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Day 1

Fly to Port Moresby. Met on arrival and private transfer to our comfortable accommodation. The hotel features a swimming pool, restaurant, comfortable bar areas and fully airconditioned rooms with all facilities. A Team briefing is held this afternoon to discuss final preparations for our trek.  Early evening Team dinner, and to bed for a good sleep to be prepared for an early morning departure on Day 2.

Day 2

Hoi Village.  Spectacular charter flight over the Owen Stanley Ranges to Kokoda. Your leader will explain the battle history as you explore the Kokoda battle site and museum. After lunch, we have a short acclimatising walk to our first  nights beautiful campsite at the small village of Hoi. If a charter flight is not possible on the day, our alternative is also very exciting. We fly by scheduled flight to the tarmac strip at Popendetta airport. From there we travel by private vehicle along the Japanese advance route from the coast via such historic sites as Wairopi , the Kumusi River,  Awala, Oivi and Gorari.  Our only objective today is to relax, acclimatise and reach our first nights campsite before dark  .(L,D)

Day 3

Alolo Village.   We start early so we can walk at a slow and relaxed pace. The morning walk is very steep. You’ll be glad you trained hard.  The scenery is spectacular with sweeping views as we trek via the original war time village of Deneki, the site of the 39th  Militia Battalion's first defensive position after withdrawing from Kokoda.

We push on for lunch at the Isurava War Memorial located at a significant point on the Isurava battle site which the Kokoda Track disects.We inspect Kingsbury's Rock, the site of  the action which earned Pte. Bruce Kingsbury his Victoria Cross.

On 29 August 1942, during the height of the Battle of Isurava, which featured full frontal Japanese mass assaults and brutal hand to hand combat,Kingsbury, who was one of the few survivors of a platoon which had been overrun by the Japanese, immediately volunteered to join a different platoon which had been ordered to counterattack. He rushed forward firing his bren gun from his hip, clearing a path through the enemy and inflicting a number of casualties. Kingsbury was then seen to fall, shot by a Japanese sniper (near Kingsbury's rock) and instantly killed. His actions, in delaying the Japanese to give sufficient time for the Australians to fortify their positions, have been identified as what undoubtedly saved the Battalion Headquarters, and he was awarded the Victoria Cross as a result.

A full briefing is given on the now legendary 4/5 day battle of Isurava. It was here that the 2/14th Infantry Battalion arrived to support the 39th Militia Battalion and the legend of 'The Ragged Bloody Heroes' was born.

Within clear sight, and only a short distance on the other side of the valley,a parallel trail marks the locations of the 53rd Militia Battalion's defensive positions. These positions were abandoned before the onslaught of an overwhelming Japanese push up that side of the valley while the Battle at  Isurava, opposite, was raging.

Your Trek Leader will detail the sequence of events of the 53rd Battalion's withdrawl and by pointing out the geography and detailing the trail networks, explain the significance of this withdrawl to the ultimate outcome of the battle at Isurava. The 2/16 Infantry Battalion despatched to bolster the 53rd Battalions defences were unable to make a signifcant impact on slowing the Japanese advance from that flank.  The 2/16th and 53rd Battalion now found themselves having to regroup with the withdrawing forces from Isurava to commence a series of rearguard, strategic defensive actions now part of Australian military folklore. From Isurava it’s a short walk to our guest house/camp site in Alolo Village. This afternoon, while exploring the area, we will visit some very special campaign sites. (B,L,D)

Day 4

Templeton’s Crossing and the lost battlefield. Our walk today begins with a short, taxing descent followed by a long gradual ascent to Eora Creek battle site. We leave our packs on the main trail and ascend a short side trail to the Japanese Forest Fort.  Recently another extensive section of this  Forest Fort, located only a short distance further up the ridge has been revealed by the local landowners. This new section  is now referred to as "The Lost Battlefield". 
The Japanese Forest Fort which incorporates  The Lost Battlefield, covers part of a high ridge with a commanding position overlooking Eora Creek. For many years now all our trekking teams have been visiting this important site. Your trek leader will explain the forts defensive significance and how the battle to capture the fort unfurled. You will explore the Japanese mountain gun and heavy machine gun positions. Still clearly visible are large quantities of munitions and artifacts. Many Australian soldiers lost their lives here, before the Japanese fled.

Until this new section of the Japanese Forest Fort has been properly surveyed, documented and any human remains identified and respectfully removed for proper burial, no trekking companies will visit this new section.
The trail is always challenging today and the beauty of the jungle provides a wonderful distraction. We camp beside the creek at the battle site at Templeton’s Crossing. (B,L,D)
PIC: Garry Thompson ( trek leader) with Team 4 at the Lost battlefield, 2008 trekking season.

Day 5

Naduri Village.  A long climb on slippery trails to our highest point on Mt Bellamy (2190 metres). From the Kokoda Saddle, the beautiful forest trails eventually lead us to Myola Lakes. The occassional sweeping panorama adds to the beauty of our surrounds. Myola lakes - The dry lake beds were at various times during both phases of the Kokoda campaign the site of one of the Australian Armys major supply depots. It was initially hoped that wounded would be able to be airlifted from the lake sites especially during the Australian withdrawl and that supplies would be able to be flown here to avoid the long haul by native bearers.

Myola is most remembered as the site for low level dropping of provisions by the Australian Air Force. Live munitions, never recovered after misplaced air drops can still be discovered embedded in the exposed banks of the creeks flowing accross the lakes.

Tonight in Naduri is special.  Our friend and Head Guide , Andy Ovuru welcomes us as guests of honour in his village. You will have the opportunity to meet one of the few remaining Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, Ovuru Ndiki, who is Andy's Dad and hear his fascinating war time story. 

We plan to have a village 'Sing Sing' (celebration) tonight. We stay in the village guest house and camp site area. (B,L,D)

Day 6

Efogi 1 Village.  After a farewell from our friends we have a half day walk to Efogi 1, nestled in the shadow of Brigade Hill and nearby Mission Ridge, two of the more significant battle sites along the Track. A chance to rest, wash clothes, explore the village and prepare to conquer the last half of the Track. (B,L,D)

Day 7

Menari  Village. Beautiful views again await us today as we begin the slogging ascent of Brigade Hill via Mission Ridge.  Your trek leader will point out the paths taken by the Japanese forces on their famous' night time lantern procession'.  This now legendary procession, lit by burning lengths of cable stripped from Australian field wireless lines, was undertaken on the eve of the battle of Brigade Hill in an attempt to put fear into the  hearts of the  2/27 Battalion dug in on Mission Ridge. Time is taken to explain and show how and where the Japanese managed to cut the Australian defences which eventually led to the Australian defenders having to withdraw.
On a very sacred battle site on the summit of Brigade Hill, a short, dignified ceremony is conducted in honour of the soldiers and in remembrance of their bravery.

As always, we follow the steep ascent of Brigade Hill with a long descent. We stay tonight, in the guest house and camp site area of Menari Village. We visit the site where the brave 39th Battalion paraded before they were withdrawn from the fight on the eve of the battle at Brigade Hill. Exhausted and on the brink of total collapse the remaining 'Ragged bloody Heroes' struggled back to Port Moresby. They would return to the fight at another time.   As today is also a short walking day, you will have time to explore Menari village and possibly meet another of the remaining Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels who lives there. (B,L,D)

Day 8

Nauro Village.   An interesting day in differing terrain as we cross swampy flatlands, ford the Brown River and push on in the increasing heat up seemingly never ending slopes to camp at new Nauro Village high on on the Maguli Range. As we walk the Track today,you can imagine how the exhausted and wounded members of the 39th Battalion must have felt as they took this exact same route on their trek back to Port Moresby from Menari Village. It is a very humbling experience.  Sunrise and sunset are beautiful from our campsite on the edge of the village. . (B,L,D)

Day 9

Ua Ule  Creek.  Todays walk begins with a short ascent to the top of the Maguli Range followed by a steep descent via 'Jap Ladder' a major Japanese camp site and down to Ofi Creek. Then it's up and over Irobaiwa Ridge. As we explore the Japanese positions on the southern slopes, we recall that it was here that the Japanese soldiers were pounded for the first time by Australian artillery located at Owers Corner . The Australian forces till now had no counter to the Japanese mountain guns so skillfuly used against them since Isurava. The Japanese offensive/defensive positions are located on a number of trails over Irobaiwa Ridge. Your Trek Leader will show you the rarely visited Kunai grass clearing which marks the furtherest point of contact  made by Australian troops with General Hori's South Sea Forces.   In this clearing a large heavily armed Japanese advance patrol was wiped out in a hastily planned ambush by an opposing Australian patrol, who luckily heard the Japanese officer talking as he moved his men down the trail.

It was also on Irobaiwa Ridge, with Port Moresby nearly insight, that  General Hori received orders directly from the Emperor to withdraw. With major shortages of munitions, food and reinforcements and being pounded by Australian artillery and harassed by well equipped Australian patrols, the Japanese army retreated with the the Australians in hot pursuit.

This afternoon the Track continuously crosses Ua Ule creek leading to our final nights camp beside the creek with a welcoming swimming hole nearby.  Our campsite clearing is completely surrounded by high rainforest trees which form a perfect frame for the star filled sky at night. (B,L,D)

Day 10

Port Moresby   Our final half days walk starts with the steep ascent and then the descent of Imita Ridge.This is the site of what was known as the 'Golden Staircase'.  There are 3 paths from the Goldie River to the summit of Imita Ridge. Each were used by the Australian forces. The steeper sections were improved by cutting steps and reinforcing them with timbers cut from the forest. Today the timber reinforcing has long since rotted away.

There are those who believe ( and diary records to support the view) that there were several staircases constructed on steeper sections of these early ridges encountered on the trek towards Kokoda.

We push on via major Australian army supply sites and after we cross the Goldie River, it’s a steep 40 minute hike till we triumphantly arrive at Owers Corner and our awaiting transport, a cold drink and lunch.  We’ve done it!  Back to Port Moresby for a swim in the hotel pool, clean up and prepare for a final nights celebration at the hotel. On the way to Port  Moresby, we stop at Bomana War Cemetery, where Australian soldiers  who died in the Kokoda campaign and in other campaigns in the Pacific have been laid to their final rest.

This visit is the final tribute we pay  to these brave soldiers before our return home tomorrow.

A personalised Certificate of Achievement, suitable for framing will be presented to all Team members at dinner tonight. (BL)

Day 11

Home   Morning transfer to the airport for your flight home to Australia.  WELCOME HOME.

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All the team at Back Track Adventures welcome the opportunity to trek with you over the Kokoda Track. We would love to have you join us.

If you have any questions please call us on our Kokoda Assist line 1300 669 780

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