Tackling the historic Kokoda trail can mean many things to different people: honouring those who served in ruthless terrain, exploring a new country, challenging yourself.
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Nathan Whittington also felt he had something to prove.
The 23-year-old, who lost his right foot in a freak water-skiing accident five years ago, has just returned from walking the gruelling track on a prosthetic leg.
Private Whittington was just 18 years old when on November 27, 2010, his foot was ripped off in Townsville's Ross River. He'd joined the army less than a year earlier.
The teenager, originally from Goulburn, was acting as spotter on the jet ski, liaising between the driver and the person skiing behind the boat, when a series of unfortunate events unfolded.
Private Whittington turned around to let the driver know a fellow skier had fallen into the water as a passing boat caused a wake that threw the teenager into the river.
"I hit the water and sort of rolled and the tow rope pretty much wrapped just below my right ankle. I was being pulled under water," he said.
"While this is happening the rope pretty much burnt through everything just below my right ankle bone...I was pretty lucky that my foot was pulled off because I was drowning at the time."
Private Whittington underwent an elective amputation, one hand's width below his knee, so he could access a wider range of prosthetics and the best chance of remaining active.
"Being 18, I thought I had everything planned out. Having that accident sort of flipped everything on its head," he said.
"I pretty much had to sit down and have a good, hard think about what I wanted to do."
Private Whittington, who now hopes to become a personal training instructor, hasn't let his physical disability claim his active lifestyle.
Fast-forward to 2015 and Kokoda beckoned.
"My great grandfather served in [Papua New Guinea] and has seen a bit of action so obviously, there's that connection there," he said.
"I just wanted to go back and see the terrain they had to fight in, trying to imagine it all. I wanted to show [that] even though someone might have some form of disability... not to put restrictions on anyone."
Private Whittington supported Mates4Mates as part of the trek, an organisation that helps current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members who have suffered physical or psychological wounds, injuries or illnesses as a result of their service.
The group battled scorching heat and slippery, muddy paths as they walked eight to 11 hours each day.
"There was one day there when it was 37 degrees and 94 per cent humidity so, you're just getting belted by the sun," he said.
"You go into the jungle... and suddenly it's all muddy and slippery and there's a bit of moss on the rocks.
"Foot placement for me then becomes a big thing. I've got to really watch what I step on so I don't fall over and look like a clown. I did slip over and eat dirt but it's all good fun and you take it in your stride."
If Private Whittington's injury taught him one thing it was resilience. Kokoda reinforced this, he said.
"When I thought I was having a bad day I just thought about what those poor buggers went through and I was just like, just keep going, this is nothing, I only have to think about walking to the next campsite," he said.
"It doesn't matter what your injuries are, as long as you have a good mental attitude and you're determined enough you can pretty much do anything.
"I definitely proved that to myself and everyone else around me."
