The Kokoda Track - Marc Stafford

The entire kokoda experience for me is one I will never forget. From our group training sessions in Melbourne and meeting our group; to sitting round a camp fire in the middle of the Owen Stanley ranges; to learning how to use a outdoor toilet! I had the most fun and adventurous trip I could ever have asked for.

I am so glad I took Marc up on his challenge, he did an amazing job and was the backbone of our team bonding. Using Marc Stafford Health & Fitness was probably one of the best decisions he made as we were looked after and fed like royalty.

It is however very hard to describe to people when you get back. There is such a feeling of achievement and accomplishment, also pride in what our soldiers went through. I would totally encourage (beg!) everyone to do it as it is something you will never regret and remember for the rest of your life!

Emma Freeman

A Note from Marc
Thank you for taking the time to discover what most people call án experience of a lifetime’ – the Kokoda Track. We would like to introduce ourselves and explain to you why we believe everyone, including you, should walk the Kokoda Track at one stage of their life.

Imagine an experience that when asked you could not put into words. No word or collection of words, no matter how motivating or descriptive, can explain the experience you have just been through. The only thing close to portraying to someone what you experienced is the emotions that rush through your body as you try to explain. The emotions of personal accomplishment, mateship and self discovery.

An understanding of the experience can only be shared with the other dozen or so trekkers that you trained with for 4-months prior to departure and the 8-days of walking through some of the world’s most beautiful jungle, the Kokoda Track.

I would like to invite you to share this experience with us. We will show you the whole kokoda experience and safely prepare you with what our clients call the best and most supportive Kokoda experience.

Marc Stafford Health & Fitness in conjunction with No Roads Expeditions is offering you a once in a lifetime opportunity to complete the notorious Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Walking the Kokoda Track involves 50-hours of hiking over 90km of sharp, timbered ridges, steep-sided valleys and fast flowing rivers in 8-days. Vantage points along the Track reveal magnificent mountain landscapes, and a wide variety of flora and fauna is encountered. Trekkers pass through local villages where descendents of the wartime “fuzzy wuzzy angels” continue to live simple traditional lifestyles while providing a warm welcome to passing trekkers.

Highlights
- Walk one of the most famous tracks in the world;
- Understand what Australian soldiers endured during WWII;
- Amazing terrain and river crossings with breath taking views and great swimming;
- Walk through the most pristine rain forests in the world;

- Meet one of the last remaining 'fuzzy wuzzy angels' over the age of 100 years;
- Meet wonderful village people with beautiful singing voices;
- Undertake something that will push your body and spirit to new levels; and

- Make friendships that will last you a lifetime.

A Brief History
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941, the Japanese quickly advanced through South East Asia and across the Pacific, capturing New Britain and New Guinea. The Battle of the Coral Sea drastically halted the Japanese war machine and their advance on Port Moresby had to be re-thought. The new plan involved taking Port Moresby by land rather than by sea. The Japanese planned to land near Popondetta, then travel to Kokoda, over the Owen Stanley Ranges to Sogeri and down to Port Moresby. At this stage the Kokoda Track was a small footpath, full of switchbacks through some of the most rugged terrain the most rugged country on the planet could dish out. It had been used to explore New Guineas' undiscovered center, then a path to lucrative gold fields and finally, as a link between the north and south coast. The Japanese had seriously miscalculated the track, believing that it could be engineered to accommodate vehicles to supply their ever advancing front line.

The Japanese landed on the 21st July 1942 and stormed towards the track. They encountered stiff resistance at Kokoda but over came it, leaving the inexperienced, young, poorly supplied and undermanned Australian troops on the back foot for months. Knowing the Japanese flood of troops could not be defeated immediately, the Australian strategy was to slow the advance until their own reinforcements would arrive. The Australians would rapidly retreat to a point where they could regroup, then set up ambushes and dig in. These tactics, coupled with the extreme terrain and the inability of the Japanese to re supply their frontline, wore down on the Japanese advance and moral. After months of bitter fighting, the Japanese were stopped at Ioribaiwa on the 16th September only kilometers from their goal. Allied Howitzers pounded their front line. The Japanese, like the Australians months before, retreated along the track. They were pushed back to Buna on the north coast, where they made their final stand. The battle of Buna is regarded as one of the bloodiest of the Second World War. Never again did the Allied forces meet the Japanese head-on during WWII. The Allied policy was to advance towards Tokyo, by-passing Japanese strong holds on the way. It is impossible to fully comprehend the courage and suffering of the people who fought along the Track. By walking it, we go some way to understanding the environment in which they fought.

Arrive Port Moresby and transfer to Hotel. Free time to yourself. Expedition briefing with your Australian Guide late afternoon and then off to dinner.

Depart Port Moresby 0700am on Airlines PNG flight to Kokoda. At Kokoda Village you will be introduced to your local trek guide and porters, who will accompany you on a brief walking tour of Kokoda township, including the Kokoda museum, and Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel memorial.

We will then head off through the plantations to Hoi and finally Deniki, which overlooks the Kokoda Valley. (3 hours walking). You will be accompanied on your trek by your Australian and local guide and one or more porters (carriers) who will carry camp food and equipment.

After a billy tea breakfast with fruit and cereals we will start the hike to the Isurava ANZAC war memorial via New Isurava. The memorial was opened by Australian Prime Minister John Howard in August 2002 to commemorate 60 years since the ferocious four day battle was fought there in 1942. After lunch we will continue on to the small village of Alola with great views down the valley. (6 hours walking).

Camp breakfast. Hike from Alola to Templeton's One via Eora Creek and Templeton's Two – long ascents and descents with heaps of gunners pits along the way. Camp lunch. Overnight camping at Templeton's One at the base of Mt Bellamy, the highest pass on the Track (9 hours walking).

Camp breakfast. Hike from Templeton's One to Kagi via Nadoori. Today you will ascend Mt Bellamy, the highest point of the Kokoda Track. Amazing views at the Kokoda Gap Lookout. Descend to Kagi village and airstrip via Nadoori where we will see the last Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel. Overnight at the purpose built No Roads guest house. (9 hours walking).

Today you will hike from Kagi to Menari village. During the morning you will climb Brigade Hill and then begin a long steep descent to Menari village which will weary your feet and legs. Chance for a swim in beautiful rainforest streams and river. You will sleep well tonight. Overnight village guest house. (7 hours walking).

Hike from Menari to Naoro village. Relatively easy day. After climbing a steep saddle you will descend and pass through a number of river crossings including Brown River where we can swim, and then on to Naoro village. Overnight village guest house. (6 hours).

Hike from Naoro to Wa-ule Creek. Climbing through open grasslands you will mount the Maguli Range which has amazing views and then take a long steep descent to Ofi Creek through beautiful rainforest and on to Wa-ule Creek campsite. Overnight camping. (7 hours walking).

Camp breakfast. Full of excitement we Hike from Wa-ule to Ower’s Corner, short day. There are a number of river crossings and a long steep climb up Imita Ridge. The descent on the other side of the ridge is known as The Golden Stairs which leads down to Goldie River. After wading through the river the Kokoda Track then concludes with a final steep ascent to Owers Corner. You will arrive at Owers Corner in the late morning and will be met by a 4WD vehicle with a picnic lunch and cold drinks that you will share with your guide and porters (5hours walking).
You will be driven down the picturesque Sogeri Gorge via the Bomana War Cemetry to Port Moresby and dropped off at your hotel. Tonight we celebrate our success with our Porters and guides at the hotel.

How fit do I need to be?
It is recommend an above-average level of fitness to complete the trek. Out of a grade of 1-4 the Kokoda Track as a grade 3 – difficult level. Appropriate training will be conducted prior to leaving for Kokoda. A total of 6 group-training sessions will be held from March to July on Saturday mornings at numerous locations including a 'team building' weekend away.

Participants will be given a 4-month training program leading up to the Kokoda Track trek. The program will include specific cardio-vascular and muscular endurance conditioning. If you would like to discuss your current fitness level and requirements to complete the trek please contact Marc Stafford on 0402 080 838 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Food on the Track
The food is one of the biggest differences between Marc Stafford Health & Fitness / No Roads and other operators. You do not need to carry your food and you are not only supplied baked beans and 2 minute noodles for every meal. You will be cooked up curries, vegetarian pastas, damper, pizza, prawn crackers, fried rice and the list goes on. You will have a turn in helping to prepare dinner with the porters so that you can engage with them in conversation and build a bond otherwise not obtained.

Another feature of this expedition is that we try to maximise the economic benefits from your presence to the village people living in villages along the Track. Some trekking groups fly in all their own guides, food and equipment and contribute very little to the micro-economy of the local villages. As an ecotourism company No Roads are always looking for ways to maximise the benefits of tourism to the people living in the local area.

We use experienced guides and porters recruited from all along the track and much of the food you will eat along the way is supplied by village people en route. This not only gives the villagers a market for their vegetable crops but gives you a wonderful opportunity to try out local foods. Food purchased locally includes pineapple, bananas, potatoes and pumpkins as well as eggs. Camp breakfast is billy tea/milo/coffee with damper and porridge or Weetbix and Corn Flakes with powdered milk. Camp lunch is noodles, cuppa soups, biscuits and cheese.

You will also be provided with 8 days of electrolyte replacement such as Gatorade, to replace fluids and essential electrolytes. This process helps prevent muscle seizures and cramps. Finally, you will receive an individual snack pack prior to departure. This consists of muesli bars, snakes, minties and sultanas.

- 6 group training sessions of 3-5 hours on allocated Saturday mornings leading up to the expedition;

- Weekend getaway in Mansfield / Mornington Peninsula. Includes accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner and 1 lunch;

- DVD of Kokoda Track expedition with photos and video footage – distributed after returning;

- Government Taxes and Kokoda Track admission fees (except civil aviation terminal facilities

- Shower tent to wash with soap and protect the environment. Hot showers are available;

- Food for Porters including rice, noodles, biscuits, bully beef, milo and vegetables;

- A rubbish Porter that takes all our rubbish and other operators rubbish from the track;

- VHF Radio contact with Port Moresby, Kokoda and 10 other Track villages for emergency purposes;

- Excess baggage on scheduled flights (any baggage over 12kg a charge of $10 per kilo applies for flight to Kokoda Village).

- Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond the control of Marc Stafford Health & Fitness and No Roads Expeditions.

May 21st 2010
June 9th 2010
July 30th 2010
August 20th
September 10th
October 15th

*You can organise your own private group with youre preferedp departure date. There is a minumum of 10 people for a private group. Please contact us on the details below to organise a free information evening for you and your friends.

For bookings and further details please contact Marc Stafford on 0402 080 838 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it