Walking the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a challenging trek. Most trekkers take seven to ten days. It is 96 kilometres over the rugged, rainforest covered mountains of the Owen Stanley Ranges in the centre of PNG.
How Hard is the Trek?
The Kokoda Track is regarded in walking circles as one of the toughest walks in the world. It starts at Owers Corner, two hours drive from Port Moresby, and finishes at the town of Kokoda near the northern side of PNG. The track is close to the Equator, and is in tropical rainforests most of the way.
The track is basically up and down. Trekkers are rewarded after long, gruelling uphill slogs by equally long knee-trembling downhill slopes. A trekking pole, or two, are vital.
The vertical height over the track is around 5,500 meters, with similar downhill drops. As a comparison, from Mt Everest Base Camp to the Summit is around 3,450 metres. The only flat ground is in the villages and a few kilometres through the Moss Forest.
The highest point on the track is Mt Bellamy at 2190 metres, so it can be cool at night in some of the higher villages and campsites. A trekker must be prepared to walk in the rain; maybe for the duration.
Which Way?
The Kokoda Track can be started at Owers Corner, or Kokoda town. Each option requires a short plane flight over the Owen Stanley Range between Port Moresby and Kokoda town.
The advantage going from Owers Corner to Kokoda and flying back to Port Moresby is the flight over the track provides a panorama of the track.
One of the most significant features on the track is the Isurava Memorial. Coming from Owers Corner, this feature is visited near the end of the trek, when the impact of the battlesites are brought together into the significance of this memorial.
What Clothes Are Needed?
Clothes to take depends on whether a trekker is carrying their own gear or using a porter. The basic is two changes of clothes, one to wear and one being washed/dried.
A lightweight thermal undershirt is useful as it can get cool in the high altitudes. This can double as an extra shirt for around camp.
Kokoda Track or Trail?
There is a lot of conjecture as to whether the name is Track or Trail. The official name that appears on maps is Trail. However, the colloquial Australian calls it Track. Both can be used interchangeably, as most people will understand the terminology.
Are There Any War Relics?
Most of the larger villages have a small museum containing rusty artefacts from the war. Trekkers pay a small fee to inspect these museums. Each of the significant battlesites on the track has a small commemorative plaque explaining about the battle that occurred at the site.
Where to Stay the Night?
There are two main options for stopping at night. Depending on the trekking company will dictate where a trekker stays. Camp can be either in a village, or a clearing on the track that has been established by a nearby village.
Some of the large companies provide a tent for each trekker, carried by the team of porters; or it might be arranged for trekkers to stay in huts in the villages. Sanitation is limited with only pit toilets in the villages and campsites.
The Kokoda Track is a great and challenging trek, so there are many things to consider before heading off. Some are answered here, further information can be found in the following articles.
Tips for Hiking the Kokoda Track
Logistics of Trekking the Kokoda Track
Kokoda Track Significant Sites
 |
 |
 |
