are therefore operating illegally in PNG.

They do not require local PNG operators to have any form of Public Liability Insurance policies.

Trekkers should therefore be aware of the rule of 'Caveat Emptor' i.e., 'Let the Buyer Beware' when selecting a Kokoda tour company to lead them across the Kokoda Trail.

LINK: The Kokoda Track Authority

The trek across Kokoda is the toughest physical challenge most people will encounter. 

The decision as to whether to carry your own backpack is important because it can mean the difference between enjoying the experience or suffering and having to withdraw from the trek.

Some trekkers in the past have stubbornly refused to engage a personal carrier because they want to do it like ‘the diggers did it!’

If this is your rationale we suggest you purchase a pair of hobnail leather boots, carry a canvas backpack with webbing pouches; travel with a half-blanket which you will willingly share with up to six other trekkers; borrow a rifle and ammunition; sleep outside your tent and leave your underwear and toiletries at the hotel in Port Moresby!

For those who are young, confident and physically fit it will not be a problem.  But for those who lead a sedentary lifestyle; who might be carrying an extra kilo or two; who might be harbouring some self-doubt about their ability to burden themselves with extra weight; or who do not maintain a daily regime of physical training it will be a struggle – you will find the track does not make concessions to anybody!  It is therefore important that you do an honest assessment of your physical capabilities.

If you are physically fit, are an experienced extreme conditions trekker, and have prepared yourself with a strenuous training program then you should be able to carry your own pack.  On the other hand if you have any doubts about your ability then you should consider engaging a personal carrier for yourself or sharing one with a mate. 

If you engage your own Personal Carrier prior to your trek we provide them with a trek uniform and purchase additional food and camping gear for them before we leave Port Moresby – there is none available along the track.

The cost of a Personal Carrier is between $660 - $790 per person, depending on the trek type/duration.  The cost will be displayed when completing the online Booking Form.

If you decide to engage one after you arrive an additional $150 surcharge will apply to cover the additional costs we have to incur as short notice.

From time to time we have trekkers who realise they cannot carry their backpack after the second or third day - we then have to try and recruit additional carriers along the trail. This is a difficult exercise in the middle of the Owen Stanley Ranges as we are not able to arrange for additional food, uniforms or camping gear for the additional carriers.  It’s also unfair as our PNG trek guides and carriers, who already work hard under extreme conditions, don’t appreciate having the size of their meals reduced whenever we have to engage additional personal carriers during the trek.

A Personal Carrier will carry your backpack and act as your ‘trek caddy’ for the duration of your trek – he will often catch you before you fall; will assist you over the most difficult sections of the trail; assist you with packing up and setting up and proudly introduce you to his family in his village. 

Adventure Kokoda Video:  Should you Hire a Personal Carrier?

In 1958 the Commonwealth Battles Nomenclature Committee awarded the Battle Honour ‘Kokoda Trail’ to the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the 10 Australian battalions who fought in the Kokoda campaign.

In 12 October 1972 the PNG Government proclaimed the name ‘Kokoda Trail’ (PNG Government Gazette No. 88 of 12 October 1972, page 1362, column 2. Notice 1972/28 of the ‘PNG Place Names Committee’ refers).

The official term ‘Kokoda Trail’ was adopted by the Australian War Memorial and the Returned Services League of Australia and remains proudly emblazoned on the Regimental Colours of the battalions who fought for the honour.

After Prime Minister Paul Keating kissed the ground at Kokoda during his visit for the 50^th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign in 1992 the term ‘Kokoda Track’ emerged as the politically correct term due to the linkage to of the term ‘Trail’ to America.

This overlooks the fact that America saved us from a Japanese onslaught in 1042.

One city-based journalist supported the politically correct term as he reported that ‘track was the language of the ‘Australian bush’. He was obviously unaware that the entire Australian continent is criss-crossed with ‘fire trails’.

Research on the issue can be viewed on this link: Official Name of the Kokoda Trail