Charity Walks Sydney: The Kokoda Challenge
THE Kokoda Challenge
SYDNEY
Dates
20TH SEPTEMBER 2025
Location
HEATHCOTE AND ROYAL NATIONAL PARK
Starts From -
REX JACKSON OVAL - HELENSBURGH
RAISING FUNDS FOR -
KOKODA YOUTH FOUNDATION
Sydney hosts many charity walks and hikes, but few carry the same weight, history and significance as the Kokoda Challenge Sydney. Taking place every year, our Sydney charity event is not just about completing the distance. It is about teamwork, resilience, and honouring the legacy of the Kokoda Campaign.
Click the distance you’re interested in for further information
SYDNEY KOKODA CHALLENGE
18KM
SYDNEY KOKODA CHALLENGE
48KM
SYDNEY KOKODA CHALLENGE
96KM
Tackle the Kokoda Challenge! Register Now
A Unique Sydney Charity Hike
The Kokoda Challenge is unlike other fundraising events. We are run by the Kokoda Youth Foundation, a registered Australian charity rather than a commercial event organiser. Every dollar raised supports free youth programs that provide mentoring, outdoor education and community service opportunities for young Australians.
Our Sydney event is set through Heathcote and the Royal National Park, with three distances available: 18km, 48km, and 96km. The 96km course is designed to reflect the length of the original Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Each route is intense and tough, featuring steep inclines, river crossings and rugged terrain to give participants a glimpse of the conditions faced by Australian soldiers in 1942.
Why Our Charity Event Stands Apart
Most charity events in Sydney focus on individual achievement. Ours is different. Success is not measured by speed or personal bests but by whether your team crosses the finish line together.
The Kokoda Challenge is built on the values of the Kokoda Spirit:
- Endurance – pushing through difficult conditions.
- Courage – facing physical and mental obstacles.
- Mateship – supporting your team throughout the event.
- Sacrifice – recognising the hardships of those who came before.
Leaving a team member behind or charging ahead alone goes against these principles and can result in disqualification.
The History Behind the Challenge
Our Challenge draws its purpose from the Kokoda Track Campaign of 1942, a defining moment in Australia’s wartime history.
The Kokoda Track, a narrow jungle path in Papua New Guinea, became the site of intense battles as Japanese forces attempted to capture Port Moresby. Young and undertrained Australians of the 39th Battalion, alongside the Papuan Infantry Battalion, resisted the advance despite being heavily outnumbered.
Over the months that followed, Australians made their stand at Isurava, Eora Creek, Templeton’s Crossing and Imita Ridge. Eventually, they pushed the Japanese back and recaptured Kokoda by November 1942. The campaign cost 625 Australian lives, with over 1600 wounded and thousands more struck down by disease.
We honour this history through every Kokoda Challenge. Each step taken by our participants helps ensure the story of Kokoda is remembered by new generations.
The Benefits of Taking Part
While our event is demanding, we think the rewards are worth it:
- Fundraising with impact – all proceeds directly support our youth programs.
- Authentic endurance – our courses replicate the conditions of the Kokoda Track to test resilience and perseverance.
- Team achievement – completing the challenge depends on unity and mateship, not individual effort.
Living history – participants connect with the history of Kokoda, ensuring it is never forgotten.
Testimonials
The most challenging and rewarding experience that I have ever undertaken. It gave me a strength I didn’t know I had, and I finished it with teammates who became my trusted and cherished friends for life.
Stacy
I had an incredible journey with my team. There was so much teamwork and mateship on the track that inspired me and pushed me across the finish line. While we were walking we all said we would never do it again, and within 24 hours we were planning for next year!
Amanda
It’s an experience like no other. If you want to find the limit to which you can push your mind and your body then this is the challenge for you. With amazing scenery to do it in too, even if you are staring at the ground for what seems like most of the event.
Graham
How to Get Involved
Teams can register for the Sydney Kokoda Challenge well ahead of when the race is scheduled. Each team is allocated a fundraising page to raise support for the Kokoda Youth Foundation.
By entering, you commit to far more than a walk. You step into an endurance event that requires strength, discipline and solidarity, while also preserving the memory of the Kokoda Campaign.
Check the Sydney page for the date of the next event or register now
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is the Kokoda Challenge Sydney?
The Kokoda Challenge is intentionally designed to be tough. Our courses include steep climbs, river crossings and uneven terrain to replicate the conditions of the original Kokoda Track. While the event is achievable with preparation, it is not an easy charity walk — it is a true endurance challenge that will test both your body and your mind.
Do I need to be an athlete to participate?
No. You don’t need to be an ultra-runner or elite hiker to take part. Many of our teams walk the course at their own pace. What matters most is commitment, teamwork, and training in the lead-up to the event. With three distances — 18km, 48km and 96km — there is an option for different levels of experience and fitness.
Can I enter the event on my own?
The Kokoda Challenge is a team event. You cannot register as an individual. This reflects the Kokoda Spirit, which is built on mateship and supporting one another. Every team must complete the course together, and leaving a member behind can result in disqualification.
Where does the money raised go?
All funds raised support the Kokoda Youth Foundation, an Australian charity that delivers free youth programs. These programs focus on outdoor education, mentoring, and community service to help young Australians reach their full potential.
How should I prepare for the Kokoda Challenge?
We recommend regular training walks or hikes in the months leading up to the event, gradually increasing distance and elevation. Training with your team is essential so you can build trust, communication, and a shared pace. Appropriate gear, hydration and nutrition strategies are also key.
What is the significance of the 96km distance?
The 96km event honours the original length of the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. This historic route was the site of the 1942 Kokoda Campaign, where young Australian soldiers fought to defend our country from invasion. Completing the 96km distance pays tribute to their sacrifice and endurance.
