Page 98 - Holidays with Kids - Volume 62 (January 2020)

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

01

Following I’m standing knee-deep in the river’s freezing

water, mustering the willpower to go in
deeper. I breathe in. And out. In. And out.
the footsteps And before I have a chance to think about
of history
what a terrible decision I’ve just made, I dive
forward, plunging into the water. It’s cold.
Bone-chillingly cold. I come up spluttering
and make a beeline for my thongs and towel,
which are sitting a couple of metres away,
safe on dry land, while my dad jumps in
behind me with significantly more
confidence. Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda
Track hits you like a blast of frigid water, but
between the incredible scenery, lovely locals
and fascinating wartime history, there’s plenty
zac de silva joins his dad on an unconventional teen for everyone on this bucket-list-worthy trek.
adventure through the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Teens on the track
I’m here with my dad, who organises a
biannual expedition to the track for students
at a boys’ high school in Sydney. Boys as
young as 14 join their fathers to make the
01 On the Kokoda Trail 02 Exploring local villages seven-day trek across the Owen-Stanley
03 Making new friends. All images © On Track
Expeditions Range, following in the footsteps of the brave

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