DAY 8 - UA ULE CREEK TO OWERS' CORNER

Tuesday 28 July

The final night on the Kokoda Track was bittersweet — the trekkers were thrilled to be so close to the finish, yet surprised at how quickly the past seven days had flown. A final 5:00 am wake‑up saw them back in the creek, crossing half a dozen times over the course of an hour to reach the base of Imita Ridge. The ascent up Imita took about an hour and many agreed it was the toughest climb of the trek. They descended Imita toward Goodwater Village for a short rest, then continued for an hour to the Goldie River where they crossed and gathered arm in arm to reflect on the past eight days.

One last 45‑minute push — the final 15 minutes out in the open — brought them to Owers’ Corner. Arriving in good time at 12pm, the group celebrated with cold beer, Moët, soft drinks and a BBQ, before travelling to Bomana War Cemetery to pay their respects to the fallen. Everyone was proud to have completed the track. That evening they returned to the 5‑star Airways Hotel for a well‑earned celebration dinner with their guides and porters.