I would take a tent. If your tour operator is supplying tents, I would still take your own, make sure you water proof it before you go.. there is not plenty of accomodation along the track. Usually the camping is first in, best dressed, you would hate to get to a point, discover several other trekking companies there ahead of you and then find out you are out in the open.

nettie

Hi 007,

I am sure there must be a misunderstanding of what your tour company is saying.

To be without a tent on the Track would be an act of sheer folly and against all basic fundmentals of hiking.
As described by Nettie, you must not rely on guest houses along the Track being always available. I assume most Treking companies have good reliable tents for hire. There can be exceptions though, as Nettie & I experienced. I contemplated taking my own reliable tent, but was assured this was not necessary. I should have followed my own initial thoughts.
Cheers, Geoff Hardie

A good quality,brand new tent such as the one you are acquiring should not need additional waterproofing immediately.
If you would like added assurance you can purchase a waterproofing solution from most camping outlets. Just follow the directions on the packaging.

All the best for your trek.

Cheers, Geoff Hardie

If you walk the trek before the season starts, then bringing a tent would be a bad call. There are many shelters and guest houses, and more are being built constantly. Bringing a tent was the most regrettable decision I made. Although I used it, and although it came in handy, it was NEVER actually essential. A mosquito net and/or Bushmans is a much cheaper, lighter option, in my opinion.

Hi 007, have just noticed this post and have decided to answer it from our point of view as a trek operator. Lets put it this way, we at Kokoda Trekking (KTL) always insist on tents due a number of reasons such as:

• We usually stop at 1900 Myola Junction just for starters that requires a tent.
• If someone is struggling in our group it gives us the flexibility of stopping wherever and playing catch up on another day without putting the trekker at risk. In other words, our treks are not set in concrete so we do not make our trekkers walk till they drop just to make a certain guesthouse for the night. On average our treks normally end up where they are intended to stop for the night but it gives us another option if all does not go to plan.
• On one of our treks this year we had a group arrive who did not want to over night in Port Moresby and wanted to be collected from the airport and be driven out to Owers' Corner and then to walk down to a guesthouse area to sleep the night. Turned out the flight arrived late; it was already raining up at Sogeri and the end result was they arrived at Owers' around 6pm where they were dropped off. Then as a group it was decided not to proceed and to sleep at Owers' the night. Back at base when our staff had not long walked in the door, we received a sat phone call saying the majority of trekkers did not have tents. Our poor staff then had to turn round and drive back out on a very wet slippery road to drop off tents. By the time we arrived around 10pm they were all pretty cold, and miserable.
• On one of our treks we were sub contracting to another operator with an 'expatriate female' as the guide and our KTL boys to carry their packs walking in 'their company's t/shirts'. Our boys and their trekkers got them into where they would camp for the night. Some trekkers including the guide walked off to Myola Lake area leaving behind a few trekkers who did not want to go along with a handful of our KTL boys.

  Not long after another trekking group arrived at the campsite 'not' carrying tents and started throwing their weight around insisting that as they did not have tents our trekkers should give up the guesthouse to them. Our staff insisted they would have to wait and talk to the 'expatriate female guide' as they were there first.

  On the return of the female guide and the trekking party, world war III broke out between this guide and their guide co-incidently also a female. All our KTL staff and the other boys working for the other company were really embarrassed as they all know each other and even though walking in different t/shirts they are friends. To see their two bosses going head to head with each other was a 'new thing' to them and they couldn't wait to tell me when they arrived in Port Moresby.

  Apparently even the next morning when the female guide walking with our boys went to the toilet the other woman yelled out 'bitch' and a few other unpleasant words as they ended up sleeping under the stars and the ones with the tents got the traditional guesthouse. When the guide with our group arrived back in Port Moresby she wrote a three page letter to the Kokoda Track Authority insisting they advise all trekking companies to carry tents. What the trekkers in each group thought is anyone's guess but I can only imagine the ones out in the open with no protection were wishing they had brought along a tent!

  Sorry a long winded answer, but to put it simply, yes its first in best dressed. If you miss out on a guesthouse, then be prepared to get wet if it rains that night and mostly it does. From a trekking operators point of view, for a trek operator to think they will always get a guesthouse they are what we refer to in PNG, big headed! In March the chances are good, but to head out expecting to always find a guesthouse is a risk we at 'Kokoda Trekking' will not take with our trekkers. We will definitely also not order another 'trekking company' out of a guesthouse if we arrive in after them as its their right to keep the guesthouse if they get there before our group.

• Sometimes for privacy some trekkers prefer to sleep on their own irrespective of guesthouse accommodation.
• Often there is a snorer in the group who rather than keep the whole group awake chooses to sleep in his/her tent.
• To avoid getting bitten by mozzies some prefer to be locked away in their tent unless of course they carry mosquito nets as all guesthouses are open huts – very basic with a roof and floor boards and a rail but no flywire netting.

Photograph: Uberi Campsite area close to Goldie River. A typical guesthouse is seen in the same pic on the left. There are timber bearings where you can tie a mosquito net if you are worried about Malaria. Guesthouse owners do not worry whether you sleep in their guesthouse or pitch your tent, its your choice. Trek operators have to pay for your overnight irrespective of where you sleep.
DSCN0587__Small_.JPG

hi there
I think geoff and phantom sum it up. Folly ,stupidity call it what you will but a basic rule of trekking and overnight walks is to be prepared for all contingencies. most treks are eight nights long. If things are going bad and you need to "pull your socks" up then it is impossible if you are not wearing any. The analogy is a simple one. Shelter for sleep and protection from the elements is basic. you can chance your arm and trust to luck but that is stupid and inconsiderate of others who you may then be forced to share a tent with if it all turns pear shaped. Be responsible and be prepared.
good luck with the walk
Pete

14th June: We had a trek come back in this week and they mentioned they only used their tent once. Turns out there were not too many trekkers on the track during that time and they were lucky with guesthouses. One of the group mentioned they felt it was a waste of time to take their tent.

I fear when guys like them return home to Australia that some may inform other trekkers not to carry tents. When they arrive the track may be busy and you will find yourself out in the open with no protection should the guesthouses be taken.