Kokoda Memorial Track
What is the Kokoda Memorial Track?
It might not stretch across the 96km of wild Papua New Guinean jungle—but don’t be fooled. The Kokoda Memorial Track is no less powerful.
Found in two locations—one in the bushland shadows of Mount Ainslie in Canberra, and another winding along the waters of Brays Bay in Sydney—the Kokoda Memorial Tracks offer a chance to reflect, remember, and reconnect with the legacy of Kokoda without needing a pack or boots caked in red clay.
These memorials aren’t just static tributes. They’re living, breathing spaces designed for pause. For reverence. For education. They walk us through the stories of one of Australia’s most defining wartime campaigns, step by step.
A Brief History: Why These Tracks Exist
In 1942, along the narrow, treacherous jungle paths of Papua New Guinea, young Australian soldiers—some still teenagers—faced overwhelming odds as they fought to halt the Japanese advance towards Port Moresby. The Kokoda Campaign was brutal. Unforgiving. And ultimately, a turning point in the Pacific theatre of WWII.
The qualities shown by those diggers—courage, endurance, mateship, and sacrifice—have become foundational to the Australian identity. And the Kokoda Memorial Tracks are sacred spaces that preserve those values for new generations to feel and understand.
Each track—whether the winding bush trail in Canberra or the lush walkway in Sydney—invites visitors to experience the spirit of Kokoda in a way that’s accessible, immersive, and deeply moving.
The Kokoda Memorial Track – Mount Ainslie, Canberra
At the base of Mount Ainslie, not far from the Australian War Memorial, lies an 800-metre path carved through eucalyptus forest. It rises gently uphill, designed to symbolise the physical and emotional climb faced by soldiers in PNG.
This memorial track mirrors key locations and moments from the Kokoda Trail. Bronze plaques and interpretive signage mark major battles—like Isurava, Templeton’s Crossing, Eora Creek—giving visitors context as they ascend. The terrain changes subtly, emulating the experience of walking the ridgelines and valleys of the original.
It’s not a hike. It’s a pilgrimage.
Benches dot the path, inviting you to sit with your thoughts. The silence is only broken by birdsong or the rustling of wind through gum leaves. It’s a place where veterans come to remember. Where families bring their kids. Where anyone can stop, slow down, and feel something deep.
The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway – Sydney’s Brays Bay
The 800-metre path takes you past 22 stations, each representing a significant site or battle from the Kokoda Campaign. Lush tropical vegetation mimics the jungle landscape of PNG, and cascading water features echo the creeks that once ran red.
At its centre lies the Memorial Rose Garden, with over 500 plaques honouring individuals and military units who served. Nearby, the Memorial Centrepiece stands—granite walls etched with imagery from the campaign, flanked by a flowing waterfall. It’s peaceful. Poignant.
There’s also the
Ralph Honner Kokoda Education Centre, named for the legendary CO of the 39th Battalion. Inside, you’ll find interactive displays, historical materials, and a digital honour roll projecting the names of over 620 Australians who died during the campaign.
Who Are These Memorials For?
The answer is simple: everyone.
These are not exclusive spaces for veterans or historians. They’re for school kids, Sunday strollers, tourists, teachers, and entire families. For anyone curious. For anyone grateful. For anyone ready to feel something real.
Whether you’ve walked the original 96km or never set foot in a jungle, these memorials bring the Kokoda story close to home.
You don’t need to know every detail. You don’t need to prepare physically. You just need to show up—with open eyes and an open heart.
What You'll Experience Along the Way?
These tracks aren’t designed to exhaust your body. They’re designed to stir your spirit.
You’ll walk past quotes from diggers—some filled with quiet pride, others haunted by memory. You’ll see archival photos that put faces to names. You’ll learn about mud-soaked battles and moments of impossible bravery.
And you’ll feel something. Because in the stillness, surrounded by natural beauty and grounded in the weight of history, it’s impossible not to.
It’s short in steps. But long in meaning.
Educational Significance
The Kokoda Memorial Tracks are more than commemorative—they’re living classrooms.
Each year, thousands of students walk these paths as part of educational excursions. Guided by veterans and volunteers, they hear firsthand accounts of Kokoda, gaining a tactile sense of what sacrifice and service truly mean.
Through the lens of history, young Australians learn not just about the past—but about character, resilience, and community.
Events and Ceremonies
Both memorial tracks host key commemorative events:
- ANZAC Day
- Victory in the Pacific Day
- Kokoda Day (November 3)
During these events, the spaces come alive with ceremony—flags raised, wreaths laid, stories told. They’re powerful moments of national reflection. And standing among veterans, school kids, and families, you feel the unspoken bond of shared remembrance.
How to Visit
Canberra - Mount Ainslie Kokoda Memorial Track
- Location: Base of Mount Ainslie, near the Australian War Memorial
- Length: ~800m
- Access: Open year-round; paved and accessible to all fitness levels
- Best Time to Go: Early morning or late afternoon for quiet reflection
Sydney - Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway
- Location: Brays Bay Reserve, between Rhodes Station and Concord Hospital
- Length: ~800m
- Features: 22 stations, memorial centrepiece, rainforest setting, rose garden
- Access: Fully paved and wheelchair accessible; open year-round
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Entry to both memorials is free.
Final Reflections
Not every journey needs to be measured in kilometres or heart-pounding climbs. Some measure themselves in quiet moments.
In goosebumps. In the tear you weren’t expecting.
The Kokoda Memorial Tracks might not challenge your legs—but they’ll stay with your soul.
They’re about honour. About empathy. About a different kind of endurance—the kind that says, “I will remember.”
If you can’t get to Papua New Guinea, this is where you come. If you’ve already walked Kokoda, this is where you return.
Because it’s not the length of the track that matters. It’s the depth of what it represents.
Want to walk the original Kokoda Track?
Explore our 11-Day Treks – Built for reflection, resilience, and remembrance [click here] or visit - www.thekokdoatrackcompany.com.au
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