DAY 1 - KOKODA TO DENIKI

Wednesday 02 July

The day had finally arrived and after months of training there were a few nerves and anxious moments as the team landed in Port Moresby yesterday. It was a bumpy start as the plane out of Melbourne was delayed, meaning the plane from Brisbane to Port Moresby was delayed and unfortunately 2 of the backpacks didn’t make it to Port Moresby. (They arrived this afternoon and will meet up with the guys tomorrow) After arriving in Port Moresby, they were greeted at the airport and transported to the 5-Star Hilton Hotel. After getting settled they gathered for a pre-trek briefing & dinner & then it was an early night for everyone. Ian was up early & headed back to the airport to check-in all the trekkers bags for Popondetta on the way to Kokoda. This allowed the trekkers to enjoy a sleep in and then a hot breakfast at the Hotel before heading down to the domestic airport for their flight. They boarded and it was a 30-minute flight flying over the Owen Stanley ranges and arriving in Popondetta. Then they boarded a troop carrier and made their way to town for a snack & then back on the troop carrier for a 3-hour journey to Kokoda. After arriving in Kokoda, they inspected the museum, Kokoda plateau. Then they gathered under the Kokoda arches for a group photo before starting the epic trek across Kokoda, trekking pass the village oh Hoi, enjoying the spectacular sweeping views over the Kokoda valley and trekking via the original war time village to Deniki. The weather was quite hot today however, the track was dry and as always the Deniki hill tested a few and more than a couple trekkers were wondering what they had got themselves in for. Deniki is the site of the 39th Militia Battalion’s first defensive position after withdrawing from Kokoda. They made it into camp at 4:30pm and are now enjoying some popcorn and pondering on what tomorrow has install.