Newtown Catchup (Dean & Pete)

Kokoda Track (23rd Sept 05 ~ 7th Oct 05)

After many years of thinking about it and months of planning it, I finally made the journey to PNG to traverse the Kodada Track.

It was a great experience and one that I would recommend to any Australian. You quickly come to the realisation of the magnitude of the Owen Stanely Campaign in 1942, and how much we collectively owe these diggers, and how easy we have it today.

It was to be a 10 day trek, starting in Kokoda and finishing 100km's later at Ower's Corner. There were four other trekers that would be doing the trip with me, Michael, Ben, Taryn, Mel and our trek leader John. There were also our porters 10 in all, bring our group to a total of 15. The tour was organised and lead by Adventure Kokoda, for those with a passion for the track and the history, this is the company to do the trek with.

The porters were a great group of guys.

A wet farewell from Sydney, Australia.

Jackson Airport, Port Morseby, PNG

The Airways Hotel

Our plane and porters heading out to Kokoda.

Up close and personal with the flight crew. Apparently the threat of a hijacking isn't really a concern. Hmm ... is that red light supposed to be on captain? :-)

A remote waterfall somewhere in the Owen Stanely Range.

A village and garden clearing. We'll have to walk back across this.

The Owen Stanely Ranges from the Kokoda airstrip.

Organised chaos.

The adventure begins. Mike, Taryn and Ben.

Welcome to Kokoda.

A memorial to the 1942 Owen Stanely campaign.

And off we go, the heat was just radiating off the ground.

An easy start for the first day, everyones finding some shade.

My first taste of the grandeur of the jungle, and how small we really are.

The open area's are covered in choko vine.

The memorial at the Isurava battle site.

The mist of the morning.

Dawn at Isurava with the Yoda valley in the distance.

A moment with some of the porters.

A local bridge.

A ray of sunlight breaking through the jungle.

Plenty of bridges to cross.

Evora Creek

Watch your step.

Mike leading the way.

Templeton's Crossing 2.

Stark reminders of the past, and still deadly.

60 years old and still ticking.

Myola 1, site of the Aussie busicut bombing. A vast open grass expance that is refreshing after spending days in the confines of the jungle. The Myola is an extinct Volcanic crater.

The morning sun from Kagi.

The porters always have a smile on their face for you, and always happy.

Time for a cup of tea.

Passing through a swamp.

A guest house, we make ourselves comfortable. This was a nice one, very comfortable.

Sunset over the range, another day is nearly over.

Another day, another blody ridge.

Another moment to be inspired.

Already for another day.

The class photo.

Imita Ridge... I don't think I've ever felt quite as buggered...ever!

The last crossing .. the Goldie River

Ower's Corner! Success.

Max and myself.

The hard man .. Mike and myself.

See ya guys and thanks.

The war cemetary... those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Lest We Forget.

Bruce Kinsbury VC ... for action at Isurava.

A massive sacrifice.. the average age those who servered was 18 1/2 years old.

PNG Parliament House.