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Glasgow is a great track, especially if you do it 3-4 times in a row. But I think you're underselling the benefits if Mt Donna Buang. It is a bit of a hike to get there but it, along with Mt St Leonard, are the closest you'll get to Kokoda in regards to mud, slipping & sliding and above all, endurance required in these conditions. Some days on the Kokoda Track can be longer than 8 hours in mud and rain and it's important to build endurance in like conditions. Mentally, it will condition you to the idea of the destination (eg. Village) being hours away from where you stand in the morning.
If you're not accustomed to bush tracks, Donna Buang may seem a bit isolated but the track is very well delineated and Telstra gives coverage over the whole track.
Having endurance training in your 'fitness bank' can be the difference between a tough Kokoda and a bloody tough Kokoda.
When doing Glasgow, you can add some extra hills by turning left at the top and following the track to Kalorama before looping back. This also helps with endurance.
Good luck in Kokoda. Let us know about your experience upon your return.
I concur with Wazza here. You cannot underestimate the need for strong legs when doing Kokoda. Do your training walks on hills and steps and do lots of them, for hours at a time. One of the key elements of training correctly is too ensure you work on your endurance and this can only be done by lonnnnnnngggg walks-work up to it and be capable of putting in 7-8 hour walks before you go. You'll know you are ready when you pull up OK the day after.
Also, do plenty of squats and lunges to help.
As for a walking stick-it will become your best friend. You need to view it as an extension of your arm. This year I actually bent my pole by using it to take my entire weight as I slid forwards going down to a river crossing at Templetons. I stayed on my feet but the pole was ruined. 🙂
Good luck!
Time is variable, depending on the number of people in your group. We will be a group of 12 teens and 4-5 adults, so it will take us quite a few hours. I cannot remember how long our last trip up there took but as a guide, this group took a bit over 6 hours to do Donna Buang last week whereas when I go on my own, I take 4.
Keep an eye out for our red shirts and black jackets and if you see us, say hi!
No worries Geoffrey. The Melways ref is 270 G9. That reference is for Donnelly's Weir Rd. You'll do a left at the lights in Healseville (there is a sign) and then a right onto Donnelly's Weir Rd. Follow this road, bending to the left and continue along over a small creek (regular cars are fine) until you reach the carpark of Donnellys Weir. Then just follow the track up to the summit. Part of the way you'll be on a fire track road but there are options to take the the grassier tracks as you go. It will all make sesne once you're on it. The hills just get steeper and steeper! As much as I love Donna Buang, I think this track is probably the best Kokoda training as it just gets harder. Good luck-I'll be up there with our group on the following Sunday.
No worries Geoffrey. The Melways ref is 270 G9. That reference is for Donnelly's Weir Rd. You'll do a left at the lights in Healseville (there is a sign) and then a right onto Donnelly's Weir Rd. Follow this road, bending to the left and continue along over a small creek (regular cars are fine) until you reach the carpark of Donnellys Weir. Then just follow the track up to the summit. Part of the way you'll be on a fire track road but there are options to take the the grassier tracks as you go. It will all make sesne once you're on it. The hills just get steeper and steeper! As much as I love Donna Buang, I think this track is probably the best Kokoda training as it just gets harder. Good luck-I'll be up there with our group on the following Sunday.
Geoffrey have you done the Mt Donna Buang track? Or Mt St Leonards? They would be the closest training you can get to the actual track. Donna Buang is steep, slippery (very at the moment!) and wet. Mt St Leonards has a long, slow ascent that just gets stepper as you go and can be a bit similar in nature to the false peaks on the Kokoda track.
If you've done these, then disregard, but if not, let me know and I'll give you the locations and how to get there.
Is this a part of the Tram line trail? We walked a section of it last week but from the other end, at Big Pat's Creek car park which was easy to find. Try calling Parks Vic, they are always pretty good when I've phoned for similar details.
Having trekked with Kokoda Trekking (who own this forum) I can highly recommend them as an operator. The guides and porters are excellent and very professional without being "touristy", for lack of a better word. You get a fascinating insight into PNG and it's culture as well as into the history of Kokoda, particularly the battles that took place on the track in WW2.
As for gear, you could contact Gail or Nathan directly and inquire about having it supplied or you could look at hiring the gear you need yourself. I'm not sure where you are based Yvie, but if you are in the Melbourne area, I can recommend a gear hire company or two.
I am currently half way through this book an I can highly recommend it to all! What a wonderful writer Andrew is-he has captured Stan Bisset and his remarkable life perfectly.
Hi Warren,
I second your testimonial-it is certainly the experience of a lifetime and KTL were fantastic.
I just wanted to ask about your fathers time on the Bulldog track. My grandfather (Private George William Farrar)was with the 22nd employment company, who were stationed there, building the Wau-Bulldog road. I have an article that appeared in the MUFTI magazine that the RSL put out but that is all I know of what happened up there. Grandpa spoke of the war for the first time not long before he passed in 2009 but outside of that I have very little information.
Do you know any more about this part of the WW2 campaign?
Many thanks, Sally.
All the best for the track and with your boots Geoffrey. I think one of the hardest parts is deciding on equipment to take, particularly boots! Sounds like you are good to go. 🙂
Hi Dianne,
As Peter has said, donated items will be gratefully received in Kokoda. I was able to take quite a few things as I had a personal porter. Most of what I took though was aimed at giving to villagers along the track. I sewed up some little bags and put marbles, hair clips & ties, small balls etc… in them for the children. Plus socks for our porters that I gave to them at Owers at the beginning of our trek. I left my first aid in Kokoda as well as some children's work books which I gave to our guide for his son.
Also, I took some sheet music for the ukulele for our porters and this was very gratefully received! If you are able to print off some basic music sheets, I am sure they would love that.
I am heading back in Sep this year as a youth leader with a group and would like to take more things with me but I won't have a personal porter this trip, so I too need to work out how to get items to Kokoda, particularly the hospital.
