Alone Australia
GenreReality
Survival
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Num seasons3
Num episodes36
Executive producerRiima Daher
Runtime60 minutes (including ads)
CompanyITV Studios Australia
NetworkSBS
First aired29 March 2023
Last airedpresent

Alone Australia is an Australian survival reality television competition series on SBS which premiered on 29 March 2023.[1] It follows the self-documented daily struggles of 10 individuals as they survive alone in the wilderness for as long as possible using a limited amount of survival equipment. The participants are isolated from each other and all other humans, with the participants having to self-document and film their experiences themselves. They may "tap out" at any time or be removed due to failing a medical check-in. The contestant who remains the longest wins a grand prize of $250,000.

In early 2022, an Australian version was announced by SBS following the success of the American version on the network and its streaming counterpart SBS On Demand. The series is produced by ITV Studios Australia, with the first season taking place around a remote lake in Tasmania's West Coast[2] during winter 2022. The American version of the show also airs on Pay-TV channel A&E via Foxtel.[3] An Alone pop-up channel began broadcasting on Foxtel on 24 February 2023 and ceased broadcasting on 20 March 2023.[4]

The first season was won by Gina Chick after surviving 67 days alone, making her only the second female and oldest contestant in the history of the Alone worldwide to win.[5] The second season was won by Krzysztof Wojtkowski, surviving 64 days alone without eating meat.[6] In June 2023, the series was nominated for the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program,[7] but it lost to The Australian Wars.[8]

Casting for Season 4 began in February 2025.[9] It was later announced that Season 4 will take place in the Arctic Circle.[10]

Format

Contestants are dropped off in a remote wilderness area, far enough apart to ensure that they will not come in contact with one another.[1] The contest typically begins in mid-to-late autumn; this adds time pressure to the survival experience as the approaching winter causes temperatures to drop and food to become scarce. Although terrains may differ in each contestant's location, the drop-off zones are assessed in advance to ensure a similar distribution of local resources is available to each contestant.

Contestants each select 10 items of survival gear from a pre-approved list of 40, and are issued a kit of standard equipment, clothing and first aid/emergency supplies.[11] They are also given a set of cameras to document their daily experiences. Attempting to live off the land for as long as possible, the contestants must find food, build shelter in order to survive while enduring deep isolation, physical deprivation and psychological stress of being alone.

Contestants who wish to withdraw from the competition for any reason (referred to as "tapping out") may signal a rescue crew using a provided satellite telephone. In addition, medical professionals conduct periodic health checks on the contestants and may, at their discretion, disqualify and evacuate anyone they feel is unable to continue participating safely. The last remaining contestant wins a $250,000 cash prize.[12]

Episodes and results

Season 1 (2023)

Episodes

Notes

Results

Name[13]AgeHometownOccupationReason(s) for leavingDayOutcome
Gina Chick52NSWRewilding Facilitator-67 daysWinner
Mike Atkinson45NSWSolo AdventuristMedically evacuated - low blood pressure and malnutrition64 daysRunner-up
Michael Wallace43NSWVet and Bush RegeneratorMissed family32 days3rd place
Kate Grarock41ACTWildlife BiologistMissed family22 days4th place
Chris Bakon39TASArmy VeteranWanted to leave on a high after experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder12 days5th place
Duane Byrnes35NSWWildlife and Environmental OfficerStruggled with isolation10 days6th place
Peter Athanassiou31NSWHunting GuideStruggled to find food; fell and injured knee3 days7th place
Jimmy Lassaline22SAFarmhand and Engineering StudentMedically evacuated - developed COVID-19, which caused his heart to beat at twice the usual rate2 days8th place
Beck Henog42VICSchool TeacherMissed family; could not start a fire due to wet materials2 days9th place
Rob Kelly41VICPlanning and Environmental ManagerMissed family2 days10th place

Season 2 (2024)

Results

Notable among the Season 2 contestants was Leanne, the wife of Season 1 contestant Rob Kelly.

Name[14]AgeHometownOccupationReason(s) for leavingDayOutcome
Krzysztof Wojtkowski39Ferny Creek, VICAquaculturalist-64 daysWinner
Suzan Muir54Cavendish, VICWilderness Adventure GuideHeart issues (Shared on Reunion)63 daysRunner-up
Andreas Lundin42Sydney, NSWPersonal Trainer and Subsistence HunterLost 30% body weight, not willing to risk health and sanity57 days3rd place
Tamika Simpson51Pomona, QLDOff-Gridder and Former Police OfficerDid not want to kill animals for food53 days4th place
Rick J. Petersen58Sunshine Coast, QLDSurvival Educator and Former SAS SoldierMissed family38 days5th place
Jack55NSWTradesman and Wild Game HunterLack of food16 days6th place
Chace Leitch27Brisbane, QLDDefence Force Combat EngineerMissed family, wife pregnant10 days7th place
Jason Allwood36Tamworth, NSWYouth Worker and JungaiMental health concerns, lack of food8 days8th place
Leanne Mitchell41Mildura, VICWorld Heritage Aboriginal Programs OfficerMissed family4 days9th place
Mike Hayes60Barrengarry, NSWResilience CoachMedically evacuated - chest pain2 days10th place

Season 3 (2025)

Results

Name[15]AgeHometownOccupationReason(s) for leavingDayOutcome
Shay Williamson30Whakatāne, NZProfessional Trapper-76 daysWinner
Murray "Muzza" James63Bendigo, VICBushmanMedically evacuated - experienced dizziness and pain73 daysRunner-up
Corinne Ooms38Hobart, TASFood Safety ConsultantFelt journey was complete, concern about weight loss70 days3rd place
Tom Covell33Wisemans Ferry, NSWEcologistLack of food47 days4th place
Ben Grieger38Loxton, SAEnglish TeacherMedically evacuated - low blood pressure; significant weight loss40 days5th place
Karla Pound35Airlie Beach, QLDExpedition LeaderMissed family and friends; lack of food35 days6th place
Yonke van Geloven52Clunes, VICFarmer & PermaculturalistLack of food and frustration with needing to film31 days7th place
Ceilidh Marigold34Bundaberg, QLDDisability Services OfficerMedically evacuated - suspected UTI19 days8th place
Eva Angophora31Wollombi, NSWRewilding FacilitatorLack of food17 days9th place
Matt Allwood31Broome, WAIndigenous Youth WorkerMissed family16 days10th place

Reception

Awards and nominations

|- ! scope="row" | 2023 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program | | [7][16] |- ! scope="row" | 2024 | Logie Awards | Best Competition Reality Program | | [17] |- ! scope="row" | 2025 | Logie Awards | Best Competition Reality Program | | [18] |- ! scope="row" | 2026 | AACTA Awards | Best Factual Entertainment Program | | [19]

Critical reception

The series received positive reviews in its first season. David Knox of TV Tonight rated the series 4½ out of 5 stating, "Above all, there’s nothing else like this on television and that -alone- makes it worth checking out".[20] Wenlei Ma of News.com.au gave a positive review stating, "That insight into human nature at its limit is the gem in this series."[21]

Viewership

Although overnight ratings for the first two episodes, played as double episode, averaged 212,000 viewers, total numbers reached 761,000, an increase of 138%, making it one of SBS's most watched series for 2023.[22] The third episode averaged 195,000 viewers overnight, and reached 791,000 in total numbers.[23] The fourth episode averaged 205,000 viewers overnight, and reached 826,000 in total numbers.[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "'Alone Australia': SBS reveals release date of global hit series". SBS. Special Broadcasting Service. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  2. ^ Cain, Sian (2023-03-28). "'It was horrible. It was glorious': Alone – the most gruelling show on TV – comes to Australia". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  3. ^ "Alone". Foxtel
  4. ^ Perry, Kevin (2023-01-26). "FOX FUNNY, NAT GEO and NAT GEO WILD channels to be removed from FOXTEL and FETCH platforms". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  5. ^ Knox, David (25 May 2023). "Gina wins Alone Australia". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  6. ^ Gold, Sean (2023-10-05). "Alone Gear Lists | Winner Picks and Stats". TruePrepper. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  7. ^ Knox, David (19 June 2023). "2023 Logie Awards: Noms". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  8. ^ Knox, David (30 July 2023). "2023 Logie Awards: Winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  9. ^ Fairall, Amy (24 February 2025). "Alone Australia Season 4 is Casting Now!". We Are Explorers. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Revealed: Alone Australia's toughest location yet as show set for return". SBS News. 2025-09-03. Retrieved 2025-09-03.
  11. ^ Xavier, Elise (July 10, 2015). "History's "Alone" Survival Gear Lists - Season 1 (Known Rules Included)". More Than Just Surviving. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  12. ^ "History Channel Looks for "Alone" Contestants Season 2 - LiveOutdoors". LiveOutdoors. September 22, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  13. ^ Knox, David (14 February 2023). "Alone Australia: meet the cast". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Alone Australia Season 2 Returns 27 March | Meet the Cast". SBS. 15 February 2024. Archived 21 April 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Meet the trailblazing cast of 'Alone Australia' Season 3". SBS. 12 February 2025. Archived 22 March 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  16. ^ "Sonia Kruger wins the Gold Logie, Tony Armstrong and Amy Shark also win big". ABC News. 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  17. ^ "Winners list: Boy Swallows Universe swallows Logies". ABC News. 2024-08-18. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  18. ^ "Lisa Millar secures nod as women dominate 2025 Gold Logie nominations". ABC News. 2025-06-15. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
  19. ^ "AACTA ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS FOR THE 2026 AACTA AWARDS PRESENTED BY FOXTEL GROUP". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  20. ^ Knox, David (26 March 2023). "Alone Australia review". TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  21. ^ Ma, Wenlei (31 March 2023). "Alone Australia captures humans at their absolute limit". News.com.au. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  22. ^ Knox, David (6 April 2023). "Alone Australia becomes biggest show of the year for SBS". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  23. ^ Knox, David (6 April 2023). "Wednesday 5 April 2023". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  24. ^ Knox, David (13 April 2023). "Wednesday 12 April 2023". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 April 2023.