Everything Everywhere Daily The Kokoda Track
Nov 22, 2025
Dive into the gripping tale of the Kokoda Track, where the fate of the Pacific War hung in the balance. Discover how Australia's 39th Battalion, facing fierce jungle battles, delayed the Japanese advance toward Port Moresby. Learn about the critical role played by the Papuan Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels as they supported Allied operations. Uncover the strategic significance of this treacherous terrain and its legacy in shaping war outcomes, along with the rise of trekking tourism that commemorates this vital piece of history.
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Port Moresby's Strategic Importance
- Port Moresby was strategically vital because it shielded northern Australia and controlled Coral Sea shipping lanes.
- Losing it would have exposed Australia to air attack and disrupted Allied reinforcement routes.
From Sea To Land Assault
- After the Coral Sea naval setback, Japan shifted to an overland plan to take Port Moresby via New Guinea's north coast.
- That plan hinged on the brutal Kokoda Track crossing, not an amphibious assault.
Kokoda's Brutal Terrain
- The Kokoda Track was a 96-kilometre path across extremely mountainous, disease-ridden jungle.
- Terrain, weather, and illness made the route as lethal as enemy fire.