Port Moresby

02:00pm Arrive Port Moresby, 02:30pm Check into Sogeri Lodge, 05:30pm Trek Briefing, 07:30pm Dinner - Introductions

Kokoda Track

5.30 AM: Reveille 6.30 AM: Breakfast 9.00 AM: Depart Sogeri Lodge – bus to McDonald’s Corner – inspect monument – then onto Owers Corner. 10.30 AM: Arrive Owers Corner – meet guides and porters. Inspect 25-pound Artillery gun relocated to this site. They were used to fire over the Australian position at Imita Ridge onto the Japanese position at Ioribaiwa. Some were towed down to the Goldie River. 11.30 AM: Lunch at Owers Corner 12.30 PM: Briefing on the day ahead. Depart Owers Corner – commence trek. Follow track down to the Goldie River and onto the abandoned village site of Uberi – trek to campsite at Imita base on Lubu Creek at 510 AMSL.

Kokoda Track

7.00 AM: Daily Trek Briefing Follow wartime trek to the Golden Staircase – climb to Imita Ridge at 860m AMSL. Inspect weapon pits on the Brigade position amongst the sheer rock face of ‘fortress Imita’. This was the ridgeline the Australians were ordered to defend at all costs and fight to the death if necessary. It was the final obstacle between the advancing Japanese and their objective at Port Moresby. Battlesite briefing at the Gap. Follow the track down to Dagiri Creek then criss-cross Emoo Creek to Va Ule Creek for lunch. Continue via Manama Creek to the junction with Mokure Creek at the base of Ioribaiwa Ridge. Commence climb to Ioribaiwa village at 675 m AMSL for afternoon team. Continue to the crest of Ioribaiwa Ridge at 830m AMSL which was the furthest point of the Japanese advance. Descend to campsite at Ofi Creek at 600m AMSL – the site of a successful Australian ambush during the withdrawal towards Ioribaiwa Ridge.

Kokoda Track

6.00 AM: Daily Trek Briefing Grinding climb to the crest of the Maguli Range – known as Mogolonumu – at 1,335m AMSL, numerous false ridges along the way – spectacular views – breakfast at Banana Camp. Inspect Japanese delaying defensive position on the southern slope of the ridge at 915m AMSL enroute to Mogolunumu. Descend to Nauro village at 1,000 m AMSL for lunch. Trek down to the base of the Ladavi Saddle and onto the Brown River at 700m AMSL. Cross the Brown River and trek for 15 minutes to campsite at Agulogo at 730m AMSL.

Kokoda Track

5.00 AM: Daily Trek Briefing Trek to Hehomuri Creek (known as 5 Creeks?) at the base of the Ladavi Saddle at 760m AMSL. Sharp climb to the Nauro Lookout at 1,035m AMSL for a break. Continue to the Menari Gap in the Ladavi Saddle at 1,105m AMSL – extensive views over Menari, the southern slopes of Brigade Hill and the valley beyond. Trek down to Menari Village at 845m AMSL for lunch – this is the site where Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Honner addressed his bravehearts after the battle of Isurava – the parade was captured by wartime photographer, Damien Parer Trek via Menari airfield down through village gardens to Vabuyavi River at 695 m AMSL – swing bridge crossing. Steep climb to a lookout at the abandoned village site of Mandalogo at 1,010 m AMSL. Continue climb to the first Envilogo track junction at 1,160m AMSL, then the second Envilogo track junction at 1,355m AMSL before reaching a lookout back to Nauro at 1,395m AMSL. From the lookout it is a short trek to the crest of Brigade Hill at 1,435m AMSL for afternoon tea. Wartime briefing on the Battle for Brigade Hill at the 21st Brigade Headquarters site Trek around the crest of the hill to Mission Ridge. The Diggers of the 2/27th Battalion referred to this as ‘Butchers Ridge because of the carnage that occurred during the battle. Views across the wartime Efogi where the Japanese assembled for their attack on 8 December 1942. Trek down the ridge to Efoge Creek at 1,105 m AMSL followed by a short climb to our campsite at Efogi village at 1,205m AMSL.

Kokoda Track

7.00 AM: Daily Trek Briefing Short trek down to Kavai Creek at 1,200m AMSL then climb to Efogi 2 Village (Laununumu) at 1,385m AMSL. Inspect the Japanese monument erected by Corporal Nishimura. Battlesite briefing on the assembly of the Japanese troops prior to their attack on Brigade Hill on 7 September 1942. Trek down to Efoge Creek at 1,040m AMSL then climb to Kagi Village at 1,420m AMSL for lunch. Follow the original Kokoda Trail up through the Kagi Gap to the crest of Tovovo Ridge at 2,025m AMSL. Here we enter the moss forest area –nature’s wonderland – birds of paradise, giant pandanus trees, numerous varieties of palm trees, fern colonies, fungi – it is difficult to imagine that this was the scene of such a desperate battle in 1942. Trek down through the Moss Forest to Bomber’s Campsite at 1,930m AMSL.

Kokoda Track

Continue trek through the Moss Forest to the edge of Lake Myola 1 then cross to the edge of the climb to Lake Myola 2 – a prairie like landscape which is an extinct volcanic crater discovered by Captain Bert Kienzle who was in search of a resupply base. He named it after his commander’s wife, ‘Myola’ – an aboriginal name meaning ‘break of day’. Wartime briefing on the critical significance of Myola to the campaign Trek across Lake Myola to inspect the wreckage of a US Army P40 Kittyhawk fighter plane. Trek to the abandoned campsite at Myola for morning tea. Return to the southern side of the lake via the old hospital area and other logistic camps which were used during the campaign. Re-enter the Moss Forest and return to Bombers Camp for lunch.

Kokoda Track

7.00 AM: Daily Trek Briefing Trek via the track cut by Captain Kienzle to the main Mt Bellamy track junction at 2,245m AMSL. Continue trek down to the Kokoda Gap at 2,190m AMSL. Extensive views down tot eh Yodda Valley on the northern side of the range. Trek down to the junction of Eora and Wase Creeks at the base of Myola Ridge at 1,940m AMSL for lunch – this is known as Crossing 1 and was the start of the Templeton’s Crossing campaign. Cross the swing bridge over Eora Creek and climb to the Boili Mail Exchange Point at 2,005m AMSL (this is where mail carriers from Port Moresby and Popondetta used to exchange their mail bags). Trek down to our Templeton’s Crossing campsite at 1,760m AMSL.

7.15: Daily Trek Briefing Trek to Vagebau Creek at 1,895m AMSL for morning tea. Short trek to the crest of Vabula Ridge at 1,905m AMSL then down to a delaying defensive position occupied by the 2/14th-2/16th battalions during their fighting withdrawal on 1-2 September 1942. Briefing on the significance of the position. Continue down to inspect a mortar position with live mortars and grenades for another briefing. Trek down to the junction of Eora and Agu Agu Creeks at 1,440m AMSL for morning tea. This is the site of the now abandoned village of Eora (formerly known as luoro). 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! Wartime briefing on the delaying defensive battles in September and the attack in October 1942. 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. Trek up the primeval ‘Japs Track’ via numerous creeks – Ovaveu, Oiba, Lomotaote, Savea and Ai – up to Abuari village at 1,550m AMSL for lunch. Trek down to the junction with the track leading to Maeaka Falls. Continue down to the spectacular waterfall area at 1,270 AMSL – this is the location where Lt Col Ward and the HQ Staff of the 53rd Battalion were ambushed and executed. Wartime briefing on the battles in the Abuari area in August 1942. Return to the track junction at 1,390m AMSL then trek down via number of tributaries from Kove Creek to Eora Creek at 1,165m AMSL. Short climb to the Alola-Abuari-La La Creek track junction at 1,340m AMSL then continue to Alola Village at 1,405m AMSL for afternoon tea. Trek down to Kaele-Dabe Creek at 1,370m AMSL then climb to the wartime village site of Alola at 1,470m AMSL. Continue along the ridge to our campsite at the Isurava Memorial at 1,345m AMSL.

0430: Reveille 0500: Dawn Service at the Isurava Memorial Wartime briefing on the Battle for Isurava 0800: Daily Trek Briefing Trek to Isurava Village at 1,360m AMSL via Etume and Ilole creeks for morning team. Continue trek down the mountain through old garden areas that have been overgrown with choko vines. Take a break at the abandoned village site of Deniki at 865m AMSL – this was the scene of the first battle after the Japanese attacked Kokoda. After the Australians were forced off the Kokoda plateau they made a brave stand at Deniki. From here they sent out patrols which recaptured Kokoda for a short time but were eventually forced to withdraw to Isurava after a brief but intense battle. Continue to the current site of Deniki at 805m AMSL for lunch. Extensive views down over the Yodda Valley and Kokoda from here. Short trek down to our campsite at Hoi at 505m AMSL.

0600: Daily Trek Briefing Trek from Hoi to Kokoda at 395m AMSL via Kovello. Inspect the plateau where the gallant 39th Militia Battalion first met the Japanese. Wartime briefing on the two battles for Kokoda. Inspect the monuments, memorials and small museum on the Kokoda plateau. Proceed to the airfield to meet the charter aircraft for our flight back over the trail to Port Moresby. Charter flight from Kokoda to Port Moresby - visit Bomana War Cemetery. Briefing on Australian War Cemeteries and final presentation. Dinner and presentations at Sogeri Lodge.

Port Moresby

06:00am Reveille, 09:00am Check out of Sogeri Lodge, 11:00am Check in at Airport