Inspiring Kokoda Historical Tour

The** Kokoda Track** is a challenging 96-kilometre trail through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea and was the location of the 1942 World War II battle between the Japanese and Australian forces. Immerse yourself in the history and culture as you visit all the major battlefields and pay respects at war memorials, while expert historians turn master storytellers to bring the voices of the soldiers to life.

What You’ll Love

Tour Port Moresby to discover the strategic significance of this sprawling PNG capital city to the 1942 Kokoda battle. Pay homage to the brave soldiers at the **National War Memorial and **admire the vast anthropological collection at the National Museum. Visit the wreck of the M.V. Macdhui, whose loss in a direct hit by the Japanese was deeply felt by the Australian troops and pay your respects at the Bomana War Cemetery, the final resting place for many of the fallen soldiers.

Head for **Popondetta and the Northern Beachheads to follow the route of the Australian advance to Kokoda and beyond to Buna, Gona and Sanananda. En route, see Oivi and Gorari, the final major battle of Kokoda before the battle of Buna-Gora, the mighty Kumusi River **and Awala, where the first contact happened between the advancing Japanese and the Papuan Infantry Battalion. Relive the battles of Gona, Buna and Sanananda, which formed the final stage of the Kokoda Campaign, at the Northern Beachheads.

The **ANZAC Dawn Service **- included in the 9-day non-trekking tour - ** **takes on unforgettable significance in **Papua New Guinea **where the battles were fought. Guests travelling on ANZAC Day will join the dawn vigil as the bugle sounds the Last Post at this moving tribute at the Bomana War Cemetery, final resting ground for many of the fallen heroes of the Kokoda battlefields. Reflect on the solemnity of the great commemoration at the Gunfire breakfast.

Your 9-day ANZAC Special Non-Trekking Tour Includes:

• Non-trekking tour of Kokoda
• ANZAC Day Dawn Service
• The expert knowledge of Kokoda historian David Howell, and other experienced local guides
• Accommodation throughout the tour, including a bonus night pre-Dawn Service
• All meals: eight breakfasts, seven lunches and eight dinners
• Return airfares (Port Moresby to Alotau and Port Moresby to Popondetta)
• Transfers to all sites including Bomana, Owers’ Corner and Kokoda
• Transfers from all airports within Papua New Guinea
• Excursion to Milne Bay Memorial

Trekking Tour Options – 11 Day Fully Australian-Led Tour

Nothing challenges the indomitable spirit like a pilgrimage that immerses you in Australia’s proud wartime history by foot. Journey in the footsteps of the militiamen who braved the rugged and harsh terrain of the 96 kilometre trek in the PNG jungle. This 11-day fully Australian-led tour tailors each trek to ensure you stay at the key locations on the battlefield wherever possible. Pay your respects at war memorials, inspect Japanese trenches and relive history at the scene of ferocious battles.

Choose to start your journey from the north at Kokoda Village, and follow the trail taken by the embattled Australians as they are pushed back to Port Moresby. Or conversely start on the offensive trekking south from Owers’ Corner and see how Australian troops pushed the Japanese forces back to Kokoda and beyond. See ‘Package Options’ for details and the ‘fine Print’ for dates/directions.

Your 11-Day Trekking Tour includes:

• The expert knowledge of Kokoda historian David Howell, and other experienced local guides and support staff
• Accommodation including two nights in Port Moresby and guest house accommodation while trekking
• All meals while trekking
• A personal porter to carry your pack during the trek
• Internal flight within Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby to Popondetta or Popondetta to Port Moresby)
• Transfers between Popondetta and Kokoda
• Airport transfers
• Transfers to and from Ower’s Corner
• Tour of Bomana Cemetary
• Welcome pack
• Tents and cooking equipment
• Safety and medical equipment
• Pre-trip advice and training
• Kokoda Historicla Trekking shirt
• Certificate of completion and commemorative medallion

Itinerary: 9-Day Non-Trek Tour

DAY 1 – Port Moresby

Travel to PNG and on arrival you will be met by your Kokoda Historical guide and taken to the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Our group will gather in the main function room and over dinner your guide will give a detailed presentation on the battle fought in Papua during 1942.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2 – Port Moresby

After a buffet breakfast we will begin our tour of Port Moresby. We will visit the PNG National Memorial, PNG National Museum, PNG Parliament and the wreck of the MacDhui. Lunch will be served back in the hotel. In the afternoon we will travel out to Bomana War Cemetery, the last resting place of many who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the hard-fought battles in Papua. We will then return to the hotel for free me, relax by the pool before dinner.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3 – Kokoda Track, Owers’ Corner

Today we travel up to the Sogeri Highway to Owers’ Corner via McDonald’s Corner, the start of the Kokoda Track. Your historian will bring to life the story of Kokoda. We will look out into the Owen Stanley Range to Imita Ridge and beyond. We will then travel to the Koitaki Showgrounds the site of the infamous ‘Rabbit that Runs Speech’ before making our way back to the Sogeri Lodge for a buffet lunch. Aer lunch we will visit the PNG Flora & Fauna Park, a great chance to get up and close to the unique plants and animals PNG has to offer. Dinner will be back in the hotel.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4 – Kokoda Flight, Owen Stanley Range

Fly out to Kokoda. A early continental breakfast will be served before going down to the Domestic Airport. We will fly over the Kokoda Track and be able to look down at the very ground upon which the fighting took place. Lake Myola, Brigade Hill & Isurava can all be seen from the air. We will land on the same war time strip at Kokoda before making our way to the Kokoda Plataea. From here we will see the Bert Kienzle Museum and the Kokoda Memorials. Aer lunch we will take a short 4WD ride up the Kokoda Track. Those who are able may wish to accompany the Australian guide for a short walk along the actual Track before we make our way back to Kokoda and our night’s rest.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5 – Popondetta - Girua

Say goodbye to Kokoda as we make our way north to Popondetta and on to the Beachheads. We will stop along the way to see Oivi & Gorari, the mighty Kumsi River and the place where the first contacts happened between the Japanese and the Papuan Infantry Battalion. We will then call in to Popondetta Motel for a nice relaxing lunch as our staff take on supplies. We will also see the Popondetta War memorial before heading to Gona. On Gona beach your historian will bring to life the fierce fighting that took place in the area as the bale of the Beachheads began. Boarding our boat we will take a short ride down to Haddy’s Village before continuing by boat to Sanananda. On arrival in Sanananda we will be treated to a traditional welcome dance before checking into the Sanananda Guest House. You may swim in the warm waters of the Solomon Sea before our evening meal.

Accommodation: Sanananda Guest House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6 – Sanananda - Buna

Wake up to the sound of waves as we make our way to the mess hut. Pancakes anyone? This morning we will take a ride up to Buna where your historian will take you on a guided tour of the village. In Buna we will see the both the Australian and US memorials, walk along the same road depicted in the famous George Silk photograph and visit the Japanese gun emplacement at New Strip. We will also see the only example of the last known Japanese bunker complex before returning to Sanananda for lunch. In the afternoon we will tour Sanananda Village taking in the 55/53 Battalion memorial, the Wirraway wreck and the Japanese hospital. Those who are feeling up to it will walk along the road to view Huggins Roadblock. A craft market will be on in the village before dinner.

Accommodation: Sanananda Guest House

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 – Port Moresby

Up early as we make our way by road to the Girua airport. We will check out the B-25 wreck before returning to Port Moresby. We will then return to the comforts of the hotel to relax and have free me, along with the opportunity to get the shirt ironed and medals prepared for the service in the morning. We will have an early dinner before preparing for a very early start the next day.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8 – ANZAC Dawn Service

Board the bus to the Anzac Dawn Service. There will not be a dry eye on our tour as the sun rises over the Cross of Remembrance and the bugle sounds the Last Post. Aer the service we will return to the hotel for breakfast and a rest. At 1230 we will depart to the Royal Port Moresby Yacht club where your guide will host a special Anzac Day luncheon. We will have the chance to meet members of the Port Moresby RSL and enjoy a game of Two Up! The bus will return people to the hotel at their leisure throughout the afternoon. If you have room the hotel buffet dinner will be available.

Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9 – Tour End

Tour concludes. We will transfer to the Port Moresby International Airport for our return to Australia.

Meals: Breakfast

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11 Day Fully Australian Led Tour of Kokoda

Kokoda – Owers’ Corner

Day 1: Arrive Port Moresby-hotel accommodation

Day 2: Fly Popondetta travel by road via Awala, Wairopi, Gorari, Oivi on to Kokoda

Day 3: Trek Kokoda-Deniki-camp Isurava Battlefield

Day 4: Service at Isurava Memorial, Con’s Rock, Alola, Eora Creek, sleep Templeton’s Crossing.

Day 5: Dumo 1, Mt Bellamy, sleep Lake Myola.

**Day 6: **Moss Forest, Kagi, Efogi sleep Brigade Hill.

**Day 7: **Service at Brigade Hill, Menari, Brown River, sleep Nauro.

**Day 8: **Maguli Range, furthest most point of Japanese advance, sleep Ioribaiwa.

**Day 9: **Ua-Ule Creek, Imita Ridge ‘Golden Staircase’, sleep Goodwater (actual Dump 66).

Day 10: Goldie River, finish trekking Owers’ Corner, Bomana Cemetery, sleep hotel

**Day 11: **Return to Australia.

*Anzac special includes extra free night at the Crowne Plaza and ANZAC Day lunch at the Royal Port Moresby Yacht Club

Day 11: Attend the Dawn Service at Bomana Cemetery followed by lunch at the Royal Port Moresby Yacht Club (overnight at Crowne Plaza)

Day 12: Return to Australia

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