Alternative Kokoda Track

I have attached an article regarding the Kokoda Track that was published in The Australian Newspaper on March 5 2008. It relates to our research into alternative Kokoda Trails in the Nauro area.We will continue our research and ongoing investigation into the other Kokoda Tracks that run in the area. We plan to walk the other sections of the Kokoda Track later this month. It is important to remember that there is many alternative routes across Kokoda. These alternative tracks were used both by the Australian's and the Japanese during the battles on the Kokoda Track. The majority of your trek will have you walk on the original or main Kokoda Track, which is clearly evident by the large number of weapon pits, spent ammunition spread along the trail. Some sections of the main Kokoda Trail have been lost to the jungle or changed courses due to landslips etc. Kokoda Spirit will continue to ensure that all our trekkers experience the real spirit along the Kokoda Trail. Hopefully our ongoing explorations along the Kokoda Trail will open up new opportunities and experiences for our trekkers.

Kokoda fight may be off the track
Michael Davis The Australian March 05, 2008
THE Rudd government may be mistakenly trying to protect a part of the Kokoda Track that was not of any historical significance during WW2.Local landowners want to mine a section of the track for its rich veins of copper deposits, reaping up to $600 million towards much-needed local infrastructure. But the Australian government is opposing renewal of the mining lease and wants all 96 kilometres of the historic track to be heritage listed."(But) the area of the Kokoda Track that is in dispute with the mine may not be the original track," trekking tour leader, Wayne Wetherall said yesterday."There are three tracks that run through this area. The original and main track runs west of the track that the trekkers walk on. Trekkers are not walking on the original main track, but a subsidiary or village track" he said."The Australian government is trying to protect an area of the track that was not heavily used during the war."Mr Wetherall said he had the original maps to prove his point. "This could be very embarrassing for the government. They need to get their facts straight."Mr Wetherall, who lives on the Sunshine Coast and has been leading treks along Kokoda Track for the past six years, said his trekking group - Kokoda Spirit - had been invited to walk the track with the local Nauro people, the landowners pushing for the mine.He said with the help of the Nauro people, his company was trying to re-discover and re-open sections of the other original wartime track in the area."We have its location and have walked sections of it. It is a treasure trove of military history," Mr Wetherall said.Kokoda Spirit trek leaders - many of them descendants of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels who helped Australian troops during the war - recently discovered four full Japanese skeletons in the area. It is believed to be the first time in more than 30 years that a full Japanese skeleton has been unearthed.The skeletons were found at Templeton's Crossing, near Mt Bellamy, the highest point on the trail.Early in the Kokoda campaign, Australian soldiers made a stand at Mt Bellamy, constantly repelling the advancing Japanese enemy with their patrols.Repeatedly the Australian soldiers fell back to prepared defences as the Japanese supply lines became hopelessly extended. The enemy soldiers eventually became sick, hungry and diseased.The Australian War memorial estimates the Japanese lost 127,600 men in and around Papua New Guinea, most of them with no known grave.