NEWCASTLE paralympian Kurt Fearnley conquered the treacherous 96-kilometre Kokoda Trail yesterday.
But he labelled his superhuman effort "minute" compared with the efforts of the diggers who braved it almost 70-years-ago.
"It's amazing, it's a very special moment for me but if you put it in perspective what I've accomplished in the last 11 days is minute compared to the actions that took place here 60-odd-years-ago," he told The Herald from Papua New Guinea only hours after finishing the trek.
"When this is all over I'm able to go home, return to my family, to my life, but some of those bloke didn't have that chance.
"They overcame amazing odds and suffered through hardship . . . we were not fighting the Imperial Army every step of the way, here."
Fearnley, 28, was born missing the lower part his spine and is unable to use his legs.
Earlier this year he committed to tackle the Kokoda Trail to raise awareness for men's health groups beyondblue and Movember. He finished the 10-day journey shortly after 8am PNG time yesterday.
The four-time New York wheelchair marathon winner had to drag himself on his hands along the infamous track.
His finish was made even sweeter by the surprise visit of his parents Jacqueline and Glenn, who travelled from their home in Carcoar to see their youngest son finish.
While Fearnley had assistance from 15 close friends and family members during the trek he said it was easily the hardest thing he had done.
"I think we're all exhausted, we're all worn out," he said.
"It has to be the toughest thing I've done."
Four Australians have died this year while walking the track, which was the scene of some of Australia's bloodiest action during World War II.
The 96-kilometre thoroughfare that cuts through the Owen Stanley Range crosses some of the world's most rugged and treacherous terrain and is considered an exceptionally difficult trek.
But Fearnley said more people needed to keep their experiences "in perspective" with the heroic actions of the soldiers who battled along the Kokoda Trail between July and November 1942.
He said he had been inspired by the story of Corporal John Metson who was badly wounded in the legs in 1942.
The non-commissioned officer refused to be carried on a stretcher and started crawling along the track until he was gunned down in a Japanese ambush almost three weeks later.
"[After finishing the track] we visited a war cemetery in Port Moresby, those guys were the real heroes," he said.
While training for the journey in July, Fearnley told The Herald he had not only spent time preparing himself physically but researching the significance of the area.
"You've got to keep it in perspective, it's going to be tough, it's going to be hard, but it's do-able," he said in July.
Veteran trekker and Kokoda Spirit team leader Wayne Weatherall said he was blown away by the paralympian's drive and commitment.
"This is a huge win for everyone involved but most of all for Kurt, he's done an amazing thing," he said.
Fearnley flies home to Australia on Friday and will be back in Newcastle on the same day, where he says he'll lie on Bar Beach and soak up the sun.
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