Packing for Travel
Packing for your travel to and from Port Moresby is different to packing for your trek on the Kokoda Track. You need to get all your gear over to the hotel in Port Moresby first, and then you can pack your backpack as you planned.
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Final Gear Check
Having spent months preparing, it is time now to do the final check to ensure you have everything. You really don't want to arrive without your boots or another important item. See the section below on important items that cannot be replaced in Port Moresby at short notice. Use our gear checklist to check off everything as you pack your bags to fly out. Sometimes it helps to have someone else do the checking with you. Resist the temptation to pack extra items you haven't trained with, planned for or really don't need. |
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Packing your Non-Trek Gear
In addition to your expedition clothing you will be hiking in, you will need clothes for your air travel to and from PNG, and some casual clothes and footwear for the hotel in Port Moresby. If you are trekking and carrying your full backpack you may choose to bring an additional day pack sized backpack to carry over your additional clothes for the hotel etc.. and to keep your belongings at the hotel whilst you are on the trek. A backpack works well as you can carry it easier through airports and on / off shuttle buses. If you are hiring a personal porter to carry your backpack whilst you carry a smaller day pack, you may as well use your trekking day-pack to carry any additional clothing for the hotel and just use a small extra plastic bag full of items to leave at the hotel in the secure storeroom. |
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How to Pack for Air Travel
Anyone who travels regularly by plane with a backpack will know that it is often useful to carry your backpack around by its normal straps on your back. However these straps can be torn off or damaged during baggage handling. Consider wrapping your pack in plastic, securing tightly all straps, or buying/borrowing a backpack travel tote bag that fits over the entire bag preventing the straps from being caught. If you are bringing trekking poles with you they will have to go with your checked-in luggage (most likely with your backpack). Fully collapse them and ensure the spike is covered with the protective cap. Consider packing them tightly against your pack to minimise the chance they will be bent or broken. You will be passing through both Australian and PNG customs so make sure that you declare any food. Ensure your food is still wrapped in its original packaging and you can separate it when you arrive at the Hotel. Don't pack any water as you will fill up in PNG. Take note of the airline travel regulations regarding liquids in containers. Often trekkers are carrying lots of lotions etc.. so make sure they are not in your carry-on bag. |
 To avoid opportunistic theft of valuables from packs, do not pack valuables in outer pockets. Put these valuables inside your pack or carry them in your bag on the plane (as per aviation regulations) |
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Security of your Essential Trekking Equipment
It is preferable that your trekking footwear, trek clothing and sleeping bag (if possible) is never out of your sight whilst travelling to PNG as it cannot be replaced in Port Moresby if it gets lost with your check-in baggage in the hold of the plane. We suggest that you wear your boots whilst travelling or carry them in your hand luggage along with your trek clothing and sleeping bag (if it fits). |
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Discuss these topics on our Kokoda Trekking Community Forums
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