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8
day detailed itinerary here.
Day 1 – Overnight Deniki Guest House
Charter flight to Kokoda 6.30am – Arrive in Kokoda 7am Inspect
monuments, memorials, museum and the Australian defensive
position on the Kokoda plateau where the gallant 39th Militia
Battalion first met the Japanese army on 27 July 1942 -
battlesite briefing by your trek leader - trek to Kovello and
Hoi for Lunch. Begin the climb over the awesome Owen Stanley
Range. Trek through abandoned village sites to Deniki where the
first battle after the Australian withdrawal from Kokoda took
place. Overnight at Deniki
Day 2 - Overnight Alolo Village
Today we continue to Isurava village - trek to the magnificent
and solemn Isurava memorial which was opened by Prime Ministers'
Sir Michael Somare and The Hon John Howard on the 60th
anniversary of the battle - battle site briefing on the site.
Inspect the Isurava battle site - examine weapon pits and
discarded armaments - descend to the rear of the position at
Back Creek - trek to the spectacular Alolo Village and admire
the spectacular views back down in the Kokoda Valley.
Day 3 - Templeton’s Crossing Camp Site
Trek to Iora Creek this was the final obstacle in the
Templeton's Crossing campaign - the scene of one of the most
dramatic situations during the withdrawal - savage fighting and
bitter memories for those involved - continue on up the spur via
the Australian delaying defensive positions - inspect the weapon
pits as you proceed - examine one of the key Japanese defensive
positions at the top of the ridge - continue trekking to the
Templeton’s Crossing campsite.
Day 4 - Naduri Village
Depart the Templeton’s Crossing campsite and trek to the
crossing area where the Australians fought a bloody campaign
over a 17 day period in October 1942 - the desperation was so
great that the Japanese defenders turned to cannibalism for
survival. Climb to the Kokoda Gap - enjoy panoramic views back
down the Yodda Valley beyond the Kokoda plateau - strategic
briefing at the Gap - continue climb to Mt Bellamy - the highest
point of the track - enter the enchanted Moss Forest. Continue
trek through the moss forest to Tovovo lookout over the Efogi
valley - spectacular views of Naduri, Kagi, Efogi and Brigade
Hill - this is the most populated area of the track. Continue to
Naduri Village - meet Ovoru Indiki, one of the few surviving
'Fuzzy-Wuzzy angels'. Ovoru was in Port Moresby when the
Japanese first bombed the city. He did not understand what was
going on and he fled to the bush in fear. Over the next couple
of days Ovoru made his way back to his village - only moving at
night because of fear. He told his people what had happened and
they began to make arrangements to 'go bush'. Lieutenant Bert
Kniezle of the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit
eventually came to the village and enlisted Ovoru and the other
men in the village to help the Australians. Ovoru then spent the
next three months carrying supplies forward to our troops and
carrying our wounded back across the track. It is a great honour
to meet the few remaining carriers such as Ovoru during the
trek.
Day 5 - Menari Village
Follow wartime track to Efogi Creek then climb to Launumu
village - battle site briefing in the forming-up place for the
Japanese attack on Brigade Hill - 6000 fanatical Japanese
soldiers attacked 1000 Australian defenders in what was to be
the biggest battle of the Kokoda campaign - the Japanese
referred to it as the 'battle of the Owen Stanley Range - The
Australians refer to it as 'the battle for Brigade Hill' - trek
down to Efogi Village. Climb to Mission Ridge (renamed
'Butcher's Ridge by the diggers who fought there) - inspect
defensive position held by the 2/27th Battalion - continue to
the crest of Brigade Hill - inspect positions held by the 2/14th
and 2/16th Battalions during the battle of Brigade Hill. Inspect
a former Australian gravesite - haunting - battle site briefing
- follow track down ridge to Vabuyavi River then climb to Menari
village.
Day 6 - Ua Ule Creek
From Menari climb to the crest of Ladavi saddle - follow track
to the Nauro swamp area - cross the Nauro River - climb to the
village of Nauro. The village of Nauro has only recently been
moved to the current location on the Maguli Range. It was
previously on the Nauro River with a good airfield but some say
fear of sorcery caused the villagers to move up the
mountain.Climb the Maguli Range to the top at Mogolonumu -
follow track south - inspect Japanese delaying defensive
position with weapon pits and communication trenches - continue
down to Ua Ule Creek. We overnight at Ua Ule Creek.
Day 7 - Goldie River Camp
We climb Ioribaiwa Ridge - battle site briefing at the point
where the Japanese were finally stopped - inspect weapon pits on
the position - descend to Ioribaiwa village - Creek. Climb Imita
Ridge - battle site briefing - descends in the area of the
'golden staircase - trek through the abandoned village site of
Uberi - to our last night camp at the Goldie River.
Day 8 – Owers Corner Port Moresby
Today we climb to Owers Corner where we have - battle site
briefing, cold beer and fresh sandwiches - board vehicles for
visit to Bomana War Cemetery - final briefing on campaign -
check in at your hotel for presentation and celebration dinner.
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