Sunday 15 September

The final night spent on the Kokoda track was hard, because the trekkers were experiencing mixed emotions. They were happy to finally be so close to the finish line, but also sad and amazed at how fast the past 8 1/2 days had gone. They started at first light and trekked straight back into the creek as they crossed it 1/2 a dozen times for an hour, to make their way to the base of Imita Ridge. They then trekked up Imita for an hour, and more than a few trekkers said this was the hardest climb of the trek. They trekked down Imita Ridge on the way to the village of Goodwater, and then it was another hour onto the “Goldie River” where they crossed and then gathered arm in arm to reflect on the past 9 days. After this it was another 45-minute hike, with the last 15 minutes out in the open to Owers Corner, where they arrived at 12:30pm. The weather was really hot while the trekkers were hiking up to the arches, they are now enjoying some well-deserved cold refreshments and a BBQ, before heading to Bomana War cemetery to pay their respects to the service men and women that lie there. Then they will head back to the 5-star Hilton hotel and enjoy a celebration dinner with their guides and porters that helped them over the past 9 days.