“I got through it fairly well, but it was tough,” Mr Bierhoff said.

“You can just imagine what it would be like to fight there,” he said.

Australian troops faced Japanese forces along the Trail in 1942 in a series of bloody battles, where both sides suffered heavy casualties, until the Australian troops were finally able to declare victory.

Mr Bierhoff said one of the highlights of the trip was meeting and getting to know some of the local Papua New Guineans.

“Our native carriers; you wouldn’t find better blokes,” he said.

A group of Papua New Guineans, called ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’ by the Australian troops in 1942, played a crucial role in assisting them during the campaign, helping evacuate injured soldiers, along with supplying the Australians with food on many occasions.

Mr Bierhoff said his group of 13 trekkers had planned to do the trip in eight days, but were able to complete the 96km journey in just seven.

He said he was glad he had done extensive fitness training before heading over to conquer the Kokoda Trail.

“I encourage any Australian to do it,” Mr Bierhoff said.

Camping mostly in tents along the Trail, the group would also hire native huts for the night if the rain grew too heavy.

Mr Bierhoff said they were able to spend more time in Port Moresby and visit the Australian memorial there, due to finishing the trip early.

Having achieved a long-term goal of his, Mr Bierhoff said he now planned to travel to Gallipolli for the 100th anniversary in several years’ time.

“I don’t think it sticks home until you go there.”