The Amazing Race Australia is an Australian reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. Following the premise of other versions in the Amazing Race franchise, the show follows teams of two as they race around the world. Each season is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in foreign areas, interact with locals, perform physical and mental challenges, and travel by air, boat, car, taxi, and other modes of transport. Teams are progressively eliminated at the end of most legs for being the last to arrive at designated Pit Stops. The first team to arrive at the Finish Line wins a grand prize of A$250,000.
The series was first aired on the Seven Network, who purchased the format rights to produce an Australian version in 2010 and (as of 2023) hold the Australian broadcast rights to the American version. The first two editions of the show aired in 2011 and 2012 were produced by activeTV, which also produced the Asian and Israeli versions of The Amazing Race, in association with ABC Studios. Following a hiatus in 2013, a third season titled The Amazing Race Australia v New Zealand, which included New Zealand teams, aired in 2014 and was produced in-house by the network's own Seven Productions. The show aired in New Zealand on TV2. The host for Seven's iteration the show was actor Grant Bowler. Seven's iteration of the show was not renewed for a fourth season.
In June 2019, it was announced the series would be revived by Network 10. 10's iteration of the show is produced by Eureka Productions and hosted by former rugby league footballer Beau Ryan. The first edition of 10's iteration, and the fourth season overall, aired in late 2019. 10's second and the fifth season overall aired in 2021 and was set in Australia, following international travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 10's third and the sixth season overall aired in 2022 and returned to the regular global travel format. On 28 April 2023, the show was renewed for a seventh season featuring celebrity contestants. On 24 October 2023, the show was renewed for a second celebrity season set to air in the second half of 2024.
The Race
The Amazing Race Australia is a reality television competition between teams of two in a race around the world. Each season is divided into a number of legs wherein teams travel and complete various tasks to obtain clues to help them progress to a Pit Stop where teams are given a chance to rest and recover before starting the next leg. The first team to arrive at a Pit Stop is often awarded a small prize while the last team is normally eliminated (except in non-elimination legs, where the last team to arrive may be penalised in the following leg). The final leg is run by the last three remaining teams, and the first to arrive at the final destination wins the 250,000 cash prize (or an 100,000 charity prize for the Celebrity Edition).
Teams
Each team is composed of two individuals who have some type of relationship to each other. A total of 86 participants have joined The Amazing Race Australia.
Route Markers
Route Markers are yellow and red flags that mark the places where teams must go. Most Route Markers are attached to the boxes that contain clue envelopes, but some may mark the place where the teams must go in order to complete tasks, or may be used to line a course that the teams must follow.
Route markers were, however, coloured yellow and green in the second leg of the inaugural season to avoid confusion with the flag of South Vietnam. The route markers were not changed for a visit to Vietnam during the 4th season.
Clues
Clues are found throughout the competition in sealed envelopes, normally inside clue boxes. They give teams the information they need and tasks they need to do in order for them to progress.
Route Info: A general clue that may include a task to be completed by the team before they can receive their next clue. Detour: A choice between two tasks. Teams are free to choose either task or swap tasks if they find one option too difficult. Roadblock: A task only one team member can complete. Teams must choose which member will complete the task based on a brief clue about the task before fully revealing the details of the task. Fast Forward: A task that only one team may complete, allowing that team to skip all remaining tasks and head directly for the next Pit Stop. Teams may only claim one Fast Forward during the entire season.