What You Need To Bring
- A good backpack if providing your own (unless you want to hire a backpack).
- A day pack (if hiring a personal porter).
- A travelling bag with your clothes and gear.
- Clothing, including two sets for trekking, one for cold weather and one for sleeping.
- Good hiking or military boots.
- Metal hiking poles (You have the option to bring one or two poles).
- A lightweight sleeping bag / bivvy bag
- Ground foam or Inflatable mat and pillow
- Durable plastic garbage bags to keep gear dry
- Personal first aid kit.
- Plate, cup, knife, fork, and spoon.
- Hydration/camel pack or water bottles.
- Purifying tabs.
- Torch and spare batteries.
- Camera, mobile phone, charger and any other personal items
- Toilet roll and toiletries.
- Insect repellent and sunscreen.
- Some nibbles and Gatorade or Powerade powdered drink
It’s a good idea to bring the bare minimum on your Kokoda trek and to keep the weight of your backpack between 10-15kg if carrying your own pack.
Features Of Good Trek Clothing
Shirts – you want to wear comfortable shirts that’ll keep you dry when you start to sweat and work harder. Try to avoid tees made of cotton as they trap moisture and sweat. They cool you down quickly, make you wet, chilly, and uncomfortable. Take both short and long sleeves which can be worn depending on how hot it is. Short sleeves shorts leave your hands exposed to the elements, while long sleeves will keep you from getting sunburnt and scratches from plants and rocks.
Shorts & pants – whether you choose your shorts or pants or both is entirely up to you. Shorts and pants made of materials such as spandex and nylon are highly recommended than cotton, as they tend to dry more quickly and are durable. Having both shorts and pants is a good thing for the Kokoda Trail where it can be heavily vegetated and cold now, and hot and humid the next. Shorts gives you more freedom and are cooler compared to pants. Pants keeps your legs protected from harmful plants and keeps you warm when feel a drop in temperature at higher altitudes.
Boots & socks – you need boots that’s durable, comfortable, and suited to tropical weather conditions. It can get very wet and muddy on the Kokoda Trail so we recommend boots made of Gore-tex or a similar material that’ll keep your feet dry and comfortable. Look for boots that provide more ankle support to avoid any ankle injury. Fitting is important. Make sure you select a footwear that fits perfectly to avoid foot aches and blisters. Your socks must be comfortable and made of wool or synthetic material that dries quickly and let your feet and toes breathe.
Wet weather gear – expect rain on the Kokoda Trail at any time even if it’s the dry season so take a rain jacket with you. A jacket that is waterproof and breathable is highly recommended because it keeps sweat and body moisture out while keeping you dry from the rain. You can also take a poncho with you to keep you and your pack out of the rain but they won’t be as comfortable as a rain jacket.
Head gear – a cap or hat is highly recommend to keep your face and head protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Choose headwear that’s fully brimmed, keeps your head warm, and protects you from the rain in the event of heavy downpour.
