Plot Synopsis

OUTBACK is a three-part documentary series that, over the course of a year, chronicles the people and animals of Australia's Kimberley region in North West Australia: a vast, rugged and remote wilderness, bursting with character. Australia's vast North West corner is a startling landscape, one so ancient that, in parts, it predates life on the planet. It can appear arid and empty, but is filled with animals that have adapted to its harsh climate. Many are nocturnal, well camouflaged or prone to secrecy, from creatures reminiscent of the ancient landscape, like the saltwater crocodile, owner of the world's most powerful jaws, to the most delicate of marsupial mice. OUTBACK captures the life of these animals over the course of the dramatic wet and dry seasons that dictate their cycles of life. From the Outback's red-hot heart, to its spectacular and pristine coastline, a particular breed of people also inhabits this land. OUTBACK is their story -- past and present, tough and compassionate. They are the indigenous custodians whose understanding of the land, its animals and its seasons harks back to the oral storytelling and dreamtime of ancient generations. They work with and beside scientists sharing knowledge and interpretations of the land. There are the station owners and workers who live together on some of the world's most remote cattle properties, battling heat, flies and the sheer breadth of their grazing lands. There are archaeologists stunned by rock art discoveries and "wildlife carers" who nurture orphaned animals -- no matter the hour of the day. We meet the gold diggers, the ornithologists, the dedicated volunteers and the dreamers with big ideas. New episodes of OUTBACK premiere Wednesday, August 1, 8 & 15 at 8pm on PBS (check local listings).
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On Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 8pm (check local listings), PBS premiered "Return of the Wet," the finale of OUTBACK. Inland Kimberley is now so stiflingly hot, everything and everyone moves with caution -- with the exception of gold diggers Honest John and Steve. The region's remaining waterholes are packed with animals, forced dangerously close. Windjana Gorge is a prime example -- a pristine oasis where brave humans wade into croc- infested water, all in the name of science. The coast is also a place to congregate. Thousands of shorebirds arrive from the world's longest single migration, only to be blasted with nets by crafty bird lovers. The humidity builds and finally, the skies explode with thunder and rain. Nyul Nyul ranger Albert Wiggan sings a welcome to the life it brings and arrival of a new season in his ancient land.