ADVENTURE KOKODA : History Trek Led by an Expert Australian Guide

ADVENTURE KOKODA : History Trek Led by an Expert Australian Guide

Led by an expert Australian guide our Kokoda History Treks follow the footsteps of the brave as they fought one of the most desperate series of battles across the Owen Stanley Ranges from Kokoda to the doorstep of Port Moresby at Imita Ridge.

They are led by experienced Adventure Kokoda trek leaders with a detailed knowledge of the wartime history of the Kokoda campaign. They understand the Principles of War; the strategy of the Kokoda campaign; and the tactics of each battle which they will explain at each site.

The route follows the original 138 km wartime trail which is shorter than our 10-day Kokoda Premium Campaign Treks as it does not include the battle areas defended by the 53rd and 2/16th Australian Battalions on the eastern side of the Yodda Valley.

Our Kokoda History treks cover all the major battle sites at Imita Ridge, Ioribaiwa Ridge, Brigade Hill, Templeton's Crossing, Eora Creek, Isurava, Deniki and Kokoda where you will receive detailed historical presentations.

Itinerary

Day 1: Flight to Port Moresby

Stop At: Port Moresby, Port Moresby, Papua Region
02:00pm Arrive Port Moresby,
02:30pm Check into Sogeri Lodge,
05:30pm Trek Briefing,
07:30pm Dinner - Introductions
Duration: 16 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner: Included
Accommodation included: Sogeri

Day 2: Port Moresby to Kokoda - Hoi

Stop At: Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
5.30 AM: Reveille
Charter aircraft from Port Moresby to Kokoda airstrip at 398 meters Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL)
Inspect the site of the first battle on the Kokoda plateau including the memorials and museum.
Trek to Hoi campsite at 480m AMSL.

Duration: 16 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Included
• Lunch: Included
• Dinner: Included
Accommodation included: Hoi campsite

Day 3: Hoi campsite to the Isurava Memorial via Deniki and Isurava Village

Stop At: Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
7.00 AM: Daily Trek Briefing
Trek up to Deniki Village at 805m AMSL for a morning tea break.
Continue climbing to the wartime village site of Deniki where the second battle for Kokoda was launched from. After being forced off the Kokoda plateau for a second time the Australians withdrew to this position where they withstood a Japanese attack before withdrawing back up to Isurava.
Trek to Isurava Village at 1,350m AMSL – the village was relocated to this site after the war. The track between Deniki and Isurava passes through abandoned garden areas which are now overgrown with choko vines. There are a couple of steep pinches ahead until you reach your campsite at the Isurava Memorial at 1.345m AMSL. You will pass Alo Creek as you enter the campsite – a good place to return to for a clean, refreshing bath.

Duration: 16 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Included
• Lunch: Included
• Dinner: Included
Accommodation included: Isurava Memorial campsite

Day 4: Isurava to Templeton's Crossing via Alola

Stop At: Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
5.00 AM: Dawn Gathering at Isurava Memorial
The memorial at the battlesite was opened by the former Prime Ministers, John Howard and the PNG Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare on the 69th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign, 26 August 2002.
This has been described as the ‘battle that saved Australia’ – it is the area where Private Bruce Kingsbury was posthumously awarded the first Victoria Cross on Australian territory.
The memorial contains four marble pillars, each engraved with a single word: Courage-Mateship- Sacrifice-Endurance.
After breakfast trek across Ololi Creek then climb to wartime Alola at 1,470m AMSL.
Continue trek via Kaele-Dabe Creek to Alola village for morning tea.
Trek down to La La Creek at 1,260m AMSL then climb to the Sabi Mail Exchange Point at 1,340m AMSL (Mail Exchange Points were used by carriers after the war to exchange mail bags being carried between Port Moresby and Kokoda and vice-versa)
Continue trekking to the crest of the ridge at 1,375m AMSL then up to Tumunava Ridge at 1,430m AMSL.
Inspect the main Japanese position with dominating views over Eora Creek at 1,525m AMSL. Gain an appreciation of how difficult it would have been for the Australians to breach this obstacle.
Trek towards the junction of Eora and Agu Agu Creeks for lunch at 1,420m AMSL.
Move up to the old Eora Creek village site (formerly known as Iuoro) at 1,440m AMSL - this was the scene of utter chaos during the withdrawal. Wounded Diggers were forced to crawl up the track while their mates desperately tried to buy them time against the advancing Japanese. Those who couldn’t were given morphine and a gun! During the Australian advance a month later this was the final obstacle for the Australians to breach- it took the Australian’s four days to fight their way through the position in the Battle for Eora Creek
Commence trekking up Vabula Ridge - inspect a fire support position with live mortars and grenades - then a delaying defensive position at 1,525m AMSL occupied by the 2/14th and 2/16th battalions on the night of 1-2 September 1942. Continue your climb to the top of Vabula Ridge at 1,905m AMSL then trek down to Vagebau Creel at 1,895m, AMSL for afternoon tea,
Trek to your campsite at Templeton’s Crossing at 1,760m AMSL via the Sako Creek tributaries.

Duration: 16 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Included
• Lunch: Included
• Dinner: Included
Accommodation included: Templeton's Crossing campsite

Day 5: Templeton's Crossing to Efogi Village via the Kokoda and Kagi Gaps

Stop At: Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
6.30 AM: Daily Trek Briefing
Trek up towards the Boili Mail Exchange Point at 2,005m AMSL (this is where mail carriers from Port Moresby and Popondetta exchanged their mail bags).
Trek down towards Crossing 1 at the junction of Eora and Wase Creeks at 1,940m AMSL for morning tea. This was the start of the Templeton’s Crossing campaign – an area that took us around four hours to trek took our troops 13 days to fight their way through – and a further four days to capture Eora Creek.
Trek up towards the Kokoda Gap at 2,109m AMSL. Here we enter the moss forest area – this is nature’s wonderland – birds of paradise, giant pandanus trees, numerous varieties of palms, fern colonies, fungi – it is difficult to imagine that this was the scene of such a desperate battle in 1942.
• Continue trekking up towards the highest point of the trail to the east of Mt Bellamy at 2,320m AMSL then down to 1900 Crossing.
Continue down to Kagi Village at 1,405m AMSL. Kagi has a population of approximately 120 people with an airfield, a VHF Base Radio, elementary school and health centre.
From Kagi the track plunges down towards a steep valley to Efoge Creek at 1,040m AMSL then climbs to Laununumu Village (also known as Efogi 2) at 1,385m AMSL. Inspect the Japanese monument erected by Corporal Nishimura.
Short trek down to Kavai Creek at 1,200m AMSL then onto the campsite at Efogi Village at 1,205m. Efogi is the largest village along the trail with a population of around 350. It has an airfield, a VHF Base Station, an elementary and primary school and a health centre.

Duration: 16 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Included
• Lunch: Included
• Dinner: Included
Accommodation included: Efogi Campsite

Day 6: Efogi Village to Agulogo via Brigade Hill and Menari

Stop At: Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
7.00 AM: Daily Trek Briefing
Trek through the main village and down to Efoge Creek at 1,105m AMSL then climb towards the junction with Mission Ridge at 1,395m AMSL which was defended by the 2/27th Battalion on 7 September 1942. Troops who fought in the campaign referred to it as ‘Butcher’s Ridge’ because of the carnage during the battle.
Continue trekking past the positions occupied by the 2/14th and 2/16th Battalions to the crest of a knoll which was the forward edge of the Brigade Headquarters at 1,435m AMSL for afternoon tea.
Inspect the 21st Brigade Headquarters area which later became a gravesite where 72 Australians were buried before being reinterred at Bomana War Cemetery.
Follow the track down the ridge to the Nauro Lookout at 1,395m AMSL; the first Envilogo track junction at 1,355m AMSL; the second junction at 1,160m AMSL; and the abandoned village site of Mandalogo which has extensive view down over Menari Village.
Continue your trek down to Vabuyavi River at 695m AMSL followed by a short climb to your campsite at Menari Village at 845m AMSL. This is the site where Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Honner addressed his young bravehearts after the battle of Isurava – the parade was captured by wartime photographer, Damien Parer.
Trek down to Emune River at 825m AMSL then begin a steep climb up to the Menari Gap in the Ladavi Saddle at 1,105m AMSL.
Trek down to the Nauro Lookout at 1,035m AMSL then continue down to Hehomuri Creek (known as 5 Creeks?) at the base of the Ladavi Saddle at 760m AMSL.
Continue trek to the campsite at Agulogo Creek at 730m AMSL for morning tea.

Duration: 16 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Included
• Lunch: Included
• Dinner: Included
Accommodation included: Agulogo campsite

Day 7: Agulogo to Ofi Creek via Nauro

Stop At: Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
7.00 AM: Daily Trek Briefing
Trek to the Brown River at 700m AMSL then continue through the Nauro swamp area via Hamuduri Creek to the base of the Maguli Range.
Commence a steep climb to Nauro Village (formerly known as Wamal) at 1,000m AMSL for lunch.
Continue your climb over a number of ‘false’ crest to the Maguli Range (known as Mogolonumu) at 1,335m AMSL.
Trek down over numerous false crests over Engineers Ridge (named after the sappers who cut 3,400 steps up the mountain) to a Japanese defensive position at 915m AMSL for a briefing.
Continue trekking down to your Ofi Creek campsite at 600m AMSL.

Duration: 16 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Included
• Lunch: Included
• Dinner: Included
Accommodation included: Ofi Creek campsite

Day 8: Ofi Creek to Goldie River via Ioribaiwa Ridge

Stop At: Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea
7.00 AM: Daily Trek Briefing
Sharp climb to the crest of Ioribaiwa Ridge at 830m AMSL – this is as far as the Japanese reached in their advance towards Port Moresby. They received direct orders from Tokyo to withdraw from here and could see the searchlights at Port Moresby from this position.
Continue to trek down to Ioribaiwa Village at 675m AMSL for lunch.
Trek down to the junction of Manama and Mokure Creeks at the base of Ioribaiwa Ridge at 360m AMSL.
Criss-cross along Manama Creek to Va Ule Creek at 320m AMSL. Cross a small ridge and criss-cross along Emoo Creek to the base of Imita Ridge at Imita Creek at 515m AMSL.
Continue trek upwards towards Dagiri Creek at 715m AMSL then begin a steep climb up to Monogoro Ridge and then to the crest of Imita Ridge at 860m AMSL. The Australians were ordered to hold at all costs and fight to the death if necessary as it was the final obstacle between the advancing Japanese and their objective at Port Moresby.
Trek down to the abandoned village site of Uberi then down to your campsite on the Goldie River at 340m AMSL.

Duration: 16 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Included
• Lunch: Included
• Dinner: Included
Accommodation included: Goldie River campsite

Day 9: Goldie River to Owers Corner - Sogeri

Stop At: Owers' Corner, Papua New Guinea
7.00: Daily Trek Briefing
Climb to the finish at Owers Corner at 640m AMSL. A 25-pound Artillery gun has been relocated to this site. They were used to fire over the Australian position on Imita Ridge onto the Japanese position on Iorabaiwa.
Board your bus for a visit to McDonald’s Corner which was the start of the trail in July 1942. Inspect the monument erected by the owner of Ilolo Plantation, Captain P.J. McDonald – a Gallipoli veteran who provided support to all troops passing his plantation.
Check into Sogeri Lodge for a clean-up and pizza before boarding the bus to Bomana.
Visit Bomana War Cemetery.
Return Sogeri Lodge for dinner and presentations.

Duration: 16 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Included
• Lunch: Included
• Dinner: Included
Accommodation included: Sogeri

Day 10: Depart Port Moresby

Stop At: Port Moresby, Port Moresby, Papua Region
06:00am Reveille, 09:00am Check out of Sogeri Lodge, 11:00am Check in at Airport
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Included
No accommodation included on this day.