Kokoda Track
A rugged walking trail across the Owen Stanley Range, the scene of a major Second World War campaign. Trekkers cross steep, muddy terrain over several days, passing memorials and villages.
Kokoda Track
A tough jungle trek that lasts multiple days and covers a well-known World War II route over the Owen Stanley Range.
Attractive locations
Owen Stanley Range
The rugged mountain range crossed by the Kokoda Track, with steep ridges, rainforest and river valleys. It is the backbone of the south-eastern part of the island, and the setting for World War II campaigns.
Mount Lamington
A volcano in Oro Province whose violent eruption in 1951 devastated the surrounding area. Today the forested cone stands quietly above villages and farmland near the town of Popondetta.
Kokoda
A small highland station at the northern end of the Kokoda Track, with an airstrip and a memorial to those who fought there in 1942. Trekkers finish or start their walk here.
Airports
Girua Airport PNP
It is about 65 km in a straight line from Kokoda Track.
Tufi Airport TFI
It is about 106 km in a straight line from Kokoda Track.
Port Moresby Jacksons International Airport POM
It is about 130 km in a straight line from Kokoda Track.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Papua New Guinea page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan20.6 °C227 mm
- Feb20.3 °C155 mm
- Mar20.2 °C292 mm
- Apr20.2 °C146 mm
- May19.9 °C78 mm
- Jun19.6 °C78 mm
- Jul19.1 °C35 mm
- Aug19.5 °C50 mm
- Sep20.4 °C50 mm
- Oct21.1 °C55 mm
- Nov21.7 °C77 mm
- Dec21.8 °C110 mm
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Mar.
Costs
Prices here are about 58% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Emergency numbers differ by city - ask your hotel or operator for the local police and ambulance numbers on arrival.
local government
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
Helps with: Papua New Guinea's national tourism body. Its contact page lists a phone, email and office address for tourist information.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Papua New Guinea or planning a trip there.
Phone: +675 325 0318
Email: [email protected]
Address: 6th Floor, Kwalimu Haus, Somare Circuit, Waigani
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Papua New Guinea
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Papua New Guinea it works on complex emergencies, providing humanitarian relief and building government capacity.
Who qualifies: Migrants and people affected by emergencies. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +675 321 3655
Email: [email protected]
Address: Level 3, Cuthbertson House, Granville, PO Box 1876, Port Moresby, NCD
local government
Police emergency number 112
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 112
local government
Ambulance emergency number 111
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 111
local government
Fire emergency number 110
Helps with: Reaches the fire service. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 110