Kokoda Track

[apcrespi]

A friend and I are planning on doing the Kokoda Track in late April from north to south, independant of a tour company. As a result we have a few questions that I would appreciate being answered:

– What is the best place and way to secure a guide? (Should I book ahead?)
– What equipment do the guides carry for themselves? (eg. Pack, ground sheet and machete etc.)
– What airline company flies between Port Moresby and Kokoda? (Should I book ahead?)
– What is the best mode of transport from Port Moresby to the airport and from Owers Corner back to Port Moresby?
– Can anyone recommend accommodation in Kokoda?

Thanks for your cooperation!

[aussie]

Hello there, answers are as follows:

Q. What is the best place and way to secure a guide? (Should I book ahead?)
A. Contact the Kokoda Track Authority.

Q. Should you book ahead
A. Yes most definitely as you have chosen the most popular time of the year to trek.

Q. What equipment do the guides carry for themselves? (eg. Pack, ground sheet and machete etc.)
A. only a machete, they expect tour companies to provide everything else. You might be lucky to find a guide who owns a backpack

Q. What airline company flies between Port Moresby and Kokoda? (Should I book ahead?)
A. Airlines of PNG from Port Moresby in and out of Kokoda only on Wednesday's or Sunday's. Air Niugini daily from Port Moresby to Popondetta and then by road up to Kokoda.

Q. What is the best mode of transport from Port Moresby to the airport and from Owers Corner back to Port Moresby?
A. Hire of a motor vehicle or else walk by road to Sogeri and catch a bus down to Port Moresby. Will add another 3 hours onto your walk from Ower's Corner to Sogeri.

Q. Can anyone recommend accommodation in Kokoda?
A. Russell Eroro (Rusty's) family block. It will cost you K20 per night plus whatever they charge you for food.

[Waza]

Hi 'apcrespi'

I see that 'Aussie' has already answered your questions and from her responses, you should be able to chase up your own requirements.

However if I could suggest and highly recommend that you both reconsider your options of travelling independently and consider booking with the Kokoda Trekking Limited (KTL) company.

This way all the neccessary details are taken care of and you can still trek on your own in a 'closed trek', with a guide and food porters and with or without personal porters.

I trekked last year with KTL and found the experience exhilerating and awesome. Something I will treasure forever, for a number of reasons.

The trek organisation was superb, as were the Guides, Justice and Rod and the food and personal porters were truly just wonderful people. Nothing was a problem to them, they almost anticipated your needs, they did it with a smile and always offered a helping hand.

For what it is worth, I highly recommend that you at least speak further with KTL on an option of travelling with them.

All the Best

Waza (Trek 83)

[Andrew G]

Hi there,
I have to agree with Waza on the choice of a tour group over individaul trekking. From your questions I can surmise that you and your friend have never been to PNG before.

One of the dangers of trekking like you are planning, and especially in PNG, is not being part of an organised group in the event of becoming lost, injured, or as happened to the PNG High Commission staff late last year, robbed by raskols at Owers Corner.

To walk from Owers to Sogeri is no real mean feat, just stomping up n down a dusty open road with little or no cover from the sun. However there is no additional experience to this unless you rate having a criminal put a machete to your throat whilst he n his gang takes all your gear.

Having a trek group look after you and have the means to communicate on the track, security and transfers to/from the trek is highly recommended.
Whether you chose KTL or another group is up to you. However KTL are very good and they will certainly make you feel like you are the only trekkers on the track.

Andrew (Trek 101 – 2005)

[phantom]

Hi, Couldn't agree more. You are mad if you trek alone or unaided. If you hurt yourself you have to get yourself out. One poor bloke was in there for 6 days waiting for a helicopter and he was with another tour company. The porters make the trip, they are fun, professional and amazing people. Don't miss this experience.

[Author]

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