Temperatures up to 30 degrees and suffocating humidity are expected for the walk.
On Tuesday night, the prime ministers will camp together at the Deniki battle camp before making the arduous climb to the Isurava war memorial, where they will attend a dawn service on Thursday morning.
The Kokoda Campaign, which lasted from July to November 1942, played a crucial role in preventing Japanese forces from isolating Australia from its allies.
An estimated 625 Australians were killed and over 1600 injured along the track, which was part of Australian territory at the time.
Mr Albanese said Australians would never forget the Papua New Guineans who fought alongside Australian troops in their “darkest hour” in 1942 as they defeated the invading Japanese forces.
“The Prime Minister, my dear friend James Marape and I will walk side by side, step by step, together,” Albanese said to applause.
Marape and Albanese, with the Governor of Oro Province, Gary Juffa, begin walking the Kokoda Track.Credit: Matthew Knott
“This symbolizes the fact that the future of Australia and Papua New Guinea is together.”
Noting that “Oro” translated to “welcome” in English, Albanese thanked the locals for their “extraordinarily warm” welcome to Kokoda.
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“The Australian national anthem has never sounded better,” he told the PNG children who sang along Australia's Advance Fair for the leaders
Marape, in turn, praised Albanese for becoming the first sitting prime minister to walk the runway.
“We don't take your visit for granted,” he said.
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