Upon arrival in Port Moresby you are met and transferred to our hotel which is located close to the airport. There is a pre-trip briefing this evening to meet your fellow travellers, trek leader and local trekking crew. This may be followed by an optional dinner together (at own expense).

Today we set forth towards Ower’s Corner, the base of the supply route for the Australian forces during the Kokoda Track campaign. Travelling time of 2-3 hours (depending on weather and road conditions). Along the way we visit Bomana War Cemetery, which is the final resting place for 3600 Australia soldiers and largest such gravesite in Papua New Guinea. Upon departing the cemetery we follow winding roads to Sogeri, passing Crystal Falls en route. This road was the built by engineers in the Australian armed forces during the Second World War to provide suitable supply routes up to the holding line at Owers’ Corner. Do look out for the majestic waterfalls on our drive. Upon reaching Sogeri, we go on to a dirt road for the final hour's drive to Owers’ Corner. After a quick briefing session where we are paired up with our personal porter, we continue trekking to our first campsite at Good Water. Immediately we notice the toughness of the Kokoda Track as we first descend down from Owers’ Corner to the mighty Goldie River (approx 45 minutes). The crossing at the river will involve stripping off to bare minimums and crossing in waist-high water. Our trek leader and personal porters will take good care of us during the crossing. From Goldie River we continue to our Campsite at head towards or final destination of  Uaule Creek. The Golden Staircase was built by Australian troops during the Kokoda Track campaign to provide easier access to the track. The climb up Imita Ridge from the Good Water will take approximately 2½ to 3 hours. At the top of the ridge we are treated to stunning views across to Ioribaiwa and Maguli Ridge, which we'll be tackling tomorrow. After a short 10 minute break at the top of Imita Ridge, we continue our trek down the back end of Imita Ridge. This is a short but very steep descent, taking approximately 45 minutes to an hour. Our personal porters will again be right behind us all of the way to ensure safety. At the trough we then continue towards Va’Ule Creek. This section of the walk involves crossing a number of creeks. Expect to get your feet wet in this section and be mindful that the 14 creek crossings to Va’Ule Creek are very slippery and rocky.  Uaule is where we set up for the night. This is day 1 of   the arduous yet rewarding Kokoda track ahead!

We leave the campsite of Uaule creek and head towards Ioribawa with our final destination for the day being Nauro.  This is approximately a 2½ to 3 hour climb up to Ioribaiwa Ridge. At Ioribaiwa we are treated to magnificent views of the Owen Stanley Range and back towards Imita Ridge. It's important to note that it was here at Ioribaiwa where the Japanese troops were turned back. With Port Moresby in our sights from the ridge, we can truly appreciate just how close the Japanese soldiers got to reaching their goal. We leave Ioribaiwa and make our way to Nauro . The first stage of the trek is making our way to Ofi Creek. This section takes about 2 hours and starts off with two tough climbs before a very steep descent to Ofi Creek, where we enjoy another short pit stop. This is a beautifully-set campsite nestled in the valley between Ioribaiwa and Maguli Ridge. We continue from Ofi Creek for another 3-hour trek to Jap’s Ladder, where we enjoy lunch. It was here that the Japanese troops built their own version of the Golden Staircase (hence the name Jap’s Ladder), which was used to move supplies and artillery during their advance towards Ioribaiwa. Following on from lunch we have our final walk which is a 2-hour trek to the top of Maguli Ridge and then down towards Nauro village. The descent down to Nauro can be very difficult and steep. When wet this can become particularly hazardous, so be sure to keep an eye out and listen attentively to our personal porter who will instruct each of us on where is best to place our next steps. Tonight’s campsite is at Nauro village (Old Nauro) in a beautiful setting inside Nauro Valley at the bottom of Maguli Ridge. The guest house here is owned by one of our cooperative partners and is set beside a fast-flowing freshwater creek. It’s a great place to relax after what is a long and hard trekking day.

Today we trek towards Menari village which is only 5-6 hours away from Nauro. We recommence walking after our regular early morning breakfast and set forth through the swampy marshlands of Nauro Valley. This is a nice flat plain to trek and a perfect way to kick-start the morning. We pass through a campsite known as Agu-logo and then cross the mighty Brown River. Once again this can sometimes be a hazardous crossing, but our porters will again be around to help guide us across the river. Upon reaching the base of Menari Ridge we commence a very steep climb up towards Menari Ridge peak. This is a very tough and challenging climb and it takes approximately 2½ hours to reach the top. Along this steep climb our trek leader will set the pace for the trek and will continually monitor how all of us are progressing. We enjoy a short break at the top of the ridge where we are treated to spectacular views back across towards Nauro (Maguli Ridge) and in north-easterly direction we can see the famous ridge at Brigade Hill. We then commence the trek down to Menari village, taking roughly 40 minutes. It's a steep and sometimes slippery descent, so care needs to be taken. When arriving into Menari village we are warmly welcomed by friendly villagers. We arrive around midday and have the remainder of the afternoon to relax in this tranquil location. There is a fantastic river only a short stroll from the guest house, so the afternoon can be spent bathing and washing our clothes in this icy cold mountain spring river. Feel free to walk around the village; the people are very friendly and always interested in having a chat with visitors.

Today we get back into trekking mode with a 6-7 hours trek ahead of us to the village of Efogi. The morning commences with a descent out of Menari village, passing the airstrip and following the steep descent to the valley that separates Menari from Brigade Hill and Mission Ridge. This descent is short but very steep and takes about 25 minutes to reach the bottom, where there's a beautiful icy cold river that is a great fill up point for our water bottles. After a quick refill we commence our climb up to Brigade Hill, which takes about 2½ hours. Upon reaching the top our trek leader and local historian will share with us the story about the battle of Brigade Hill and how the Australian troops had been engulfed or ambushed by the fast-approaching Japanese troops. Over 75 Australian soldiers fell at Brigade Hill and this is commemorated by a plaque which sits at the top of the hill. Glorious views from the top of Brigade Hill can be enjoyed and on a clear day we are able to see across to Mount Victoria, which is the highest mountain in the region. To the south-east we can see Nauro Village and Magulu Ridge at the top. After a long break at Brigade Hill, we then continue our walk along Mission Ridge (45 minutes) and before commencing our descent down to Efogi village, where we are treated to exceptional panoramic views up to Mount Bellamy. In the distance are the villages of Kagi, Naduri and, nearer by, Efogi. Mount Bellamy towers into the sky in the background. One can imagine the sight of 20,000 Japanese troops trudging down the mountain towards Kagi village - a scene was captured on film by an Australian soldier at the time. When the Australians were occupying Mission Ridge, they looked back towards Mount Bellamy and saw what seemed to be a sea of fireflies lighting the hillside from Kagi up to Mount Bellamy. It was later realised that this sea of light were not fireflies, but in fact lantern lights belonging to the fast-advancing Japanese troops. We have a quick break at Efogi II village before continuing the walk up towards Efogi I. This involves a one-hour climb up to the top which can be a very difficult climb due to the exposure of the track to the sun. It is truly energy-sapping and we need to be sure to have our sun protection kit on at all times. After this arduous climb we have made camp for the night.

Today we set off to Digger’s camp. We first walk towards Naduri village for the first section of the day's trek. This section involves a 30-minute descent to the base of the ridge that leads up to Naduri. There is a beautiful river at the bottom of the descent. The climb up to Naduri is a steep and difficult, taking between 2-3 hours depending on the pace walked. We then set off for our initial climb up Mount Bellamy, which takes about 1½-2 hours. This climb provides some fantastic views across the Owen Stanley Ranges and on a clear day we're able to look back as far as Imita Ridge. From here it's a 1½ hour walk along a relatively flat path to Digger’s Camp. We get settled into the campsite by mid morning and then, after lunch, take a walk down to Myola Plains (a two-hour round trip). Myola is a beautiful flat plain of grassland with little creeks set inside the remains of what looks like an extinct volcanic caldera. During the war, Australian troops had utilised Myola’s airstrip to drop in supplies. When making their advance to Port Moresby the Japanese completely missed Myola, which probably played a significant role in the ultimate chain of events. There were once many aircraft remains scattered around Myola, but since the war local villagers have salvaged much of what was left for scrap metal. After a few hours spent walking around Myola we return back to Digger’s Camp. Located in the highlands of the Owen Stanley Ranges, Digger’s Camp can be bitingly cold at nights, so be sure to rug up well for tonight’s sleep.

This morning we set off from Digger’s Camp to conquer Mount Bellamy. Our walk starts off following a relatively flat and swampy plain to 1900 Crossing and it takes about an hour to reach our first water break. From 1900 Crossing we continue with a steep climb which takes us up to the summit of Mount Bellamy. This can at times be a very difficult path to follow, especially after rain which turns the path into a deep quagmire (sometimes knee-high in mud!). The climb to the summit takes approximately 2–2½ hours. Upon reaching the top it is then another hour of walking before we reach Kokoda Gap. From here we continue down a steep and muddy slope to Templeton’s Crossing I, where we enjoy lunch. Following lunch we commence another climb along the ridge that hugs Iora Creek Valley and, after 1½-2 hours, we reach our campsite for the night at Templeton’s Crossing II. This campsite owner is another cooperative partner. During the war campaign, the Australian supply and storage facility was based at Templeton’s Crossing. It was also the burial ground for Australian soldiers killed in the Battle of Iora Creek. Located near our cooperative guest house this burial ground is marked by iron rods that symbolised each individual soldier or body found at the site. The bodies were removed at the end of the war and relocated to Bomana War Cemetery.

We commence the day's trek at sunrise after spending a night soothed by the sounds of the mighty Iora Creek. Our goal today is to reach Isurava village which is around 9 hours away from Templeton’s Crossing II. The first leg of the trek takes us to Iora Creek where major battles took place between the advancing Japanese soldiers and the retreating Australian 39th Battalion and 2/14th Unit. The Aussies had split into two retreating parties after Isurava was claimed by the Japanese. Both parties later converged on Iora Creek, leading to a massive gun battle between the two forces. Over 200 Australian bodies were found at Iora Creek and later relocated to Templeton’s Crossing II. These were the bodies that were later relocated to Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby. At the campsite at Templeton’s Crossing II, we are able to see remnants of former graves. From Iora Creek we follow a long and windy path floating up and down various valleys and small hills. This section of the trek passes through some interesting rainforests and jungle with many little creeks and waterways – a result of water cascading from the top of the mountain and down the cliffs. There is one final water crossing about 1½ from Iora Creek before we start our ascent up to Alola village – a steep half-hour climb. As we head into Alola we are greeted by a magnificent view looking down the Kokoda Valley from this little mountain village, where the people are friendly and yet very timid. After Alola village we set off for Isurava battlefield which is about an hour and a half from Alola. The walk this morning is tough to start, with as we commence by climbing through choko fields before following the ridge of the mountain that later leads down to the Isurava Memorial. This memorial was built by the Australian Federal Government and is maintained by the Australian War Graves Department. The four pillars encapsulate the battle along the Kokoda Track with the four words - ‘Courage, Sacrifice, Mateship and Endurance’. To the south-eastern end of the four pillars lies Kingsbury’s Rock. This battle is attributed to the heroics of Private Kingsbury, a real estate agent from Victoria who was enlisted to fight in New Guinea with the 2/14th Infantry Battalion. His heroics at Isurava earned him a Victoria Cross when he was said to have held off an onslaught of invading Japanese soldiers with his Bren gun. This event was enough to give the retreating Australian troops enough time to escape from total annihilation and the opportunity for the reinforcement troops in the shape of the fit and athletic 2/14th AIF unit to arrive. The unfortunate death of Private Kingsbury occurred on the rock when he was struck in the head by a Japanese sniper. His story is one of the many legends that we will embrace throughout our journey along the Kokoda Track. After this site we make our way to Isurava village. There is a comfortable guest house where we are accommodated for the night, with fresh flowing tap water available. We could say we have ‘broken the back’ of the Kokoda Track after today!

After our overnight stay in Isurava we begin our final day of trekking down to Kokoda Station. First we must make our way to Deniki village, a walk of 2½-3 hours. Deniki sits at 880 metres above sea level and overlooks the whole of Kokoda Valley, providing for a truly exceptional view. Upon spotting the Kokoda airstrip we know that we are nearly at the end of our trek. The final walk involves a 2½ hour trek down to Kokoda Station, where we are accommodated at our cooperative guest house. This final walk to Kokoda starts off with a short and relatively steep descent, lasting only 30-45 minutes, and then follows a flat road into the station for about 2 hours. Close to the guest house is a lovely river where we are able to relax and swim after settling in. A five-minute stroll from the guest house is the Kokoda Memorial and memorial plaque. There are local shops nearby that sell food and beverages, as this is generally a good ‘water hole’ for Kokoda locals and most trekkers who have just completed the trek. Today is a day of rest and a good time to celebrate amongst our fellow trekkers the achievement of successfully completing the Kokoda Track.

This morning we make our way down to the airstrip which is a 20-30 minute walk away from the guest house. Here we bid farewell to our porters and local guides. The flight back to Port Moresby is on board a single engine aircraft and takes just 25 minutes to fly from over an area that we have just taken 10 days to walk through. Upon arrival in Port Moresby we are met by our local tour manager and transferred back to our hotel in town. It’s now time to enjoy the creature comforts of modern civilisation, hot water showers and bar service!

We have an early start this morning with transport from our hotel to Bomana War Cemetery for the Dawn Service. The service can be a decidedly moving experience, and after our walk of recent days we will have a slightly greater understanding of the challenges and privations faced by those who fought on the Kokoda Track. After this there will be a Gunfire Breakfast - the cost of this is included as part of the tour package. However, if we feel that it is too busy and the queues are too long, we can always decide to go back and get our own breakfast back at our hotel. Our trip ends in Port Moresby this morning after breakfast.

Please note that this itinerary can vary considerably due to weather conditions, group needs and overnight locations. Flexibility, patience and good humor is required. For this reason these trip notes must be treated as a guide and are subject to changes.