DAY 8 - UA ULE CREEK TO OWERS' CORNER

Friday 16 October

The final morning on the Kokoda Track arrived with a mixture of excitement, pride and quiet emotion. It was bittersweet: the trekkers were thrilled to be within reach of Owers’ Corner and the end of their journey, yet many were surprised by how quickly the previous seven days had passed. What had begun with anticipation and uncertainty in Kokoda had become a shared experience of physical challenge, history, friendship and personal achievement.

A final 5:00 am wake-up call brought the group into action before sunrise. The early start was necessary to make the most of the final morning, but it also gave the group one last opportunity to experience the track in its quietest and most peaceful.

The first section took them back into the creek system. Over the course of approximately an hour, they crossed the creek half a dozen times, carefully stepping from rock to rock and negotiating the shallow water. After so many days on the track, these crossings felt familiar, yet they were still a fitting reminder of the rugged environment through which the group had travelled. The sound of flowing water, the damp rocks and the dense vegetation created a peaceful setting as they made their way towards the base of Imita Ridge.

From there, the group began the final major climb of the trek: the ascent of Imita Ridge. The climb took approximately an hour and was immediately recognised as one of the toughest sections they had encountered. The gradient was steep, the track demanding and the accumulated fatigue of the previous days impossible to ignore. Every step required determination, particularly as the trekkers climbed higher and the sense of nearing the finish line competed with the physical strain.

Many in the group agreed that Imita was the hardest climb of the entire trek. It was a final test of strength and resilience—a fitting challenge before reaching the end of the Kokoda Track. The trekkers encouraged one another as they climbed, pausing when necessary to catch their breath and allowing the group to remain together. Reaching the top brought a strong sense of achievement, but there was little time to linger before beginning the descent towards Goodwater Village.

The descent from Imita provided some relief, although tired legs and uneven ground still demanded care. The group made its way down towards Goodwater, where they stopped briefly to rest, rehydrate and regroup. The pause was welcome after the demanding climb, giving everyone time to reflect on how close they now were to completing the journey.

From Goodwater Village, the trekkers continued for approximately another hour towards the Goldie River. The final approach was marked by a mixture of tiredness and anticipation. Conversation returned in bursts as members of the group discussed their favourite moments, the most difficult sections and the people they had met along the way. The shared experience of the track had created a strong bond among the trekkers, guides and porters.

At the Goldie River, the group crossed together. Once safely on the other side, they gathered arm in arm and paused to reflect on the previous eight days. There was time to think about the villages they had passed through, the battle sites they had visited, the stories they had heard and the many climbs, descents, creek crossings and long stretches of forest that had brought them to that point. The moment was both celebratory and reflective, recognising not only the completion of the trek but also the history and sacrifice associated with the ground beneath their feet.

Only one final push remained. The group walked for approximately 45 minutes, with the last 15 minutes taking them out into the open. After days spent largely beneath the forest canopy, the change in surroundings made the finish feel unmistakably close. At last, the trekkers emerged at Owers’ Corner at approximately midday.

Their arrival was met with relief, excitement and celebration. Cold beers, Moët champagne, soft drinks and a barbecue provided a well-earned welcome, and the group enjoyed the chance to relax, share stories and celebrate together. After so many days of early starts, steep climbs, humid conditions and demanding terrain, the simple pleasure of sitting down with a cold drink and a meal felt especially rewarding.

The celebrations were balanced by a solemn visit to Bomana War Cemetery. There, the trekkers paid their respects to the soldiers who had fought and died during the Kokoda campaign. The cemetery visit brought the journey’s historical themes into sharp focus. Throughout the trek, the group had heard accounts of courage, endurance and sacrifice; standing among the graves offered a quiet and deeply moving conclusion to those stories.

By the end of the day, everyone felt a profound sense of pride at having completed the Kokoda Track. The achievement represented far more than reaching the finish line. It reflected the perseverance required to continue through exhaustion, the support shared within the group and the respect gained for the soldiers who had endured the campaign under vastly more difficult circumstances.

That evening, the trekkers returned to the five-star Airways Hotel in Port Moresby. After days of sleeping in camps and travelling through remote villages, the comfort of the hotel was a welcome contrast. The group gathered for a well-earned celebration dinner with their guides and porters, raising a glass to the journey they had completed together.

The dinner provided an opportunity to thank the local porters and guides, whose support had been essential throughout the trek, and to acknowledge the leadership and encouragement that had carried the group from Kokoda to Owers’ Corner. It was a fitting final evening: celebratory but reflective, relaxed but still filled with the emotion of what they had achieved.

The Kokoda Track had tested the trekkers physically and mentally, while also connecting them with one of the most significant chapters in Australia’s wartime history. As they celebrated together that evening, they could look back with satisfaction on eight demanding, memorable and deeply meaningful days.