We had plenty of fresh bananas, oranges, mandarins, sugar fruit, kaukau, taro, and ? needless to say ? good sleep at Naduri.Both knees started giving me problems when I started off at 7am on Wednesday, June 4, with Kevau, my personal guide and porter, who stood alongside me all the way.Unlike the other guides and porters, who are all Koiaris, 19 ?…[Read more]

I got up early the next morning, Tuesday, June 3, feeling much better and stronger than the previous day.We started at 8am and struggled up Mount Bellamy, which at 2190 metres is the highest point of the trail, reaching the summit at 10am.I felt as if I had climbed Everest!From then on it was down, up, down, up, down, up, ad infinitum ? on a…[Read more]

The exhaustive climb and ensuring descent to Templeton?s Crossing was an absolute nightmare as I struggled with flu and malaria, my knees and hips felt like they were going to pop out of their sockets, and I was constantly out of breath.I stopped on several occasions, and at one stage even slept on a mat of leaves for a good 30 minutes, so as to…[Read more]

It was here that Private Bruce Kingsbury of the 2/14th Battalion was post ? humously awarded the first Victorial Cross ever won on Australian territory, as Papua then was, for bravery. On Monday, June 2, we left Isurava at 7am for the next village of Alola, which we arrived in at 8.30am.After a brief stop for fruit and vegetables, it was more…[Read more]

From the onset, I realised that I had not done sufficient training, as the strain of mountain climbing and equally stressful descents started to take their toll.We had a break from 10.30am till 12pm besides a cool mountain stream, before trudging on to Isurava, arriving there at 2pm.Isurava, which Australian Prime Minister John Howard visited in…[Read more]

Hoi, an hour?s walk from Kokoda, is a clean, well ? kept village besides a clean mountain stream.We overnighted there amidst thousands of fireflies lighting up the night.We left Hoi at 9am on Sunday, June 1, for the start of our exhaustive week ? long trek.HOI VILLAGE, first village from Kokoda on the Kokoda Trail : Hoi_Village.jpg

Kokoda is a sleepy little outback town whose serenity completely belies what happened there 61 years ago.The Japanese captured Kokoda on July 28, 1942, and advanced over the Owen Stanley Ranges towards Port Moresby.Australian soldiers delayed and finally halted the enemy at Ioribaiwa Ridge on September 26, 1942.The 7th Australian Division began an…[Read more]

We left Port Moresby at 9.55am on Saturday, May 31, on an Airlines of PNG Twin Otter piloted by the experienced Captain Michael Butler, flying over the spectacular Owen Stanley Ranges starting from Sogeri on through the Kokoda Gap into rural Kokoda which we arrived in at 10.20am.AUTHOR – MALUM NALU boarding the Airlines of Papua New Guinea flight…[Read more]

Fears about the trek, hopes about reaching the end of the journey, at first seemed insurmountable; but they were met and conquered.It brought out of me hidden physical and mental reserves that I never knew that I had!Walking the Kokoda Trail made me envision the journey of life itself beginning with one small step, followed by another and another,…[Read more]

Ovett and his group plan to fly in to PNG in September, fly on an Airlines of PNG charter to Kokoda, and trek for nine days to Owers?Corner.Individuals and organizations who would like more details about Ovett?s Kokoda trek and Bloomhill can log on to http://www.bloomhill.com.auAlternatively, log onto the Papua New Guinea Tourism & Business…[Read more]

Richard Thompson, aged 44 and married with three children, in his early life was trained by IBM in Brisbane before moving to Singapore with the family as Vice President- Asia Pacific for a US Based software company. ?I was into my fourth year of this job when I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma,? he recalled.? My wife and I flew back to Brisbane…[Read more]

In the 1500m, contested six days later, it was Coe who came from behind to win, while Ovett took home the bronze medal. Ovett attempted to defend his 800m title in 1984. Battling bronchitis, he barely qualified for the final and then finished eighth, after which he collapsed and spent two nights in a hospital. He returned to compete in the 1500m,…[Read more]

Middle distance runner Ovett gained some Olympic experience in 1976 when he ran in the final of the 800m and placed fifth. By the time of the 1980 Olympics, he was considered the favourite at 1500m, while his British teammate, Sebastian Coe, was expected to win the 800. The 800m final was run first. Ovett, in only sixth place at the halfway mark,…[Read more]

Accompanying Ovett and Thompson on the Kokoda Trail will be Geoff Campbell (whose father fought in PNG during WW11), nurse John Thompson, and professional photographer Ross Eason.?I was originally asked by friend and trek leader Richard Thompson if I would like to do a walk with him after his most recent treatment,? Ovett said.?I agreed far too…[Read more]

Ovett decided to take on the challenge of Kokoda after being asked to do so by good friend and trek leader, Richard Thompson, who is very ill with Multiple Myeloma.Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow for which there is no known cure. Richard Thompson, Trek Leader : Editors Update: Unfortunately Richard was not able to…[Read more]

Ovett, who holds MBE and OBE awards, moved to Queensland?s Sunshine coast with his family over a year ago.The 48 ? year ? old sports consultant, journalist and television commentator has been sidelined from sport since being involved in a car accident while training, damaging both knees.Los Angeles, 11 August 1984. Competitors on the track. Steven…[Read more]

They hope that individuals and organisations will help by making a contribution to Bloomhill.All money donated goes directly to Bloomhill!CLICK HERE if you would like to make a donation to this great cause ! kokoda_logo.gif

Russell Eroro (right) heating up the billy at Nauro village during a recent trek : Russell_Eroro__right__heati.jpg

For someone who has been trekking for over 10 years, Russel is well known along the Kokoda Track and his services are easily trusted.?The longest walk I had went on for 11 days, I accompanied a trekking team from Australia. The shortest was only three with two Israelites,? the energetic Russel said.However, he said, the next one could be…[Read more]

Russel is now the senior guide of his own company Kokoda Trekking Ltd, taking care of trekkers on the Kokoda Trail. Extreme Kokoda Trekking Adventure Tours is proud to be associated with Russell through our website which attracts people from all over the world. Due to his location, the only means of communication is by two way radio or consigned…[Read more]