Captain Reece Young and Corporal Guy Young in training for their trek along the Kokoda trail. Photo by CPL Cindy Ipsen

The Youngs don't take your typical family holiday.

Air Force aviation technician Corporal Guy Young, his brother, Captain Reece Young, and their father, Cliff, are to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign during World War 2.

The Young family, along with Lieutenant Mike Jones and Dean Wood, will walk the 100km Kokoda Track across the Owen Stanley Ranges.

Cpl Young, of RAAF Base Williamtown, said the anniversary would be a great opportunity to make the journey and bring public attention to the campaign.

"We hope to raise awareness among the Australian public about what Australians have done to defend our country on Australian soil," CPL Young said.

The party will walk for 10 days, allowing time to stop at each of the significant battle sites to commemorate the fallen and meet some of the locals.

CAPT Young, formerly a Recruiting Officer, got the idea a year ago when involved in a recruiting activity.

Although the Young family have no close connection to the campaign, the boys still feel inspired to do the trek.

"We have no relatives that were involved but we still want to go and experience the harsh terrain that Australians faced at that time," CAPT Young said.

The trek coordinator, he said with most of the family participating, his mother, Anne - who is suffering an injured leg - was disappointed to be left behind.

"We come from a tight knit family. Mum is fully supportive although a bit sad she can't go," he said.

Being an independent expedition, CPL Young said sponsorship had been crucial.

The expedition will leave Cairns for Port Moresby on August 25 and return to Sydney on September 6.

By Shane Fairlie