Kokoda Trail & Surrounding Areas

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Kokoda Trail:

A permit will need to be obtained from the Tourism Promotion Authority and a copy carried on the track. We were asked for it only once at Kovelo. If you do not have one they will ask you to pay an inflated price for one or not let you pass along the track through the village.

Most villages have a guest house which charge between K5-15.00 a night per person, if you use a tent the price is often less. Bananas and sweet potato are available from most villages to supplement your diet.

Dave Radford, Australia (Aug 01)

Editors Note: If you are interested in trekking the Kokoda Trail, please email us at : tours@pngbd.com
or CLICK HERE for more information.

Map:

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Awala Village situated on the Kokoda/Popondetta Road in the Oro Province:

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Wasata Village:

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View of Alola village :

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Managalas Plateau is situated in the Oro Province and lies protected by a circle of mountain ranges under the shadow of Mr. Laminton. A peaceful place of about 10,000 people in hundreds of clan goups, the Managalas is Oro's Brigadoon" - an oasis of 'time before' beyond' Port Moresby, nestled between the Owen Stanley, The Sibium and the Hydrographer Ranges.

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Brideprice ceremony, Itokama in Managalas Plateau:

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Numba, a big village of 1,000 + people, falls away form both sides of a wide well-swept path descending to a market green and a river at the foot of the town.

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Natanga men talk about World War II. They explain how the Japanese came to Natanga frist, from Oro Bay. 'Bloody Buna' is what they called Buna at Oro Bay, where the Japanese had their base in the War.

The Japanese would get re-supplied in Oro Bay by ships from Rabaul. Then the Allies bombed one of these ships just outside Gona, where you can still see the mast in the harbour, and took Girua, the site of Popondetta's airport, as a base.

The Japanese in Natanga laid claim to everyone's garden, so many villagers fled to the bush. The Japanese also dug a big tunnel to store their ammunition - but one one knew where it was. No one was imprisoned or interrogated, just frightened.

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Alola Village:

A village that our hausmeri came from. She took us to her village to meet the people, and to donate sports equipment and school stuff to the kids. This was supported by Colin Healey (from the Australian Defence Force, who took me and his family) and Theodist.

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Kokoda:

This sign can be seen if you are arriving into Kokoda by plane.