Kokoda Anzac Day Trek 2008
15 days ex Sydney | $5499 per person, twin share*
12 - 26 April, 2008
Highlights
Kokoda Track including: Imita Ridge, David's Camp, Nauro, Menari, Naduri, Myola, Templeton's Crossing and Kokoda Plateau | 2 nights in Buna enjoying a cultural show, boat trips, fishing, swimming and relaxing on the beach | Dawn Service at Bomana War Cemetery - Port Moresby
Day 1 | 12 April | Port Moresby
Accommodation: Port Moresby
Upon arrival in Port Moresby you are met and transferred to your hotel near the airport. There is a pre-trip
briefing this evening to meet your fellow travellers and this may be followed by an optional meal together. You
need to cover the cost of this meal.
Day 2 | 13 April | Ower's Corner / Imita Ridge (L,D)
Accommodation: Kokoda Track
After breakfast we depart for Owers Corner by public motor vehicle. En route we visit the Bomana War
Cemetery, where many of the soldiers who died on the Kokoda Track lie. Owers’ Corner is perched high up on
the Sogeri Plateau and is the point where The Kokoda Track commences. Here there are a series of memorials
with a wonderful view over the first line of mountain ranges that we have to cross. It is not always possible to
get a vehicle to this point and so extra walking may be part of reaching this point. On our first day of walking
we cross over Imita Ridge where the Australian soldiers retreated to make their last stand during the onslaught
in June 1942. It is here that the invading forces were stopped and turned back, suffering their first major
reversal of the war. We walk down and across the Goldie River before walking up to the area where the 'Golden
Staircase' existed during the war. There are photographs of this section from the war that show it as a
seemingly endless series of muddy clay steps cut into the mountainside. These steps are gone today but there
are places where it is easy to imagine them. From Imita Ridge there are views across to Iorabaiwa Ridge, the
site where the Japanese forces were finally stopped before being chased by the Australian soldiers back across
the mountain ranges in retreat. Our camping spot for this night will depend on how the group is going. There
are good camping sites either side of Imita Ridge.
Day 3 | 14 April | David's Camp (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Kokoda Track
Our walk today commences with a fascinating scramble through a maze of canyons. The maze is filled with
unique vegetation, festooned with epiphytes of every description. After lunch we venture along a section of the
original wartime track that has only been recently discovered. Consequently there are trenches and war
wreckage to be viewed. This section is known as Iorabaiwa Ridge, and is the point where the Japanese were
ordered to retreat. The retreat order was particularly demoralising as their troops had fought hard to get to this
position and were in sight of their goal, Port Moresby. We camp for the night at David’s Camp, perched high on
terraces above the intersection of several cascading mountain streams. The refreshing coolness of Ofi Creek
helps to sooth aching muscles.Day 4 | 15 April | Nauro (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Kokoda Track
The harsh reality of today is the steep mountain climb over the Maguli Range. There are several false peaks to
negotiate before reaching the top of the range. This is followed by a long downhill over more false peaks to the
village of Nauro. Nauro is perched in a spectacular position on a narrow ridgeline with views out over the Owen
Stanley Range to Mt. Victoria. We stay in a guesthouse and it is here that we have our first opportunity to
sample some of the wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables from village gardens.Day 5 | 16 April | Menari (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Kokoda Track
In the early morning mist we meander our way down off the Maguli Range into the Nauro River valley. Here we
negotiate several hours of slippery swampland track until we cross the fast flowing river. A steep ridgeline takes
us up to a mountain pass from which there are views down to Menari Village. Menari is one of the positions that
was overrun by the Japanese forces as they circled around the Australian lines to cut off supplies. There is a
guesthouse here as well as ample space for camping.
Day 6 | 17 April | Naduri (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Kokoda Track
Today we commence walking towards the village of Naduri. Our route takes us to a point high above the village
on Mission Ridge. Here lie the unmarked graves of at least 50 Australian soldiers who died defending the ridge.
We pass through the original brigade headquarters position to a memorial. From here there is a great vista,
with spectacular views across the rugged mountain terrain. If time allows we boil the ‘billy’ and hear recounted
some stories and memoirs in honour of the young lads who gave their lives. The track leads down to Efogi,
which is one of the largest villages on the track. There is also a small museum here with an impressive display
of war ruins. We cross a steep mountain gorge before climbing up to Naduri. This village has magnificent views
and quite often has a delicious spread of fresh bananas and mandarins for us to sample. It makes for an
excellent place to overnight, with a good guesthouse and often an opportunity to meet Ovuru Ndiki (one of the
original Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels).
Day 7 | 18 April | Myola (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Kokoda Track
A steep climb today takes us up onto the main spine of The Owen Stanley Range. As we move towards Myola we pass into the mystical Antarctic beech forest on top of the range. Myola is a small village on the edge of a semi-dry lakebed that was once the centre of a volcanic caldera. It is amazing to step out of the dense forest and to gaze across this vast caldera filled with windswept grass and a meandering stream that reflects the intense blue of the sky. Myola has plenty of home-cooked village food, warm showers and comfortable beds! It is a great place to forget about the rigors of the past few days, to relax and to enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings.
Day 8 | 19 April | Templeton's Crossing (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Kokoda Track
Today the track takes us over the highest part of the Owen Stanley Range, Mt Bellamy, which is situated at just over 2000 metres. The ancient forest of Antarctic Beech trees is festooned with moss and every type of
epiphyte imaginable. Giant Pandanus trees tower over us, each supported by a respective mass of striated
buttress roots. Our walk takes us through a mystical summit world until we are greeted by the clouds that waft
past the clearing that overlooks the infamous Kokoda Gap. If we are lucky we can get spectacular views down
the awesome valley we are about to descend. The path takes us down to Eora Creek and on to Templeton’s
Crossing. This was an important defensive position during the retreat from Kokoda and many Australian lives
were lost here.
Day 9 | 20 April | Allolo / Isurava (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Kokoda Track
We start early today to take advantage of the cool of the morning. Depending on the speed of the group, we
will aim to reach the village of either Allolo or Isurava. The walking through this section involves a lot of ups
and downs with steep drop-offs in some sections. Many streams are forded and great views can be had from
some places. The site of the original village of Isurava is passed, and it is worth taking a break here for an hour
or so, as this position was hotly contested during the war. There is a special memorial here that was opened by
the Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea and Australia in 2002.
Day 10 | 21 April | Kokoda (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Kokoda Track
This is our last day of walking. Much of the day is taken with the descent onto the Kokoda Plateau. Some of thewalking is through the last vestiges of the rubber plantation so vividly described in the wartime records of the
retreat from Kokoda. There is a museum and memorials to view. Our trek ends with an evening meal in the
guesthouse, perhaps washed down with the first cold beer for ten days.
Day 11 | 22 April | Buna (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Buna
We are transported to Buna via Popondetta. Today’s lunch is at your own expense from the “kai houses” of Popondetta. On arrival we are met by our good friends from Buna who give us a traditional welcome. We stay in village guesthouse accommodation and there is ample chance to go fishing or swimming and enjoy beach games. We are treated this evening with a splendid tropical feast of steamed fish, pig, chicken and vegetables cooked in traditional parcels of banana leaves and coconut cream. There is also a great selection of fresh tropical fruit. Following the meal we are entertained by some of the best cultural dancing you are likely to see in Papua New Guinea. The dancers are elaborately dressed using traditional Tapa cloths along with feathers, body painting and shell decorations.
Day 12 | 23 April | Buna (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Buna
Today is a free day for you to relax and recover from the walk. Please note that Buna is a traditional village
with no commercial trading centre. You can make coastal forays to see war ruins or traditional craft centres,
board an outrigger canoe for a trip on the waterways, do some traditional fishing, relax on the beach or just
sleep in your bed with the cool sea breezes wafting past!
Day 13 | 24 April | Buna to Port Moresby (B)
Accommodation: Port Moresby
This morning we bid farewell to Buna and are transported to Girua airstrip where we board a flight to Port
Moresby. It takes us a mere 40 minutes to fly across what we have just taken eight days to walk. We gather for
an optional evening meal (cost not included in package) to celebrate our completion of one of the world's most
famous walks.
Day 14 | 25 April | Anzac Day - Port Moresby (B)
Accommodation: Port Moresby
We have an early start this morning with transport from our hotel to Bomana War Cemetery for the Dawn
Service. The service can be a decidedly moving experience, and after our walk of recent days we will have a
slightly greater understanding of the challenges and privations faced by those who fought on the Kokoda Track.
After this there will be a Gunfire Breakfast - the cost of this is included as part of the tour package. However, if
we feel that it is too busy and the queues are too long, we can always decide to go back and get our own
breakfast back at our hotel. The remaining part of the day will be taken up with a visit to The National Museum
and a visit to PNG Arts Centre where you may choose to purchase from a huge range of excellent artefacts from all parts of the country. In the evening we will finish our trip with a farewell dinner. (This dinner will be at your own expense.)
Day 15 | 26 April | Port Moresby - Sydney
Accommodation: Port Moresby
The tour ends after breakfast. A transfer to the airport can be arranged through the hotel's reception desk.
* Conditions Apply. Please contact our office via email or phone 1800 839 337 for further information.
Tour Partner
Peregrine Adventures
Further Information
Detailed Tour ItineraryChallenging Trek FormKokoda Track Flyer