The Kakoda trail in Papua New Guinea is now a famous Australian tourist track now visited by many people from around the world annually.
It's a track that is enough space for a single file hike that spans a massive 96 kilometres and the location of the 1945 World War II battle between predominantly Australian and Japanese armies.
This length will take you a few days to complete but the current record is 16 hours. That's insane!
In Melbourne, Victoria, Australia located in the Dandenong Ranges a memorial walk has been developed to honour the soldiers that passed in this war.
The 1000 Steps memorial track is a relatively short walk of 1.8kms on a steep incline. For those wanting more of a challenge there is a steeper walk named the Lyrebird track which is 2.8kms and a wider path. I completed both and I have to admit the lyrebird track is a little more challenging.
In the 1900s tree fern trunks were laid alongside the track to make the walk easier. A tactic used in PNG to aid soliders walking through the tropical forests taught to them by locals. As walking through torrential rains would often create loose soil and a problem for military personnel patrolling the area.
Later in the 1950s the fern tree trunks were replaced with more permanent fixtures such as the wooden bollards and concrete steps that now cover the walk.
The walk wasn't officially adopted as an official memorial until officially recognised by the Veterans of the Kakoda Campaign in 1998.
The Kakoda Memorial track nicknamed 1000 steps gets it's name for it's likeness to the first 100 steps of the Kokoda track in PNG a series of plaques and memorials were built to honour and bring knowledge to those who visit.
The 1000 steps also replicates the 2000 steps built by Australian engineers and PNG locals between Uberi and Imita Ridge which is what is referred to as the Golden Staircase
The 1000 Steps commences at Ferntree Gully Picnic Area and makes it's steep incline through picturesque rainforest to reach One Tree Hill picnic ground at the summit.
It is also Melbourne's most famous walking track and visited by many daily all year round. If you go in the wetter months be sure to bring good grip shoes as people have been known to slip and injure themselves. Accessibility by emergency services is nil due to the small track which only allows single file tracking.
Pets are also not allowed on the track so please keep your pooches at home.
I would like to pay my respects to the soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in keeping us safe.
Thank you for your service.