$4,050 10 Day Fully Australian Led Tour
Staying at all the Key Locations on the Battlefields
Perhaps you have a family connection, or perhaps you have trekked the Kokoda Track and would like to discover another unique part of PNG that is full of beauty and wonder. Or maybe you simply wish to undertake a pilgrimage that immerses you in our proud wartime history. The backdrop of the beautiful, rugged, and sometimes harsh terrain of the PNG jungle, the very ground upon which the events of 1943 took place, sets the scene for our master storytellers to bring the voices of our ancestors to life.
Kokoda Historical wants you to get excited about Australian history! We aim to bring to life the many ordinary people who became extraordinary heroes of our proud nation. We are talking about soldiers, civilians, and Papuans who were embroiled in the Second World War in the jungles of New Guinea. They are true Australian heroes who stood between tyranny and freedom—and we will remember them.
Our Shaggy Ridge Tour comprises a non-trekking tour of Port Moresby and Lae, along with a 6-day circuit trek of Shaggy Ridge and the Faria Valley. We have over a decade of experience trekking the battlefields of PNG, studying our proud history, interviewing veterans, serving in the Australian Defence Force, and bringing history to life through innovative methods.
We tailor every trek to ensure that we stay at key locations on the battlefields whenever possible. Our standard Shaggy Ridge tour is 10 days long, which includes return travel to PNG. This allows enough time to fully appreciate the history while experiencing PNG's unique culture. For groups of six or more people, we can adjust trek length and departure/return dates to suit your needs.
Our Shaggy Ridge pilgrimage will leave you laughing, crying, wet, muddy—but safe & sound—with a lasting legacy of what it means to be an Australian.
All participants receive a copy of The Battle for Shaggy Ridge by Phillip Bradley
Shaggy Ridge
Itinerary
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Port Moresby-stay Hilton Hotel
Day 2: Fly to Nadzab transfer to Morobe Hotel Lae, visit Lae War Cemetery, Japanese caves under Mt Lunamen.
Day 3: Visit Mission Hill Kaiapit, Dumpu and on to Onge village, trek to Agana village.
Day 4: Grassland’s to Don’s Post, ascend to McCulloch’s Ridge past ‘Baker’s Oven’.
Day 5: Northward bound along Shaggy Ridge-the ‘Pimple’, Prothero 1 and 2, descend to Kankiryo Saddle.
Day 6: Side trip to Crator Hill then on to Maus Kar Village.
Day 7: Follow Faria River, base of King's Hill climb up to Palier's Hill, back to Onge Village.
Day 8: Return via vehicle back to Lae Hotel and commemorative dinner.
Day 9: Nazdab fly to Port Moresby, visit Bomana War Cemetery then to Hilton Hotel.
Day 10: Return to Australia.
Shaggy Ridge Map
Historical Overview
Inclusions
- Highly experienced Australian Historian
- Airfare from Port Moresby to Lae
- Airfare from Lae to Port Moresby
- 2 nights' twin-share hotel accommodation at Lae
- Transfer from Nadzab airport to Lae
- Group porters for 6-day trek in Shaggy Ridge
- Food for 6-day trek
- Transfer from Lae to Onge
- Vehicle for day trip to Mission Hill at Old Kaipit, then on to Dumpu
- Communications and safety equipment including Satellite phone
- Public Liability Insurance
Exclusions
- International airfare to Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Travel visa to PNG
- Hotel meals, drinks, phone calls or any other personal expenses
- Personal travel insurance
Optional Extras
- International airfare to Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- Personal travel insurance
- Single room surcharge
- Personal Porter
- Optional add-on tours including fishing trips, Lae-Salamaua boat trip or Lae-Finschafen 4WD trip.
More information about these optional extras available in our Online Store.
