Life in the Jungle: What the Soldiers Faced Daily

The Kokoda Campaign wasn’t just fought against an enemy force — it was fought against the jungle itself. In this episode of The Kokoda Track Podcast, Glenn Azar explores what daily life was really like for Australian soldiers living and fighting in the Papua New Guinea jungle during World War II. Moving beyond famous battles and heroic moments, this episode examines the constant moisture, disease, hunger, sleep deprivation, and psychological strain that defined everyday existence on Kokoda — and why understanding this reality changes how we walk the Track today. This episode offers vital context for anyone seeking to understand the true cost of the campaign and the resilience required to endure it.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why the jungle was one of the greatest enemies on Kokoda
• How disease and illness affected the campaign
• The impact of hunger, fatigue, and lack of sleep
• Why morale and leadership mattered so much
• How understanding daily hardship deepens respect for the Track

Follow The Kokoda Track Podcast for future episodes covering Kokoda history, Papua New Guinea culture, and the realities of trekking the Track with meaning and respect.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Terrain That Decided the War

On the Kokoda Track, the terrain wasn’t just the setting — it was an enemy in its own right. In this episode of The Kokoda Track Podcast, Glenn Azar explores how the Owen Stanley Range and the dense Papua New Guinea jungle shaped every aspect of the Kokoda Campaign. Drawing on military history and modern on-Track experience, Glenn explains why movement itself became the battle, how the terrain crippled supply lines and decision-making, and why endurance mattered more than technology in this environment. This episode offers powerful context for anyone walking Kokoda today, helping listeners understand just how much the land itself demanded of those who fought there — and why that same terrain still commands respect from modern trekkers.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why the Owen Stanley Range shaped the entire Kokoda Campaign
• How jungle terrain neutralised traditional military advantages
• Why movement and resupply were decisive challenges
• What modern trekkers can learn by walking the same ground
• How terrain still influences outcomes on Kokoda today

Follow The Kokoda Track Podcast for future episodes covering Kokoda’s military history, Papua New Guinea culture, and the realities of trekking the Track with respect and preparation.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.