Your Journey on the Kokoda Track – All the Essentials

Heading off on the Kokoda Trail is a truly life-changing adventure, one that combines breathtaking scenery, rich war history, and physical challenge

At Adventure Bound Tours, we’ve created a central hub of Kokoda Trail resources to help you get prepared, stay informed, and feel fully supported from start to finish.

Documents

Travel Documents

Passport

Visa

Travel Insurance

You are required to organise your own travel insurance and provide proof of document to Adventure Bound prior to departure.
The policy should cover the following; change in airline reservations, medical expenses, lost baggage, lost passports, air tickets, personal papers, and lost money. You need to specifically state to your insurance company that you will be trekking across the Kokoda Track. It needs to be possible to claim while in PNG.

Equipment Carriage

It is very important to select the correct gear and equipment prior to embarking on your trek to Kokoda. We have put together a check list that you should consider prior to purchasing items.

All of these items Olly has used during years of trekking and consider them to be the best equipment for him, however; everyone is different and trial and error tends to be the only way to find the best equipment for the individual, but this can be expensive.

The only way to assess your equipment is to use it as frequently as possible prior to your trip, during training, which will allow you to test its durability and comfort.

Here is a check list and some tips for you to research equipment, to make sure that you do not overspend, and that you buy the correct equipment that is suitable for the tropical environment.

Back Pack

Adventure Bound strongly advises the hire of a personal porter. This makes the journey more enjoyable, decreases the likelihood of injury and puts money back into the economy.

Adventure Bound will supply a loaned pack to each trekker with a 75 litre capacity. If you elect to carry your own pack, please ensure that it is at least 75L and is a hiking pack and not a travel pack which is not suitable for multi day hikes.
If you hire a porter, a day pack is required for some personal items such as water, snacks, camera and sandals (for creek crossings).

Waterproofing

As most of you know, the Kokoda Trail is in the tropics and therefore receives a substantial amount of rainfall every year. As such there is a need to ensure that all equipment is waterproofed so that you have something dry to wear, sleep in, and that your food is not spoiled by water.
A waterproof pack cover is the first line of defence from the rain when it comes to water ingress into your pack. I also use the dry bags to individually store items inside my pack such as snacks, clothing, sleeping gear and electrical items such as cameras. This also helps to organise the items in my pack. You can even purchase different coloured dry bags for easy reference.
Dry bags are also a good method of storing wet, stinky or contaminated items that you want isolated from the rest of your equipment to prevent cross contamination such as dirty socks, undies and clothing.
Dry bags are a relatively cheap option for keeping your equipment dry and they can be reused over and over again.
If you are on a budget, a cheap option is to water proof food etc by using Ziploc bags and to water proof clothing and sleeping gear with garbage bags. Another cheaper option is to purchase one big dry bag, that fills the main compartment in your pack, and place all of your items inside (except drinking water).
We recommend the Sea to Summit range of dry bags, they make all shapes and coloured dry bags which will allow good pack organisation and will keep your gear dry. They also have Event Compression dry bags which allow you to keep your compressible items such as clothing and sleeping bag water proof and small.

Water Carriage

The Kokoda Trail is in mountainous country in the tropics of PNG. You will be working very hard walking up and down hills and will be required to maintain hydration.
There are a lot of creeks crossing the track so there is plenty of fresh water for resupply. The fresh water is generally ok to drink however ask a guide. A general rule is to purify the water with Puri Tabs or Steri tabs prior to consumption for safety sake, as a stomach bug will see you off the track.
There are a few different methods of carrying water but on the Kokoda Trail I recommend the use of a water bladder system because they are user friendly and can be utilised on the move without having to dig a water bottle out. They also compress down to nothing when they are empty which will save space inside your pack.
We have been using the same MSR hydration system now for 10 years and it is still going strong and has never leaked. It is made from a durable light weight canvas and if you want you can even blow them up at night and put a shirt over it and use it as a pillow. The MSR bladder system is resistant to having those water blow outs that saturate your entire pack contents when the bladders separate at the seam. The MSR bladder system retail for around $80.
We also carry a Nalgene water bottle which is lightweight and strong. It has a nice wide mouth which is good for filing out of a creek and is also used to aid in filing up my water bladder from a creek which can be tricky. It is also handy for sterilising water and mixing staminade powders etc. for salt replacement which is vital on the track. It is also a good redundancy should your water bladder fail. The locals just carry an old coke bottle which also does the job fine.

Sleeping Gear

Tent

Adventure Bound will loan each trekker a two person tent. The tent has an internal mesh mozzie net, fly and ground sheet. It is free standing which will allow it to be erected indoors without the use of pegs.
When indoors, the fly can be removed from the tent and the mozzie dome erected and slept in to provide better air circulation and mozzie free sleeping.
Adventure Bound recommends that all persons sleep inside the mozzie dome every night to prevent being bitten by mozzies.

Sleeping Bag

A good sleeping bag is important when walking the Kokoda Trail. People assume because the Kokoda Trail is in the tropics, it won’t get cold. During your climb, you will reach an altitude of 2200 metres which means you are going to be cold at night so you need to select a sleeping bag that will be appropriate.
0 to 5+ rating sleeping bag is sufficient for you needs. Get one that unzips all the way so that when you are in the lower hotter areas, you can unzip it and use it as a blanket so you can ventilate and won’t get too hot. Alternately you can purchase a silk sleeping bag liner which is light weight and will be sufficient for the hotter areas. This will also lower the rating of your sleeping bag when used in combination.
Please ensure your sleeping bag is no larger than the size of a football.

Sleeping Mattress

A mattress of some form should be used while on the Kokoda Trail. These are an item that will allow your body to rest in comfort during the night so that you are able to be fully charged in the morning to tackle the challenge that a walk on the Kokoda Trail offers.
A mattress also provides insulation from the ground while sleeping so when you are in the higher areas of the track where it is colder, your body will not be in contact with the cold ground. A sleeping bag will not provide that insulation from the ground.
The best type of mattress is a hiking Air Mattress. Although they are more expensive than the self-inflating mattresses, they are more likely to give you are good sleep. We love the Exped Synmat 7 with the integrated pump. Sea to Summit and Airlite also make comparable mats. inflating mattress which has compressed foam inside which expands when the inflation tube is opened. These provide insulation and cushiony comfort for the weary trekker.
There are a lot of cheap alternatives on the market but I recommend the Exped Synmat series of mattresses which retail between $120 to $200.

Pillow

A pillow will provide you with comfort and a good night’s rest after a hard days trek. A pillow weighs just about nothing and compresses down to the size of a pair of socks, we never sleep in the field without one. It’s like a home away from home. Alternatively you can use a dry bag stuffed with clothing.
We recommend the Thermarest Compressible Pillow which retails for approximately $40. However, there are cheaper pillow alternatives for $10 – 15AU.

Footwear

Trek Footwear

The most important item that you must select is footwear. Your feet are the form of transport to get you across the Owen Stanley Range.
Incorrectly fitting boots will cause friction and rubbing which will result in blisters.
Do not wear heavy leather mountaineering boots as they become water logged and even heavier which will make your legs feel like lead, walking up some of the steep terrain on the Kokoda Trail.
Wear lightweight synthetic or suede boots with ankle support and a vibram sole that has an aggressive tread pattern to help you get a good positive grip while trekking.
Your feet will get wet from time to time, either through sweat or rain. Purchase boots with composite materials such as suede and mesh for their quick drying capabilities or Gortex-lined boots.
You will require a little extra toe room in your boots for the down hill sections otherwise you will get an impact injury from your toes smashing into the ends of your boots.
The best brands are Merrel, North Face, Salomon, Keen and Scarpa.
The most important aspect is to train with the boots that you will wear on Kokoda. This training should be over varied terrain and varied environmental conditions to see how they treat your feet.

Sandals

There are several areas along the hike which are suitable to wear sandals rather than shoes such as creeks and wet areas. This will allow the feet to air out and prevent blisters due to wet shoes and socks.
Sandals are also good to wear in camp to air the feet out.
We recommend Teva, Keen or Merrell Sandals which are light, durable and have a good sole which are designed for this type of adventure. This type of sandals retail for approximately $120AU

Clothing

Trekking Clothing

The Kokoda Trail can be cold, very wet and insect ridden so your selection of clothing such as trekking gear, sleeping clothing and cold and wet weather clothing is important for your comfort and safety.
A lightweight moisture wicking t-shirt and shorts combination are ideal for trekking across the Kokoda Trail due to their quick drying capability. It is also advisable to purchase shorts with lots of pockets to carry camera, lollies etc. Make sure the shorts come with a belt (not leather) as you will lose a few kilos on the track and you don’t want any embarrassing situations.
Some people like to wear a lycra/ skins style bike pant to stop from chaffing. Olly prefers to go commando which allows the crown jewels to stay well aired out. The preference is up to the individual. We would suggest that you do not wear cotton under pants as they will get wet, rub and cause chaffing.

Camp Clothing

Socks

Rain Jacket

Gaiters

Gaiters are a comfort and safety item which we don’t leave home without, as they are light and cheap. They are used primarily to prevent water, mud and small rocks from entering into your boots causing discomfort, prune feet and blisters due to wet socks. They are also used to protect your shins against scratches from sticks and rocks smashing into your shins. Small scratches can fester if not treated correctly in a tropical environment.
We recommend that you do not buy the cheap alternative such as, workers ankle gaiters, like the type gardeners wear because they do not have an underfoot strap that goes under the sole of the boot to stop them from working their way up.
Olly wears Sea to Summit Quagmire canvas gaiters that are full length and breathable, highly durable and water proof. They have a full Velcro opening with an underfoot strap and a lace hook that allows them to hold to your shoes laces. He has worn these on many treks across Australia and overseas and I highly recommend them. These gaiters retail for approximately $80AU

Miscellaneous

Head Torch

A good head torch is a requirement for a trek along the Kokoda Trail. At night time in the jungle where there is a full canopy covering any moon light, you will not be able to see your hand in front of your face.
We will not be walking at night; however, a head torch is a safety requirement and is useful when trying to find your way to the camp toilet in the middle of the night or for general use at night, whether it is for eating, reading or playing cards.
An LED torch with a maximum output of 100 Lumens should be sufficient. We recommend the Petzl, Black Diamond and Princeton Tec range of head torches which can retail from $80 to $120AU.

Gifts

You could carry some small gifts for the children who you will meet in the villages along the track. Some simple and cheap options are items such as tennis balls, football and pump, colouring pencils and paper, and frisbees, but please keep to a minimum.
You could also consider bringing 2nd hand clothes to distribute, as you should have extra weight available, once all the essentials are packed.

Photography

Please bring a small camera with you to document your adventure or alternatively use your phone to take photos. If it is not the waterproof type, ensure that you have an appropriate dry bag to keep it dry. Also ensure that you bring extra batteries or a charge bank.
Please avoid the SLR type cameras as they are not sealed and may get moisture inside the lens and housing.

Toiletries

A small toiletry kit should be taken and contain a bar of soap, toilet paper, deodorant, tooth paste and tooth brush, small micro fibre towel, and face wipes all in a water proofed container
There will only be washing facilities in the villages which is sometimes just a creek or a shower arrangement. Please use soap which is suitable for the environment because the runoff drains to the creeks in most areas.

Eating Utensils

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With small group sizes and high demand during the dry season, we recommend you secure your place early. Trek with purpose. Walk with pride.