Black Cat Trek (9 Days)

The Adventure

The Black Cat Track is a challenging 58km PNG Adventure that runs between Salamaua and Wau in the Morobe Province. It is a forgotten World War 2 trail that passes through some of the toughest and most hazardous terrain in the world. Australian Diggers have often been heard describing the Black Cat Track as the hardest slog they’d ever done. In fact the Black Cat Track rates harder than the Kokoda Track. It includes dangerous river crossings, swamps, cliffs, trees that are fallen, moss covered rocks and dangerous ledges. This makes the Black Cat Trail one of the toughest tracks in PNG and in the world. It is known to walkers what the marathon is to runners.

Evidence of the ferocious fighting with the Japanese is evident everywhere. The Black Cat Track is littered with live bombs, ammunition and other war junk, including boots and even plane wrecks, just like Kokoda. There are also Japanese tunnels and anti-aircraft guns. Many soldiers and local carriers lost their lives on this treacherous path in 1942 and 1943. This trail offers the opportunity to pay your respects to them by completing this personal challenge.

Today the Black Cat Track is peaceful, tranquil and much less traveled, but the locals are still as hospitable and supportive as they were in 1942. This makes for a genuine cultural experience. But note, the Black Cat Track is recommended only for very fit and experienced trekkers.

Our Spirit's safety and success record on the Black Cat Track and the Kokoda Track in the past 20 years is unrivalled by any other trek operator. Our Black Cat adventure is led by one of our qualified Australian leaders and includes a pre-trek training program, airfares, accommodation, trekking fees and much more. Please refer to the tabs for full details on our inclusions, exclusions and pricing for this adventure.

Airfares & Accommodation

Our adventure package includes:

• International economy class airfares to Port Moresby from Brisbane
• Pre-paid departure taxes from Australia and PNG
• PNG domestic flight from Port Moresby to Lae
• All airport/accommodation transfers in PNG
• Package travel insurance (individual coverage subject to approval)
• Twin share accommodation in Lae

Adventure Package Inclusions

 Our comprehensive adventure package includes:

• Limited group size
• 3 Month training and preparation program (refer to tab for details)
• International airfares and accommodation (refer to tab for details)
• Australian leadership (refer to Leaders & Guides tab for details)
  • Pre-trek briefing at the hotel followed by daily briefings on the track
• Vehicle transfers to/from
  • the start/finish of the Black Cat Track
• Kokoda Track Authority - license fees and trekking permits
• Village Fees
• Adventure accommodation - guesthouses/tents (twin share)
  • New sleeping bag and mat (for you to keep or donate to your legends on completion)
• Group expedition equipment including:
  • Tents; cooking equipment; ropes; safety equipment; communication equipment (including satellite phone); etc
• eXtreme Cuisine (TM) nutritionally balanced, energy appropriate trekking meals and snacks
  • Our Spirit provides all trek meals, including breakfast, lunch and dinner whilst on the track. Breakfast and evening meals are supplemented with local fresh vegetables and fruit, when available. We also cater for special dietary requirements at no extra cost.
    
    Please contact us if you would like specific information about our trek menus
• Certificate of completion
• History reference booklet to take on the Black Cat Track and keep as a memento
• Subject to accessibility, GPS Spot tracking updates which enables family and friends to follow your journey along the Black Cat Track. 

Adventure Package Exclusions

The following personal items and expenses are not included in this adventure package. 

• Travel Expenses:
  • Domestic airfares and accommodation (if required - refer to inclusions for details)
  • Passport and visa
  • Personal expenses in PNG (including meals on first and last day of the trip)
  • Airline charges for excess baggage (limit of 17kg personal luggage allowed)
• Trekking Equipment:
  • Backpack
  • Waterpack/bladder
  • Head torch
  • Personal items:
    • trekking boots and premium trekking socks
    • appropriate clothing, footwear and hat
    • eating utensils (bowl, cup, knife, fork, spoon)
    • toiletries and towel
    • Basic personal first-aid kit, including insect repellent and pharmaceutical items

Note: a comprehensive equipment checklist is provided to participants, upon receipt of the deposit and prior to commencing the training program.

• Medical Expenses:
  • Pre trek preparation and associated medical costs (including, but not limited to obtaining medical clearance, required prior to commencing the training program)
  • Malarial medication and any prescription medications recommended by your doctor
• Other Expenses:
  • Subject to availability, additional fresh fruit and drinks can be purchased from local villagers along the track, if desired
  • Handmade crafts and souvenirs can also be purchased from numerous villages along the track

Pricing

Our standard adventure package is $4500, please refer to the "Inclusions" and "Exclusions" tabs for full details on what is and isn't included. Please contact us if you would like a copy of our budget, which covers exclusions and personal items for this adventure. Large group discounts and exclusive charters are also available on request.

The following optional extras are also available at the time of booking or can be added up to 1 month prior to departure:

• Personal Porterage Service:

  To maximise your trekking enjoyment, hire the services of one of our PNG local legends who will carry either your own backpack - $550 or with one of our backpacks - $580 (limited to 16kg) along the track. If you choose either of these options, you will still be required to carry a smaller day pack (up to 6kg) with essential personal requirements.  
  
  Note: Unlike some trek operators, our porterage fees include all trekking meals and travel costs for the PNG local providing this service to ensure the income goes back to the village of origin and isn't wasted in Port Moresby.

• Singles Supplement:

  Our singles supplement is available for clients who want a hotel room to themselves on the first and last night of the trip. Additionally, they will be given their own tent to use for the duration of the trek. A surcharge of $295* is applied at the time of booking, if this option is selected.
   
• Hotel Meals Package:
  Guests staying at the Gateway Hotel can pre-book the following meals package for a total of $260*

  2 x Buffet-style dinners (first night and last night of trip)

  2 x Continental breakfasts (first and last morning of trip)

* Subject to change in exchange rates between Australia and PNG.

Leaders & Guides

Our Spirit have the most experienced Australian Trek Leaders, doctors and qualified medics on the Black Cat Track. They ensure participant safety and deliver an experiential journey based on mateship, courage, endurance and sacrifice by:

• Providing individual motivation and encouragement (including pre-trek training advice)
• Creating opportunities for team cohesion
• Presenting the most passionate and comprehensive historical briefings along the Black Cat Track, supported by various battalions from the Australian military campaign.
• Guiding participants to significant battle sites on along the Black Cat Track
• Informing participants of cultural etiquette and educate participants on basic Motu (local Papuan language)
• Arranging ceremonial welcomes into villages
• Hosting a tour of the Lae Cemetery to pay our respects to those who fought so that we can enjoy of freedom today
• Recognising and rewarding individual achievements on completion (including certificate of completion)
• Full backup support of the team in Lae
• Qualified Emergency Medic

Our PNG Support Crew are Legends are an essential part of our team and include: 

• Group Guides - provide essential local knowledge and safe passage across the Black Cat Track
• General Crew - carry our food supplies and the group expedition equipment
• Group Cook - prepares all trek meals and assists with general crew duties

Important: Unlike other trek operators, Our Spirit PNG support crew ratio is 1 local legend for every 2 trekkers, which enables us to ensure your safe direction and provide you with the best cultural experience on the Kokoda Track. Additionally, our package fees include all meals and airfares (to/from village of origin) for our local guides and support crew. 

History

The Black Cat Track is a challenging 58km adventure that runs between Salamaua and Wau in the Morobe Province. It is a forgotten World War 2 trail that passes through some of the toughest and most hazardous terrain in the world. Australian Diggers have often been heard describing the Black Cat Track as the hardest slog they’d ever done. In fact the Black Cat Track rates harder than the Kokoda Track. It includes dangerous river crossings, swamps, cliffs, trees that are fallen, moss covered rocks and dangerous ledges. This makes the Black Cat Track one of the toughest tracks in PNG and in the world.

Evidence of the ferocious fighting with the Japanese is evident everywhere. The Black Cat Track is littered with live bombs, ammunition and other war junk, including boots and even plane wrecks, just like Kokoda. There are also Japanese tunnels and anti-aircraft guns. Many soldiers and local carriers lost their lives on this treacherous path in 1942 and 1943. This trail offers the opportunity to pay your respects to them by completing this personal challenge.

Today the Black Cat Track is peaceful, tranquil and much less traveled, but the locals are still as hospitable and supportive as they were in 1942. This makes for a genuine cultural experience. But note, the Black Cat Track is recommended only for very fit and experienced trekkers.

If you're keen to know more about the history of the Black Cat Track and its significance to Australia, we have a wealth of resources and information that we'd love to share with anyone who is genuinely interested. Please contact us now for more information or to book a history presentation for your interested group.

Itinerary

The following itinerary is recommended as a guide only. Track and weather conditions will inevitably determine the final journey of each trek. To maintain our unblemished safety record, all trekking is done during daylight hours only.  Trekking at night on cliff faces and across raging rivers increases the risk of injury and should only be attempted by experienced trekkers when absolutely necessary.  As many of our Aussie Diggers will attest, the journey across the Black Cat Track is one of respect to those who endured unthinkable conditions during the war in 1942.

Download Black Cat Itinerary here

Training & Preparation

Our Spirit have the best safety and success record of any operator on the Black Cat Track. We attribute much of our unrivalled track record to our pre-trek training and preparation program, which includes:

• 3 Month Black Cat specific exercise program and nutrition advice - designed and monitored by our team of qualified exercise physiologists
• Personal equipment and training advice
  • Quality trekking equipment available from our online shop (free delivery with orders over $100)
• Recommended training buskwalks throughout Australia
• Clear instructions, travel advice, supporting documentation and timely communication leading up to the event

Black Cat Video Footage

Here is the media footage for Federal MPs Scott Morrison and Jason Clare doing the Black Cat Track with Our Spirit in April 2013. 

The following video footage was taken on the Black Cat Track and will give you an idea of the culture, scenery and challenge.

Considerations

Our Spirit holds current public liability insurance and maintains comprehensive risk management procedures for all our adventures as part of our standard business practice. Our experience, safety and success record on the Black Cat Track is unsurpassed by any other trek operator, however there are still some things which you should take into consideration prior to booking.

• It is recommended that each person joining the party be physically prepared by the time of departure. An exercise program, including training walks and nutritional advice are included in the program.
• There are several sessions within the program that require training with full packs, (that is the backpack and all equipment you intend to use on the trek). By wearing or breaking in your hiking boots (aided by our specifically designed premium trekking socks), you will minimise the risk of blisters and unnecessary sweat problems if they can be addressed prior to commencing the trek. 

Booking Information

We recommend that you make your booking for this adventure at least 3 months prior to the departure date to ensure you have adequate time for the physical preparation that is required. Bookings generally close 1 month prior to departure when international flights and accommodation are finalised.

During the booking process, you will be required to submit your contact details as well as personal information about your health, any conditions or prescribed medications you take; your current fitness levels (including your height, weight, activity) and your emergency contact person's details.

Additionally, you will be required to check all items on the terms and conditions section of the booking form. If you are under 18 years of age, you will also be required to enter the details of a consenting adult who will receive a copy of the form.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your booking with the final balance due 30 days prior to departure.

Upon receipt of your deposit, we will send you a series of emails, which contain instructions and important information that you will need to prepare for this adventure. Alternatively, please let us know if you prefer to receive the preparatory documents on a USB stick and we will post them to you.

IMPORTANT: Exclusive group bookings and group discounts are available by negotiation. Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

More Information

CONTACT US NOW if you would like more information about this adventure.

• Invite one of our highly qualified Trek Leaders to deliver a comprehensive Black Cat Track history presentation to your group
• Discuss your individual or group requirements
• Have your adventure specific questions answered by one of our experienced Black Cat Trek Leaders.
• Request contact details for clients who have trekked the Black Cat Track with Our Spirit and are willing to discuss their experience with you.

Dates

Exclusive group treks (minimum 14 participants), to suit your preferred travel dates are available on request. Please note, the first and last day of this adventure includes your international travel to and from Port Moresby as well as accommodation on the first and last night. Refer to the specific tabs for full details.