Airdate: Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro
Upcoming SBS series sees Julia Zemiro trekking through NSW, Victoria, ACT and Tasmania.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under Coronavirus, Programming, Video
New 10 part SBS series Great Australian Walks with Julia Zemiro sees Julia Zemiro (Fisk, RocKwiz. Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery) exploring ten of Australia’s most stunning and historically significant walks.
Her treks take her through NSW, Victoria, ACT and Tasmania, from Byron Bay, Kiama, Bondi, and Point Nepean to kunanyi / Mt. Wellington, Blue Mountains, Melbourne’s Yarra Trail and beyond.
Presenter and Executive Producer Julia Zemiro said: “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 Senior Commissioning Editor for Documentaries said: “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.”
Series Producer and Mint Pictures Creative Director Dan Goldberg said: “Conceived during Covid-19 lockdowns when our freedom of movement was so restricted, this alluring series not only offers viewers the luxury of being armchair travellers but encourages them to follow in Julia’s footsteps on some Great Australian Walks.”
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.
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 languages, streaming on SBS On Demand in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
7.30pm Thursday 10 August on SBS.
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4 Responses
This could be an unexpected hit. There have been other walking shows, such as East Yorkshire Walks with Andrew White, and Walks Around Britain. In addition to learning about the people and the history along the way, there was a big focus on the benefits of walking for mental health.
Walking shows can also be done in a Slow TV or similar format by using drones or other equipment. There are also popular YouTubers like ActionKid that do walking tours around cities. Many ideas that can be transposed into TV productions.
It will do well for SBS.
Yes, I was thinking a surprise hit or outstanding success in the same vein as Who Do You Think You Are? The hallmarks are there.
So Julia Zemiro is going to be channelling Michael Portillo or slightly treading on the toes of Ernie Dingo? Admittedly she’s not the first person I thought of that might do this (feels like more of a Lily Serna type thing; then I remembered she’s a mum of 2 now). I honestly thought they might blood some new talent. That said, I’ll happily watch this style of travelogue irrespective of the host. Looking forward to it.