Kokoda Track Memorial

Memorial at the start of the famous WWII jungle track to the north coast

The southern end of the Kokoda Track, the route that became synonymous with Australia's World War II struggle in the Pacific. A memorial near the village of Sogeri marks the starting point, where the route begins its climb over the Owen Stanley Range to the north coast — a journey that takes most trekkers eight to ten days through remote, challenging terrain.

The Kokoda Track is now one of Australia's most significant pilgrimage routes, walked each year by thousands of Australians retracing the steps of the 1942 campaign. If you are not walking the full track, the Sogeri Plateau (accessible by car, about 45 km northeast of the city) makes an excellent day trip: cool green hills, the Rouna Falls, and rafting on the Laloki River are all reachable.

things to do sight
A story
The Kokoda Track was the site of one of Australia's most gruelling military campaigns. Between July and November 1942, Australian troops — many of them barely trained militia — stopped the Japanese advance toward Port Moresby through some of the most difficult terrain on earth. The track crosses the Owen Stanley Range at altitudes above 2,000 metres, through mud, rainforest, and leech-infested rivers. More than 600 Australians died; thousands more were evacuated ill or wounded.