| The Kokoda Track | |
|---|---|
 View of the Owen Stanley Ranges from Owers Corner |
|
| Length | 96 kilometres (60 mi) |
| Location | Papua New Guinea |
| Trailheads | Kokoda / Owers Corner |
| Use | Walking |
| Highest Point | Mount Bellamy 2,190 m (7,185 ft) |
| Lowest Point | Ua'Ule Creek 300 m (984 ft) |
| Trail Difficulty | Medium/Hard |
| Season | All |
| Sights | WWII History, Jungle, Mountains |
The Kokoda Track or Trail is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs 96 kilometres (60 mi) overland — 60 kilometres (37 mi) in a straight line — through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea (or ˈpæpjuːə in Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini) officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania The track is the most famous in PNG and is renowned as the location of the World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in 1942. The Imperial Japanese Army ( IJA) ( Kyūjitai: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国陸軍 Romaji: Dai-Nippon Teikoku The Australian Army is Australia's military land force It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF along with the Royal Australian Navy and the
The track starts, or ends, at Owers Corner in Central Province, 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Port Moresby, and then crosses rugged and isolated, terrain, which is only passable on foot, to the village of Kokoda in Oro Province. Central Province is a province in Papua New Guinea located on the southern coast of the country ||-||-||-||-||-||} Port Moresby (ˌpɔrt ˈmɔrzbi or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, population 255000 (2000 is the Capital and largest city of Papua Kokoda is a station town in the Oro Province of Papua New Guinea. Oro Province, formerly (and officially still Northern Province, is a Coastal Province of Papua New Guinea. It reaches a height of 2,190 metres (7,185 ft) as it passes around the peak of Mount Bellamy. [1]
Hot, humid days with intensely cold nights, torrential rainfall and the risk of endemic tropical diseases such as malaria make it a challenge to walk. An infectious disease is a clinically evident Disease resulting from the presence of Pathogenic microbial agents including Pathogenic viruses Pathogenic Malaria is a vector -borne Infectious disease caused by Protozoan Parasites It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions including Despite the challenge posed it is a popular hike that takes between five and 12 days (depending on fitness). Locals have been known to hike the route in three days.
Contents |
History
The trail was first used by Europeans in the 1890s by miners struggling northwards to the Yodda Kokoda goldfields.
During the Pacific War of World War II a series of battles were fought from July 1942 to January 1943 between Japanese and Australian troops. The Pacific War was the part of World War II —and preceding conflicts—that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands and in East Asia, between World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including This article concerns the World War II military campaign For more general information see the Kokoda Track article The, or JSDF, are the military forces in Japan that were established after the end of the post- World War II American occupation of Japan For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. This action was memorialised in the newsreel documentary Kokoda Frontline by cameraman Damien Parer that won him Australia's first Academy Award in 1942. A newsreel is a Documentary film that is regularly released in a public presentation place containing filmed News stories Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality Damien Peter Parer ( 1 August 1912 &ndash 17 September 1944) was an Australian war photographer For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For more details on the Second World War see Kokoda Track campaign. This article concerns the World War II military campaign For more general information see the Kokoda Track article
In recent years walking the track has become a pilgrimage for Australians of all ages. The Kokoda Track Foundation was established by Charlie Lynn, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, in 2003. The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The aims of the foundation are to promote education, health and sporting initiatives designed to enhance the well-being, future and enjoyment of the local communities living along the Kokoda Track.
There is a proposal to turn the track into an Australian heritage destination on a par with ANZAC Cove at Gallipoli. ANZAC Cove (in Turkish language 'Anzak Koyu' is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey Gallipoli peninsula (Gelibolu Yarımadası is located in Turkish Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles [2] Creation of the hertitage area is in part response to the issue of an Australian gold mining company wanting to mine on or near the track. Currently the idea is backed by the Australian government and Papua New Guinea's foreign minister. [2]
In November 2007 Australian mining firm Frontier Resources announced plans to divert a section of the track to make way for a copper mine. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 [3] The plan has the support of the local landowners and the Papua New Guinean government but has been criticized by trekking operators. [3] Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said he will lobby the PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to stop the proposed move. Kevin Michael Rudd (born 21 September 1957 is the 26th and current Prime Minister of Australia and federal leader of the Centre-left Australian Labor Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF (born 9 April 1936) has been Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea [4]
Kokoda Track or Trail?
Because of the route's historical significance, there has been much debate in Australia whether it should be called the "Kokoda Trail" or the "Kokoda Track". The monument at Owers Corner uses both terms: "Track" on one side and "Trail" on the other. A PNG-based commercial website quotes historian Stuart Hawthorne as saying that, before World War II, the throroughfare in question was referred to officially as "the overland mail route", and that it was also widely known as "the Buna road". Buna is a village in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. It was the site of the Battle of Buna-Gona during World War II. [5]
"Kokoda Trail" was gazetted as the official name of the route by the Australian administration of Papua New Guinea in 1972. [5] It is also used by the Australian Army as an official battle honour. The Australian Army is Australia's military land force It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF along with the Royal Australian Navy and the A battle honour is a military tradition practised in the Commonwealth countries of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand Hawthorne states that "Kokoda Trail" became common because of its use in Australian newspapers during the war. The first known use of "Kokoda Trail" was in Sydney's Daily Mirror on October 27, 1942. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 The Daily Mirror was an afternoon paper established by Ezra Norton in Sydney, Australia in 1941 gaining a licence from the Minister for Trade Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Australian War Memorial (AWM) suggests that "trail" is probably of United States origin. A trail is a Path or Road used for Walking, Cycling, Cross-country skiing, or other activities The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [6] The AWM goes on to state that "Kokoda Trail" has been used in many Australian history books and ". . . appears to be used more widely". [6]
In contrast, the Australian Macquarie Dictionary states that while both terms are in use, Kokoda Track "appears to be the more popular of the two". The Macquarie Dictionary is a Dictionary of Australian English. [7]
Trekking
The track can be walked from either direction, although some say that from Kokoda to Owers Corner is easier, even though in that direction you actually have to climb an extra 550 metres in height.
The track can take anywhere from 5 days to 12 days to complete depending on fitness and rest time involved. Locals are renowned for being able to regularly complete it in 3 days. The best time to trek Kokoda is from April to September during the 'dry' season.
There are a number of guesthouses located along the way, some at villages others at traditional rest spots. The main villages passed through (from Owers Corner) are Naoro, Menari, Efogi Creek 1 & 2, Kagi or Naduli (if shortcut is taken), Alolo, Isurava, Hoi, Kovolo. Villagers are increasingly taking part in the commercial opportunities created by the growing number of tourists; in October 2006 some were known to be selling cans of soft drink and beer at double the price payable in Port Moresby.
Guides and porters can be found more easily at the Kokoda end of the track by asking the local police station for a reputable person.
Kokoda Challenge Race
| Direction | Record holder | Record time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kokoda to Owers Corner | Brendan Buka | 17:20 | 2007 |
| Owers Corner to Kokoda | Brendan Buka | 17:49. 17 | 2006 |
The Kokoda Challenge Race is an endurance running race that was revived on 27 August 2005. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The race originally ran in 1975 but stopped before becoming an annual event. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [8] Renewed interest in running the track was created when Australian Brian Freeman, the CEO of a Brisbane based Kokoda trekking company, broke the track record in August 2004 with a time just under 25 hours. Papua New Guinean locals wanted the record reclaimed for themselves, and this was achieved by John Hunt Hiviki during the inaugural race of 2005 who completed it in 22 hours, one minute and 14 seconds. [9]
On 27 August 2006, Brendan Buka, a 22-year-old Papua New Guinean trekking porter from Kokoda, conquered the trail from Owers Corner to Kokoda in a winning time of 17 hours, 49 minutes and 17 seconds. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Kokoda is a station town in the Oro Province of Papua New Guinea. [10] A Sydney engineer, Damon Goerke, 32 became the first Australian to run the track in under 24 hours, coming third in the 2006 challenge with a time of just under 19. 5 hours.
The race record was again broken by Buka in the 2007 event when he completed the track in 17 hours 20 minutes on 26 August 2007 running in the reverse direction from Kokoda to Owers Corner. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1071 - Battle of Manzikert: The Seljuk Turks defeat the Byzantine Army at Manzikert. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [11] The 2007 event also featured runners running from Owers Corner to Kokoda and a winning time of 19 hours 9 minutes was set in this direction by Tom hango. [11]
The race runners are required to complete the full 96 km and pass through seven check-points at Isurava, Templeton Crossing One, Myola, Efogi One, Old Nauro, Va’ule Creek and Goldie River.
References
- ^ Pérusse, Yvon (July 1993). Bushwalking in Papua New Guinea, 2, Lonely Planet, p. Lonely Planet Publications (usually known as Lonely Planet or LP) is one of the largest travel Guidebook publishers in the world 98. ISBN 0-86442-052-8.
- ^ a b "Kokoda 'heritage' a step closer", Brisbanetimes. com. au, 2007-05-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Retrieved on 2007-05-18. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine.
- ^ a b "Mining firm urged to leave Kokoda Track alone", News Online, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2007-11-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi
- ^ "Rudd to lobby against Kokoda mine plan", News Online, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2007-11-01. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi
- ^ a b Kokoda Track or Kokoda Trail?. Kokoda Trekking. Retrieved on 2007-01-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate.
- ^ a b Encyclopedia: Kokoda Trail. Australian War memorial. Retrieved on 2007-01-16. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate.
- ^ (2005) Macquarie Dictionary, 4, p. 791.
- ^ AAP. "Three Aussie women in Kokoda Track race", The Sydney Morning Herald, 2007-08-24. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River
- ^ Kokoda Trekkers Hall of Fame. kokodatrail. com. pg. Retrieved on 2007-03-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a
- ^ "PNG local sets new Kokoda track record", ABC News Online, 2006-08-27. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan Retrieved on 2007-03-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a
- ^ a b Jones, Lloyd. "PNG trekking porter sets Kokoda record", news. com. au, 2007-08-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan
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