Trek the Kokoda Trail Travel Blog

Archive for September, 2010

As our trekking season nears the end for 2010, we implore all potential trekkers to book now with us if they wish to be on the Track for Anzac day 2011. We have 3 treks fully booked for Anzac day and have just opened a fourth and last Team and already this new departure is half full.  Dont miss out, book now.

On Tuesday the 28th, I was at Brisbane Airport to welcome home Team 13. While talking with the trekkers who had just had a wonderful trek, I was delighted to hear them speaking with such high praise for the organisation along the Track. Campsites were clean, village welcomes were enthusiastic and friendly and ongoing  maintenance all  along the Track  was clearly visible  as were the newly appointed Track Rangers. It was pleasing to hear trekkers talking about the “professionalism” of the entire Track operation.

This is what we want to hear. Many years ago, it was  easy for the media to pick faults with PNG infrastructure and to highlight social problems and carry all these issues over  to the newly developing Kokda Track Tourism industry.  The Kokoda Track was subjected to sensationalised negative stories.

But in recent times, Tour Operators, the Kokoda Track Authority and the local people living all along the Track have been working very hard improving trekkers facilities,  Track maintenance, safety issues and public relations.

The kokoda Track is destined to become one of the great walks of the world.

A new trend in tourism is to visit  historic battlesites that commemorate the valour of  the Anzacs.
The story of the Kokoda Track is now well documented and etched in the minds of most Australians. Many Australians each year make the pilgrimage over the Kokoda Track.

Little known by many Australians is the role in the campaign of the local PNG people, who lived along the  Kokoda Track.  The actions of the local people, known as the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels,  who acted as carriers moving war supplies and assisting the wounded back and forward along the Kokoda Track was critical to the success of the campaign.
Many Aussies owe their lives to the Fuzzy Wuzzy’s. Badly wounded soldiers were  carried in streatchers by the angels back  to aid posts and hospitals in Port Moresby. Many soldiers would have died on the Track if it had not been for the devotion and care of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

November 3 each year has now been put aside as a day of commemoration  for the contribution of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels during the war in PNG. The inaugral Fuzzy Wuzzy Day will be celebrated at Kokoda Station on November 3 2010 which marks the date that General Vassey  raised the Australian Flag after Kokoda was recaptured.

 The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels were  eventually all gathered together on the Kokoda airstrip and addressed by General Vassey who presented some medals and praised them for their  sacrifices and assistance.

Back Track will be there on November 3 each year to join in the celebration which includes sporting events, song and dance and a historic reenactment of the flag raising with the original flag raised on November 3  1942.

We would love to have you join us.

With so much interest  in our war history and so many Australians wishing to visit the battle fields  where our soldiers fought and died, Back Track has a number of new trips that cater for this interest.

Celebrating Anzac Day on the 25 April 2011 on the Kokoda Track is an option we have available.  We have 4 Teams all converging on the remote sacred summit of  Brigade Hill  on the eve of Anzac Day in 2011.  Here we will all camp  and at dawn on Anzac Day, we will all get  together for a special Anzac Day ceremony.  After the ceremony each team will continue on with  their trek  team and complete the Track.
If you would like  to be part of something special for Anzac Day we welcome you to join us.