T1: Anzac Day Owers corner to Kokoda Isurava Battlesite Dawn Service 17 – 27 April 2024

Up early this morning for our transfer to Owers Corner to begin our trek to the Goldie River crossing in our water shoes. From here we walk to Goodwater at the base of Imita ridge. Ascending Imita ridge, ensure you take it easy on our first significant ascent. The humidity can take some time for you to adapt to so ensure you ascend slowly with baby (small) steps. Atop Imita ridge the group will progress down onto Ua-Ule Creek you will need to pause and put on your river crossing shoes. We will be crisscrossing the stream numerous times (18 times in total in this valley) over the next 2-3 hours. The team will enjoy their morning tea at Ua-Ule Creek campsite before continuing to Just before Dump 44, you will stop at the creek to fill your water bottles before the long climb up to Ioribaiwa village. Tonight, the team will establish camp at Ioribaiwa village. This campsite is quite a fantastic place for trekkers to stand, as Ioribiwa ridge above the campsite marks the position that the main forces of the Japanese advanced to, before being ordered to ‘advance to the rear’ under pressure from the Australian troops.

At first light, we will move up, and over Ioribaiwa ridge, this is a sustained and testing ascent. If recent rain has fallen, please take

care in the wet, muddy conditions. On the Northern side of Ioribiwa ridge see if you can spot the “Gum Trees” growing there.

Descending to Ofi Creek, you will pass some Australian weapon pits used on the withdrawal and advance.

After Ofi creek, we will trek up the nine false peaks where it is easy to get discouraged with the many false summits. However, as a

team, we encourage each other, and before long, you reach the top and traverse the top of the range before descending to Nauro

village tonight’s campsite.

First up this morning is a short descent into the swamp, the area generally less than 1 to 2 inches of mud sitting on the surface in

some places to very little in others.

The team is required to cross the Brown River, this crossing varies and changes each year; at times you cross over a large felled

tree or a bunch of small trees tied together. On some occasions, this river has required a wet crossing plunging into waist-deep

water, whatever the circumstances listen to your guides for instruction on how to cross safely.

We pass through Agulogo guesthouse before trekking up towards the top of ‘the Menari gap’. There is a short section of track that

was referred to by the Diggers as “The Wall”, during 1942 with no erosion and in slick leather-soled shoes, it must have been a

formidable site. Today “The Wall” has suffered erosion, and the angle of approach has decreased, making it a more

straightforward ascent than it once was.

Our Campsite and lunch will be served in Menari for a short recovery day.

While in Menari the school students may gather to present a show for you if schooling and religious activity allow.

This morning’s ascent up to Brigade Hill is one of the longer and more demanding ascents you will undertake. There is no water available

once we cross the Vabuiagi river, ensure you have 2L for the ascent. There is a brief stop approximately 1/3rd the way up the

incline to view an area where the Japanese deployed machine gun fire on the retreating Australians in Menari village.

Brigade Hill campsite is a small clearing on top of the hill with a small memorial to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.

After an emotional commemorative service, we descend to Efogi Village. The track leads the group to Mission Ridge where you will be briefed on the Japanese lantern parade,

which was viewed by the northern troops, in particular, the 2/27th Battalion. The forward intelligence section estimated in excess

of 1000 Japanese holding lanterns descended into the valley below in readiness for a dawn attack Brigadier Pott’s witnessed such

an extraordinary sight ordered the Australian troops occupying the forward position on Mission ridge to pull back 1 KLM closer to

supporting fire of the other Battalions.

The group then moves on and follows the track down and progresses up past the Efogi airstrip into Efogi Village where we will

have Morning tea and view a museum if open.

After a break at Efogi, the trek continues to the crossing of the Efogi River before the long climb to Naduri.

Naduri was the home of the late Ovuru Ndiki, one of the last living Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, who sadly passed away in November 2013.

We visit his memorial and tomb where the old man lay in peace. One of Ovuru’s family members will greet us and tell stories passed

on by Ovuru. We stay in Naduri village for the evening.

This morning we leave early ascending to 1900 metres of elevation for morning tea at the campsite ironically known as 1900. Giant

pandanis trees surround this area, and the air is cold and crisp.

From here the track ascends the ridgeline up toward Mt Bellemy where you get fantastic views of the Kokoda Gap. The descent is

short but steep to our lunch location Wartime Dump 1.

The afternoon trek is still 90 minutes to 2 hours long, depending on the pace of the group where we will reach Templeton’s

Crossing midafternoon. Many people say that this is their favourite spot, and you will understand why as you stop for a rest.

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

The trek this morning is a tough one with the Track ascending and descending as we traverse one side of the valley following Eora

Creek. Along the way, we will stop and visit an unexploded ordinance site containing Australian 3-inch motors and Mills bombs

(grenades). Arriving into Eora Creek for morning tea, it is easy to recall the wartime photo taken by Damian Parer, as you descend

past the location where he stood to get the picture of the village in full action.

After morning tea, you will receive a briefing on the events that took place in this area before ascending to Abuari Village.

The descent from Abuari village to Eora creek is steep and potentially slippery, the group will take a side trip to a waterfall where the 53rd and 2/16th Battalions were engaged with the Japanese. Two river crossings need to be negotiated over Eora creek before a steep ascent to Alola Village followed by Aloli, Surgeons Rock and Isurava Memorial tonight’s campsite.

There is a beautiful memorial to the veterans of the Kokoda Campaign marked by four stone pillars. The encrypted words summed up by the surviving campaign veterans who displayed the characteristics, ‘COURAGE, ENDURANCE, MATESHIP, SACRIFICE’. You will be briefed in detail on the stories and events that occurred in this area.

An official Australian Government dawn service will be held to comemorate ANZAC Day this morning. The service is very moving and an experience you will never forget. Travelling northward from Isurava battle site to Deniki the scenery is impressive as you trek through Choko vines that have

overtaken the vegetation along this part of the track. At Deniki, you can see down in the Yodda Valley, the Kokoda Airstrip in the

distance, and with the end in sight, the group moves on.

You will then trek for 30 minutes down the final descent into Hoi, where we will have lunch before heading to Kokoda and the last

few kilometres of your journey.

Arriving at Kokoda where there will be many cheers, photos and celebrations as trekkers walk through those famous arches.

Trekkers are encouraged to make the most of the afternoon to wash and clean their gear before heading to Port Moresby.

In the evening the trekkers often pass the hat around to tip the group porters. The group Guide tip and the personal Guide tip are

presented after dinner on the final night on the Kokoda track.

The flight this morning from Kokoda is weather dependent and our departure time may vary from 7a to 11 am. Upon arrival to Port Moresby, we are reunited with our clean luggage beofre visiting Bomana Cemetary to pay our respects. We are scheduled to arrive at the hotel between 2-3 pm. After a clean-up, all trekkers usually meet to celebrate their achievement and to enjoy a final meal together.

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