NUIGINI ------- BUNA ... KOKODA TRAIL ... GOROKA SHOW

[Major]

Fabulous TR...many thanks for your effort.

I hope it wasn't too painful going uphill

 

[RB]

Just caught up on this fantastic report. Thanks for taking the time to share

 

[Steady]

I was looking for some old Goroka Show photos my parents took but they are all in slide format - I did come across these 4 that are both PNG and aviation related.

 

[pgsdiver]

Best TR I've read swanning_it.
I just turned 50 and still have this trek on my list. Hoping to do it with my sons before my body gives out.
Thank you for taking the time to put this together.

 

[blu]

Thanks for the photos in particular.
Were the Storyboards located at the Isurava Memorial or elsewhere?
My father is in a photo on the storyboards - clearly seen, on the rope line hauling the Howitzer uphill. He was around 22 at the time.

(There's a compelling read for those interested in the campaign - Paul Ham Kokoda).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Thanks for the photos in particular.
Were the Storyboards located at the Isurava Memorial or elsewhere?
My father is in a photo on the storyboards - on the rope line hauling the Howitzer uphill. He was around 22 at the time.

(There's a compelling read for those interested in the campaign - Paul Ham Kokoda).

Wow. What a tie you have to the track and the history! Yes, the storyboard photos I uploaded are at Isurava memorial. There are also more story boards at the small museum at Kokoda and at Owers corner. These are all complemented by a number of story-plaques set into concrete plinths at each of the sites which represented fierce fighting, eg - at Imita Ridge, Brigade Hill, Kokoda and Owers Corner (not to mention also at Bomana war memorial). All of them very informative. They neither gloss over, nor sensationalise the battles. Exceptionally well done was MHO.

If you wish to PM me an email address, I'll send you a higher resolution photo of that story board, if you like and I'll check the other photo's from our group to see how many others we have.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I hadn't really considered that anyone may want to read much of the story boards, but for those that do, I'll add all the pics I have of them and the plaques just in case there are others like blu, with particular attachment to any.

Buna

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Kokoda

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Isurava

As a double tragedy for this beautiful spot was the 2009 plane crash that killed 13 including 9 Australians. In the 4th photo down, you can make out a village, just to the right of the word Mateship, which is where the plane went down.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Eora Creek and Brigade Hill

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Ioribaiwa Ridge, Imita Ridge, Owers Corner and McDonalds Corner

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Bomana War Memorial

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for these extra photos. They bought back memories of my father, who survived this and lived to 90 but with the occasional relapse of the Malaria that eventually forced him home.

 

[drron]

And now you can do it through Luxury Escapes-
Ten-Day Kokoda Trail Trek

 

[QF WP]

Isurava

View attachment 108149

My brother lives in Kingsbury Street, Norman Park. Wonder if it's named after him? Unbelieveable story of heroism and unfortunate death...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

And now you can do it through Luxury Escapes

They've had that before. A few things turned me off it:

1. 1 porter per person is inadequate IMHO. We decided upon 2 per person and then we added another two before we set out (so a total of 18 porters for 8 trekkers), which was a good number. An additional personal porter will cost an extra $700 through this crowd.
2. The cost, although marketed as a sizable discount, is actually par for course for an Australian led trek. It's no bargain even although they do include return AU airfares.
3. The hotel single supplement is a ridiculous $450, other wise you bunk up with a stranger if a single traveller. A genuine single supplement is around $200 for 2 nights.
4. There may be up to 30 tourists in the group. This is too many for my liking.
5. Totally non-refundable. Most of the groups charge a $500 non-refundable deposit.

but, it may appeal to some.

 

[Fifa]

I have only just caught up on your TR.
Thanks so much swanning_it... What a fabulous trip and the photos are sensational!
You are a great story teller and kept me on the edge of my seat!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

As a sad and poignant bookend for the 75th anniversary year of the Kokoda fighting, the last of the Fuzzy Wuzzi Angels, Havala Laula, passed away on Christmas eve 2017 in his home village of Kagi, aged 91.