Barry Dimond, 52, from Mollinghip and Richard Tippett, 56, from Scrub Hill plan to walk the Kokoda Track - a 96-kilometre trail linking the southern and northern coasts of Papua New Guinea - a walk they planned after discussing

it in the pub one night.

The Kokoda Track was the site of much fighting between Australian and Japanese armies during the Pacific conflict in World War II.

The farmers, who have known each other for more than 40 years, have always had an interest in the track.

"What started as a physical challenge and adventure has turned into an important story for us," Mr Dimond said.

The men started training about three months ago and feel fitter than they did 20 years ago. They have climbed the east side of Mt Buninyong, Scrub Hill and Mt Cole and have walked through the Wombat State Forest.

"I'm quite enjoying it. At 50 things can still be done," Mr Dimond said.

Mr Tippett has realised that as people get older, they accept challenges that keep them fit and active.

He said being a farmer would help him to adjust to the harshness of the trail.

"The biggest challenge will be the heat and the humidity," he said.

"I want to survive the physical challenge and get a feel of what the Australian soldiers went through. They had no food, no health supplies, they carried 39kg on their backs, it rained almost every day and it was hot and humid.

They lost half their body weight in six weeks."

Mr Tippett said the trail, which passes through rugged mountainous rainforest, jungles of fern, orchids, birds and mountain streams, was not very wide and reached peaks of up to 2190 metres.

"People can dehydrate and not recover but I am determined to finish," he said.

Mr Dimond and Mr Tippett, who are going with 20 other people with Australian company Kokoda Trekking, said they were looking forward to visiting the historical sites along the trail including Isurava, Myola, Brigade "Butchers"

Hill and the Kokoda Air Field.

"It goes along sites where the Japanese held up Australia," Mr Dimond said.

The men will walk up to 10 hours a day, sleep in open-air accommodation and eat rationed food. They will start walking the trail on August 2 and finish in eight days.