Leyland's Australia

The odyssey begins as Mal, Larraine, Carmen and Robert travel from Brisbane to Rockhampton in Queensland following Highway 17. Along the way the explore the Bunya Mountains, visit an Aboriginal community where Emus are bred commercially, see gold pouring on the oldest goldfields of Queensland, investigate the mysterious properties of Mt Scoria known as 'The Musical Mountain', take a 4wd trek to visit a crash site in the Kroombit Tops range of a World War ll bomber which had been lost for 50 years, and relive the age of dinosaurs in the old mine workings at Mount Morgan. Laraine demonstrates a fast and simple casserole recipe for travelers and we see the contrast between the comforts of the two modern well appointed rigs.

Continuing their great caravanning safari around Australia, Mal, Laraine, Carmen and Robert travel west from Rockhampton to Porcupine Gorge near Hughenden in central Queensland. Along the way Carmen and Robert make their own didgeridoos then see how the experts play them. They go sapphire mining in Rubyvale, visit the little known Blackdown Tablelands, see some truly remarkable scenery and ancient Aboriginal bora grounds on Carisbrooke Station, take a four whell drive diversion along the Diamantina River, visit Opalton where the pioneering spirit survives as the driving force for today's opal miners, and descend the remarkable Gorge Australia's 'Little Grand Canyon'. Laraine shares some camp oven secrets for producing the perfect roast in the bush.

The quartet leave Porcupine Gorge in central Queensland and travel north to Karumba in the gulf of Carpentatria. The traditional owners guide the Leyland's into a 6,000 year old rock art site in the white Mountains. They travel through Charters Towers and Rubyvale, stay on a working cattle station, explore lava tunnels at Undara dig up their own Topaz in O'Briens Creek and take a ride on the Savannahlander, the 'Last Great Train Ride'. they go boating in the beautiful Cobbled Gorge and fly over the primeval wetlands of the gulf. Laraine cooks up a feast of mud crabs and prawns for an unforgettable Christmas in the bush.

Departing Karumba in the gulf of Carpentaria the Leyland's venture south to avoid roads inundated by wet season rains which block their progress west. At Mt. Isa they are flooded in for ten days before proceeding into the Northern Territory. They relax at Mataranka Hot Springs before venturing up Katherine Gorge. From here they visit a butterfly farm, a steam driven gold battery at Pine Creek, hand feed wild fish in the Darwin Harbour and feast on Asian cuisine at the Rapid Creek Markets. The top end wet season bursts with life as rejuvenating monsoonal rains transform scorched dry grasslands to carpets of tropical green, and turn dry cracked mudholes to overflowing wetlands in both Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks.

Travelling south from Darwin, the Leyland's continue their caravanning expedition to the red centre of Australia. On their way to Alice Springs the foursome investigate the rarely seen Davenport Ranges, attend the Tennant Creek Cup race meeting and explain the Aboriginal creation legend of the curious Devils Marbles rock formations. In the Alice, Carmen and Robert take a camel ride down the Todd River and and Laraine shows how to make a variety of breads in the bush including her famous beer bread, a recipe she first shared with viewers 25 years ago. In the west McDonnell Ranges they come face to face with the wildlife and explore some of the most stirring scenery of Central Australia in Albert Namitijira country. They capture the amazing antics of the Black Breasted Buzzard which has learned the remarkable trick of using stones as tools to break open emu eggs.

With the wet season over, Mal, Laraine, Carmen and Robert move north from Alice Springs to Katherine, then swing west into the Kimberley region of Western Australia. At Manyallalyk Aboriginal community they experience traditional tribal culture including kangaroo tail cooked in the fire, spear throwing and basket weaving from pandanus leaves. On their journey west the Leyland's investigate the Flora River where mineral laden spring water has constructed a remarkable series of cascading terraces. The grandeur of the escarpment country of the Victoria River compete with the sensational scenery of Keep River National Park as the most picturesque landscapes in the top end. The foursome meet a crocodile hunter turned farmer who breeds crocs for highly sought after handbag leather. In Western Australia the Leyland's are astounded by the scale of the massive Ord River Scheme at Kununurra and are overwhelmed by some of the most impressive scenes they have ever filmed on, on Lake Argyle.

After departing Kununurra, the Leyland's begin the Western Australian leg of their journey at the Bungle Bungles. They explore the Kimberley region during the dry season, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing. Here is where they base themselves before visiting Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge and Geikie Gorge. Heading further west, they see Australia's largest tides at Derby, and visit an Aboriginal community famous for its art. From Broome they head north to Cape Leveque. Here the Leyland's take a boat ride to see the many islands of the area.

After a year on the road, the Leyland's venture south of Broome and arrive on the west coast of Australia. Some of the scenery seen on this leg of the journey is by far the most remote and spectacular. As they venture south towards Perth, they explore the historic town of Cossack, watch Green Turtles lay their eggs on the beach at Exmouth, see blowholes near Carnarvon, fly over Steep Point, the most westernly point of Australia, and experience the abundant wilflowers of Kalbarri.

Arriving in Perth the Leyland's waste no time taking in the city sights, visiting Rottnest Island and Freemantle. After restocking their caravans, they head further south towards Cape Leeuwin where the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean meet. Along this leg of the journey the Leyland's explore the southwest region of Western Australia, visiting places such as the Margaret River region, Pemberton and Walpole, before reaching the Stirling Ranges National Park.

The Open vastness of the Nullarbor Plain brings a completely new adventure for the Leyland's to discover. They cross the Nullabor visiting the spectacular one hundred metre cliffs, feast on razor fish at Streaky Bay, visit Murphy's Haystacks and marvel at the beauty of the Gawler Ranges before reaching the fourth largest salt lake in Australia, Lake Gairdner.

In this programme, the Leyland's travel from Port Augusta to the Top End of the Flinders Ranges. Along the way the Leyland's take a steam train ride, go bush walking in the sensational mountains, see the oldest fossils in the world and try some Aboriginal tucker including Kangaroo cooked under the ground.

The Leyland's investigate historic Burra in S.A. Before travelling onto the Riverland region of the Murray River. From Waikerie they take a houseboat voyage along the Murray where they experience 40 degree plus temperatures. They meet a wildlife artist, try fresh produce from the rich fruit-growing region and attend a wild rodeo at Berri.

In this episode the Leyland's great caravanning adventure takes us along the coast from Kingston in S.A. To the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. They see the amazing Mallee Fowl, Mt Gambia's blue lake, huge King Crabs from the Southern Ocean, visit a seal colony, visit Warrnambool during a festival and travel along the shipwreck coast towards Melbourne.

Leaving the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, the Leyland's journey through the goldfields region stopping off along the way to see some huge genuine gold nuggets. They witness 100 Dingoes devour 140 kilograms of meat in about 15 seconds, visit a couple who have successfully managed a self-sufficient farm for more than 25 years and take a nostalgic trip along the Murray River by paddle steamer.

From their camp in the Barmah Forest on the Murray, the Leyland's cross the river into NSW and meet up with a farmer still using draught horses to plough paddocks. They explore the little-known Weddin Mountains, once used by bushranger Ben Hall to elude police. They see the oldest slab building in the country at Dubbo where they also encounter some exotic wild animals. In the final sensational sequence the Leyland's walk through the Grand High tops of the Warrumbungle Ranges, possibly the most scenic of all National Parks in the state.

Leaving the scenic grandeur of the Warrumbungles, the Leyland's travel through the Piliga Forests where they meet an extraordinary potter and visit ancient sandstone caves. They journey north to Narrabri and go to the top of Mount Kaputar to experience a frozen world in the lofty heights above the snow line. They plunge into steaming hot baths fed by an artesian springs at Moree, witness dawn on a strange collection of Celtic standing stones in Glenn Innes and climb to the top of the largest piece of exposed granite in Australia, Bald Rock. From the summit they can see Queensland, where they set of to travel anti clockwise around the country three years ago.

The Leyland's pass through Brisbane and travel north on the second lap of their around Australia odyssey. They meet a bloke who makes baskets from jungle vines thus saving forests from the introduced plant pests and earning a living for himself. See the whales of Hervey Bay, go bush with a couple of snail hunters seeking new unrecorded species. Trace the history of Bundaberg and its sugar industry, visit the town 1770 and arrive in Rockhampton.