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Get Ready Gold Coast - Australia's Biggest Team Endurance Event Is Back: Kokoda Challenge 2025

Kokoda Youth Foundation

Following in the footsteps of heroes, Kokoda Challengers are set to charge through the stunning Gold Coast hinterland in Australia’s largest team endurance event on July 19-20. The Gold Coast Kokoda Challenge marks the third leg of the epic 2025 Kokoda Challenge Series and it’s shaping up to be the most electrifying yet, with breathtaking scenery, tough climbs and an atmosphere unlike anything else.

This year marks a major milestone as the Kokoda Challenge celebrates its monumental 20th Anniversary, marking two decades of grit and glory that started right here on the Gold Coast in 2005.

Teams of 2 to 5 will gear up to conquer their choice of the gruelling 30km, 48km, or the premier 96km hike (exclusive to Gold Coast and Sydney). Each distance promises an unforgettable journey of mateship, memories and lasting impact, with the ultimate reward of transforming young lives for the better.

More than just a physical feat, every step along the way honours the soldiers who served on the Kokoda Track in 1942 and helps raise vital funds for the Kokoda Youth Foundation’s transformative youth programs, equipping young Aussies with the tools and support to reach their full potential.

Kokoda Youth Foundation CEO, Angie Debnam explains: “The Kokoda Challenge events are much more than just physical endurance; they are vital lifelines for our Foundations programs. Each year, the funds raised through these events enable us to support hundreds of young people, by providing them with free, life-changing programs”.

Participants walk away having proven they can push beyond their limits, with the pride of knowing they’re helping transform the lives of disengaged and disadvantaged young Australians.

For teams ready to rise to the ultimate test, the 96km course mirrors the legendary Kokoda Track and must be conquered in 39 hours, honouring the legacy of the 39th Battalion. Since 2005, thousands of teams have taken on this course, battling the notorious ‘big 4 mountains’ over 4,000 metres of elevation, icy creek crossings and brutal cold of night. This standout event is not for the faint-hearted, with 18% of teams in 2024 unable to finish the course, proving just how tough, but incredibly rewarding the challenge is.

Amanda, a past challenger says it best: “I had an incredible journey with my team. There was so much teamwork and mateship on the track that inspired me and pushed me across the finish line.”

Plus, for those who dare to push beyond the challenge, there’s no better time to fundraise. The team that raises the most across all Kokoda Challenge 2025 events will win the opportunity of a lifetime – a fully funded trek on the iconic Kokoda Track in PNG, courtesy of Kokoda Spirit. For more information, head to https://shorturl.at/ARVop 

Still riding the adrenaline from Kokoda Youth Foundation’s unforgettable Brisbane event in June, the upcoming Gold Coast event now takes the baton as leg three of the legendary 2025 Kokoda Challenge Series, before making its debut in Sydney (20-21 September) for the very first time.

We invite your media outlet to help shine a spotlight on an incredible cause and help amplify Kokoda Youth Foundation’s mission to empower young Aussies.

For more information, to speak with a participant or to attend and capture footage of the event, please contact our Media Representative via the details below. 

 

For media enquiries or additional information, please contact:

 Andy Haynes, Kokoda Challenge Event Manager

0423 800 618 or [email protected]

 

2025 KOKODA CHALLENGE EVENT DETAILS 

 

Kokoda Challenge Gold Coast

Event dates: 19 - 20 July 2025

Distances: 30km, 48km, and 96km

Registration: Team registration fees start from $190

Start time: From 7:00am

Location: Nerang, Gold Coast Hinterland

 

Kokoda Challenge Sydney

Event dates: 20 - 21 September 2025

Distances: 18km, 48km, and 96km

Registration: Team registration fees start from $170

Start time: From 7:00am

Location: Heathcote, Heathcote & Royal National Park

Contact details:

Andy Haynes, Kokoda Challenge Event Manager

0423 800 618 or [email protected]