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The Kokoda Track

A gruelling trail of jungle and history - the legendary track across the rugged Owen Stanley Range, a punishing multi-day trek through dense rainforest that follows the harrowing route of a pivotal Second World War campaign.

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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.

Typetrail

WhereOwen Stanley Range

Nearest cityPort Moresby

Best seasonApril to November

Time to allowSix to ten days

Getting thereFrom near Port Moresby; guided treks only

EntryTrek permits; guides required

The Kokoda Track, a rugged 96-kilometre trail across the steep, jungle-clad Owen Stanley Range, is one of the world's most demanding and meaningful treks, following the route of a pivotal and harrowing Second World War campaign. In 1942, Australian and Papua New Guinean forces fought a desperate, brutal battle against advancing Japanese troops along this path through dense, mountainous rainforest. Today, trekkers undertake the challenging multi-day journey through remote villages, war relics and memorials, both as a physical adventure and a moving pilgrimage of remembrance.

What you actually see

The jungle trail - the punishing route through mountainous rainforest.
The war memorials - the sites and relics of the 1942 campaign.
Isurava - the memorial to the pivotal battle.
The remote villages - the communities along the track.

When to go

April to November, the drier season, is the trekking window, when the trail is more passable, though rain, mud and humidity are constant companions on this jungle route year-round; the track is closed or treacherous in the wettest months. It is walked only with licensed guides and porters.

Honest expectations

This is a genuinely gruelling trek, six to ten days of steep climbs and descents through hot, muddy, remote jungle, demanding real fitness, preparation and a licensed guiding company; it is not a casual walk. It is also a place of profound wartime significance, to be approached with respect for the suffering endured here. For the fit and the reflective, though, it is a powerful physical and historical journey.