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Some time ago when wearing a shirt with our logo, I was approached by a gentleman who asked if I had just walked KOKODA. I replied, no, that I am a 'Kokoda Trek Operator' and that I run Kokoda Trekking Tours.
He replied, oh how I would love to be able to do that but quite honestly I cannot walk long distances but if you can come up with a few hours walking without the pressure of having to keep up with a group you would get me for sure !
The more I thought about his comments the more I felt there was probably a whole lot of others like him who were simply not fit enough to take on KOKODA. Some people also find it difficult to get too much time away from work. Lots of reasons why some would prefer a shorter trek but unless you are Brendan Buka the trek champion in both directions, the thought of walking KOKODA in less than a week is heart attack material.
What we have come up with, we hope, will get even the 'unfit trekkers' up to Isurava Monument area to pay their respects. For anyone with time restraints it will allow them to experience KOKODA. Also, why should some people miss out simply because they can't keep up or have strong family ties and can't for whatever reason get away for what is generally 10 – 12 days. Why should families not experience KOKODA because their children are still too young to walk for 8 days!
We are still working on the route we will take and the duration but various options are available:
- Option 1: Fly into Kokoda and overnight enjoying a relaxing afternoon sitting around a 'Win Haus', doing very little and soaking up the atmosphere of village life. That night listen to the sounds of our local uke'ule players entertaining their guests.
- The following day have a look around the Kokoda Station and be driven to the easiest way to reach Isurava Monument area by foot. With no time pressure it does not matter how long it will take to reach this point. As part of the cost our porters will carry tents, food and other essential items.
- After reaching Isurava and paying your respects, guests will then start their descent. Again, depending on the time available and the fitness level it will not matter how long it will take or how many stops the client wants in order to complete his wish of walking up and back to the Isurava Monument Area and back to Kokoda.
- Overnight at Kokoda before flying back into Port Moresby
With all the baby boomers in Australia already retired or about too…..there must be some of you who would want to experience KOKODA without the pain of walking 6 – 8 days up and down mountains and crossing lots of creeks and streams!
Before we go full steam ahead with this idea, we would appreciate honest feedback as to whether there are tourists looking for such an adventure. The number of days can be structured according to ones fitness levels!
- Option 2: Is to fly the whole family into Kokoda. For those members of the family who do not want to walk up to Isurava, they can wait at the base camp in KOKODA for other family members to return. It's perfectly safe; you will learn how the other half live in a relaxed atmosphere with great company as the people of KOKODA are some of the nicest you will ever meet and will spoil you rotten! Your children can play with the children of our porters and learn that with very little by way of material assets, life can still be FUN !
PNG Taim (melanesian time) will set in; mobile phones will not ring; you can totally rest your mind and body and have a very relaxing holiday.
- Option 3: Also on offer will be tours of Buna/Gona/Sanananda/Popondetta region coupled with overnight accommodation in KOKODA and Gona. We have also been approached to offer 'Black Bass Fishing Tours' in conjunction with a couple of days hiking around Kokoda/Isurava areas before heading down to Popondetta.
- Option 4: Village Stays: Tourists and residents of PNG can fly into KOKODA and spend a couple of totally relaxing days away from the hustle and bustle of city life in a relaxed atmosphere. Take a swim in a creek; read a book; walk around freely; put your feet up and truly relax!
If you are interested in such an adventure, please email me: gail@pngbd.com
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Picture_028__Small_.jpgHi Gail,
I think that you have come up with a fantastic idea. Trekking from Kokoda to Isurava and back is still hard, but although I would dearly love to give the whole track a try, I know my knee would not hold up to it and there must be a lot of people out there in the same boat.
Just for the record, in our group there were 5 ladies aged from 49 to 65 and we did it quite comfortably.
A short trek like this also gives you a 'taste' of what the whole track is like, there were quite a few in our group who are now determined to go back and complete the whole track next time.
Without the time constraints, you can walk and really enjoy the scenery, but still get the expierence of what our diggers went through.
Nettie
Hi Gail,
I would support the comments of Nettie.
The past two trips organised by the 39th & 2/14th Batallion Associations in 2004 and in August 2007, each comprised two groups,those walking the whole track and groups just walking to Isurava Monument and return to Kokoda. The shorter walk has always proved very popular as an alternative to walking the full track.
At this stage I am 61 and not sure if I would ever walk the full track again however I certainly look forward to a return to Isurava some time in the future with fellow descendents of the 39th Batallion diggers. My late father was a member of the 39th Bat." A" Company with Nettie's father.
Nettie, and her Son together myself and my two sons all now share a a bond with Ivan Nitua of Isurava Villiage and I certainly look forward to following the progress of Ivan's plans to build a guest house on his land just north of the monument.Regards, Geoff Hardie
Great idea. I'll keep doing the main treks for a few years yet but the short treks are a perfect opportunity for people to get on the track in whatever capacity they want. Yes and you have a growth market as more and more people (within Australia) move to an older age bracket. Not that it was a problem for Bernie (72) who held his own with us in August. That was a magical time…
Starting to get some interest from people who think this is for them. One guy asked how long could he take to reach Isurava, hey on these short treks who is counting the hours or days! Providing anyone out there reading this can put one foot after the other, our KTL boys with stay with you all the way.
Who cares if other 6, 7, 8 or 9 day trekkers come walking by. Unless you have a problem where its impossible for you to reach Isurava, we will do our utmost to get you up and back.
Hi Gail
My wife Maureen was sitting beside me with her crossword puzzle when I logged on and I asked her to read about your plans and to give her thoughts.
Maureen used to do a lot of walking but unfortunately long walks are a little beyond her now, I really miss her coming with me, Maureen thought that you plans were very good indeed it would mean that couple like ourselves could still travel together one staying and enjoying village life whilst the other does the shorter if not longer walk.
We are sure that if you can get it off the ground and that you can get it to the media it will certainly take off and be an asset to your company.
Hats off to you and your partner/s
Good Luck
Brian
PS: Alf phoned me today much appreciated.
Hi Gail,
I first hiked the Kokoda Track (for me it will always be a track) in January 1960 with a party of Senior Scouts and a guide by the name of Jack Perrin and a Papuan policeman by the name of Corporal John. You can find part of my diary and photos elsewhere on this site.
I was lucky to meet Bert Kienzle at Kokoda Airport and visit his home on the Mambare River.
We hiked from Kokoda to Owers' Corner in seven days. At the time the only book readily available was Retreat from Kokoda by Raymond Paull. I now have an extended collection of books about the Kokoda campaign. I have been lucky enough to meet Stan Bisset at a 2/14th reunion in Brisbane.
It has been my burning desire to return to the Kokoda track and as I am now 68 and not as fit as i would like to be the idea of a short hike to Isurava to see the wonderful monument and to get a feel of the area that cost so many lives and to visit again the area where Butch Bisset and many others gave up their lives so that we of today may be free would help my cause.
As some of the replies have been from people close to the 39th Battalion it would be a great honour to meet with them and share their thoughts.
On a recent visit to Bali we stayed in a room adjacent to the daughter of Jim Moir who served with the 2/16th and was badly wounded on Brigade Hill. The story of his rescue is in the book Retreat from Kokoda.
I do hope that a tour such that you have suggested can become a reality.
my email address is now hetbruce@bigpond.com and I look forward to your reply.Hi hetbruce,
If you let me know where you are, I will put you in contact with the relevent 39th Battalion assoc. If you would like to become a member, it will cost you $15.00 a year, and they put out a magazine every 3 months called 'The Good Guts' my father and a bloke called Kevin Gray produced the first edition of 'The Good Guts' during the war and used to pin it to a tree. Their website is http://www.39battalion.org
There are many associate members, including Yahoo Serious who is currently a director of the Kokoda Foundation and is in the process of making a film about Kokoda, which hopefully will be finished shortly. The President's name is Norm Stockdale. If you would like to meet some of the old diggers, I wouldn't leave it to long, it seems every week we are getting email's that another has passed away. Every 3 years, the 2/14th and 39th organise a pilgrammage back to Isurava for the relatives and interesed parties, usually there are three treks to choose from, two covering the entire track, and one short track from Kokoda to Isurava and back, this is the one we did when we took dad's ashes to Isurava. All treks are timed to meet at Isurava for a ceremony at the memorial which is usually conducted by the associations. The next trek would be scheduled for 2010. I am currently still going through dad's stuff, he had kept a complete history of the 39th, including his diary and letters home to his mother.( which were censored). We have just found another box of old photo's and journal's he kept during the war. It's the 24th of Janurary today, his birthday, he would have been 87.
cheers,
NettieHi hetbruce
My late father was also a past Editor of "The Good Guts". With my two sons we were also part of the 2/14th & 39th ' s trip back to Isurava in August 2007 with Nettie . After our service at Isurava we continued on to complete the Track at Owers . This trip was a life's highlight for me, made very easy by the emotion involved and all (myself and my two sons) our past scouting hiking experience.
Norm Stockdale is in fact the Secretary of the Association. Alan Jameson is President. Both direct descendants of 39th veterans. Association is based in Victoria, my home state. They meet regularly at Caulfield RSL. Only on Tuesday evening last I attended an information evening run by the Association for intending Kokoda Trekkers.
CheersGeoff Hardie
Hi Nettie,
Just a quick reply to your message. I live at Wurtulla just north of Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. I would appreciate any info on the 39th and thankyou for your reply.
BruceIntroducing Camp Kokoda: We applied for Government land in Kokoda and were fortunate enough to be granted some for commercial purposes. As a result of this, 'Camp Kokoda' is underway.
We have big plans for this block if it all eventuates. Initially we have commenced building 10 guesthouses, large common rooms, kitchen and so on. As time goes by we will eventually build self contained huts where people can have a comfortable bed to sleep on etc.
By this time next year we hope to be able to offer accommodation from the basic to the luxury so stay tuned for further updates. The block is situated adjacent to the Kokoda Airstrip on the opposite side of the runway to the present airport terminal building.
Photographs taken 15th March, 2008. Kokoda Hospital can be seen in the background pic 2:
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