Kokoda to Owers Corner trek 11 – 20 September 2024

Up early this morning for our flight over to the north side of the track to Kokoda.

After arriving in Kokoda, we will take a walk to the Kokoda Museum (if open).

From the Kokoda Station, the group will commence the trek from Kokoda to Deniki which takes around 4 – 5 hours (depending on the pace of the group).

Deniki is a great little campsite with amazing views and is a fitting first night to camp.

After a wash, the trekkers will share the evening meal before being briefed on the history and the next day’s journey.

Rising early the group will enjoy breakfast and soon enough will hear the call to be ready to move out.

With Kokoda in the distance, the group will trek through the lush green choko vines that reach into the canopy of the trees. The trekkers will continue to move up the Owen Stanley Range to Isurava Village.

After a welcomed rest, the group will continue to Isurava Battle site.

A minute silence is held here to remember the Soldiers who fought, and to also pay tribute to the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. The battle site was lost for many years to the jungle, although today the site is cleared and serves as a memorial to the fallen soldiers who died in the Kokoda campaign.

We relish in the history of the area visiting Bruce Kingsbury VC rock and taking many photos of the area.

There is a small war museum here and if open trekkers can look inside and take photos (the entry fee own expense).

After seeing the battle site we take a short 15-minute walk to our campsite Surgeon’s Rock, This campsite supports the Alola school.

The group will then wash, share the evening meal along with the next day’s briefing, and welcome the opportunity to head off to Bed.

We take off early after a special service held at Con’s Rock and walk for nearly 2 hours where we reach Alola and take a short break. From Alola we encounter our first steep downhill section which can be slippery if it is wet, this takes around 1 hour from here we cross a creek and proceed to climb at a steady pace for 2 hours onto Eora Creek.

Along the way, a detour is taken to view the lower Japanese defensive position overlooking Eora Creek. This position was used by the Japanese primarily in their retreat and was the scene of bitter fighting as the diggers scaled in some parts almost vertical embankments.

From the junction, we walk on to Eora Creek campsite.

Some trekkers say that this is their favourite spot, and you will understand why as you stop for a rest. We enjoy lunch before spending 2 hours of solid climbing and will pass many Australian weapon pits that were used in the Australian Advance during the battles in 1942. With many short ascents and descents, this section of the track rises up and back down to river level at Templeton’s Crossing.

The creek is a beautiful swimming place although it can be a little chilly which is great for your aching mussels.

We meet again tonight as we do each night and reflect on the day, talk about the war history and cover what the next day entails.

We rise early and prepare for a long hard day hiking which will see us rise to the highest point on the track.

Trekkers will stop for a rest at Dump 1 (the first supply dump from the Myola distribution area during the Kokoda campaign).

We then proceed up to Mt Bellamy and stop to take in the view of the Kokoda Gap.

We take our time and encourage each other for this section of the track can be quite difficult.

From the gap we trek down to Kagi our campsite for the night. This village is set high upon a hill at the foot of Mt Bellamy.

This campsite will be the coldest night sleep you will have on the track so rug up.

Setting off from Kagi we trek on to Efogi 2 Village, the track leading down to the river below Kagi can be extremely slippery if it has rained, so take your time and watch your step.

Efogi 2 is a very beautiful village and the group will stay just beside the church in the centre of the village locals may have some local fruits and gifts for sale.

Naduri was the location of Ovuru Ndiki one of the last Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, who sadly passed away in November 2013. We now visit his tomb and pay our respects.

From Efogi 2 we plunge down to the river before a short ascent to Efogi for lunch. We can also stop for a quick swim in the creek before lunch to cool down

After lunch, ensure your wearing sun screen as we spend quite a long period out in the open climbing up to Brigade Hill.

Brigade Hill is the most eerie place to camp and often the clouds roll in over the summit.

After an emotional early morning dawn service we descend down to Menari, on the trek down the ridge the group will be shown the lookout to Menari, and be briefed on Japanese positions in the area during their advance.

The group will then move down to the creek and up to the guesthouse for a rest.

While in Menari the school students may gather to present a show for you.

Trekkers can bring educational & stationary resources as gifts for the students (Escape Trekking Adventures has ongoing relationship supporting the Menari school).

From Menari the group will trek up towards the top of ‘The Wall’ here the group will have a rest and take our time descending down the wall amongst all of the tree roots and mud.

We stop for lunch at Agulogo, and it is not long before boots are off, for the crossing of the Brown River.

The next 2 hours you will trek through the muddy Swamp below following the Naoro River, then slowly climb our way up to New Nauro Village where a welcomed rest and our campsite is for the night; this is halfway up the nine false peaks and is the most comfortable campsite on the track.

After Nauro we will trek up the ridge where it is easy to get discouraged with the remaining 9 false peaks. But the group encourages each other and before long you reach the top and trek down to the Japanese ladder to Ofi Creek campsite for morning tea.  This trek will take around 2-3 hours, depending on the pace of the group.

At Ofi Creek you can enjoy another welcomed wash, at yet another beautiful location.

The group will trek up and over the Ioribaiwa Ridge to the post-war village for lunch. Today we discover the 2 locations near the trail where the Japanese had some organised defensive positions during their withdrawal.

Descending from Ioribaiwa village through Dump 44 and onto Ua-Ule Creek we will cross the creek numerous times (17 times in total in this valley and approximately 8 today) before stopping for the evening.

This is a terrific swimming hole to enjoy your last night on the track.

This night the trekkers often pass the hat around to tip the porters.

This morning we continue along the creek before approaching the northern foot of Imita Ridge, (where the Salvos had a ‘Hop In’ tent erected during the war, serving refreshments to the soldiers) here we make our climb up Imita Ridge. It is quite a challenging climb and trekkers should be aware to pace themselves.

At the top after a group picture and briefing, the team will take the trek down to Imita base (Goodwater) camp for a rest.

The group now exhausted but eager to get to Owers Corner, we progress on for just a few short hours to Goldie Creek.

Trekkers welcome the great opportunity here to cool down in the water before morning tea.

After leaving Goldie we trek up the last climb to Owers Corner where there are many cheers, photos and celebrations as trekkers walk through the gates.

There will be an opportunity here to view the memorials, before boarding transport, for the last trip back to Port Moresby and the last night at the Hotel.

On the way, you will have a brief stop at Macdonald’s Corner, The Sogeri Junction, Rouna Falls and Bomana Cemetery.

At the hotel, all trekkers usually meet to celebrate the trek and to enjoy a celebration meal together.

Trekkers do need to make sure that all their trekking gear is cleaned properly before the international flight to avoid quarantine delays back in Australia.

Trekkers are free to do as they choose before being transferred back to the Airport for the flight back to Australia.