Kokoda Track
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- For the World War II battle please go to Kokoda Track Campaign.
The Kokoda Track or Kokoda Trail is a single-file track which starts at Owers Corner 50 km east of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea and runs 90 km overland (60 km as the crow flies) through the Owen Stanley Range to Kokoda.
The track crosses some of the most rugged and most isolated terrain in the world and it is only passable on foot. It includes a height of 2,250 metres at Mount Bellamy.
Hot humid days with intensely cold nights, torrential rainfall and endemic tropical diseases such as malaria make it a challenge to walk. Despite the challenge posed it is a popular hike that takes between 6 and 9 days (depending on fitness). Locals have been known to hike the route in 3 days.
History
The trail was first used by Europeans in the 1890's by miners struggling northwards to the Yodda Kokoda goldfields.During the Pacific War of World War II a series of battles were fought from July 1942 to January 1943 between Japanese and Australian troops. This action was memorialised in a newsreel documentary Kokoda Frontline by cameraman Damien Parer that won him Australia's first Academy Award in 1942. For more details on the Second World War see Kokoda Track campaign.
In recent years walking the track has become a pilgrimage for numerous Australians of all ages.
Kokoda Track or Trail?
There has been much debate whether the route should be called the "Kokoda Trail" or the "Kokoda Track". "Track" is widely promoted as the correct Australian term, as wilderness routes in Australia are often called "tracks". There is, however, little evidence for the common assertion that "Kokoda Trail" is an Americanism. "Kokoda Trail" has long been an official battle honour of the Australian Army and the route was officially named the "Kokoda Trail" when Papua New Guinea was an Australian protectorate. Moreover, the first known use of "Kokoda Trail" was in Sydney's Daily Mirror on October 271942. [link][link]
On the other hand, members of the Australian Army who fought on the Kokoda Track (including the 2/16 Battalion) are adamant that the name should be the "Kokoda Track" and contend that it is only known as the "Kokoda Trail" because the government of the time was attempting to encourage tourism, especially from American tourists (a trail being something you walk from the start to finish). The 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australian Regiment (16 RWAR), the custodians of the 2/16 Battalion battle honours, have the battle honour "Kokoda Track" on their colours.#redirect
Trekking
The track can be walked from either direction, although some say that from Kokoda to Ower's Corner is easier, even though in that direction you actually have to climb an extra 550 metres in height.
The track can take anywhere from 5 days to 12 days to complete depending on fitness and rest time involved. Locals are renowned for being able to regularly complete it in 3 days. The best time to trek Kokoda is from April to September during the 'dry' season.
There are a number of guesthouses located along the way, some at villages others at traditional rest spots. The main villages passed through (from Ower's Corner) are Naoro, Menari, Efogi Creek 1 & 2, Kagi or Naduli (depending if shortcut taken), Alolo, Isurava, Hoi, Kovolo.
Guides and porters can be found more easily at the Kokoda end of the track by asking the local police station for a reputable person.
24 Hour Race
The 24 hour race was started on 27 August 2005 after renewed interest in running the track was created when Australian Brian Freeman, the CEO of a Brisbane based trekking company, broke the track record in August 2004 with a time just under 25 hours. Papuan New Guinean locals wanted the record reclaimed for themselves, and this was achieved by John Hunt Hiviki during the inaugural race who completed it in 22 hours, one minute and 14 seconds.Hiviki, a 32-year-old Kokoda resident and trekking guide, sustained himself on biscuits, bananas, oranges, scones and creek water during the race. For the last six hours he ran bare-foot after his shoes broke apart.
The race runners are required to complete the full 96 km and pass through seven check-points at Isurava, Templeton Crossing One, Myola, Efogi One, Old Nauro, Va’ule Creek and Goldie River. There are plans to make the race an annual event.
External links
References
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