Trek the Kokoda Trail Travel Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Kokoda Trail Tours’

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

Despite the overall 54% downturn in trekkers booking on the Kokoda Track in 2010 in comparison with the 2009 numbers;  Back Track has experienced an  increase in bookings for 2010 and has not followed the downturn experienced by the trekking industry . Our 2011 forward bookings are also very encouraging.

We can only thank our past trekkers for this as the vast majority of our bookings have come through referrals from past happy trekkers. Thank you to all our past Back Track trekkers who have recommended our company to their friends.

Team 4  flew into Brisbane yesterday on the daily Air Niugini flight  after completing a successful traverse of the Kokoda Track.  A large part of this Team was made up of students and teachers from the Cressy School in Tasmania.
On speaking with them  it was plain to see that trekking the Kokoda Track is a fantastic experience for young adults. It takes them out of their comfort zone  and places them in a totally foreign environment where they have to adapt and perform.

Many of these young leaders of tomorrow said that they would love to do the Track again with friends and family.

Well done Cressy School and on behalf of your trekking company, Back Track Adventures  and your trek Leader Jo Macione, it was  agreat experience for us as well. You were all great trekkers and great fun.  Well done and congratulations on your contribution to another  safe and rewarding trek for the whole Team.

It was great to see the Channel 7  presentation and the subsequent news paper stories referring to the latest  ‘discovery” along the Kokoda Track.

The story was a welcome change to the recent  negative articles  regarding trekker’s health and safety issues. Hopefully exciting and interesting stories such as this will only encourage Aussies to get  up and get out on the Track.
Back Track trek leaders would like to point out to all interested in trekking the Kokoda Track, that this lost battlefield is included in all  2011 trekking itineraries.