The Season 15 sneak peek you won’t want to miss
Keen on catching Season 15 of Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures but don’t know what to expect? Well, prepare yourself – ‘cause I’m gonna spill (some of) the tea. But don’t worry; I won’t spoil any surprises!
This season’s build’s
Season 15 kicks off with two build episodes. You’ll see both the Next-Gen Ford Everest and Ranger have a host of accessories fitted in preparation for their trip from East to West across Australia. We know you love seeing the builds as much as the travel segments, so we’ve left nothing up to the imagination. We’ve delved into the deep end of exactly what’s being bolted on and introduced you to the teams that created the gear we were putting to the test.
The Seven Valleys, Lithgow
Setting off from the workshop where the Everest and Ranger underwent their transformation, we steered our way through the foothills of the Blue Mountains and ventured to a location known for being a 4X4ers mecca, The Seven Valleys. With tracks ranging from tough, technical, and tame to plain ridiculous, it doesn’t matter what flavour 4X4er you are – The Seven Valleys caters to all and made the perfect starting point for the post-build episodes.
The scenery was everything a wheeler could wish for, and the weather was anything but. While we refused to believe this was a bad omen for the start of the series, we also risked having our entire campsite wash into the flooded Turon River on our first night. The next day found me walking that very same river in my undies while it was zero degrees celsius, attempting to determine whether we should give the crossing a crack or take a considerable detour to get around it. On the one hand, the detour meant more time on the tracks. On the other, making the crossing meant we’d get to the pub sooner. It was high stakes, but we couldn’t lose.
Despite the weather, morale was high. As far as we were concerned we were at the start of one epic adventure. A bunch of mates in brand new and fully kitted-out 4X4s making memories. It just so happened that we were filming a TV show at the same time.
Vic High Country
We set course for the Victorian High Country from Lithgow, intent on wheeling the Billy Goat Bluff Track and exploring some of the state’s best kept secrets. After tying a bow on the episode at the iconic Dargo Hotel, we hit the road again. This time pushing to the Eyre Peninsula. Easily one of Australia’s most unique and incredible locations, it has to be seen to be believed. To say we had a ball wheeling its vast beaches and rocky tracks would be an understatement for me – this was the highlight of the trip.
The Great Australian Bight
From there, we continued to journey west, towards the Nullarbor. But not before exploring the Great Australian Bight. Here we found more of the stunning and utterly desolate postcard-blue beaches. We soaked up the history and the sun. And we tackled dune after dune without coming close to getting sick of it.
The Nullabor
Next up was the Nullarbor, hell-bent on proving once and for all the Nullarbor is a destination – not a thoroughfare. I reckon we smacked it out of the ballpark. After you see what we got up to, there’s no way you’ll be able to do the crossing without taking every left and right turn just as we did. The adventures are all right there, just waiting to be had. Don’t believe us? Just wait until you see the things we found.
Western Australia
Finally, we reached the west coast. The fruits of our labour instantaneously became more than worth it. Reflecting back upon the journey, one can’t help but be taken aback by the sheer size and beauty of this incredible country. Now hold on to your snatch-straps ‘cause I’m going to come right out and say it. No state or territory showcases Australia’s beauty, size or off-road adventures quite so well as Western Australia.
Here you’ll see Pat tackle one of his all-time off-road goals and visit a destination he’s been dreaming of since the inception of the show. We visit breweries, head remote and even rescue a stranded traveller along the way. What a way to finish Season 15!
Ezytrail Camper Trailers hitched a ride
This season you’ll also see both Next-Gens with Ezytrail Camper Trailers in tow. Putting on one hell of a show as they’re pushed to their limits traversing bog holes, river crossings and insanely steep inclines through Lithgow and the Victorian High Country. If you have PTTSD (Post Traumatic Towing Syndrome, that is), you may want to look away; it gets hairy!
Guests you’ll meet this season
We reckon you’ll love this season’s guests as much as we did. Kicking off with Graham from Off Road Systems (ORS), who came along for the ride through Lithgow, he’s more than meets the eye. Not just a genuinely great bloke but one with a couple of hidden talents you’ll have to see to believe. Through the Victorian High Country, Emma from Ryco Filters jumped behind the wheel of the Everest and steered it with sheer guts and determination as she took us to some of her favourite places from her childhood spent on the tracks.
As we pushed further west, Ian, Ford’s Global Chief Engineer and the man behind the Next Gens, brought Ford’s newest Ranger Raptor out for some time on the rough stuff, and it was epic. Wheeling with the bloke who designed the vehicles we were driving was a bucket list item none of us knew we had.
You’ll see me on your screens
Throughout the season, you’ll also catch me. Motoring Journo by day and Instagrammer… also by day. Pushing the Next Gen’s where they’re not supposed to go and generally regretting it. I’d love to say that my antics were to keep you entertained. But they were really just a byproduct of my uncanny knack for finding places to get bogged.
So sit back, relax and watch the show’s biggest adventure unfold before your eyes. This one was about as epic as it gets, and it all kicks off January 15th on Channel 10!
