AFF Kokoda Trek [3 - 17 September]

[Simo]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

April is the 75th Anniversary of the track...

 

[tuapekastar]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

I'm still very interested but not yet committed. August can do, April cannot.

 

[Flashback]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

Is it possible to get a rough idea of costs? I think it was mentioned ~$3k p/p? Depending on how our travel budget stacks up next year it may change things for us slightly, especially with our new Great British Peso (GBP)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

Is it possible to get a rough idea of costs? I think it was mentioned ~$3k p/p? Depending on how our travel budget stacks up next year it may change things for us slightly, especially with our new Great British Peso (GBP)

From my on-line searches, I'm thinking the costs will depend upon desired inclusions.

Airfare from xx_-POM
Insurance
Base PNG led trek (ExPOM) seems to be between $2.5k to $3k.
Personal porter $600 - $800 (if required/desired)
Personal effects needed - depends on what each participant already owns I guess.
If it's desired to have an Australian "war" expert accompany the trip to get an in-depth commentary...add another $1000+

I'm personally thinking a PNG led trek would be OK. I linked earlier to Adventure Kokoda (usual disclaimer, I have no association with them or any of their associates/owners/trading companies, that I'm aware of), which I actually thought to be OK simply because they appear to include a lot that others seem to exclude. The likes of airport transfers, accommodation before and after the trek (including meals), POM tour, Bomana tour, airfare POM-KKD (or VV), 2 PNG porters per person (they carry the food and camp gear), all food including hot lunches on the track, tents (or communal huts if preferred), all cooking, washing up and camp set-up and pack-up by the porters, backpacks and all trek and caming fees. I have read that trek companies must be KTA accredited (which they are, including individual trek permits) which sort of stuffs my original idea of hiring porters and doing it ourselves.

Having said all that, if anyone has other ideas, please do not hesitate to suggest them for discussion.

 

[Simo]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

The cost I have looked will be around $5200 this includes flights and pre and post walk accomodation but doesn't include local porter which is not included but I will be using one. You also need a medical clearance and they cost about $500 and you get about $300 back from Medicare.

 

[samh004]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

The cost I have looked will be around $5200 this includes flights and pre and post walk accomodation but doesn't include local porter which is not included but I will be using one. You also need a medical clearance and they cost about $500 and you get about $300 back from Medicare.

I realise there is a lot involved in such a trip, but at that price (plus a little bit more probably) I think I would be out unless my parents sponsored me. I'm still interested, but perhaps less so now that I'm seeing the prices

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

The cost I have looked will be around $5200 this includes flights and pre and post walk accomodation but doesn't include local porter which is not included but I will be using one. You also need a medical clearance and they cost about $500 and you get about $300 back from Medicare.

Is that with any particular company?

 

[Cynicor]

Proposed Kokoda Date Thread

That stuff on the medical clearance is a bit naff. No clearance would cost that much as a Medicare rebated treatment. Medicare won't pay for that sort of travel medicine, and not sure who would charge that much, and for what services.

I would be interested to hear more about it.

 

[Simo]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

From my research with speaking to tour companies and they said it is a stress test on your heart and needed for your TI...

 

[drron]

Doing a bit of research.the last week of August and beginning of September in 2017 is the 75th Anniversary of the retreat from Kokoda.Also all the orchids will be out then.
Doing the trip from Kokoda would suit my old bones.Will have to do a lot of training.The group suggested earlier by swanning_it does sound reasonable especially as they take a little longer than most.would suit me obviously.

Did find a link on Trip advisor from a guide that is easy but good reading + the facebook page-
TREKKING- About Kokoda - Kokoda Track- about Kokoda

https://www.facebook.com/PNG.Kokoda.Guides.Porters.

As to medicals I will certainly be doing a stress test before getting into training.

Probably have firmed up as silver.

 

[Flashback]

Mrs and I will have to be downgraded to Silver at this stage too unfortunately.

 

[drron]

A little extra to think about.The Goroka show for 2017 is on 16-17th September next year.
Events | Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority | Goroka Show

Wouldn't mind doing that post trek.

 

[Cynicor]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

From my research with speaking to tour companies and they said it is a stress test on your heart and needed for your TI...

Interesting, thanks Simo. Under Medicare this could not be performed without indications and risk factors. I imagine there must be an age cutoff as there is no way I would need a stress test. 12km - <50min

 

[ALH]

I'm certainly interested, if I survive the The Quarry Trail over Christmas this year. My Grandfather was MP in Kokoda

I've done neither
Maybe I should stop travelling and do my own backyard!

Tongariro Crossing is another fabulous walk.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

Here's the latest update



[TABLE="class: grid, width: 250, align: left"]
[TR]
[TD]NAME
[/TD]
[TD]APRIL
[/TD]
[TD]AUGUST
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Admin
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ALH
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]amaroo
[/TD]
[TD]Maybe
[/TD]
[TD]Maybe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]amaroo jnr
[/TD]
[TD]Maybe
[/TD]
[TD]Maybe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Awesom Andy
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]2nd[/SUB]
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]1st[/SUB]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]bsb
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]BVT
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cynicor
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]drron
[/TD]
[TD]No
[/TD]
[TD]Maybe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Flashback
[/TD]
[TD]Yes[SUB] 2nd[/SUB]
[/TD]
[TD]Yes[SUB] 1st[/SUB]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mrs Flashback
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]2nd[/SUB]
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]1st [/SUB]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Medhead
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]netgrom
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]OzEire
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]penegal
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]QF WP
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]samH004
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Simo
[/TD]
[TD]Yes
[/TD]
[TD]No
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]swanning_it
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]2nd[/SUB]
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]1st[/SUB]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]mrs swanning_it
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]2nd[/SUB]
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]1st[/SUB]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SydneySwan
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]2nd[/SUB]
[/TD]
[TD]Yes [SUB]1st[/SUB]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]tuapekastar
[/TD]
[TD]No
[/TD]
[TD]Maybe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


PLATINUM (I'm in subject to all the planets aligning)
swanning_it
mrs swanning_it

GOLD (I'm in, pending cold feet, shingles or a better offer)
amaroo
amaroo jnr
medhead
penegal

SILVER (100%.......a definite maybe)
OzEire
bsb
tuapekastar
QF WP
BVT
drron
Cynicor
samH004
netgrom
Simo
Admin
Awesom Andy
SydneySwan
Flashback
Mrs Flashback
ALH

 

[Simo]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

Interesting, thanks Simo. Under Medicare this could not be performed without indications and risk factors. I imagine there must be an age cutoff as there is no way I would need a stress test. 12km - <50min

The tour companies pretty well all require it for the trek...

From my research a lot of the TI companies require it for insurance purposes as the cost of the recovery can be very expensive on the track...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

After walking to the highlands bus this morning in persistent rain, I must admit my preference is swinging towards the months with less chance of consistent rain. Given it's now July, this month has had some pretty good rain fall, so I'm personally thinking that as much as ANZAC day has an appeal, August will be my preference.

For drron and any others that like the possibility of a Goroka Show excursion, I've asked (separately) two of my colleagues who live in Goroka, about any security issues during the show. Both replied that the show is the safest time in Goroka and security is good and there are many tourists (local and international) that attend the spectacular event. One of them even went as far as to say it's very, very safe!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

We,ve gone quiet again on this thread, so here is my assessment of where we stand.

APRIL

Yes as a first preference - 1
Yes as a second preference - 6
Maybe - 2

August

Yes as a first preference - 6
Yes as a second preference - 0
Maybe - 4

The question that was asked was "which month suits you" which gave us the yes, no's and maybe's shown above.

I guess the question now is "who is locking in"? It appears that both months could work so perhaps we need a Yes + just one month to firm it up.

 

[tuapekastar]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

I will 'lock in' as firmly as I can, subject to being medically fit (and obtaining any necessary clearances and insurance) and notwithstanding other (unexpected) things that can happen over 13 months. In other words I do want to do it, and will set aside the time and resources to do it, but stuff sometimes happens. Whatever is within my control, will be focused on doing the trek. That is in August by the way, cannot do April.

 

[drron]

Re: Proposed AFF Kokoda trek

As above with slightly more emphasis on "being fit".August as well.