I’m not quite sure how to start this except to say thank you.

I recently completed the track starting at Owers Corner on ANZAC Day with John Nalder, and I am proud to say that the track was so much more than i ever expected. It was an experience so very difficult to put into words, and as John explained to us it is impossible to give a three word answer when someone asks “how was it?”.  I can’t manage to answer that question without at least talking for ten minutes. 

Firstly I’d like to say a huge thank you for the professionalism of your company and the thoroughness with which you prepare.  I was quite suprised to receive a phone call from John on Good Friday seeking more information on my gluten intolerance.  I expect that gluten free foods are not that easy to shop for in PNG. Aside from my dietary requirements I was also impressed with the description that John gave of the trekkers he meets a the airport.  I think that I was wearing the apprehension tinged with nerves and alot of excitiemnt quite well, and i t was not a look I was trying to achieve, it was exactly how I was feeling.  I was also impressed with the quality of information provided on equipment such as boots and clothing for the trek.  I know that if I ever do it again there will be a few small changes that I will make in the equipment that I bring.

The next big thank you I’d like to express is for the excellent way in which your company looks after the carriers, without them our journey would not be possible.  They say that they all want to wear the red, and I can now understand why.  I can not begin to understand that companies that make them walk back home, don’t provide them with enough food or sleeping mats.  It is inhumane and surely goes against the charter of rights set out by the track authority.  They are beautiful, generous people and worth their weight in gold along the track.  When I signed up for a personal carrier, I thought that he would carry my pack and that was it.  I never expected him to be by my side the whole way and helping me to stay safe.  By day two my carrier (Ivan B) had figured out my strengths and weaknesses and was always there on the down hills, my weakness.  I am still in astonishment at the way in which before I even knew I needed help he was there with a hand reaching down, a gentle shove on my pack or a steadying hand on my shoulder to help me through.

I am also appreciative for the general carriers, they did an amazing job and their sprit and sense of fun is something I will never forget.  There would be total silence as we concentrated on where we were walking and then out of nowhere an infectious laugh would begin and then they would all be laughing, it was a beautiful sound.  Almost as beautiful as their singing.  I wanted so much to bring their voices home with me, never before have voices touched me that way.

The trek itself was so much more than I ever expected, it was more than the physical challenge, in fact I have forgotten about that side of it.  It was an emotional experience that I can not compare to any other.  I am not ashamed to say that several times every day I cried out of both respect and awe for our soldiers and what they sacrificed so that we could live in freedom today and out of amazement at the generosity of the Papuan villagers.  They have nothing by our standards except themselves and yet they are willing to share it with us.  The welcomes we received, the hospitality and the culture they shared with us was magical.  They touched my heart and I wanted to bring their spirit, their smiles and their happiness back home with me. They are beautiful people with a generous and caring nature, they really do perpetuate the legend of the “Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels”.  And talking of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, meeting both Ovuru and Tarvu (sorry if the spelling is wrong) was an honour I will never forget.  To hold their hand and express my thanks for their contributions during the war bought me to tears.  I am apalled that they have still not received their war service medals, it is a point of shame to the PNG and the Australian Government that they are waiting for them in Port Moresby.  If i could I would hand deliver them myself.  Their eyes have seen so much tragedy and yet they still radiated kindness.  When Ovuru’s son translated his fathers words and said that maybe he had greeted one of our family members along the track, all I could think was I wonder if he said hello to my Grandfather or my great Uncles who all served in PNG.

I have come away from the track with so much more than I ever expected, I have gained new friends, I have a greater appreciation of what being Australian is, I have a thirst now for knowldege of my relatives war service and huge admiration and love for the people of the Kokoda Trail.  I am also trying hard to hold to the perspective and the mind set that the track taught me.  It is not easy back in the world of work and families but I am trying and I hope that it has changed me for the better.

John Nalder is a brilliant Trek Leader and his passion for both the people of the track and the history of the track is endless and infectious.  His unwavering respect for our soldiers and the Papuan people is evident in the stories he tells and the way he is welcomed into every village and camp site. 

Once again I thank you for a life changeing experience.

Stacey Price

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There is no doubt that Kokoda is a pinnacle on that Anzac line of courage and fortitude that runs through our nation’s history from Gallipoli to Kapyong, from Long Tan to Tarin Kot.

Now almost seventy years has passed, but the name Kokoda continues to echo in the annals of Australia’s military narrative.

Early in 1942, Australians had mobilised in the face of a unique threat on its doorstep…

Firstly Singapore, then Rabaul and Timor had fallen to the Japanese, only weeks after the might of the United States had been tested at Pearl Harbour.

Many Australians rightly feared for the safety of our nation’s borders.

These fears were quickly realised as Japanese attacks from the air and sea pierced our defences along the northern and eastern coasts, including the bombing of Darwin on 19th February and the sinking of the HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney Harbour on 31st May.

In its darkest days, as Japan’s armed forces edged closer to Australia’s shores, our nation turned to Australian militia battalions to form the front line of attack in defence of Port Moresby.

A huge weight of expectation fell on a small number in the face of a formidable enemy.

Poorly trained and poorly equipped they may well have been, but the Australians of the 39th battalion and others to follow, were the hope of our nation in a time of crisis, never experienced before and never to be repeated in our history.

Across impossibly forbidding terrain and in energy-sapping conditions, the Australians demonstrated time and time again their spirit of bravery of the tallest order, a hunger for victory in the highest of stakes.

From the safety of many decades hence, we ought not forget the misery borne of long months of close combat , nor the joy of eventually repelling the Japanese advance and raising the Australian flag at Kokoda on 3rd November 1942.

The flag was a mark of exclamation in the jungle, a line never again to be breached.The Australian forces had won out. They had made it over the Owen Stanleys; they had overcome atrocious conditions and endured the full force of a brutal foe.

For everything there is a season: a time to keep one’s courage, a time to throw away fear…

This was the time for heroism, for self-sacrifice…

A time for ordinary men and women to demonstrate to the full the extraordinary character that defines our nation.

This Anzac legacy is remembered here at the Kokoda Walkway through each and every feature of a remarkable memorial, a living testimony to past sacrifices and future hopes that will continue to speak to succeeding generations.

I congratulate the Board of the Walkway in adding this fine sculpture to the precinct, a symbol of the interdependence and friendship between the Australian soldiers and the civilian local bearers whom we have long known affectionately as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

It is also a potent reminder of the experience of the Papuans whose own land had been invaded, and for whom resistance was without thought to their own safety.

The statue will ensure their story is retold, along with the achievements of all our servicemen and women for future generations.

Today, as we reflect on the sacrifices of war, our gratitude goes to all who have served … and to your families.

You will always be remembered by those who come after.

Lest we forget.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are gathered here today to commemorate the raising of the Australian Flag at Kokoda Village on 3^rd  November 1942, 69 years ago today by Major General George Vasey, the Commander of the Australian 7^th Division.  This event symbolised the turning of the tide in the war against Japan and was warmly acclaimed by both the Australian soldiers present and the group of PNG carriers and Kokoda villagers in attendance.

Japanese plans for a seaborne invasion of Port Moresby had been thwarted bu Australian and American naval forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May 1942 and the battle of Midway in early June 1942.  This left them with the only option of a land assault over the Owen Stanley Ranges via the Kokoda Trail.  Their infantry forces started landing on the beach at Gona on 21^st July 1942.

Their preparations and subsequent plans were continually disrupted by the heroic actions of our fighter and bomber pilots who continually bombed Rabaul and the Japanese landing fleets on the Northern beaches at Buna and Gona.

The battle for Kokoda commenced on the 24^th July 1942 when a small contingent of soldiers of the 39^th Militia Battalion ambushed the Japanese soldiers advance from the North coast at Awala some 30 kilometres from Kokoda but were forced back to the village.  The Japanese attacked Kokoda in strength but were forced back to the village.  The Japanese attacked Kokoda in strength on the night of the 29^th July but did not completely capture Kokoda until the 9^th August.  The gallant fighting withdrawal had commenced.  The 39^th Battalion moved back to the village of Isurava where two important things happened.  They met their new Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Honner, an experienced and natural leader, and they were joined not long after the Japanese attacked by seasoned soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force when the 2/14^th Battalion fought alongside the Militia men in their trenches, a first for the Australian Army.  However while the Australian soldiers fought bravely they were significantly outnumbered and after a five day battle that inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese they were forced to withdraw again.

The fighting withdrawal continued with another major battle at Brigade Hill and many lesser contacts at well planned delaying positions.  But with the combination of greater troop numbers and sifnificant fire superiority with their portable mountain guns the Japanese had the Australians on the backfoot all the way to Imita Ridge, just 40 kilometres from Port Moresby.  However by mid-September 1942 things were changing.  Fresh Australian troops had joined the battle and the Australians had artillery support for the first time on the Kokoda Trail.

The Japanese forces on Ioribaiwa Ridge facing Imita, could see the sea to the south and knew they were close to Port Moresby, but they had taken very heavy casualties in the fighting so far, were short of rations and ammunition, and things were going badly for their forces at Guadacanal.  Their commander, General Hori, received orders to abandon their attempts to take Port Moresby and to advance to the rear.  The Japanese army had no words for retreat or withdrawal.  This was the high tide of the Japanese advance towards Australia but it was a near run thing.

The Australian advance north commenced on the 27^th September and after a major 7 day battle at Eora Creek they entered Kokoda on the 2^nd November and the Divisional Commender raised the Australian flag on the 3^rd November.  The battle for Kokoda had been won, but at a very considerable cost and there was still much fighting to come.

It was very significant that there were PNG carriers at that original flag raising and that we have a good PNG contingent with us here today as our victory would not have been possible without the support and sacrifice of the wonderful New Guinea Wartime Carriers – the legendary ‘fuzzy-wuzzy angels’ who carried important stores forward and our casualties to the rear.  We will honour their valuable contribution a little later in the ceremony.

I would like to finish by quoting some words from our Chairman, Rusty Priest.  ‘It has been said that Gallipoli created a nation but Kokoda saved a nation.  Other have reminded us that at Gallipoli we fought for Britain and lost – at Kokoda we fought for Australian and won.

The Board of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway believes it is appropriate that today, 69 years on, we recognise the symbolic significance of the raising of the Australian flag on the Kokoda plateau on 3^rd November 1942 and we pause to reflect on those four words etched into the four granite pillars at Isurava that recognise the contribution of our brave soldiers, words that as a former professional soldier I find inspirational – Courage, Endurance, Mateship, Respect.

Lest We Forget.

The commemoration will include a re-enactment of the flag raising ceremony which took place on the Kokoda plateau on the 3rd November 1942.  Kokoda Day symbolises the turning of the tide in the war against Japan.

Japanese plans for a seaborne invasion of Port Moresby were thwarted by Australian and American naval forces in the battle of the Coral Sea (4 – 8 May 1942) and the battle of Midway (4 – 6 June 1942).  This left them with the only option of a land assault over the Owen Stanley Ranges via the Kokoda Trail.

Japanese preparations and subsequent plans were continually disrupted by the heroic actions of our fighter pilots who continually bombed Rabaul and the Japanese landing fleets on the northern beaches at Buna and Gona.

The Kokoda campaign began with the first contact between the 39th Militia Battalion and the advancing Japanese South Seas Detachment at Awala (forward of Kokoda) on 24 July 1942.  The first battle of Kokoda was fought on 27 July when the Australians were forced back into the Jungle.  After a bitter and desperate campaign over the ensuring three months the Australians turned defeat into victory and recaptured Kokoda on 2nd November 1942. The Australian flag was raised at a parade held on the following day.

Our victory would not have been possible without the support and sacrifice of the New Guinea wartime carriers – the legendary ‘fuzzy-wuzzy angels’.

Their service will be commemorated with the unveiling a bronze statue of the famous photograph of a fuzzy-wuzzy angel escorting a wounded Australian digger to safety by the Minister for Veterans Affairs, The Hon Victor Dominello MP, the Mayor of Canada Bay, Mr Angelo Tsirekas and the Chairman of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway,  Mr Rusty Priest.

Three descendents of the ‘fuzzy-wuzzy angels’ led by local village chief, Benjamin Ijumi, are flying in from PNG for the unveiling of the statue.

We hope that Kokoda Day will be officially commemorated on the 70th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign in 2012 in view of the growing awareness of the Kokoda campaign.

Australia currently has two official commemorative days to remember our sacrifice in World War 1 (Anzac Day and Remembrance Day).  Anzac Day commemorates the landings of our Anzacs on the beaches of Gallipoli and Remembrance Day commemorates the end of the Great War.

We currently have one day proclaimed to remember our sacrifice in World War 11 – VP Day on 15 August which commemorates the allied victory over Japan.

It has been said that Gallipoli created a nation but Kokoda saved a nation.  Others have reminded us that at Gallipoli we fought for Britain and lost – at Kokoda we fought for Australia and won.

It is therefore timely for us to recognize the symbolic significance of the raising of the Australian flag on the Kokoda plateau on 3 November 1942 to allow them to reflect on those four words etched into the four granite pillars at Isurava: Courage – Sacrifice – Mateship – Endurance’.

Guest speaker at the Kokoda Day service is Vietnam Veteran and former commander of Australia’s Special Forces, Brigadier Phil McNamara CSC ESM (Ret).  During his career Brigadier McNamara served with the Pacific Islands Regiment in Papua New Guinea and is fluent in ‘Tok Pisin’. Brigadier McNamara is also Chairman of the Network Kokoda foundation.

Big mistake!  He saw Narai at the start (when he collected his money) and a more inebriated version at the finish (when he had obviously spent his money),  In between, during his trek, he missed the half way food-drop (because it wasn’t delivered) and had to rely on the generosity of other trekking companies and local villagers to eat.  To say he was pissed off is an understatement!

Prospective trekkers should be aware that Naria Billy has never trekked with Charlie Lynn nor Adventure Kokoda – and never will!

Our local Adventure Kokoda guides and carriers will not work for Narai because he doesn’t provide them with  basic comforts (sleeping bag, sleeping mat, trek uniform); does not pay the local landowners any fee for their stay at site (so they don’t get fed properly);  doesn’t pay for a return aircraft journey, etc, etc.

The primary reason Narai Billy does not, and will not, trek with Charlie Lynn or Adventure Kokoda, is because he does not meet our professional standards.

Charlie Lynn
Adventure Kokoda

Some had been reclaimed by the jungle and others had been bypassed with the relocation of wartime villages to their current locations.  But the location of all battlesites have been known to those who specialise in the wartime history of the Kokoda campaign for more than two decades – and to other adventurous trekkers prior to that.

Official Royal Australian Army Survey Corps maps published in 1978 identify the wartime routes of the Kokoda Trail and the wartime village locations.  The battlesites of Brigade Hill and Isurava were confirmed using GPS devices and cross-checking the data with the official Royal Australian Army Survey Corps Maps.

There has been much recent publicity over the ‘discovery’ of a lost battlefield at Eora Creek.  This was more of an event than an actual ‘discovery’. Pioneering trek operators, who have been conducting treks across the Kokoda Trail for more than a decade before the boom in trekker numbers around 2004, have been visiting the latest ‘lost’ battlefield at Eora Creek since they began their operations.

The selection of ground for a defensive position includes the identification of the ‘ground of tactical importance’.  This is the piece of ground that makes the rest of the defensive position untenable if captured by the enemy.  At Eora Creek the ‘ground of tactical importance’ dominates the abandoned village pad and the line of communication that descends down to the creek and up the feature towards Alola.

The Australian 16^th Brigade was allocated the task of attacking the Japanese defensive position at Eora Creek.  The battle was fought during the period 22 – 28 October 1942. The 2/1^st and 2/2^nd Battalions attacked on the main axis of the track and the 2/3^rd Battalion probed the right flank of the Japanese position and then attacked from the west, forcing the enemy to retreat from the ‘ground of tactical importance‘.

The western flank of the Japanese position is not visited by trekkers because their trek itineraries do not allow for it.  The same applies to Mission Ridge, Ioribaiwa Ridge and the north-western sector of the Isurava defensive position. None of these battlesites have never been claimed to have been ‘lost’.

Prospective trekkers should be wary of any claims regarding recent discoveries along the Kokoda Trail.  The original tracks have been used by trekkers for decades past and all of the battlesites are well known to those who specialise in the wartime history of the Kokoda campaign.

According to a letter from ‘History buff’’ titled ‘Profit motive in new Death March’:

‘A so-called ‘expert’ has lately surfaced making claims about newly-discovered ‘lost tracks’ of the infamous Death March route of World War Two.

‘He has made claims he has spoken to villagers and the original route used by the POW’s and the Japanese near the village of Miruru when this is not the case.

‘A number of villagers interviewed in the Miruru area deny ever speaking to him and the Sabah Society research of 2005-2006 concluded the route did cut through the Miruru area before the prisoners had to wade across a major river to get to Tampias.

‘The issue, however, was if they carried on through the marshland to get to the river before crossing over or went up the top of the ridge and back down to cross over.  This has never really been proven even till today.

‘The Sabah Society’s findings differ from author Lynette Silver and her research but this has not caused problems thus far as most experts agree it is hard to determine the actual route given there were several marches between Sandakan and Ranau and because prisoners were executed and marched along different parts of the section in question during that period of time.

‘So it is impossible to prove anything beyond reasonable doubt.

‘Much of what this Australian ‘expert’ claimed appears to be old news as the Sabah Society and Tham Yau Kong had done much of the work in 2005 establishing the actual route and the use of Miruru during the actual march before this Australian even got to Sabah and walked the route with Tham several years later . . .

‘We now have a situation where an Australian is now claiming to have made dramatic discoveries when it clearly isn’t the case and is using this to gain media mileage at the expense of Sabahans.’

According to Sandakan historian, Lynette Silver (author of  ’Sandakan – A Conspiracy of Silence‘), the Australian ‘expert‘ is Wayne Wetherall who undertook a trek with TYK Adventure Tours, a small company owned by a local operator, Tham Yau Kong.  After recording the route on a GPS, Wetherall announced that he intended to conduct his own treks. In order to promote and attract business he then registered, as his internet domain name, a name that was identical (apart from a hyphen) to that used by Tham Yau Kong since 2005.  He also downloaded, without permission, historical material copyrighted exclusively to Lynette Silver, onto his own website.

Wetherall has form in this area.  He used the same tactics to establish his Kokoda Spirit business by downloading, without permission, copyrighted material from our Adventure Kokoda website.

He has also made a number of bogus claims to establish his ‘credibility’ as a Kokoda ‘expert’ since he ‘arrived’ on the Kokoda Trail in 2004.

He claims to have established a ‘Spirit Foundation’ to help local people on the Kokoda Trail but there is no official record of its existence.

He claims to have discovered the body of Captain Sam Templeton but has not been able to provide any forensic evidence to prove it.

He claims to be the ‘Anzac spirit’ but there does not appear to be any record of him having served in army cadets or the regular or reserve forces.

He claims to have opened up Long Tan but there is no record of his involvement in the sensitive negotiations with the Vietnamese government which initiated access to the area.

He claims to have managed the ‘Kokoda Track Chairman’s Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels Day Trek 25 July – 5 August 2011‘.  According to the PNG Kokoda Track Authority there was no such trek.

In 2008 he tried to smuggle hundreds of trekkers across the Kokoda Trail to avoid paying trek fees. He later came to a ‘secret arrangement’ with the PNG Kokoda Track Authority when he was caught out by a trek audit. Subsistence villagers who live along the Kokoda Trail did not receive their full entitlement to the shared benefits of the trekking industry that year as a result.

Wayne Wetherall’s modus operandi is contrary to the spirit of Sandakan and the spirit of Kokoda.

Following are three examples where ‘Kokoda Spirit’ copied their itinerary from the Adventure Kokoda website without permission or acknowledgment:

Adventure Kokoda Original Trek Itinerary (Extract 1)

‘Continue to Naduri Village – meet Ovoru Indiki,one of the few surviving ‘fuzzy-wuzzy angels’. Ovoru was in Port Moresby when the Japanese first bombed the city. He did not understand what was going on and he fled to the bush in fear. Over the next couple of days Ovoru made his way back to his village – only moving at night because of fear. He told his people what had happened and they began to make arrangements to ‘go bush’. Lieutenant Bert Kniezle of the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit eventually came tothe village and enlisted Ovoru and the other men inthe village to help the Australians. Ovoru then spent the next three months carrying supplies forward to our troops and carrying our wounded backacross the track. It is a great honour to meet the few remaining carriers such as Ovoru during the trek.’

Kokoda Spirit Copy-Cat Itinerary (Extract 1A)

‘Continue to Naduri Village – meet Ovoru Indiki, one of the few surviving ‘Fuzzy-Wuzzy angels’. Ovoru was in Port Moresby when the Japanese first bombed the city. He did not understand what was going on and he fled to the bush in fear. Over the next couple of days Ovoru made his way back to his village – only moving at night because of fear. He told his people what had happened and they began to make arrangements to ‘go bush’. Lieutenant Bert Kienzle of the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit eventually came to the village and enlisted Ovoru and the other men in the village to help the Australians. Ovoru then spent the next three months carrying supplies forward to our troops and carrying our wounded back across the track. It is a great honour to meet the few remaining carriers such as Ovoru during the trek.’

Adventure Kokoda Original Itinerary (Extract 2)

‘. . .  the forming-up place for the Japanese attack on Brigade Hill – 6000 fanatical Japanese soldiers prepared to attack 1000 Australian defenders in what was to be the biggest battle of the Kokoda campaign – the Japanese referred to it as the ‘battle of the Owen Stanley Range’ – the Australians refer to it as the ‘battle for Brigade Hill’ – follow the wartime track to Efoge Creek then climb to our campsite at Efogi village.’

Kokoda Spirit Copy-Cat Itinerary (Extract 2A)

‘. . .  the forming-up place for the Japanese attack on Brigade Hill – 6000 fanatical Japanese soldiers attacked 1000 Australian defenders in what was to be the biggest battle of the Kokoda campaign – the Japanese referred to it as the battle of the Owen Stanley Range – The Australians refer to it as ‘the battle for Brigade Hill’ – trek down to Efogi Village to guest house for the night.’

Adventure Kokoda Original Itinerary (Extract 3)

‘Follow track to the Nauro swamp area -cross the Brown River – climb to the campsite at the village of Nauro. The village of Nauro has only recently been moved to the current location on the Maguli Range. It was previously on the Nauro River with a good airfield but some say fear of sorcery caused the villagers to move up the mountain.

Kokoda Spirit Copycat Itinerary (Extract 3A)

‘Follow track to the Nauro swamp area -cross the Brown River – climb to the campsite at the village of Nauro. The village of Nauro has only recently been moved to the current location on the Maguli Range. It was previously on the Nauro River with a good airfield but some say fear of sorcery caused the villagers to move up the mountain.

Adventure Kokoda Original Itinerary (Extract 4):

‘Climb the mighty Maguli Range to the top at Mogolonumu – follow track south – inspect Japanese delaying defensive position with weapon pits and communication trenches. Your trek leader will give a briefing at this point – continue down to your campsite on Ofi Creek.’

Kokoda Spirit Copycat Itinerary (Extract 4A)

‘Climb the mighty Maguli Range to the top at Mogolonumu – follow track south – inspect Japanese delaying defensive position with weapon pits and communication trenches. Your trek leader will give a briefing at this point – continue down to your campsite on Ofi Creek.’

In 2008 an audit by the PNG Kokoda Track Authority revealed that Kokoda Spirit had smuggled 378 trekkers across the Kokoda Trail without trek permits.  This meant that local villages along the trail were denied up to $35,000 in payments for trek fees.  Click here for further information: http://blog.kokodatreks.com/2011/04/08/kokoda-spirit-an-oxymoron

Copying information from other trek operator websites and denying subsistence villagers income from trek fees is regarded as a disgraceful corruption of the spirit of Kokoda.

These treks will follow the original wartime trail via Templeton’s Crossing, Militia Ridge and the Kagi Gap.  This route has only recently been opened up and is a highlight of the trek due to the undisturbed terrain through the moss forest in the area.

Trekkers will be provided with a detailed Adventure Kokoda Trek Guide which contains a narrative of the Kokoda campaign, detailed descriptions of each major battle, wartime sketch maps and a detailed description of each day’s trekking (distance, heights, geographic features, etc).

These Kokoda spirit treks will be led by Koiari and Orokaiva trek leaders trained by Adventure Kokoda over the past 20 years.  They are masters of their environment and have 24 hour back-up at our logistic support base at Sogeri.

The itinerary and inclusions make these the best value treks on the Kokoda Trail for those on a strict budget.

The map has a scale of 1:50,000 and contains contour lines with spot heights and Global Positioning System Grids; the location of wartime villages, battle-sites, fire-support bases and logistic support areas; detailed map inserts for each major battle of the Kokoda campaign; villages, campsites, lookouts, water points; and traditional and wartime names of mountains, rivers, creeks and significant features.

Until now the only topographical maps of the Owen Stanley Ranges were 1:100,000 produced by the Australian Army Survey Corps in the early 1970s. These maps were developed from wartime sketch maps, patrol reports and air photographs. They were useful but difficult to navigate with because of the scale and seriously out of date with the changes in tracks and the relocation of villages.

The introduction of the Garmin GPSMAPS 60 hand-held receiver with high sensitive antennae allowed satellite signals to penetrate the thick jungle canopy and provide accurate longitudinal and latitudinal recordings for the first time.

Over the past four years Charlie Lynn, who has trekked Kokoda 60 times over the past 20 years engaged a cartographer to plot his recordings using sophisticated mapping software. He equipped each of his trek leaders from Adventure Kokoda with a Garmin GPSMAPS 60 and obtained wartime maps from the Australian War Memorial and the National Library in Canberra. Information was gathered from more than 30 crossings of the Kokoda Trail during this period and consolidated by Laurie Whiddon of Map Illustrations

Special mapping expeditions were also planned with local landowners and trek guides to find the original wartime routes using the 1:100,000 Army Survey maps as a guide. These were eventually located and recorded. These expeditions also identified the wartime locations of villages and the exact location of the various battlesites.

The map identifies all airfields and helicopter landing zones along the trail and will be made available to all airlines and helicopter companies in PNG for use in emergency situations.

The map has a comprehensive narrative of the Kokoda campaign which allows trekkers to follow the wartime history of the trail.

The map has been folded to allow trekkers to easily view one days trekking at a time. This feature provides a topographical overview of the day ahead together with a cross-section profile of the climbs and descents.

The map was used by the PNG Accident Investigation Commission for their official investigation into the aircraft crash in the Kokoda corridor on 11 August 2009 as there were no other suitable  maps available.

The map can be viewed at www.kokodamaps.com or www.kokodatreks.com