Everything You Need to Know About ‘Alone Australia’ Season 3

SBS’ Alone Australia is returning to screens with its long-awaited third season on 26 March. The show, which will debut with a double episode on SBS On Demand, pits contestants against one another and the natural world in a long-distance race for survival. The goal is clear: be the last person standing.

In Australia, we’ve so far had two seasons: the first saw contestants dropped off on a river in Southwest Tasmania, while the second saw survivalists left in New Zealand’s South Island. The third season will return to Tasmania and will be left in the “cold and rugged landscape of The West Coast Ranges,” according to SBS.

Looking forward to the new season? Well, here’s everything you need to know.

What is ‘Alone’?

Alone is a reality survival TV show, created by the History Channel, that follows 10 contestants as they attempt to survive in the wilderness for as long as they can using the world around them and 10 pieces of pre-approved survival gear. While the show originated out of the US, several international versions have been created – including Alone Australia.

Contestants are given a number of cameras to document their time in the wilderness, as well as encouraged to use whatever means they can to survive as long as possible. They’re also given a satellite phone with which to communicate with the show runners in case of emergency, ill health, or if they decide they wish to tap out of the experience.

In the early days, they’ll need to find a place to settle, set up a base-camp, and begin settling into the rhythm of a life in the wild. From there, contestants tend to turn their attention to creating suitable shelter to help brave the elements, and eventually find a relatively stable source of food.

In the Australian series this has often meant fishing and foraging for edible flora, since Tasmania has fairly strict laws around how you can hunt, and what you can hunt – meaning that while there very well may be animals nearby, contestants probably can’t hunt them. Trapping animals is also (mostly) fair game.

The goal as mentioned above is to be the last person standing, and whoever does will will take home a cash prize of AU$250,000.

What Can the Alone Cast Take With Them?

Part of the deal with Alone is that contestants are able to take 10 items with them, alongside strict clothing allowance and a basic first aid pack. These items are mean to help the survivalists make some serious gains in the early days of the competition, but are often not a substitute for proper survival skills and execution – you can have as much fishing line in the world, but if you’re in the wrong place it’s not going to matter.

Here is the full list of items the cast can choose from, according to SBS:

• Adze
• Axe with Mask
• Bank line
• Bar of Soap
• Biodegradable Tube of Toothpaste
• Bivi Bag
• Block of salt
• Carabiner
• Climbing Rope
• Comb
• Cooking Pot
• Face Washer
• Ferro Rod Set
• Fishing Line & Hooks
• Food ration
• Foraging Bag
• Frying Pan
• Hammock
• Hatchet / Small Axe
• Hunting Knife
• LED Flashlight
• Machete
• Multi Tool
• Paracord
• Pocket Knife
• Roll Dental Floss
• Roll of wire
• Roll Tape
• Saw
• Scotch-Eyed Auger
• Sharpening Stone
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Bag Liner
• Small Bowl
• Small Sewing Kit
• Small Shovel
• Small Towel
• Spoon
• Tarp
• Water Bottle

Alone Australia Season 3 Cast

Now that you know what each cast member can take with them into the wilds, let’s take a look at who’s going to be gracing our screens.

1. Ben (38), English Teacher: While you probably wouldn’t expect an English Teacher to be a skilled survivalist, well, you’d be wrong. Ben is well-versed in exploring and surviving the bushlands in South Australia, and is a keen trapper.
2. Ceilidh (34), Disability Services Officer: A ‘fearless adventurer’ who escapes to the wilderness as often as possible, Ceilidh’s passion is for fishing and foraging. Born Deaf, Ceilidh was taught by her father how to fish, whittle tools, and craft spears – skills she’s sure will be helpful in the wild.
3. Corinne (38), Food Safety Consultant: Raised in Scotland and now living in Tasmania, Corinne bills herself as a ‘true do-it-yourselfer’. She runs a bush-food business, and has been successful in trapping and releasing animals before.
4. Eva (31), Rewilding Facilitator: Eva’s connection with the outdoors came later in life, but it now consumes her. For the past six years she’s lived mostly outdoors, and has undertaken an entirely self-sufficient lifestyle where she lives off the land as much as possible.
5. Karla (35), Expedition Leader: Typically living out of a 4WD, or leading expeditions around the world, Karla is a seasoned big-game hunter. Well trained in tracking and catching animals, she’s comfortable in relying on the natural world to fuel her nomadic lifestyle.
6. Matt (31), Indigenous Youth Worker: A former rugby league player, Matt moved to Broome to live rurally with his family. A proud Yanyuwa, Waanyi/Garawa man, Matt is skilled in traditional hunting practices and resourceful in bush craft.
7. Muzza (63), Bushman: The oldest contestant to feature on Alone Australia, Muzza wants to prove that age is just a number. Though retired, Muzza provides the majority of his family’s protein though hunting and fishing.
8. Shay (30), Professional Trapper: A trapper since he was 16, Shay has been hunting for meat for much of his life. He now runs a YouTube channel dedicated to sharing the skills he’s learned.
9. Tom (33), Ecologist: An expert in trapping, foraging, and self-sufficiency, Tom is also an avid fisher. Born without his right hand due to a birth condition, he’s learned how to take difficult challenges head on.
10. Yonke (52), Farmer & Permaculturalist: Having spent much of her life exploring the world and understanding how different forest communities thrive though anthropology, ethnobotany and forestry, Yonke wants to bring her years of knowledge and experience to bear on the competition.

Talking to Man of Many, contestant Matt said while the most challenging part of the experience was being apart from his wife and kids, he kept the mindset of ‘win the morning, win the day, and relax’ throughout his time on the show.

“The filming was a lot of fun and something that I really enjoyed,” Matt said.

“As for preparing for the show, I practiced a few traditional methods of hunting and fishing as well as lighting a fire with a ferro rod. I also practiced ketosis dieting on and off to try and get my body prepared for sugar and carb withdrawals. The experience taught me a lot about myself. I feel it taught me to be more present.”

Where Can You Watch ‘Alone Australia’?

Alone Australia‘s third season will launch on SBS and SBS On Demand on Wednesday, 26 March.