31/10/2026
FAST KOKODA TREKS – WHAT SHOULD TREKKERS CONSIDER?
Shorter Kokoda treks may cost less, but they can mean longer days and harder work for the local guides and carriers.
A cheaper, shorter trek might save the trekker money, but it’s the local carriers who pay the price.
Fast treks require PNG guides and carriers to cover greater distances and work longer hours to get trekkers across the Trail in less time.
We have suggested to the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) that guides and carriers should receive a minimum of eight days' pay, even when a trek is completed sooner, to recognise the extra demands placed on them.
We believe a minimum of eight days is the right amount of time to experience Kokoda properly – to understand its history, appreciate its significance and respect the people who live and work along the Trail.
Kokoda is more than a trek to be completed as quickly and cheaply as possible. It’s a journey through our shared history, and the people who make it possible deserve fair treatment.
What are your thoughts?