Premium Kokoda Campaign Trek

The ultimate 10-day Kokoda Pilgrimage trek which includes an additional 20 km exploration of the two lakebeds of Myola and a visit to a crashed US Army P40 aircraft.

Days
10
From
$4,995
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

10-day Premium Kokoda Pilgrimage

Over the past 32 years Major Charlie Lynn has developed the ultimate trek itinerary to allow trekkers to maximise the value of their pilgrimage.

The 10-day Premium Kokoda Trek offers the ultimate Kokoda experience - includes visits to all battlefields, fire support bases, logistic areas and evacuation centres along the original Kokoda Trail. 

In addition to this we take a day to explore the mystical, historical Myola lakes which were considered to be tabu by the local Koiari  tribes from the beginning of time until 1942.

We also trek across to the eastern side of the range that was defended by the 53rd and 2/16th Battalions.

We provide superior battlefield presentations regarding the strategy of the Kokoda campaign; the phases of war; the principles applicable to each phase; our battlefield tactics; and soldiers recollections.

We follow the original wartime trail mapped by the Royal Australian Army Survey Corps in 1981 and rediscovered through numerous mapping expeditions led by Major Charlie Lynn over a three year period from 2010 - 2013.

What's included

  • Meals
  • All transportation
  • All accommodation
  • All trek fees
  • Mosquito-proof tents

Dates & Availability for Premium Kokoda Campaign Trek

Date
Status Price  
13 Apr - 25 Apr 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Scott Babington Limited Places $6,495 $6,095 $6,195 $5,295
14 Apr - 25 Apr 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Peter Morrison Limited Places $6,195 $5,795 $5,895 $4,995
24 Apr - 5 May 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Angelo Tsirekas Taking Bookings $6,195 $5,795 $5,895 $4,995
6 May - 17 May 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Dave Sherry Limited Places $6,195 $5,795 $5,895 $4,995
30 May - 10 Jun 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Scott Babington Taking Bookings $6,195 $5,795 $5,895 $4,995
9 Jun - 20 Jun 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Peter Morrison Taking Bookings $6,195 $5,795 $5,895 $4,995
23 Jun - 4 Jul 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Scott Babington Taking Bookings $6,195 $5,795 $5,895 $4,995
10 Jul - 21 Jul 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Dave Sherry Taking Bookings $6,345 $5,945 $6,095 $5,095
11 Aug - 22 Aug 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Scott Babington Taking Bookings $6,345 $5,945 $6,095 $5,095
23 Aug - 3 Sep 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Peter Morrison Taking Bookings $6,345 $5,945 $6,095 $5,095
29 Sep - 10 Oct 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Jake Leske Taking Bookings $6,345 $5,945 $6,095 $5,095
30 Sep - 11 Oct 2025
Kokoda to Owers Corner
Scott Babington Private group only Private group
24 Oct - 4 Nov 2025
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Reg Yates Taking Bookings $6,345 $5,945 $6,095 $5,095
13 Apr - 25 Apr 2026
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Scott Babington Taking Bookings $6,645 $6,245 $6,395 $5,395
14 Apr - 25 Apr 2026
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Peter Morrison Taking Bookings $6,345 $5,945 $6,095 $5,095
24 Apr - 5 May 2026
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Craig Moffat Taking Bookings $6,345 $5,945 $6,095 $5,095
4 May - 15 May 2026
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Dave Sherry Taking Bookings $6,345 $5,945 $6,095 $5,095
13 Apr - 25 Apr 2027
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Taking Bookings $5,645 $6,345 $6,495 $5,495
14 Apr - 25 Apr 2027
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Taking Bookings $6,445 $6,045 $6,195 $5,195
24 Apr - 5 May 2027
Owers Corner to Kokoda
Taking Bookings $6,345 $5,945 $6,095 $5,095

Photos from the Premium Kokoda Campaign Trek

FAQs about this trek

Each village has a designated area for trekkers to camp. 

They also have dedicated toilets for trekkers if required - your guides will identify these areas for you.

There are also separate bathing areas for males and females.  To avoid embarrassment you should ask your guides to show you where they are.  Ladies should wear a sarong to their bathing area. 

The distance across the Kokoda Trail between Owers Corner and Kokoda as the crow flies is 96 km.

However if you were to strap a Garmin GPS to the leg of the crow and get him to trek it via the wartime trail the actual distance is 138 km - you would also climb a total of 6748 metres.

 

Most evacuations from the trail are due to gastro-intestinal problems which cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea and chronic dehydration.

Unhygienic handling and preparation of food is the most common cause of the gastro problems which lead to medical evacuations.  Most evacuations result from trekkers who eat vegetables prepared by local villagers. 

To avoid this we carry all of our own food which we purchase from supermarkets in Port Moresby.

We actively discourage our trekkers from eating food prepared in villages as we cannot guarantee the standard of the local hygiene.

Some operators rely on village food to save costs - If the operator you choose includes ‘village food’ as part of their catering plan it might save them money but it could lead to your evacuation from the trail.

 

No - we declined an invitation to join as we do not subscribe to their exploitation of the PNG guides and porters they engage.

The Kokoda Tour Operators Association (KTOA) was established to protect the business interests of a small group of Australian tour companies. It has emerged as a shameless Australian lobby group.

Their exploitation of vulnerable subsistence villagers would not be tolerated in Australia and should not be tolerated in PNG.

Their method of operation has been exposed on this link:
Kokoda Tour Operators Association: A Shameless Australian Lobby Group

 

Adventure Kokoda was rated as the best Kokoda trekking company on the Kokoda Trail in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and again in 2023.

What is the Travellers' Choice?

Travellers' Choice (formerley Certificate of Excellence) recognises businesses that earn consistently great reviews.

We are very proud to be rated number one on Tripadvisor for the 9th successive year which shows our commitment to providing an outstanding experience to all our trekkers, ensuring they have an enjoyable, challenging and informative historical and cultural experience among friends.

View Tripadvisor reviews here.

 

 

Meet the Trek Leaders

Major Charlie Lynn OAM OL - Director, Adventure Kokoda

In 2015 Charlie was inducted as an Officer of the Logohu by the Government of Papua New Guinea in their New Years Honours and Awards list 'for service to the bilateral relations between Papua New Guinea and Australia and especially in the development of the Kokoda Trail and its honoured place in the history of both nations' over the past 25 years.'   More..

Peter Morrison

Peter Morrison is an unassuming young Australian.  He first trekked with Adventure Kokoda almost a decade ago and developed a strong desire to learn more about the campaign and the people he met along the trail.  Peter is a professional boxer and former NSW Welterweight  Champion.  More..

 

Major Scott Babington

Scott joined the Australian Army as a 16 year old apprentice in 1985.  He was promoted through the ranks and has spent over 34 years serving in the Australian Regular Army.  

Scott has worked with the United Nations in Sudan as a Military Observer and as an Adviser in Afghanistan with the US 82nd Airborne and the 3rd Infantry Divisions.  More..

 

Dave Sherry

Dave began exploring Australia as soon as he was old enough to escape Sydney.  He was born in the city but his heart was in the bush and he now lives on a farm just outside the western country town of Horsham.  There are few places in Australia that Dave hasn’t trekked on foot or explored in off-road vehicles.  He even took to the sea as a crew member on the Tall Ship HMAS Bounty during the Bicentenary in 1988.  

Dave first trekked Kokoda in 2006 and began leading expeditions across the trail in 2011.  He has now led more than 35 groups across the trail.  More..

 

Jake Leske

Australia’s Honey Bee.  Former Navy sailor, Jake Leske, is more than an outstanding Kokoda trek leader, he is Australia’s original ‘Honey Bee’ and a remarkable endurance athlete.  Jake first trekked with Adventure Kokoda to learn more about the Kokoda campaign.  He returned as a volunteer 2IC and later led his first trek.  More..

Peta Bull

Peta is an extremely passionate and natural trek leader who takes pride in educating trekkers about the Kokoda Campaign. Her passion was ignited when she first trekked Kokoda with her Uncle and Father. Peta was quick to develope a good relationship with the villagers along the Trail and our Guides and Carriers have the utmost respect for her.  More..

 

 

Angelo Tsirekas

Angelo first trekked Kokoda in 2010 and has since trekked it another 10 times with groups he has recruited from the Canada Bay Area. He has been 2IC to Charlie Lynn on his recent treks and has now stepped up to be a trek leader.

He is a former Board Member of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Concord and was instrumental in establishing the 'Rusty Priest Kokoda Scholarship Program' with students from Rosebank College.

Jesse White

Jesse has recently joined our Adventure Kokoda leadership team and comes with outstanding credentials.  After visiting PNG over 10 years ago he formed a strong connection with the people, culture and history.

He served as a rifleman with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, completing multiple specialist courses and multinational exercises, including a deployment to Timor-Leste as part of the International Stabilisation Force. More..

Kerry Symes

Kerry brings a wealth of knowledge to our leadership team due to his success in senior management in PNG over a 10 year period. He has a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Leadership and was previously employed as the Operations Manager of PNGs major fuel distributor which took him around the country.  More..

 

Gerhard Hattingh

Gerhard grew up on cattle stations in the Gulf country and is a natural bushman.  He joined the Army in 2000 where he served for 21 years.

He was a specialist Sergeant Gunnery Instructor in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps where he taught soldiers to employ and fight armoured vehicles.

He later transferred to the Australian Army Aviation Corps where he was engaged as an aircrewman and loadmaster in Taipan helicopters.  He completed jungle survival courses as part of his qualification for this role.  More..

 

Captain Reg Yates

Over the past 34 years Captain Reg Yates has explored most of the WW11 battlesites in PNG. He is fluent in Tok Pisin and is well respected by village elders along the Kokoda Trail.  More..

 

Major Craig Moffat OAM

Craig joined the Australian Army in 1979 and was posted to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps where he has served for 40 years with over 20 years serving in Special Operations Command as a Commando.  

Craig has seen regimental service as a soldier and officer rising through the ranks within The Royal Australian Regiment and Special Operations Command, his career culminated as soldier with two Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) appointments prior to commissioning to officer in 2005.  More..

Peter Davis

Peter served in the Army Reserve for 7 years and has two grandfathers who served in both World Wars - one being a highly decorated soldier.  Peter recently graduated with a MPhil in Military History with the Australian Defence Force Academy and is now studying for his PhD.  More..

Warrant Officer James 'Max' Walker

James ‘Max’ Walker (first trek with Adventure Kokoda Aug 2018 – 2IC Apr 2024).  

Max Walker is a former career soldier who first joined the Australian Regular Army as a young apprentice.

During his service, Max was posted to the United Nations in Cambodia and deployed to the Republic of Narau prior to the establishment of the Australian offshore immigration detention facility.  More..

Fiona Foster

Fiona has a strong passion for Kokoda, PNG and its people which was sparked as a young girl knowing her grandfather fought on Kokoda.

As a school teacher Fiona has extensive experience in developing leadership in young Australians and has been involved in the development of a leadership program within the school environment.  This saw her bring two passions together; teaching our future generations and Kokoda, whilst getting them outside of their comfort zones, and allowing them to learn about themselves.  More..

Tau Maguli - Quartermaster

Tau Maguli is our PNG Quartermaster with an enormous task, he coordinates the allocation of 350 of our PNG guides and porters to ensure each trek has an equal number from each village across the Trail and each one gets at least six (6) treks a year.  More..

Tracie Watson - General Manager

Tracie is the General Manager and engine room of Adventure Kokoda - she is on-call 24/7 and will look after your every need and concern from the moment you book your trek until you arrive back in Australia.  More..

Bernie Rowell

Bernie is a Kokoda tragic.  He first trekked with Kokoda to honour his father who served in New Guinea during the war.  He has since trekked it 55 times.  Bernie has transposed his success in business to his passion for leading treks across the Kokoda Trail.  More..

Major Chad Sherrin MM

Chad is a decorated Vietnam veteran - he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in action.  Chad first joined the 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (8 RAR) as a tracking dog handler.  He was promoted through the ranks to Sergeant while serving with 8 RAR and served with the Battalion in Malaysia and South Vietnam.  More..

Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tracey LLB BA

Rowan is a pioneer of the Kokoda Trail.  He first trekked it 30 years ago when he served with the PNG Defence Force.  He is fluent in the local language 'Tok Pisin'.  Rowan is a military historian and is acknowledged as the most eminent authority on the strategy and tactics of the Kokoda campaign.  More..

Commodore Simon Hart CSC MSc MA

Simon joined the Australian Navy a Cadet Midshipmen in 1973 and carved out an outstanding career spanning 33 years.  He specialised in maritime surface ship operations and spent the majority of his career at sea.  More..

John Nalder

Prior to John joining Adventure Kokoda he used to wrestle crocodiles with Steve Irwin.  John is a qualified para-medic and expert bushman.  He has a deep emotional commitment to Kokoda and the veterans he has met over the years.  He is a keen student of the Kokoda campaign.  More..

Joe Uwea - Chief Guide

'Big Joe' as he is fondly known is the Chief PNG guide for Adventure Kokoda.

'Big Joe' has been trekking across the Kokoda Trail for almost 20 years and is fast approaching his 100th crossing.

He has earned the respect of his Koiari and Orokaiva counterparts during this period. He is a man of few words but there is no doubt about his authority along the trail.  He is well-known and highly respected by all village elders and community leaders.  More..

Why Trek with Adventure Kokoda

Our primary goal is to lead you safely across the Kokoda Trail and ensure you have an unforgettable wartime historical and cultural experience.

Charlie has led 101 expeditions across the Kokoda Trail over the past 32 years.

He previously served in the Australian Army for 21 years. During this time he saw active service in Vietnam; was assigned to the joint Australian, New Zealand and British (ANZUK) Force in Singapore/ Malaysia from 1970-72, and as an exchange instructor in Airborne Logistics with the United States Army from 1977-78. He is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College.

Why choose Adventure Kokoda?

Why is Kokoda so important?Dive into the History