Magical Land of Oz

Journeying through Australia’s three surrounding oceans and islands, we discover an explosion of life in the spectacular southern sea, sanctuary of the Pacific and Indian Ocean with its awe-inspiring predators.

We move from the continent's snow-covered peaks to its ancient rainforests and tropical savannahs, discovering how it is animals have learnt to thrive across the continent's harsh and beautiful extremes.

As humans effect the landscape, we meet Australia's contemporary natural history success stories and those being left behind as the continent rushes through the 21st century.

If you're wondering about that familiar voice you're hearing across the Magical Land of Oz, it's none other than the master of character and performer extraordinaire‚ Barry Humphries.

With an invitation from the traditional owners, the Magical Land of Oz crew travel to Maningrida in Arnhem Land to capture a filming first‚ the mysterious watery world of the recently discovered, diving tarantula.

The Magical Land of Oz team hit the Dryandra Woodlands of Western Australia to film the fairy-like numbat.

Macro cinematographer Peter Nearhos demonstrates the unusual art of building a stage around a remarkable dancer, the size of a grain of rice.

Australia is home to more than one million species of plants and animals, 80% of which are found nowhere else in the world. Australia's flora and fauna have been evolving in isolation for 45 million years.

Australia is the lowest, the flattest and the driest inhabited continent. It is the only continent where the majority of rivers flow inland and is surrounded by 25,000 kilometres of coastline. Most significantly, Australia is recognised in the top five countries that hold the world's remaining untouched wilderness.