Itinerary

Isurava Battlefield Trek 4 days / 3 nights

Day 1:

POM - On arrival in Port Moresby you will be met at the airport by and transferred to your hotel. We will then do a gear check just to make sure know one has forgotten anything, followed by a pre trip briefing this evening. Hotel Accommodation.

Day 2:

Port Moresby – Kokoda -The charter flight from Port Moresby to Kokoda takes 25 minutes. Flying through the Kokoda Gap. Weather conditions if fine will allow us to see places of WW11 importance such as Myola, Kagi Village, Menari Village, Mt Victoria (PNG's second highest mountain) and the Isurava Memorial. Before starting the trek we will spend time visiting the museum, memorials and the hospital. Here we will talk about the Kokoda Battle and show you significant sites where the battle took place and the bullet hole riddled trees. We will meander for 2 hours along the flat going through rubber, cocoa and oil palm plantations. We will walk through Kovelo Village on to the beautiful Village of Hoi where we will stop for a drink and fruit before starting the climb up to Deneki Camp Site. This is a steep ascent and will take us approximately 1 hour. Deneki Camp Site has the most beautiful views down the Kokoda Gap and Yodda Valley. There is a bamboo shower about 20 metres from our campsite. Tonight we just relax and take in the atmosphere of Kokoda. Bush Camp Accommodation (LD)

By the night of July 28th 1942 the Australians had been pushed back to Kokoda and a small dramatic battle occurred. As the Australians withdrew from Kokoda Village for Deneki it was almost impossible to see friend from foe in the battle smoke and ground mist. 9/8/1942 Left for Deniki 0800 hours. Sat up all night putting hot stones round stretcher case. Sucking chest wound of back. Holding Rosary and Crucifix all the time. Very bad wound. No rations at all. Made Deniki 1700 hours very wet and tired. Completely buggered and felt better after a meal. They started firing on Deniki today.

Day 3:

Deneki Camp Site – Isurava Memorial - Today it will take us 3-4 hours to walk up to Isurava Village. We are up early and meander around the side of the hills through the carpet bed of choko leaves before we start the steep ascent up to the village. Take it easy as this hill goes forever. We will have a break and a cup of tea at the village before heading off to the Isurava Memorial. This will take us an hour of walking through beautiful jungle canopy along reasonably flat ground. Guest House Accommodation (BLD)

Today Isurava is a peaceful place. Early mornings being the best when you can sit and watch the mist rolling in and out down the valley and reflect on the courage these young men showed in such adversity. The Australian Prime Minister John Howard visited in August 2002 to open the magnificent war memorial, this was the site of a significant World War 11 battle and now one of the most – sacred sites along the trail. Enjoy panoramic views of the Kokoda and Yodda valleys. We overnight at the guesthouse or you can put your tents up. The choice is yours. If time permits we have the option to walk another hour and see "Surgeons Rock". This is where the medics patched up the soldiers before sending them back to Eora Creek where they could receive further medical treatment. The very young inexperienced troupes of the 39th battalion withdrew from Deniki Village to Isurava. Inflicting high casualties on the Japanese forces. The 39th Battalion set up defence lines at Isurava and on August 26th the Japanese attacked in force. This was one of the fiercest battles of Kokoda. At times hand to hand combat. This is where the Victoria Cross was awarded to Private Bruce Kingsbury. His citation reads: "He rushed forward firing the Bren Gun from his hip through terrific gun fire and succeeded in clearing a path through the enemy positions with his fire and inflicting an extremely high number of casualties on them, he was seen to fall to the ground shot dead by a bullet from a sniper hiding in the wood." We can still see to day the rock, which the sniper was hiding behind.

Day 4:

Isurava Memorial – Hoi Village - After a small service at the memorial this morning we depart this magnificent site and head back down to Hoi Village. This has to be one of the most picturesque villages on the Kokoda Track. You can imagine the "Fuzzy Wuzzy" Angels carrying the young troops by stretcher far across the Stanley Ranges to the hospitals at Port Moresby. It is quite a long walk back down to Hoi but it is all down hill and should arrive at the village around lunch time. This gives the group time to relax and enjoy this lovely village.

Day 5:

Hoi Village – Kokoda - Today we have an early start and a flat walk back to the Kokoda airstrip to catch our plane back to Port Moresby. This afternoon we will take the group out to visit the Bomona War Cemetary. This is the largest WW11 cemetary in the South Pacific

Day 6:

We say bamahuta (good bye) today. We hope you enjoyed your time in Papua New Guinea. Please come back and visit us again

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