Oro Province,
a trail through the heart of the bush!
Oro Province
The Kokoda Track
A land of resilience and memory
Oro Province, nestled in the northeastern part of Papua New Guinea, is a region steeped in natural beauty and historical significance. Dominated by the Owen Stanley Range and covered in thick tropical rainforest, it offers some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country.
This province is perhaps best known internationally for the Kokoda Track, a gruelling 96-kilometre trail that traverses mountain ridges, rivers, and dense jungle. During World War II, this very trail became a key battleground in the Kokoda Campaign of 1942, when Australian and Japanese forces clashed in one of the most pivotal and brutal episodes of the Pacific War.
Today, the path stands as both a challenge for trekkers and a place of remembrance. Beyond Kokoda, the province boasts rich biodiversity, with rare bird species, cascading waterfalls, and communities that still maintain traditional customs. The capital, Popondetta, serves as a modest but welcoming gateway to the surrounding wilderness. Oro’s story is one of endurance—etched into its terrain and lived every day by its people, who embody both the strength of their ancestors and the hospitality that defines this region of Papua New Guinea.
A personal journey
along the Kokoda Track
In early October 2023, my friend Thierry and I took on the formidable Kokoda Track—an experience as demanding physically as it was emotionally rich. Joined by a small but tight-knit group of five, we walked in the footsteps of history, crossing rivers, climbing steep ridges, and battling fatigue on terrain that had witnessed immense suffering and bravery during World War II. The historical weight of the place was palpable, especially when passing memorials and hearing the stories of the 39th Battalion’s defence of this strategic path. But the heart of the journey came from the people.
Our guides from South Sea Horizons were phenomenal—calm, organised, deeply knowledgeable. And then there were our porters, whose strength, patience, and good humour carried us through the hardest sections. They offered more than logistical support; they brought lightness, shared stories, and turned this tough expedition into a shared human adventure. Around the fire at night, in the misty mountain mornings, or wading through muddy tracks, we grew close—not just among trekkers, but with those who call this place home. This trek was not only about reaching the finish line, but about honouring a legacy, creating bonds, and returning changed by the land and its people.
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Trekking
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Historical tour
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Mountain landscape
In photos
In video
Watch the full expedition
in the video shown here
Relive the extraordinary adventure of five companions through the Owen Stanley bush along the 96-kilometre track of the legendary Kokoda Trail – October 2023.
In words
To go even further…
”[…] The moment has come to embark on this extraordinary journey through the Owen Stanley bush—the mountain range that spans the island of New Guinea from west to east. A perilous path lies ahead, stretching a total of 96 kilometers. The locals complete it in just three days. We have been generously given seven… […]
[…] After three hours of waiting, it was finally time to board the small Cessna plane that connects the capital to the village of Kokoda… […]
[…] We have finally arrived in Kokoda. A curious crowd watches us closely as we step off the plane, and before long, our bags are unloaded and hoisted onto our shoulders…. […]”