Kokoda Track

Introducing Kokoda Track

Halfway through the trek you may wonder why you ever came to walk the Kokoda. Your blistered feet will hurt, your clothes will be wet with sweat and by the end of the day you’ll undoubtedly be tired and hungry. But what your pictures won’t show (assuming you muster the energy to take a few) is your growing sense of awe. For over every steep, slippery step on this 96km natural rollercoaster, Australians, Americans and Japanese fought for their lives; against each other and against the terrain. In 1942 there were no guesthouses, no porters and no relief from dysentery and the constant fear of ambush.

Crossing the Owen Stanley Range has become a pilgrimage for many Australians, a chance to pay their respects by sharing some of the men’s trials who fought and died here. And what started as a trickle is turning into a tide. In 2006 there were 4000 trekkers (95% of them Australian) who gritted their teeth and tackled the mountains. The majority walk as part of an organised group; only the most experienced trekkers could consider walking this track independently. Masochists could always run it – just enter the Kokoda 24-hour race.

Apart from the wartime history, relationships built with today’s residents of the track, and particularly the guides and carriers who trek with you, are mutually rewarding. They serve as a reminder that the Kokoda Track is about people; not just a distant, heroic military campaign.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009