The Kokoda Track is recognized as one of the World's great hikes. A challenging 9 day trek that brings you through the remote villages, jungles and mountains of the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea.
History
Over land track from Kokoda village in Oro Province to Port Moresby
Served as a early colonial postal route until the late 1800"s
During WWII, Japanese and their Imperial army had their eye on Port Moresby to use as a base, however couldn't safely enter the area without allied resistance, so an overland route was sought after for an alternate attack. The Kokoda track was a formidable but necessary option and the Japanese first landed on the north coast of Papua New Guinea (Buna and Gona beaches) in August 1942, with Port Moresby in mind. Over the months, bitter fighting took place along the treacherous trail between the Australian Militiamen (including that of the famous 39th battalion) and the superior Japanese "Nan tai Shiitai" army.
Today the Kokoda track is a challenging and rewarding 5-10 day trek, depending on trip itinerary.
Our Kokoda trip is tailored to give the best possible experience for both the client and the local villages we spend our time going through. Unlike many Kokoda trekking companies that have popped up in recent years, we remain to keep our treks to a longer duration itinerary (9days hiking, 15days full trip) to allow the client to fully experience and enjoy the cultural diversity that each village offers, without being rushed along.
We believe that the journey is more important than the destination and our past clients have always valued this.
We also reward our bush walkers with a 2 day rest in Buna Village at the end of the trek where they will get to see and be a part of a traditional MuMu dinner (local veggies and meats cooked in a pit in the ground with banana leaves and hot rocks). Also the village likes to greet all new visitors with a traditional Oro Province welcome dance in full tapacloth dress and bone/tusk jewellery- a very special and unique experience to be a part of in a lifetime-
Highlights of trekking the Kokoda Track with Northern Distracktions:
-Visit to Bomana war cemetery outside of Port Moresby- see where Australian heroes such as Bruce Kingsbury and Colonial Owens are actually buried
-Tour through the capital city of PNG, Port Moresby, including stunning parliament house, view Koki and Hanuabada stilt villages which still remain much the same as they did before the white man came to PNG.
-For our days spent in Port Moresby, we will be booked into the 4star hotel right on Ela beach, appropriately called the Ela Beach Hotel. Complete with excellent food, a pool, internet access, a bar, and great location.
-Visit and photo opportunities at all major battle spots and memorials along the track: Owers corner, Imita ridge, Brigade Hill, Myola Caldera, Templetons Crossing, Alola, Bisset's rock, Isurava, Kingsbury's rock, Deniki, Kokoda village & museum
-Visit Ovuru Ndiki, one of the last remaining Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels (depends on how he is feeling)
-Forming a close bond with our helpful and friendly company carriers and listening to their traditional singing as we walk through the mountain ranges
-Sample local veggies and fruits from the native gardens the local people meticulously keep, including: Sugarcane, Sweet Potato, Tamarillos, Mandarins, Sweet bananas, Cooking bananas, Choco greens, Paw paw, Pineapple, etc.
-2 day stay at Buna Village on the coast: Experience a traditional PNG welcome, a MuMu dinner, Black volcanic sand beaches, warm ocean swimming, optional trip on a traditional hand carved outrigger boat, fishing or snorkeling on the reef with the local boys, Walks to nearby Sanananda and Old Buna villages, view war ruined landing craft still on beach from invasion in 1942, visit homes of our carriers, village craft market to purchase handmade art pieces etc.
-Safety is paramount and in the 25 years we have run Kokoda Track trips, to date, we have never had one single life-threatening incident or Evacuation.
-Pace of our trek is more accommodating to clients then most companies on market today. We base our trip on enjoyments and cultural interests along the way.
If interested in one of our trips please Contact Us
