Young Australians to walk PNG Kokoda Track

Updated June 16, 2008 17:40:58

Papua New Guinea's historic World War II Kokoda Track. [Reuters]

Clubs around Australia will, for the first time, fund eight young people to walk the legendary Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.

A young person aged between 16 and 22, will be chosen from each state and territory to walk the 96 kilometre track in PNG, where 2000 Australian soldiers died during World War II.

The chief executive of clubs New South Wales, David Costello, says the task will be difficult.

"They're going to face one of the toughest treks you could ever make: some 96 kilometres over 10 days, (it's) likely to be very hot, very wet and very tough terrain," Mr Costello said.

"All along the track they'll come across the villages of outstanding supporters from World War II."

Earlier this year, Australia and Papua New Guinea signed an agreement to protect the Kokoda Track and provide assistance to landowners living along it.

The Kokoda track runs for nearly 100 kilometres through the Owen Stanley Mountain Range in Papua New Guinea.

It is renowned as the location of the World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in 1942.