We will need to depart camp this morning at 530 am. This means we will need to be packed and ready to go by 5 am at the latest. Our trek takes us to Eora Creek this morning.
Travelling through a number of wild choko gardens, we will pass through the village of Isurava (1100meters ) toward the sacred Isurava Battlefield. At Isurava Battlefield, we will hold a short service led by our historians and guides. This memorial was built by the Australian Federal Government and is maintained by the Australian War Graves Department. The four pillars encapsulate the battle along the Kokoda Track with the four words – ‘Courage, Sacrifice, Mateship and Endurance’. These are four words we are sure to take on board with us for the remainder of our journey to Owers’ Corner.
Your Historian will tell you about the heroics of Private Kingsbury, a real estate agent from Victoria who was enlisted to fight in New Guinea with the 2/14th Infantry.
Battalion. His heroics at Isurava earned him a Victoria Cross when he was said to have held off an onslaught of invading Japanese soldiers with his Bren gun. This event was enough to give the retreating Australian troops enough time to escape from total destruction and the opportunity for the reinforcement troops to arrive. The unfortunate death of Private Kingsbury occurred on the rock when he was struck in the head by a Japanese sniper. His story is one of the many legends we will encounter throughout our journey along the Kokoda Track.
Your Historian will tell you about the heroics of Private Kingsbury, a real estate agent from Victoria who was enlisted to fight in New Guinea with the 2/14th Infantry Battalion. His heroics at Isurava earned him a Victoria Cross when he was said to have held off an onslaught of invading Japanese soldiers with his Bren gun. This event was enough to give the retreating Australian troops enough time to escape from total annihilation and the opportunity for the reinforcement troops to arrive. The unfortunate death of Private Kingsbury occurred on the rock when he was struck in the head by a Japanese sniper. His story is one of the many legends we will encounter throughout our journey along the Kokoda Track.
Following our break at Isurava, we continue for 11⁄2-2 hours to the village of Alola. This beautifully located village sits on the mountainside overlooking Iora Valley and Auberi. When the Australian troops commenced their retreat of Isurava, they decided to split up, with one party trekking across Eora Creek to Auberi and the other following the ridge down to Alola. This split was s a diversion for the Japanese and place the Australian troops at the best vantage points across the valley.
We continue the trek to Eora Creek, which takes roughly 2 hours. We commence with a 30-minute steep descent down to the first river crossing, followed by several ascents and descents, which follow the ridge around to Eora Creek, where we will set up camp.
ACCOMMODATION
Village Hut (1 night)
INCLUDED ACTIVITIES
Kokoda – Kokoda Trail trek with a personal porter
MEALS INCLUDED
Breakfast, lunch and dinner