Contestants of the upcoming television series Alone Australia faced a "huge psychological battle" in the harsh Tasmanian wilderness, according to one local survival expert.
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"It's so remote down here," said Survival Courses Tasmania chief instructor Alex Mileham.
That's why the Tasmanian moved to the "extreme" southern state and most likely why the show's producers chose the location, Mr Mileham said.
"There's so much that is untouched around here," he said.
"You really don't have to go far out of either Launceston or Hobart and you kind of are in the middle of nowhere."
The reality series, which recently filmed its first Australian season to be broadcast in 2023, sends out 10 survival expert contestants into the unforgiving wild to last as long as they can all alone.
Each contestant can take 10 survival items, essential clothing and their years of knowledge about surviving extreme situations, isolation and the natural elements into the competition.
They build shelter, hunt and gather for food, collect water and - making the show the authentic phenomenon that it is - film their day-to-day struggle.
The contestant to endure the longest walks away with $250,000.
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A solo hiker with 43 years of experience, Mr Mileham said contestants would have faced a "huge psychological battle" during their time in isolation, with several physical and emotional factors at play.
"Survival is rarely pretty," he said.
"It doesn't have to be perfect, it's just got to work."
Asked to survive alone with only three key essential survival items, Mr Mileham chose items popular with past Alone contestants.
"Number one is your most important tool, your survival knife," he said.
"Second one would be a metal bottle or cup because you want to be able to boil water.
"Third would be a flint - you need something to light a fire."
The Alone series has previously filmed in locations like northern Vancouver Island, Patagonia and Northern Mongolia.
Tasmania's arts minister Elise Archer described hosting the show's filming as a "coup" for the state.
"Alone Australia will feature Tasmania's extraordinary natural and cultural landscapes and showcase our state to the nation and the world when it reaches TV and streaming services," she said.
Tim Piccione
Tim is a journalist with the Canberra Times covering the ACT courts. He came to the nation's capital via the Daily Advertiser in Wagga. Contact: tim.piccione@canberratimes.com.au.
Tim is a journalist with the Canberra Times covering the ACT courts. He came to the nation's capital via the Daily Advertiser in Wagga. Contact: tim.piccione@canberratimes.com.au.
