Kokoda is rich in history.

To some people history seems a remote subject, but in Kokoda you just can't avoid it.

The moving and unforgettable story of the Kokoda Trail, the first battle that Japan lost in WW2, comes alive when you stand in the places it happened and begin to understand the extraordinary sacrifices made by each side.

Kokoda people grew up with the story and tell it well. Their parents and grandparents were a vital part of it.

The Memorial Museum at Kokoda Station contains helpful information about the battles alongside many relics.

Several of the Homestay villages own land that is of historical significance but which is off-limits to trekking companies, so you will have access to sites that few visitors ever get to see.

Day walks to historic sites are listed on several villages' pages, and are also summarised on the main information page.