At Pacific Star Adventures, we are committed to providing you with guidance and support every step of the way, so you can focus on the incredible landscapes, rich history, and cultural connections that make the Kokoda Track a truly unforgettable experience.
While a certain level of fitness is recommended for the Kokoda Trek, the more physically prepared you are, the more enjoyable the experience will be. Attempting the trek without adequate preparation can make it particularly demanding and challenging. Proper physical training is essential, as you may need to hike for up to 12 hours a day over 10 consecutive days.
That said, the Kokoda Trek is as much about mental stamina as it is about physical fitness. When the going gets tough, it’s all about mind over matter!
Having a personal porter for the Kokoda Trek is strongly recommended, as the benefits far outweigh the challenges of carrying your own hiking pack. A porter will save you from the strain of carrying extra weight in conditions you may not be accustomed to, allowing you to better focus on the trek itself.
Engaging a personal porter also provides valuable employment opportunities for the Koiari people, who live in the villages along the Kokoda Track. For many, trekking and portering offer a vital source of income to support their families. The relationship you build with your porter mirrors the camaraderie between Australian soldiers and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels during World War II. Your porter will learn from you, just as you will gain insight into PNG culture through them.
Beyond cultural exchange, your porter offers invaluable support throughout the trek. They’ll help stabilise you when you stumble (and you will!), ensuring you remain safe and balanced without the additional weight of your pack. They’ll also handle setting up and taking down your tent, assist with drying your clothes (a welcome luxury on the Kokoda Track), and generally ensure you’re well looked after.
Having a personal porter not only enhances your experience but also makes the trek safer and more enjoyable.
Choosing between boots and shoes for the Kokoda Trek is a matter of personal preference, but the most important factor is a solid tread. Mud can easily cake into the tread, making footwear slippery, so a good grip is essential for navigating muddy trails, tree roots, and rocks.
Boots offer greater ankle support and protection, which can be advantageous on the challenging terrain. However, it’s important to note that no boots or shoes are truly waterproof on the Kokoda Track. Opt for lightweight options, such as those made with Gore-Tex, to allow for quicker drying.
It’s also recommended to choose footwear that is one size larger than usual. This extra space accommodates foot swelling, which is common after walking all day in Kokoda’s conditions. It also helps prevent your toes from hitting the front of your shoes during steep descents.
Finally, ensure your boots or shoes are well broken in before the trek. This helps to avoid hot spots and blisters, ensuring greater comfort throughout your journey.
Yes, wearing gaiters on the Kokoda Trek is beneficial. They help prevent mud, sticks, rocks, and debris from entering your shoes, boots, or socks, which can reduce the risk of blisters and friction on your feet.
Short, ankle-height gaiters are recommended, as they only need to sit above the sock line to effectively keep debris out. Knee-length gaiters, on the other hand, can be too warm in tropical conditions and don’t provide any added protection against water when crossing waist-deep rivers. It’s important to note that water will enter your shoes regardless of any protective measures.
Camp sandals or Crocs are excellent for allowing your feet to air out and dry while resting in camp. Avoid wearing thongs, as they can be slippery and prone to breaking on wet grass or mud. Neoprene reef shoes are also not recommended, as they don’t provide the ventilation needed for your feet to dry properly.
Lightweight camp shoes that allow for ventilation are essential for maintaining foot health. Walking barefoot is strongly discouraged, as soft, wet feet are more susceptible to parasites, ringworm, or trench foot—conditions commonly encountered in tropical environments.
While trekking the remote jungle of Papua New Guinea, there is no immediate access to medical facilities, pharmacies, or doctors. A medical clearance from a qualified physician is required to ensure you have no conditions that could limit your ability to undertake the Kokoda Trek.
You must provide Pacific Star Adventures with a copy of your medical clearance at least eight weeks before your trek. Additionally, as there is no opportunity to purchase medication along the Kokoda Track, it is essential to bring all necessary medications with you.
Yes, you are required to bring your own first aid kit and medication. If you need immediate first aid treatment, you must have your own supplies readily available. This ensures that you have the necessary equipment on hand when you need it.
While the trek guide will carry supplementary first aid provisions, they may be at the front or back of the group, making immediate access uncertain. In the jungle, it’s always better to be overprepared than underprepared.
Yes, you must apply for a visa online before departing. There is no visa on arrival.
Step 1: Visit the ICA PNG website
Step 2: Click on Visitor EASY VISITOR PERMIT (30 DAYS)
Step 3: Click Apply and follow the prompts
You are required to submit the following documents:
Please note the following:
All meals, including morning and afternoon tea, will be provided on the trek. However, if you require additional protein bars, lollies, or snacks, feel free to bring them along. Keep in mind, though, that any extra items add to the weight you or your porter will need to carry. Minimising weight wherever possible will make your Kokoda experience more comfortable. Be mindful to avoid unnecessary packaging, as everything must be carried throughout the trek.
No, alcohol is not permitted on the Kokoda Trek. While you can enjoy a drink at your hotel in Port Moresby, it’s advisable to prioritise hydration over starting the trek hungover.
Once on the Kokoda Track, alcohol is strictly prohibited. You will be walking over sacred land, and it’s important to show cultural respect to the local communities and landowners. Additionally, there is a two-year alcohol ban in place at Kokoda Plateau, meaning no alcohol is available in the village of Kokoda or along the track.
Using trekking poles may take some getting used to, but they provide valuable support on the slippery terrain of the Kokoda Track. If you plan to use trekking poles, it’s important to train with them and become comfortable using them before arriving in Papua New Guinea.
Trekking poles can significantly assist with stability, reducing strain on your knee joints during ascents and descents. They also offer extra support and can help prevent falls, making them a worthwhile addition to your trekking gear.
Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for the Kokoda Trek. You are responsible for arranging your own travel insurance, which must, at a minimum, cover medical evacuation from anywhere on the Kokoda Track, as well as medical and hospital treatment in both Papua New Guinea and Australia.
A copy of your travel insurance policy must be provided to Pacific Star Adventures at least eight weeks prior to your trek.
No, you will not need to share a tent. Each participant is provided with a high-quality two-person tent, offering plenty of space for your personal items and room to move comfortably.
If you have booked a personal porter, you will not need to carry a tent. However, if you choose to carry your own pack without a porter, you will be provided with a tent weighing approximately 2.5kg, which you will be responsible for carrying.
If you plan to carry your own pack without a porter, it should weigh no more than 12–15kg, excluding the weight of your tent.
The personal porter pack should weigh approximately 12-15kg. Please note that the hiking tent and the porter’s personal items must also be included in this total, which must not exceed 20kg. Pacific Star Adventures strictly enforces a 20 kg weight limit for porters.
Yes, you will need to bring and carry a small backpack.
Please refer to the recommended equipment list provided by Pacific Star Adventures. It is advised that you use this backpack to carry essential items, including water, a first aid kit, and any necessities you may need during the day, such as hygiene supplies (e.g. toilet paper and sanitation items), water purification tools, and medication.
The weight of this should not be more than approximately 6-7kg.
Bringing 300 to 400 kina should be sufficient for the Kokoda Track. Please note that there are no banks, ATMs, or facilities to exchange banknotes along the route, so it is advisable to carry smaller denominations.
There may be opportunities to purchase items such as cans of soft drink (typically sold for 10 kina) or packets of chips (around 5 kina). You may also wish to buy handmade items, such as beanies, billum bags, or wooden carvings. Prices for these items vary, but they make meaningful souvenirs and provide support to the local villages along the Kokoda Track.
At Pacific Star Adventures, we discourage tipping porters, as it can create economic imbalances within the porter team. Instead, we encourage you to support your porter or the team by purchasing their handmade items. This approach helps to supplement their income in a sustainable way, providing a hand up rather than a handout.
You will have the opportunity to swim in waterholes along the track. Trekkers typically swim in the clothes they are wearing, which provides a quick way to wash and cool off. Bringing additional swimwear is unnecessary, as carrying wet items adds extra weight.
Once you get to camp each day their will be either a primitive cold water shower or a creek where you can wash each day. There is no hot running water on the Kokoda Track.
The toilets along the Kokoda Track are basic long-drop style facilities. Trekkers are required to bring their own toilet paper or wet wipes.
Foot care is everything on Kokoda. From our personal experience, we recommend lathering feet in Bepanthen morning and night. We also recommend never walking bare foot. Its essential you treat hot spots and blisters immediately as they occur. It is also recommend you air your feet in dry camp shoes of an evening.
There will always be a Trek Master walking as our "tail end Charlie'. If you have a personal porter they will explicitly be walking with you. With Pacific Star Adventures, no one walks alone.
It is generally safe to leave a bag at the hotel in Port Moresby. However, it’s recommended to keep any valuable items, including your passport, with you. Ensure that the bag you store at the hotel is lockable for added security. Additionally, take a photo of the luggage tag provided by the hotel—this serves as a digital backup in case the tag is lost or damaged during your trip. This precaution will make collecting your bag from the hotel much easier.
It is advisable to pack a small scrubbing brush and keep it with your possessions in Port Moresby. After completing your Kokoda trek, use the brush to thoroughly clean your trekking equipment. This will help remove any grass seeds or soil from your gear, ensuring it's ready for travel or future use.