Escape From The City returns this week with a new season and more timely ‘how to’ guides, packed full of expert advice and industry insights for those seeking a different way of life.
Each 60-minute episode sees one of the hosts guiding a family, couple or individual through their life-changing decision to escape the city and move to coastal, country or regional Australia.
From beach-side shacks perched on coastal cliffs in Victoria, to terraced houses in need of renovation in quiet country towns and bushland retreats on the edges of the Northern Queensland rainforest, each episode sees one of our property-mad hosts take a contributor on the house hunt of their dreams.
Taking into account their needs, desires and budget, our hosts scour the country and present each with four homes, hopefully one becoming their dream home.
Along the way they sample local delights and visit local attractions to get a feel for the area they are planning on moving to.
Episode One
After 38 years of married life, working and raising kids in the Western Sydney suburb of Elizabeth Hills, Graham and Kim have retired and are looking forward to a new chapter of their lives in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales.
On the list of activities is golf for him and paddle boarding for her.
However, presenter Simon Marnie opts to expand their horizons, taking them first to a modern home in Vincentia, a stone’s throw from the renowned white sandy paradise of Jervis Bay, which they happen to both like.
The next two houses in Shoalhaven Heads highlight an underlying tension between the pair, who clearly want different things.
Kim is happy to get her hands dirty by taking on a renovation and transforming an old beach shack, while Graham wants a modern pad devoid of maintenance in order to put his feet up or hit the golf course.
The final house – the mystery house – in Callala Bay, offers something different again – a modern home in a private estate with little to no backyard, but with a magic expanse of pristine beach just a stone’s throw away for them both to paddle board at – if they can get on the same wavelength.
Production details
Escape From the City is a Fremantle production for ABC. The series is based on the UK format Escape to the Country, created by Boundless Productions.
