Stunning new series Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro is set to take viewers across our Great Southern Land by foot in an entertaining waltz through history, geography, science, travel, and culture.
The series, which premieres Thursday 10 August on SBS and SBS On Demand, sees Logie-nominated actor, presenter, and comedian Julia Zemiro (Fisk, RocKwiz) invite audiences on an intimate journey exploring 10 of Australia’s most stunning and historically significant walks.
From the sun-kissed beaches of Byron Bay, Kiama, Bondi, and Point Nepean to the dazzling views atop Tasmania’s Mount Wellington and NSW’s Blue Mountains, along Melbourne’s iconic Yarra Trail and beyond, the series traverses picturesque tracks throughout NSW, Victoria, ACT and Tasmania.
Each stunning journey features a variety of guests spanning historians, local legends, First Australians, and new Australians, who all reveal surprising and inspiring stories about Australia’s vibrant landscapes.
Familiar faces include actor Tasma Walton (Mystery Road, Cleverman, Blue Heelers); former Wallabies Captain and Independent Senator for the ACT David Pocock; bassist for the Violent Femmes & Mona Music, Brian Ritchie; Mental as Anything bass guitarist and vocalist Pete O’Doherty; former Masterchef AU Contestant and restaurateur Mindy Woods; world champion surfer Pauline Menczer; and author and journalist Brigid Delaney.
Using nostalgic archival footage, the series breathes life into the history behind each walk and spotlights stories that define our multicultural country: from those who have kept the fire burning at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra to those who maintain the oldest synagogue in Australia and the World Champion female surfer whose trailblazing story was featured in AACTA nominated documentary Girls Can’t Surf.
Julia Zemiro shares 10 great Australian day walks. Credit: SBS
Zemiro, the series' presenter and executive producer, says: “It’s truly a beautiful feeling to have experienced these walks after the pandemic. They encompass the grandness of our landscapes right down to the tiny details - from high above rainforest canopies down to the tiny insects on the ground that sustain life itself. We explore coast, inland, country and urban walks and I am so thrilled to share them with you. Remember: Everything is in walking distance, if you make the time.”
Bernadine Lim, SBS Commissioning Editor for Documentaries, says Great Australian Walks "celebrates Australia’s breathtaking landscapes and extraordinary people, exemplifying SBS’s role in connecting audiences to the stories that have shaped our rich multicultural history”.
“Spearheaded by Julia Zemiro’s characteristic charm and natural curiosity, the series invites viewers along for an unforgettable 10-part cross-country journey that can be enjoyed from the comfort of living rooms across the nation.”
Each episode will feature a separate, accessible and achievable one-day walk selected in collaboration with veteran walks expert and former Sydney Morning Herald travel journalist Bruce Elder.
Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro will be subtitled in multiple languages, streaming on SBS On Demand in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
The ten-part series premieres 7.30pm Thursday 10 August on SBS and SBS On Demand and continues weekly.
