Kokoda Trail Closed by Protestors

Papua New Guinea's historic Kokoda Trail, where Australian soldiers fought in the Second World War, has been closed by protesting villagers.

Locals have declared that trekkers are unwelcome as a result of a dispute over mining - a planned mine requiring that 600 metres of the trail would have to be dug up.

However, the Australian Government is pressuring the PNG Government not to allow the trail to be disturbed, a stance that has angered the protestors.

In recent years walking the trail has become a pilgrimage for thousands of Australians and more than 5,000 trekkers are expected to want to traverse the trail this year.

In tandem with the growth in popularity of the 96-kilometre trek, standards are apparently falling. A draft code of ethics seeks to limit operators to taking no more than 20 trekkers at a time. However, one Australian trail operator reportedly had a party of 150 trekkers on the track in recent months.

There are also concerns that guides are under-equipped, have poor first aid training, were disrespectful to villagers and had a very poor understanding of Kokoda's history. Standards for the medical evacuation of injured trekkers are also believed to be variable.

Image: The Kokoda Trail is increasingly popular with Australian. Courtesy of Kokoda Adventures.