- The ‘Kokoda Trail’ is the name of the Battle Honour awarded to the Papuan Infantry Battalion by the Commonwealth Battles Nomenclature Committee in 1953 – it is also the official name proclaimed by the PNG Government in 1972 (PNG Government Gazette No. 88 of 12 October 1972, page 1362, column 2. Notice 1972/28 refers).
- Prior to World War 11 the Kokoda Trail was a mail route used by villagers to carry documents across the Owen Stanley Ranges on bush tracks connecting remote villagers between Sogeri and Kokoda – mail exchange points were established to allow carriers to swap loads with others coming from the opposite direction and return to their villages.
- The Kokoda campaign was fought between the advancing Japanese army and Australian troops across the Kokoda Trail from 29 July – 2 November 1942.
- The length of the Kokoda Trail is 138 km with a total climb of 7150 m and a total descent of 7570 from Owers Corner to Kokoda.
- The boundary between Central Province and Oro Province is Templeton’s Crossing which is 83 km from Owers Corner and 55 km from Kokoda.
- The highest point of the Trail is 2320 m east of Mt Bellamy between Lake Myola and the Kokoda Gap.
- The major battles fought during the Kokoda campaign were on Ioribaiwa Ridge, Brigade Hill, Templeton’s Crossing, Eora Creek, Isurava, Deniki and Kokoda.
- The memorial at Isurava was officially opened by Prime Ministers’ John Howard and Sir Michael Somare on 26 August 2002, the 60th anniversary of the battle.
- The traditional landowners of the Kokoda Trail are the Koiari people between Owers Corner and Templeton’s Crossing, and the Orokaiva between Templeton’s Crossing and Kokoda.
- The Kokoda Trail is now PNGs most popular tourism destination.
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/War-Dance-2-3-Bn-5-618x1024.gif)
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Sun-1-5-1024x980.gif)
Sun-Herald Newspaper: 11 August 1947
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/2-3-Battle-Honours-3-732x1024.gif)
2/3rd Infantry Battalion AIF Regimental Battle Honours
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/39th-Battalion-Regimental-Flag-with-Battle-Honours-5-1024x512.jpg)
39th Battalion Regimental Flag displaying Battle Honour: Kokoda Trail
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/Charlie-Lynn-Alex-Ramos-91.jpeg)
Major Charlie Lynn and Alex Rama at Kokoda – 1992
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/Charlie-Lynn-and-Patrick-Lindsay-Owers-Corner-July-1992-5.jpg)
Sign at Owers Corner – 1992
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/Kokoda-Village-1992-4.jpg)
Sign at Kokoda – 1994
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/P4170067-4-1024x768.jpg)
Sign on hut at Alola Village:1992 – 2024
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/01Kokoda-Trail-.jpg)
Sign at McDonald’s Corner
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/Charlie-Lynn-Owers-Corner-2003-2.jpg)
Sign at Owers Corner – 1994
![](https://blog.kokodatreks.com/wp-content/uploads/Kokoda-Trail-Sign-at-Depo-1024x683.jpg)
Sign at Kokoda Airfield – 2008