{"id":17593,"date":"2013-02-24T01:40:40","date_gmt":"2013-02-23T18:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.davestravelcorner.com\/?p=17593"},"modified":"2022-03-26T15:26:34","modified_gmt":"2022-03-26T08:26:34","slug":"trekking-remote-papua-new-guinea-kokoda-homestay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.davestravelcorner.com\/journals\/destination-south-pacific\/trekking-remote-papua-new-guinea-kokoda-homestay\/","title":{"rendered":"Trekking in Remote Papua New Guinea: Kokoda Homestay"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Traditional attire worn at Mumu feast in Port Moresby at Bull’s Eye Lodge<\/p><\/div>Kokoda Homestay <\/strong><\/span> was set up by several villages around Kokoda with the help of Bruce, his wife Rosemary and her son Mark (who lives in Australia) as a way for travelers to experience the authentic lifestyle in the area and as a way for travelers to immerse themselves within the local culture. Rosemary taught school in the 1960’s here and much later reconnected with some of her students. <\/p>\n

Bruce will help arrange your homestay and answer any visit related questions about traveling in the area.<\/p>\n

All flights to Papua New Guinea arrive and leave from Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby (Common carriers include: Virgin Australia, Qantas & Air Niugini). Lodging is very expensive in Port Moresby due to a current economic boom with gold mining and the oil and gas industry. Most likely you will need to spend at least a night here – an affordable alternative to the expensive hotels is a homestay. <\/p>\n

Bulls Eye Lodge <\/strong><\/span> run by Joseph and his wife Rosie is located about 15 minutes from the airport; this guesthouse is a part of their home. Joseph is a wealth of information about Papua New Guinea, is well traveled Internationally, often travels within the country for his work and knows a wealth of individuals within Port Moresby and beyond. He is a gracious host, can help answer travel questions and steer you in the right direction in regards to local travel plans. Visit: www.bullseyelodge.com<\/p>\n

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Homestay at Beleni Village<\/p><\/div>There are seasonal flights on small planes from Port Moresby to the Kokoda Airstrip. Often, it is more realistic to book a flight on one of the primary carriers within the country, PNG Airlines or Air Nuigini and fly to the small Popondetta Airport. From Popondetta it is about a 4 hour ride (under normal conditions) on a PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) to where you will begin your homestay. There are a number of rivers to cross on your journey – and much of the road is unimproved river gravel – making for a rough ride.<\/p>\n

Too often visitors come to this area only to trek the Kokoda Track<\/strong>, famous for its World War II history and severe battles between the Australians and Japanese. However, to do so would be to miss out on the realities of life here, authentic experiences, local foods, and the genuine hospitality of those who live in the region.<\/p>\n

Stays here are not just for anyone – Papua New Guinea is remote, expensive and logistically not easy to reach from many parts of the world. Life is not easy in the village – medical attention is not close by, there is no or very little electricity, transportation between the villages is nearly entirely on foot (there are only small trails in the mountains), this is a rainforest so there is often plenty of rain and lodging is rustic and primitive. <\/p>\n

For the independent and adventurous traveler, however – a homestay here will bring memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.<\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The reality of death here unlike a number of western cultures which puts it at bay for a longer period of time – is more a part of daily life. During our stay, a young lady died from stomach problems and as we passed through the small village we saw a number of men digging her grave – right next to the trail. Life spans are much shorter, injuries are common, as is illness – from these remote villages you cannot easily get to a hospital. All the villages we have visited have a disproportionate number of young children under the age of ten.<\/p>\n

There are four primary villages setup for the homestay – the base village of Beleni<\/strong> in the Kokoda Valley, the small hillside villages of Foke<\/strong> and Savaia<\/strong> and the most difficult village to reach because of its mountain location, Misima<\/strong>.<\/p>\n