LS Orchard is an electronics technician in navy's signals at HMAS Albatross and completed the 96 kilometre trek as part of the RSL and Services Clubs Association Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge (KYLC).

LS Orchard was sponsored on his adventure by the Nowra RSL Sub-Branch and returned to recount his experiences for members last week.

Read more:

"It was a phenomenal experience," said the 25-year-old.

"It was an unforgettable experience but tough.

"Definitely one of the toughest things I've done but a great experience and something I would strongly recommend."

LS Orchard was the fourth scholarship recipient from the local sub-branch which is open to anyone between the ages of 17 and 25 as at the date of the trek.

"We hiked the trail from the southern end to the northern end, finishing in Kokoda after 10 days," he said.

He believes his age and already being a serving personnel was an advantage.

"I suppose it was less overwhelming for me," he said.

"Being a bit older with more life experience, I could take in a lot of the experience without other distractions, like it being the first time out of the country or the first time doing something like this.

"A lot of the other RSL kids were almost shell shocked by everything.

"I'm not saying they didn't appreciate it, they took in a lot, I think a mature threshold was good for my experience. I learnt so much as well and took so much away from the experience."

He said he learnt more about the history and conflict from actually being there.

"It was so different from reading about it in a book," he said.

"Reading the book while actually being where the event took place, you can appreciate it more.

"When you are reading and it says they walked this far, over this area, you never really appreciate it - but when you are really there, and take it in, see it, it's wow, it was huge what they did.

"It wasn't a walk, it was a climb. You finish one hill and then you have to go down and do it all over again. It never seemed to stop.

"It was a constant battle - literally up and down.

"There wasn't a flat stretch until we got to the other end of the airfield.

"One of the toughest things I've ever done."

While LS Orchard said it wasn't a bucket list item, he felt it was something he "had to do".

"I went to pay my respects and learn - learning was the biggest thing," he said.

"I've taken so much out of it. Perhaps not as much as the younger kids because I'm more set in my ways now and don't really need to do much character finding in a sense.

"The knowledge and the sheer size of it all. I never thought how monumental that entire campaign was. And now I can definitely appreciate it more."

He encourages others to consider taking part in the scholarship program, explaining it wasn't just the Youth Leadership Challenge, but there was also an industry challenge section as well for older participants in the workforce.

"There are plenty of opportunities for people to get stuck in," he said.

Although advising good fitness helps, he also said being mentally strong and up for a challenge was an advantage.

"You can be as fit as you want when you get there but if you haven't got the mind and ticker for it, it's not pleasant," he said.

"We were lucky we hit pretty good conditions. We only had one night of rain. The rest of the time it was just stinking hot.

"It got colder up higher in some of the mountains near the end of the trek but mostly it was just hot and sweaty and repetitive.

"Mind you we were not carrying a full pack or having someone fire upon us - we had the optimum conditions to do it .

"It is something I will never forget. We had a fantastic guide who made it such a more memorable experience. His knowledge was second to none - he gave us a brilliant insight into every significant site.

"For me there wasn't just one spot that stood out - it was the whole experience."

And if you'd like to take part in the Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge Nowra RSL Sub-Branch scholarships for this year are now open.

Applications need to be in by April 15, 2019.

Applications can be emailed to prospective trekkers by contacting Debby Rayner on 0413787858 or nowrarsl@tpg.com.au.

Participants need to be between the ages of 17 and 25 as at the date of the trek.