Bush Tucker Man

Les Hiddins, the cricket star. In this episode, Les is summoned to Wave Hill in Australia's Northern Territory to participate in a cricket match with his old club. He travels through the Simpson Desert towards the Tanami desert, locating handy sources of food and water along the way.

Camping in comfort on the Mary River. In this episode, Les travels to the Northern Territory's Mary River. He sets up camp (away from the crocodiles) and enjoys a relaxing break from life on the road. Les shows us how he sets up a comfortable camp without any fancy gear, and even makes his own flip toaster.

Les is back in the Kimberley! Les Hiddins is back in the rugged Kimberley region of Western Australia - an area renowned for its beauty and isolation. He ventures as far as his vehicle will go, then backpacks to various historical sites, from the ancient rock paintings of first Australians to the coastal cave where two German airmen struggled to survive in 1932. Hiddins also visits a little-known landing site of Japanese soldiers in 1944, and proposes an interesting link between the huge boab tree and an early settlement of Madagascan people in the Kimberley.

Wet season brings abundant bush tucker. The Top End of Australia is a fascinating place during the wet season. Les Hiddins takes us on a journey through Arnhem Land, the Gulf Country and Cape York Peninsula. He finds bush tucker including tennis ball fruit and a native grape. In exploring the wet lands of Cape York, Les shows us that even he gets bogged sometimes. Finally, he resorts to building a canoe from tree bark to explore an inland lake.

Les Hiddins joins a group of soldiers on an expedition into the Bush to learn first-hand about the survival techniques of Aborigines

Les goes coastal. Bush Tucker Man, Les Hiddins is dropped into the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula and travels via chopper, on foot and even via blow-up mattress along the Jardine River to the west coast.

Northern Western Australia: (end of wet season - start of dry) by chopper into the Kimberly sandstone plateaus - Prince Regent River gorge - boab tree and nuts - carved history on trunk by sailors from HMC "Mermaid" 1820 (Capt. King) - bush passionfruit introduced from Argentina scattered around all over northern Australia - ill-fated exploration in 'The Wet' by George Grey expedition from north to south WA - kept journal but didn't use bush tucker such as mangrove snails - Les climbs escarpment escaping the salt water crocodile - superb lookout over huge St George Basin - isolation and stillness - tucker amongst lush vegetation in the gullies - famous Vitamin C content in Terminalia fruit - eating lemon/lime ants - also the superb Kalumburu almonds Les' favorite bush tucker - food water and shelter needs - rocky overhangs littered with ancient tools and indications of life - bush tucker of the area baby pandanus - vine growth pointing to underground yam (tuba) - dogs nut berry called 'rubbish tucker' by local men - Grey's journal - mystery of the wandjina paintings - bush secrets lost forever - so much to explore - King's Cascades - uses lure in the waters of the gorge for barramundi whilst awaiting chopper ride out.

Northern Territory: south west of Darwin - Daly River to Port Keats - monsoon growth after 4 weeks rains - the wet January to April - mud 'roads' under water for miles and miles - excellent Land-Rover scene running along flooded tracks - everything comes to life - high grass growth and lush bush, fruit growing everywhere - wet weather, well sourced base camp needed - rebuilds favorite base camp at Port Keating - sets up sappling racks, benches, roof supports, clothes hangers, clothes line, bush strainer - works on foot - best way to gather specimens despite rain and - leeches caution - fish handline and bait/fruit from Syzyieum tree - fruit is tangy - polynesian arrowroot bulb - native grapes - root is local snake bite cure untested - clear sunny mornings mostly leading to afternoon rainstorms - high daytime temps, mid 40°C, builds sauna conditions - perspire 4 litres daily - lightning show every evening during wet - locals compete with birds and animals to harvest fruit, bird eggs etc - basis of nomadic culture relates to food chain - local Johnnie Tchula and family from Wadeye - excellent Land-Rover scene, tackling mud on boggy track - show tucker gathering in mud 'n mangroves - mud crabs - eats Teredo or mangrove tree worm (mollusc) - Les not impressed - back to base camp - considers this time of year so stirring - "When the time comes to leave, I'll be flat-out dragging myself 'way from th' place..."