Battle of Kokoda Tour - July 2010

Trek Update - 8th August

creek crossing Kokoda Track

The group have made it to Good Water this afternoon and set up camp. This will be their final night sleeping on the Kokoda Track.

Tomorrow they will be up early to cross the Goldie River and climb the final climb to reach the Kokoda Archway at Owers' Corner.

All are well and spirits are high as their goal is now within easy reach.

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Trek Update - 6th August

Today the team have trekked from Efogi North across Mission Ridge, called ‘Butcher’s Ridge’by the Diggers because of the carnage that took place during the battle defending Brigade Hill.

Then they continued on to Brigade Hill and held a ceremony in remembrance of the Diggers who fell there.

Brigade Hill is an area of significance on the Kokoda Track as it was here that the Brigade fought as a whole, for the first time in the Kokoda Campaign.

Then they trekked down through Menari, through the Moss Forest to swampy Nauro. All are doing well and are resting up after a good day's trekking

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Trek Update - 4 August

Lake Myola

The group have had a great day and arrived into their campsite at 1900 at 1pm today. This early arrival allowed them to down their gear and take the walk to see Myola lakes and back. A wonderful sight to behold that not all trekkers are fortunate enough to see.

Lake Myola is a dried up lake bed that played an important part in the Kokoda Campaign. Bert Kienzle recognised it as a potential area for supplies to be dropped for the soldiers during WWII.

Myola Originally this area was named "Taravatu", meaning spirits' place however the name was changed by Bert Kienzle to Myola. Myola is an aboriginal word meaning “Dawn of Day”, and was the name of the wife of Sydney Elliott Smith, who was a close friend of Berts.

All trekkers are doing well. The plan is to trek to stay Efogi north tomorrow where they will have a warm welcome from Stanley who always has great stories to telll around the campfire in the evenings.

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Trek Update - 3rd August

I received an update call early in the morning today. Unfortunately due to heavy cloud cover the previous evenings they were unable to obtain a satellite signal. All the group are trekking well. The group spent yesterday evening at Alola village and celebrated Maree's birthday.

Today they are travelling to Templeton's Crossing for the evening's camp. Hopefully we will have another update tomorrow.

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Trek Update - 31st July

Both groups have arrived safely to Kokoda Village. They have toured the Kokoda Memorial and Kokoda Museum and will spend the evening in the luxurious Orohaven Resort at Kokoda.

The plan for tomorrow is to start trekking the Kokoda Track early. This will be a comparatively easy day of trekking to ease the group into it gently.
Tomorrow will tell who has done enough training and who hasn't!

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Trek Dates

30 Jul – 10 Aug 2010:
Kokoda Track Tour

27 Jul – 10 Aug 2010:
Kokoda Track + Beachheads Tour

20 Sept – 1 Oct 2010:
Kokoda Track Tour

20 Sept – 4 Oct 2010:
Kokoda Track + Beachheads Tour

25 Oct – 5 Nov 2010:
Kokoda Track Tour

25 Oct – 8 Nov 2010:
Kokoda Track + Beachheads Tour

Tour Dates for 2011

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Testimonials

Kokoda Historical: Graham, Michael, Robert and Scott Rosengreen.

We haven't stopped talking about the Kokoda trek since we arrived home. We can't thank you enough David for the wonderful experience you gave us. Your knowledge of the track, the people, and in particular our wonderful military history on the Kokoda track and other battles in PNG is outstanding.
I couldn't imagine doing the trek and not knowing of the lost battlefields that you filled in for us so professionally. Our main reason for going to Kokoda was to walk in the footsteps, pay homage and acknowledge the extreme sacrifice of so many young men who willingly gave their lives for us.
We couldn't have done it without your expertise, and the friendliness and support of the Legends. Thank you so much, Graham, Michael, Robert and Scott Rosengreen.

Kokoda Historical: Shane Aubrey

I want to thank you (David) for a fantastic trip, your entertainment and knowledge of the battle sites was of the highest professional standard I have encountered for many a year. The trek was without question the hardest and most exciting, thrilling trip I have ever been on and I have been on many deployment etc.

Without a doubt we all have a much higher respect for the diggers who served on the track. What those guys endured we will never fully comprehend. To have a taste of what life must have been like, puts our normal dull life back into perspective and something that will always remain with us.

I am so charged after the trip, I feel that I need to go on another adventure ASAP. David, thank you and your troops, they are all excellent ambassadors for your company and it shows that you have a well trained crew of professionals.

Shane Aubrey, July 2009
Business Development Manager

Kokoda Historical: Sean Teasdale, Australian Air Force

I would firstly like to thank the whole team at Kokoda Historical for making my trip one of the best things that I have done in my life to date. The professionalism shown by the team along the track was amazing and the knowledge of all members is to be commended. Gary was a wealth of knowledge and seemed to just love every minute of the track and the history that went along with that. But easily one of the best things about the track was Gary's relationship with the legends which led in turn to all of us being able to bond with the legends, which by the looks of things many other tour groups missed out on. I would definitely recommend Kokoda Historical to any friends and family that were looking to trek the Kokoda Track.

Kokoda Historical: Anthony Fuster

Just wanted to thank and to congratulate Kokoda Historical on the fantastic trip that I had! The organisation was exceptional and our tour guide Gary was superb! His knowledge and passion for the history of track meant that I didn't just leave having walked the track, but left with huge appreciation and awe of those who trekked before in such harsh and treacherous conditions. You know you have a good tour guide on your hands when other tour groups stop to listen in on the background and significance of certain parts of the track!

Our group was also fantastic. Being a part of such a small and cohesive unit meant that we were able to bond more closely then we would have been able to had the group been larger. Although Michael was the only one not from ADFA who was in our group, the humour and common appreciation that we shared meant that we gelled quickly!

Finally I'd like to thank the Legends! Those young men are fantastic and are a testament to those who walked the track before them. The passion they showed for their job made it that much more enjoyable.

Kokoda Historical: Gavin Wright RAAF

Gavin Wright, RAAF

What a wonderful trip, the best and hardest thing I have under taken in all of my 40 years. Dave is a wealth of knowledge on the Kokoda war history as well as local history and current Papua issues. His great sense of humour and attitude kept everyone’s spirits high and helped you forget how hard the day’s walk really was. The legends that walked with us were just that “LEGENDS”. ANZAC day was one of the most moving I have ever attended; Isurava Memorial is very spiritual and picturesque at dawn and the perfect location with all of its history to hold a dawn service. ANZAC day is also a very special and memorable to the Papuans. I will be doing the track again and taking two of my sons next time. Thank you very much for the journey Kokoda Historical.

Read about Gavin's Kokoda Historical Tattoo here!