Beauty queens tackle Kokoda

Two Australian beauty queens have traded their high heels for hiking boots to tackle the Kokoda Track. Laura Dundovic (pictured right), a winner of Miss Universe Australia, and Erin Holland, a winner of Miss World Australia, took on the challenging eight-day trek as part of a Do Kokoda campaign developed by the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA).

The campaign aims to encourage more women to trek Kokoda. Their adventure was filmed to create three short documentaries.

Dundovic says she was deeply affected by the experience, which not only physically challenged her but also allowed her to trace the history of her grandfather, Sir Thomas Blamey, a World War 2 leader.

“There were times when it seemed too hard, but being able to walk in the footsteps of Australian soldiers, and in particular my very own grandfather, was so incredible. I just had no idea what they went through on Kokoda – and I don’t think you can grasp it until you’re on the track.”

Erin Holland says: “Kokoda got us away from our phones and pushed our physical limits, which was incredibly rewarding.”

See dokokoda.com.