Mapping & Measuring the Kokoda Trail

‘Mapping and measuring the Kokoda Trail was an exciting venture.

‘As I became more familiar with the Trail over the years, I used to ask our guides the names of various creeks and features. I soon learned that every nook and cranny along the trail has an indigenous name.

‘I was frustrated that these were not recorded anywhere so I purchased a Garmin GPSMAP 60 and acquired official maps from the Royal Australian Army Survey Corps. These had been compiled from a series of air photos and sketch maps drawn during the Kokoda campaign.

‘During my Parliamentary breaks I would go to PNG and select a small group of local guides from the area I planned to map and spend a few days with them trying to identify the original wartime trail from the army survey maps.

‘These were some of my best days.

‘Each time we came to a place, creek or feature I would ask them the name. They would have a group discussion then spell in phonetically for me. Whenever there was a phonbetic difference between, say and ‘i’ and an ‘e’ for example I would take a vote and record the majority decision into my GPS.

‘Another challenge we faced early on was ending up in a ravine in thick, almost impenetrable scrub. I would explaind that when I indicated direction to the lead group I expected them to ‘read the ground’ as their fathers and army patrols would have. Once we got the routine down pat it was an experience we all enjoyed.

‘Our guides were proud to be part of an expedition that would improve the experience for future trekkers and I often reflect that there is no better experience than to be alone in the jungle with a group who were not only proud to be part of something special but who keep a keen watch on everything you do because of their concern for your safety.

‘On my return I would download the readings to our cartographer, Laurie Whiddon of Map Illustrations. Laurie was an adventurer who was keen to be part of the production of the first 1:25,000 topograph map for the Kokoda Trail.

‘We also provided Garmin GPSMAP 60s to our other trek leaders who included Major Chad Sherrin MM, a Vietnam Veteran and former army jungle training instructor; Commodore Simon Hart CSC, a former Naval Captain of two frontline battleships (HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Hobart); and Lieutenant Colonel Rowan Tracey who is regarded as Australia’s most knowledgeable historian on the Kokoda campaign because of his strategic and tactical understanding of ‘ground’.

‘Laurie Whiddon constantly probed and tested us on the information we provided as he was pedantic in his quest for accuracy.

‘Our work was later acknowledged by investigators into the fatal air crash near Abuari in 1999. The Chief Investigator called to see if we would allow them to use our map as part of their investigation as it was the only accurate map he could find in Australia or PNG. We were obviously happy to oblige’

The Hon, Major Charlie Lynn OAM OL (PNG) Rtd
‘Kokoda: 100 Treks’ by Glenn Armstrong

So what is the correct distance of the Kokoda Trail?

Mapping the Trail was easy as all we had to do was enter the name of the location into our Garmin GPS and technology did the rest.

Measuring was a different challenge requiring disciplined focus on the task. For example when we moved around our campsites or wandered around a village the GPS recorded the distance which added a few kilometres. We therefore had to establish the habit of turning it on and off every time we stopped during our 8 and 10-day treks.

Over a three year period we were therefore able to determine the following data: