Back Roads won’t be the same without Heather.
Return
EPISODE 12
THURSDAY 17 JULY 8.00PM
Back Roads is off to a wedding, as Heather Ewart discovers the world of made-to-measure couture dressmaking in outback New South Wales.
Back Roads is off to a wedding as Heather Ewart discovers the world of made-to-measure couture dresses around Moree in outback New South Wales. From wedding dress designers to Aboriginal designs destined for the catwalks of New York, Moree’s dressmakers are a cut above the rest.
The Moree Plains might be more famous for their fertile rich black soil, but it’s here that wedding dress designer Melinda O’Donoghue has made hundreds of showstopping dresses. Heather visits elinda
at her home turned bridal studio, watching a dress fitting and meeting Melinda’s truck driver husband Des, who also happens to be the official button maker!
EPISODE 13
THURSDAY 24 JULY 8.00PM
Heather Ewart is almost blown away by the “Roaring Forties” winds when she visits the North East of Tasmania; an area rich in history, culture and crayfish!
There’s not a lot to do in the sleepy fishing community of Musselroe Bay, and that’s exactly how the locals like it. But there are plenty of crayfish, and Heather is invited to one of their legendary cook ups!
Whilst in the area she also visits a high-tech windfarm, and discovers an extraordinary link with a legendary leader who lived at Tebrakunna almost two hundred years ago.
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Gold Logie award nominee Lisa Millar new host of Back Roads
The ABC is excited to announce that Gold Logie award nominee Lisa Millar will take the helm as the new host of the much-loved series, Back Roads.
Lisa has been a guest presenter since 2019. Her role marks a new chapter for the long-running series, which has inspired audiences to take the road less travelled to the small towns and communities that make Australia special.
Lisa succeeds Heather Ewart, the much-respected founding host of Back Roads, who retired from the program earlier this year after travelling thousands of kilometres around the country since launching the series in 2015, and whose final episode airs on Thursday, 31st July.
Lisa Milar said, “What a privilege it is to take the path less travelled with this treasured show. Heather has nurtured Back Roads since the beginning and will remain in the hearts of so many of the communities she visited.”
Lisa’s first road trip in the new season airs on Thursday, August 7, 8pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Lisa straps herself in for an adventure exploring the legendary Snowy River. Most of us know the name, but how much do we really know about this iconic river? Lisa follows the Snowy from the slopes of Mt Kosciuszko in New South Wales right down south to Marlo, where the river empties out into the Bass Strait. In this adventure packed episode Lisa is put to the test, riding wild brumbies and kayaking fast-moving rapids as she explores this wild and mighty waterway.
This season, Lisa and guest presenters Paul West, Myf Warhurst, Kristy O’Brien and Tom Forrest each set off on their own adventures, discovering regional towns and characters – from Harvey in Western Australia to the tranquil Gippsland Lakes in Victoria, and the outback gem, Mataranka in the Northern Territory.
About Lisa:
Gold Logie award nominee Lisa Millar was the co-host of ABC News Breakfast for 5 years and has been a regular guest presenter on the ABC’s popular Back Roads program since 2019. She’s also the voice of the smash hit show, Muster Dogs. Lisa was an ABC foreign correspondent for 12 years in the US and Europe before returning to Australia in 2018. She grew up in country Queensland and is part of a still expanding family. Her childhood in the small town of Kilkivan features in her best-selling memoir ‘Daring To Fly’. She has lived in Melbourne since 2019 and is a regular tennis player and runner and hopes that her ability in both will eventually catch up with her enthusiasm. In 2024 Lisa released a companion book to Muster Dogs, ‘From Pups to Pros: How ten dogs stole hearts and changed lives forever’. The book takes you behind the scenes to meet the cast, crew and the star dogs themselves. She looks at how the show began and why it resonated with audiences, as well as the impact on her own life, juggling the Muster Dogs world.
Production Credits:
Executive Producers: Brigid Donovan and Louise Turley.
Wasn’t this announced ages ago? Seems like auntie is way behind the times…
EPISODE 14
THURSDAY 31 JULY 8.00PM
After ten fun-filled years of hitting the Back Roads, Heather Ewart is saying goodbye. In her final episode, Heather relives some of the unforgettable moments from her time on the road. After ten fun-filled years of hitting the Back Roads, Heather Ewart is saying goodbye.
In her final episode, Heather returns to her hometown of Murchison in Victoria. Sharing her personal reflections of her time on the program, and the unforgettable characters and communities that she’s met along the way.
EPISODE 15
THURSDAY 7 AUGUST 8.00PM
Snowy River
This time on Back Roads Lisa Millar straps herself in for an adventure exploring the legendary Snowy River. Most of us know the name, but how much do we really know about this iconic river?
Lisa follows the Snowy from the slopes of Mt Kosciuszko in New South Wales right down south to Marlo, where the river empties out into the Bass Strait.
In this adventure packed episode Lisa is put to the test, riding wild brumbies and kayaking fast-moving rapids as she explores this wild and mighty waterway.
Over the past 10 years, millions of Australians have explored communities at the furthest corners of the country alongside Heather Ewart.
The Back Roads host has been at the helm of the much-loved show since day one, but as her final season goes to air, she admits that getting the idea off the ground was no easy task.
EPISODE 16
THURSDAY 14 AUGUST 8.00PM
Guest presenter Kristy O’Brien dives into the nostalgia and untold stories of Mataranka in the Top End; the setting for the classic 1908 novel ‘We of the Never Never’.
This area is famous for its thermal springs and its cabbage palms, but it’s the harsh dry bush and the hardworking locals that are the real drawcard for the area.
The pull of the Never Never continues to this day with newcomers from across the globe finding a home here.
EPISODE 17
THURSDAY 21 AUGUST 8.00PM
Guest Presenter Paul West ditches his car for a bicycle when he arrives in Forrest, a former logging town nestled in Victoria’s Otway Ranges.
Surprisingly, the town was named after the local politician, Charles Forrest, who pushed for a rail link to support logging in the local forest, not after the forest itself!
It’s here Paul discovers a town that’s now more famous for mountain biking than sawmills – a town that’s adapted to changing times by attracting people seeking change within themselves.
Expanded synopses for Heather’s final episode tonight
UPDATE: this episode will be shown on ABC Australia in Asia-Pacific region on Friday, August 1, at 1pm Hong Kong time.
Lisa Millar features in an interview inside News Corp’s weekend magazines today (paywall).
Lisa Millar opens up about Gold Logie nod, new love and Back Roads role
EPISODE 18
THURSDAY 28 AUGUST 8.00PM
Lisa Millar visits Harvey in Western Australia’s south- west and discovers how successive waves of migrants have put their stamp on this town, and in doing so have built a thriving multicultural community.
Lisa discovers that this harmony didn’t come easily initially, with many Italian migrants interned as “enemy aliens” during World War II.
She meets the latest arrivals, the Filipinos and Pacific Islanders, who’ve brought their own agricultural skills to the town famous for its fresh produce. Lisa can’t wait to kick off her shoes and get stuck into a time- honoured tradition at Harvey’s annual Harvest Festival.
EPISODE 19
THURSDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 8.00PM
From confronting a major life crisis to escaping the housing crisis, more Aussies than ever are packing up and hitting the road. But does the romanticised version of van life that’s portrayed in movies and books match the reality of living it 24/7?
Myf Warhurst embarks on her very own van life odyssey in Far North Queensland in the delightfully retro motorhome called ‘Ivy’, finding out how Aussies are doing it and why.
EPISODE 20
THURSDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 8.00PM
Myf Warhurst continues her van life journey in northern New South Wales, meeting a surfing legend who was there when it all started.
In Byron Bay, surfboard designer Bob McTavish entertains Myf with his stories of cruising the east coast in the 1960s. Myf also heads to Western Australia, where she meets a group of women who are embracing the freedom and independence that van life can offer.
For some, it’s literally a lifeline. But is there a time when they become disenchanted with chasing the dream?
EPISODE 21
THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 8.00PM
Lisa Millar is on an odyssey to discover the secrets of the magnificent Gippsland Lakes in Victoria - Australia’s largest inland waterway.
Home to over 300 native wildlife species, including the rare and endangered Burrunan dolphin, it’s here Lisa discovers a community passionately working to preserve the Lakes for future generations.
This episode will be shown on ABC Australia in the APAC region on Friday, September 5, at 6.55pm AEST, to be followed by the live telecast of AFL qualifying final between Geelong and Brisbane.
UPDATE 19/9: part 2 of Van Life premieres on ABC Australia on Saturday, September 20 at 3.15am AEST.
EPISODE 22
THURSDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 8.00 PM
From opening a teddy bear shop in the outback to running chicken races at the pub, the people of Tambo aren’t afraid to take risks to keep the oldest town in western Queensland alive.
This week’s Back Roads’ guest presenter, Tom Forrest, heads to “Schnitzel Stadium” to watch one of the outback’s more chaotic events – chicken racing! And discovers a Melbourne jazz musician a long way from home but who’s found refuge in this small community.
Myf Warhurst has posted on social media about her two-part episode which airs tonight and next Thursday.
VAN LIFE FOR LYFE
TONIGHT 8pm ABCTV
What a dream it was to film 2 eps of the classic ABCTV series Back Roads on Van Life. It was filmed over a year ago and so much has changed in my life since, but I know that meeting the folk along the way who had chosen to live authentically, gave me the courage to make big and necessary changes in my own life. It was such a special experience, made even more so by the glorious Back Roads crew I worked with.
Big love and thanks to Gerri, Melinda, Aaron, Terry & JP
Also thanks to @vet.in.a.van and your gorgeous crew, @shakeyartist and @ange_butler, indiepriestly and Jamie Satani
We traversed Far North Queensland in this episode and we were looked after so well everywhere we pulled in. Special thanks to the stunning art deco dream hotel/hidden gem @babindaquarters for taking great care of us, @babindarainforestfarmstay for inviting me in to your slice of tropical paradise (with added Alpacas and a Cassowarie) and a sweet little van called Ivy x
