Rules & Regulations
To enter the Kokoda Challenge you must observe the following rules:
1. All team members must be aged 18 or above unless approved by the organiser and must sign the appropriate Acknowledgement, Waiver and Release Form.
2. At the start of the event, each team must have four members. High school teams must have 4 team members and one adult supervisor.
3. Teams must check in during their allocated check-in period. Check-in time for the start is 5:30am to 6:30am.
The Challenge will commence at 7:00am
4. There are fifteen checkpoints (CPs) along the trek including the finish. All team members must stay together between CPs and must check out together at each CP. CP staff will not check in or check out teams with members unaccounted for.
5. Depending on your assessment of the situation, in the event of an injury or emergency, the following procedures are recommended; a) Contact the SES base on the emergency phone number given to you on briefing night and inform them of the situation. This will be a dedicated phone for emergencies only. b) Depending on the situation make your way to the nearest checkpoint, which will have first aid and communication available. c) Ring 000 and when asked your name also state “we are participating in the Kokoda Challenge”. d) Ring 112 and treat the same as a 000 call.
6. Under no circumstances are individuals to be left unattended. If a team member becomes seriously injured and cannot be moved, one person must stay with him or her while others seek help.
7. If you want to withdraw during the event, you must first report to the nearest CP. Remaining team members cannot continue until the withdrawal of the team member has been reported. If for any reason you have to leave the event urgently, you must call the emergency number as soon as possible.
8. In order to withdraw, the participant must complete a withdrawal certificate at one of the CPs. A team with less than four members cannot continue without a copy of the withdrawal certificate. This must be presented at each remaining CP.
9. If two members of a team have withdrawn, the remaining two members must accompany another team between CPs. This is to ensure that all walkers’ participants travel in groups of at least three people. This does not mean that team members join the other team; each team will retain their identity and team number throughout the event.
10. If for any reason team members decide to stay between two CPs for more than 6 hours, they must call the emergency phone number to inform the organiser. Otherwise, they will be considered missing and a search will be initiated.
11. If your team has not departed a CP by the nominated closing time, the team will be withdrawn from the event and the team will be advised not to proceed. If you choose to do so, it will be at your own risk. The closing times are calculated on the basis that there would be insufficient time to complete the event in the specified 39 hours.
12. A team’s finishing time will be recorded as the last member of the team reports to officials at the Finish. This is a team event and no individual time(s) will be recorded.
13. Identification bibs must be worn at all times during the event.
14. Teams must notify the organiser of any change of team members by completing a “change of team member” form and returning it to the organiser. No substitutions will be allowed once the event is in progress.
15. If, in the opinion of medical personal, a team member is unable to continue for medical reasons, then the organisers reserve the right to withdraw that member from the event.
The following guidelines are recommended for teams to safely complete the Kokoda Challenge:
1. Every team should have a support crew. The support crew is responsible for providing teams with food, change of clothes etc. during the event. It is unrealistic to carry all supplies yourself. Once registered, please make sure your support team reads the support team section in the Competitor Login section on this website.
2. Teams are responsible for the behaviour of their support team. Any support team or participant found to be contravening any CP landowner’s regulations may lead to the team’s disqualification from the event.
3. At least one team member of each registered team must attend the formal briefing session in June.
4. Do not drop litter. Please respect the environment and use the litter bags provided to teams.
5. Please give way to teams walking at a faster pace. The trail can get quite congested, particularly in the early stages of the event.
6. Teams should carry mobile phones, preferably on two different networks.
7. Each team should carry at least one first aid kit.
8. Prescription medication and pain killers will be your own responsibility. These cannot be issued by First Aid.
9. As sections of the trail can get very cold at night it is strongly recommended that participants carry and wear appropriate clothing for such conditions.
