Kokoda Track then boat from Oro Bay to Lae

Hi, in mid-August I am planning to arrive in Port Moresby, hike the Kokoda Track with a local guide, then continue out to Oro Bay and hopefully catch a boat of some kind up to Lae. I have two questions:
1) Will it be easy to find a local guide in Port Moresby or Owen's Corner? If I wish to keep my budget low (no porter) then how much would I be looking at per day for the guide?
2) After arriving in Oro Bay, will it be possible to catch a boat or any kind north to Lae or Salamaua? What is the current situation with boats along this stretch of coast? If possible then I would like to continue on by boat--not revert back to Moresby.
Thanks in advance for whatever advice can be offered here. Ochieano

Ochieano

Regarding Kokoda, contact Phillip Hayes at Crowne Plaza, Port Moresby. He is well conncected and may well be able to help you find a guide. Regarding the boats in Oro Bay, contact Maine Winney (mainewinney@gmail.com). I investigated this thoroughly, and time is the big thing - if you are not short of time, then you can do a series of leisurely hops up to Lae. If you are short of time, you will have to charter a banana boat for the whole trip, and that will blow the budget.

The key to visiting PNG is to find some trusted locals (there are plenty round, you just have to find them).

TheFrenchman

Hi i did it last year in June.
Picked up a guide & a porter from Kokoda Trekking Authority in Boroko
You must get permit must have travel insurance.
At Buna i went up by 1 of the palm oil boats to Lae was not cheap K 200.
I also went to Orro Bay & Gona just missed the ferry.
I am going again leaving for Kokoda on 23/06/13 if you have questions pm me.
You would have been welcomed to come with me if you had the time
Regards pjwar