12 ‘Australian Survivor’ Secrets We Discovered Visiting The Set In Samoa

Unlike most Survivor superfans, I started out watching Australian Survivor rather than the US series which started it all.

I’ve watched every Aussie season which means that when some of the most iconic historic castaways were being brought back for this year’s Heroes V Villains, I almost goddamn combusted. Between first season player Sam Webb and 2018’s Shonee Bowtell returning to more recent players like 2021’s George Mladenov and Hayley Leake — this season was destined to be one for the history books.

And it has not disappointed. Heroes V Villains has exceeded every expectation and made for one of the most thrilling reality TV seasons I’ve ever witnessed. But what made this season all the more enjoyable is that I had the privilege of visiting the Survivor set in Samoa back in September just after merge so I got to watch some of action play out irl.

I was permitted to attend challenges, tribal council, and even spent a few cheeky hours living my best life in Jury Villa. It was an actual dream! I never wanted to leave!

I’m a new jury member fyi, I’ll always commit to a character!

Along with having the time of my life, I also discovered some rather delicious goss from Survivor insiders — and of course, my lips are extremely loose so I’m spilling it all.

Some secrets that I discovered visiting the set of Australian Survivor:

2. A team of locals, aka the Dream Team, trial the tasks

The Dream Team completes the challenges over and over again to ensure they’re safe, doable, but still challenging enough for the castaways.

2. Jonathan LaPaglia also trials tasks beforehand

Yes, the Survivor daddy himself trials every rewards and immunity challenge. We spoke to JLP while in Samoa and he said he likes to be across the challenges so he knows how best to heckle the contestants throughout. This man is an absolute chaos demon to his core.

3. Contestants are shown how to do challenges

During the episodes, it appears like JLP briefly explains what to do in each challenge and then they jump right in, but this isn’t exactly what plays out irl. After the challenge is introduced, contestants can ask any questions they like, along with attempting the challenge to ensure they know what they’re doing.

4. The challenges are VERY DIFFICULT

If you thought the challenges look like something you could easily complete yourself — think again. The details in the games are often more than meets the eye.

For instance, I attempted a challenge that involved stacking blocks. Simple enough, right? Wrong. Every block had a slanted edge which made it seemingly impossible for them to stay balanced: it became a fine art to turn the blocks to the correct angle to ensure they didn’t topple over. The challenges are so hard!

I gave up straight away because that’s the person I am.

5. The tasks go ahead rain, hail, or shine

This isn’t the kind of show that has a rainy day policy. Nope, every day Samoa can host a variety of weather but no matter what, the Survivors will be ready!

6. The tasks are held all over Samoa in a huge variety of environments

The challenges literally take place all over the island. The sets are built each morning and disassembled, with production leaving the natural surroundings untouched, only using roads that are already formed, or holding the challenges on grounds that have been used before for the US seasons of Survivor.

7. Women are given period supplies

Thank God! Contestants are also allowed sunscreen and mosquito repellent, but they don’t get soap, toothbrushes or toothpaste.

8. Each tribe has a longdrop toilet

I think this is pretty self-explanatory but sometimes you really need a longdrop toilet.

9. Tribal council goes for a loooong time

While tribal is typically condensed at the end of the episodes, the entire thing typically lasts for around 40 mins of chatting and debating between the tribe.

Even at the end of tribal council, there’s a long time between votes cast and being read aloud, so that JLP reads the votes in the most suspenseful order and he has time to write his parting words to close the episode.

At tribal council before sunset, what a goddamn dream.

10. Some people refuse to talk at tribal

This is something I found fascinating as a longtime viewer. I’ve always found it funny how JLP prods certain people to speak at tribal, perhaps revealing their strategy when they’d rather stay silent. Well, guess what? Some people simply refuse to answer JLP’s questions at all.

If they don’t want to show their cards, they remain mute and JLP typically laughs before moving on to another player.

11. JLP works on his feet by coming up with replies

To be brutally honest, I thought JLP was being fed witty comebacks through an earpiece during tribal, but not so! He is a man of many talents and the Survivor hostess with the mostest comes up with all his replies.

12. Jury Villa is the most beautiful place on earth

I expected Jury Villa to be nice but I had no idea that it was some kind of heaven. The villa was perched on a cliff in Samoa, overlooking the ocean with a private pier and beach. The jury can eat whatever they want, whenever they want (poke bowls were popular among the jurors), go to spa for a facial or a massage, or enjoy the gorgeous lagoon pool.

Like seriously, I was in awe of this place. Send me back! I don’t know how I’d go surviving on rice and beans for multiple days, but that sweet villa at the end would make it all worth it.

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Australian Survivor returns Sunday to Monday on Channel 10 and 10Play.