There is nothing like setting off on a big adventure. And for Aussies, the best place to start is our very own backyard.
From the far north to the scenic south-east corner, there’s plenty to explore. And TV WEEK is here to help you get going.
Mount Cotton (Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story, 2017)
Sirromet winery at Mt Cotton.
Mick Dundee took on a big croc in the Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park in hit flick Crocodile Dundee.
But for the biopic about the Aussie legend who played him, Paul Hogan, the famous scene was filmed a long way from the Top End.
Sirromet winery at Mt Cotton, south-east of Brisbane, was used for Paul (Josh Lawson) and Linda (Laura Gordon)’s scene in the biopic.
Josh Lawson as Paul Hogan.
Stanthorpe (Wanted, 2016)
John Levine (Stephen Peacocke) tracks the ladies across some amazing landscapes in Wanted.
The first season of Wanted saw Lola and Chelsea on the run. For Rebecca Gibney and Geraldine Hakewill, who portrayed them, it meant a road trip through Queensland.
At the time, Rebecca said she fell in love with Stanthorpe, in the state’s south-east.
The star praised the beauty of the town and the nearby Girraween National Park, famous for its granite landscape.
Brisbane (Harrow, 2018)
The Brisbane River has never looked so good. Harrrow (Ioan Gruffudd) even lives on a houseboat moored on the river.
What about the cool, historic-looking building where Harrow works? That’s Brisbane’s Dental Hospital and College on Turbot Street.
Surfers Paradise (Paradise Beach, 1993-1994)
Melbourne has Neighbours, while Sydney has Home And Away. And for two glorious, sun-drenched years, the Gold Coast had Paradise Beach.
The hot drama had a great cast, including John Holding, Kimberley Joseph, The Bold And The Beautiful’s Ingo Rademacher, Megan Connolly and Manu Bennett.
The show was shot on location on the Gold Coast, making great use of its spectacular long beaches.
Whitehaven Beach (Pirates Of The Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, 2017)
Pirates Of The…Whitsundays? Sounds like a hit.
The fifth movie in the movie franchise was filmed mostly at the Gold Coast’s Village Roadshow Studios.
Johnny Depp, who plays Captain Jack Sparrow – and about 60 trucks – also went north to shoot at some other stunning Queensland locations.
Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island was one. But the incredible beach was famous before the pirate invasion.
Mission Beach (Sea Patrol, 2007-2011)
For five seasons, Sea Patrol filmed in Mission Beach, on the coast between Townsville and Cairns, giving the town’s economy a nice boost.
Ian Stenlake, who played HMAS Hammersley commanding officer Mike Flynn, says the stretch of coastline was an “incredible” location to work.
Many scenes were also shot at Dunk Island, four kilometres off the coast.
Main Beach (Mako: Island Of Secrets, 2013-2016)
Sadly, for all of those wannabe mermaids, Mako Island is fictional, and the Moon Pool was just a film set at Village Roadshow Studios.
But fans can still visit Sea World on the Gold Coast. The marine animal park was used to film many of the underwater scenes. Plus, Mimmi’s (Allie Bertram) love interest Chris (Taylor Glockner) worked there.
Beerwah (Bindi The Jungle Girl, 2007-2008)
Back when Bindi Irwin still had pigtails, she travelled the world to make her own wildlife series.
While she spent time abroad, she also filmed at her family’s Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast.
Fans can visit the zoo to see some of the animals featured in the series, including tigers, dingoes and crocs!
Visitors can also climb a treehouse inspired by the one in the series.
Cedar Creek Falls (Thor: Ragnarok, 2017)
Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth wanted to film Thor: Ragnarok in Australia to be close to his Byron Bay home on New South Wales’ far north coast.
While the film was mostly shot at Village Roadshow Studios, other locations were more outdoorsy.
The scene where Heimdall (Idris Elba) heads into the mountains was shot at Cedar Creek Falls, an hour from Brisbane in Tamborine National Park.
Great Barrier Reef (Reef Doctors, 2013)
Fresh from her role in Sea Patrol, Lisa McCune picked up a gig in the short-lived series Reef Doctors.
The viewers who did watch the medical drama, set on the fictional Hope Island, would have been in awe of the Great Barrier Reef.
For three weeks, the cast and crew were based at Port Douglas in Far North Queensland. From there, they would head out on boats to the outer reef to film some incredible scenes.
Moreton Bay (Safe Harbour, 2018)
Although the drama in Safe Harbour takes place out at sea, the open-water scenes were filmed in Moreton Bay, less than an hour from Brisbane’s CBD.
Producer Stephen Corvini says the “relative stability of wind and currents” in the bay made it a good choice.
Moreton Bay is also a popular spot for dugongs, whales, as well as anyone who loves fishing.
