Trek the Kokoda Trail Travel Blog

Posts Tagged ‘kokoda trail’

If I had one dollar for everytime I have been asked this question, I would be a wealthy man.

The best time is anytime during the Kokoda trekking season. The Kokoda trekking Season commences in April and is usually heralded with treks we have designed to be on the Track for  Anzac Day the 25th April. The season officially finishes after the completition of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Commemorative trek which we have coordinated to be at Kokoda Village on November 3 each year for the big celebration which is held there on that date.

The numbers who trek during December through to the end of March can be counted on your hands and toes.  ( Stats available from the KTA)  The reason being is that the Kokoda Track ‘region’  experiences the most rain fall during this period (monsoonal) and high summer heats and humidity.  Though you can trek during  that time, it is not at all  reliably pleasant and therefore we do not recommend it as an option.

For some reason there is a perception with many Aussies that the  best  time (climatically) and therefore the only time to trek  has to be in the middle of the official winter and near winter months, these being May, June  and July.   These are the treks that usually book out first each season. 
 After personally completing 25 treks over the Track in all months and having organised nearly 100 Teams over the Track,  from all those reports  I can honestly state that weather wise, temperature wise etc,  etc, you have as much chance of having a fine weather, low rainfall,  low humidity and all round great  trek in  August, September, October or November as you do in June or Jul . You could  ’toss a coin’ as to what month you booked during the trek season and make a decision that way if you wished,  it would be just as ‘scientific’.
I have trekked in June and it has rained just about every day and next year at the same time it has been fine.  During your trek you will spend 90% of your time in the Owen Stanley mountains. Mountains alone have a significant influence on weather changes.  There are so many variables that can change the trekking environment from one month to another, one trek to another, that they are 2 numerious to mention.
I  trekked in July one year and  had good weather and little to no rain. The following year I did the same trek and had high humidity and after a very brief and heavy downfall, we found our Team  stranded for a couple of hours on the south side of Ua Ule Creelk late in the afternoon with our campsite tantalizingly close about 100 metres away on the other side.  The water rose too high for us to cross while we stood there watching.  It dropped eventually and we could then safely cross. 

In summary, my advice to all potential trekkers is to select your trekking team by the  Team departure time which is most suitable for you. If you stay within the trekking season , April to November and trek with Back Track Adventutres you will have a wonderful , safe  and memorable trekking holiday that you will cherish forever.

See you on the Track anytime that is suitable for you during the trekking season.
Happy trekking

A team of Doctors, in conjunction with the Kokoda Track Authority, have recently returned from the Kokoda Track with a wealth of research information.

Over 185 trekkers on Anzac Day treks  volunteered to give a blood sample to the research teams who were strategically placed  at Iorobaiwa and Isurava .

The study data is yet to be statistically analysed, but the general message to come from the study is in keeping with similar research in competitive endurance events. Put simply to drink when you feel thirsty. The Kokoda Track places the body under significant physiological stress and a consistent, sensible fluid intake is required. Trekkers need to avoid dehydration but must resist the temptation to force themselves to drink too much fluid while on the Track.

We are often asked how fit you have to be to trek the Kokoda Trck. The answer – the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the Kokoda Track. Trekking the Kokoda Track is tough and physically and mentally challenging. Your personal training programme starts as soon as you book your trek and you need to make fitness preparation part of your lifestyle.

The Kokoda Track is tough – You will need this ingredient more than any other for the trek. In your preparation, be tough on yourself. Set your training goals and stick to them. If it means getting up earlier to train, then do it. If it means dieting, cutting back on alcohol, coffee etc, then do it. If it means forfeiting social engagements, then do it. Don’t compromise with yourself under any circumstances. Every additional step you take and every sacrifice you make will pay incredible dividends for you somewhere on the Track.

Trekking the Kokoda Track requires mental preparation – Travelling in a remote, underdeveloped country like Papua New Guinea requires patience, flexibility and a positive attitude. The local people have a more relaxed, easy-going attitude to life than most Westerners. You may have to wait longer for service in a shop, hotel or restaurant than you would expect to back home. We don’t look upon these things as problems, merely facts of life in PNG. If you are open-minded, relaxed and strive to be happy, your travels will be rewarding and unforgettable.

We have created a few videos with tips for getting fit for trekking the Kokoda Track. Have a look at our Fitness on the Kokdoa Track page or visit our You Tube channel: youtube.com/trekkokoda

We have long held the belief that trekking the Kokoda  Track should be an adventure holiday, a cultural and historical insight, as well as a physical and mental challenge.

We believe that a sensible approach to trekking allows for time to stop and enjoy the villages and the culture as well as gain a good understanding of the war campaign – and that is what we have created with our Back Track Kokoda Trail Tours.

We acknowledge that for most trekkers, completing the KokodaTrack will be a tough physical and mental challenge. However, we also note that it should be a fun and rewarding holiday experience as well. We have created a sensible itinerary that provides enough time to explore the overwhelming majority of battle sites and lesser significant historical war locations. There are half days as well ensuring a proper mix of effort and recovery and this recovery, or relaxation time, allows for an opportunity to meet and mix with the local people.

Our Kokoda Trek Leaders love their job. They love sharing their passion with you for trekking the Track, while explaining the war history, providing an understanding of the culture and sharing the beauty of the jungle environment and the trekking challenge.

Most importantly, they will ensure that you finish the Track safely and with a lasting understanding of what the Kokoda Campaign was all about. The fascinating war stories, relived as you trek, of the soldiers who fought and died along every foot of the Track will never be forgotten.

Our ultimate aim for all our Kokoda trekkers is that we all, in some small way, gain an understanding of the challenges our soldiers faced and overcame, their courage, mateship, endurance and sacrifices.

Your trek over the wartime Kokoda Track with Back Track Adventures will be a safe, fun and a personally rewarding experience.

Back Track’s Kokoda Track Team 3 starts their trek along the Kokoda Track this weekend. Megan ‘Megs’ Davidson, one of our Trek Leaders, will head this Team. The Team will fly into Kokoda and trek in a north to south direction, ending their trek at Ower’s Corner. A message to the Team – have a great trek!

A quick not – we’ll be releasing out 2011 Kokoda Trail tour trekking dates shortly. Check back soon, or keep an eye on the website – trekkokoda.com.au