The Defence Force says a supposed World War II airman's body found dangling from a tree on the Kokoda Track is in fact just a branch.

A group of Australian trekkers said they thought they had found a moss-covered body hanging in a harness from the jungle canopy last month.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) workers in Port Moresby inspected the isolated site, which is below a flight path commonly used during the war.

But the ADF says it appears that a moss-covered branch had broken off a tree and could have been confused with the body of an airman.

"While the location, near Kagi, is below a flight path that was commonly used by Allied aircraft during WWII sorties, the find has been confirmed by ADF staff as a moss covered branch," Defence said in a statement.

"It appears the branch has broken off the main tree and fallen across some vines, which from the ground, could have been confused with the body of an airman."

The object was found about halfway along the Kokoda Track near Myola village, a four-day walk from the Port Moresby end of the path.

Recently the Australian and PNG Governments agreed to protect the Kokoda Track with a view to making it world heritage-listed.