Walking the Kokoda Trail

This July I had the opportunity to walk the Kokoda trail with 36 other students from across the state. We landed in Port Moresby and were instantly met with welcoming and friendly faces everywhere we went. Something PNG takes pride in and helped us feel more comfortable before our gruelling trek through the jungle. The group spent a night in Port Moresby to break the ice, eat some real food (our last good meal for 9 days) and pack before we left the next morning.

Our first 5am wake up felt hard but when we started walking I finally understood why, the heat and humidity! Many days were hot and muggy, so we would attempt to walk most of our km’s in the early morning. Each day was long and tough, sometimes I struggled up hills, but seeing the breathtaking views getting to camp was a rewarding experience.

 Along the way, I made many new friends who helped through the hard times. We learnt about the war history and all quickly realised our struggles barely compared to the Aussie diggers who sacrificed so much so we can live this life. Often they were fighting a battle in the sleeting rain and knee deep mud whilst heavily injured. We walked the entire trail dry, so I have a real appreciation for their efforts.

Everyday when we arrived to camp, the local kids and villagers were keen to play with us and were always so friendly. We gave them stickers, pencils and sports equipment and spent hours playing with them. They have so little yet are so happy. Everywhere out on the trail, you make deep connections with people and places because you realise what they had to go through and understand that your life is much more privileged.

This trip changed my outlook on life and allowed me to be way more appreciative of what I have. I made friends for life and would walk it again in a heartbeat!