The Kokoda Trail
A badge of honour all Australians should experience!
Thank you for taking the time to discover what most people call án experience of a lifetime’ – the Kokoda Trail. We would like to introduce ourselves and explain to you why we believe everyone, including you, should walk the Kokoda Track at one stage of their life.
Imagine an experience that when asked you could not put into words. No word or collection of words, no matter how motivating or descriptive, can explain the experience you have just been through. The only thing close to portraying to someone what you experienced is the emotions that rush through your body as you try to explain. The emotions of personal accomplishment, mateship and self discovery.
An understanding of the experience can only be shared with the other dozen or so trekkers that you trained with for 4-months prior to departure and the 8-days of walking through some of the world’s most beautiful jungle, the Kokoda Trail.
I would like to invite you to share this experience with us. We will show you the whole kokoda experience and safely prepare you with what our clients call the best pre-departure and most supportive Kokoda experience.
Marc Stafford
An Overview
Stafford & Rowse Train & trek is offering you a once in a lifetime opportunity to complete the notorious Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. Walking the Kokoda Trail involves 50-hours of hiking over 90km of sharp, timbered ridges, steep-sided valleys and fast flowing rivers in 8-days. Vantage points along the Track reveal magnificent mountain landscapes, and a wide variety of flora and fauna is encountered. Trekkers pass through and interact with local villages where descendents of the wartime “fuzzy wuzzy angels” continue to live simple traditional lifestyles while providing a warm welcome to passing trekkers.
Highlights
- Walk one of the most famous tracks in the world with the best pre-departure fitness training in Australia;
- 12-weeks of fitness training and group bonding before departure, including weekend away;
- Understand what Australian soldiers endured during WWII;
- Walk through the most pristine rain forests in the world;
- Meet one of the last remaining ‘fuzzy wuzzy angels’;
- Meet wonderful local village people with beautiful singing voices;
- Undertake something that will push your body and spirit to new levels; and
- Make friendships that will last you a lifetime.
The Pre-Departure Experience
Training and preparation for each of our adventures is the heart and soul of our business. Along with safety, training and preparation are paramount to your expeditions success and optimal enjoyment for yourself and other trekkers. We leave nothing to chance, each trek leader is a qualified fitness professional. We assure you, that once you have completed our pre-departure training program, you will be in your best possible physical condition to challenge yourself on your chosen itinerary.
We are very proud of our strong alliance with Fitness Australia, the national governing body of the Australian fitness industry. SRTT is a registered Fitness Australia business and provider.
In addition to our training we put a huge emphasis on group bonding and creating a team environment among all trekkers. Our four month build-up, including the training weekend away, provides ample opportunity for you to get to know and befriend your fellow trekkers.
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12-Week Program Overview
Outdoor Group Fitness Training – unlike other providers, we give you the opportunity to meet and train with your Australian guide prior to departure. These sessions focus on improving cardio-vascular fitness; leg, core and back strength; knee, hip and ankle stability; and general physical conditioning prior to departing. The sessions operate on alternate fortnights to the weekend walks and give your guide a great understanding of areas you may need to improve prior to departure.
Weekend Walks - Every alternate fortnight you will have the opportunity to partake in a training walk at different locations around Melbourne and Victoria. This is the best way to specifically prepare you for the walking you will encounter on the trail and test your equipment. The weekend walks are undertaken in conjunction with our ground operators No Roads Expeditions.
Training Weekend Away – as part of your lead-up to the expedition we will have a training weekend away either in the Victorian high country or on the Mornington Peninsula. This for many trekkers is the highlight of their pre-departure experience and a great way to spend time with the people you will be experience the Kokoda trail with.
Your at Home Personal Trainer & Nutritionist – as part of your preperation you will be given programs to do in your own time specifically focused on the Kokoda trail and created by personal trainers and exercise physiologists who have walked it before. If you need an additonal program or have a specific need we can easily tailor one to suit your situation.
Training Diary & Nutrition Guidance – at the beginning of our journey you will recive a training diary to recored your progress over the 12-weeks along with nutrition tips from our own nutritionist. Your guide can review this and make any relevant suggestions to better prepare you for the trek.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Group departure toPort Moresby and briefing in the evening;
Day 2: Kokoda – Deniki
Day 3: Deniki – Alola (includes Isurava memorial)
Day 4: Alola – Templeton’s 1
Day 5: Templeton’s 1 – Kagi (local village where we are treated to singing by the local children).
Day 6: Kagi – Menari Village
Day 7: Menari – Naoro
Day 8: Naoro – Wa-ule Creek
Day 9: Wa-ule Creek – Owers Corner. Transfer back to Bomana war cemetary and Port Moresby for celebratory dinner with your trekkers and local porters.
Day 10: Enjoy a sleep in and transfer to airport for departure back to Australia.
(To read a day-by-day diary during one of our treks, click here)
Expedition Inclusions
Inclusions
12-week fitness training program, training sessions and guided walks;
Training weekend away;
International return airfares to Port Moresby from Australia;
Internal flights and transfers in Papua New Guinea;
2 nights hotel accommodation in Port Moresby and 7 nights on the kokoda trail;
All meals on the trail;
Group porters that carry your tents, food etc.
Government & kokoda trail fees;
Bomana War Cemetery fees;
Kokoda Trail training t-shirt;
Exclusions
Equipment purchases of personal nature i.e. backpack
Personal Porter (group porters provided)
Dinner on the first and last night in Port Moresby
Travel insurance & visas
Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond the control of SRTT & No Roads Expeditions
2012 Expedition Dates:
April 18th – Full
August 29th – still available
October 15th – Private expedition
2012 Expedition Cost: $5490
Private Expeditions
We organise many private groups including corporate businesses, schools and sporting groups. If you have a group of 10 or more trekkers you can organise your own private group with your preferred departure date. . Please contact us on the details below to organise a free information evening for you and your friends.
For bookings and further information please call 95984520 or email info@mshftraining.com.au
