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Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia is a documentary series in which the amiable and engaging Martin Clunes explores the islands of Australia, meeting interesting people and learning about the history and challenges of island life. The series was officially released in 2016 and is available to stream on ABC iview.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 2016 |
| Number of episodes | 3 |
| Number of islands visited | 16 |
| Islands visited | Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Tiwi Islands (Bathurst and Melville), Ningaloo Reef, Magical Muirons, Carnac Island, Mundoo Island, Phillip Island, Maria Island |
| Available on | Amazon, Apple TV, ABC iview, Prime Video |
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What You'll Learn
Martin Clunes explores 16 of Australia's 8000 islands
Martin Clunes, the amiable and engaging actor best known for his role as Doc Martin, takes viewers on a delightful journey in his documentary series, 'Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia'. The series, which first aired in 2016, sees Clunes explore 16 of Australia's 8,000 islands, offering a unique and informative perspective on the diverse and fascinating island life Down Under.
With his characteristic charm and genuine curiosity, Clunes interacts with locals, learns about the history and culture of the places he visits, and immerses himself in the natural beauty and wildlife of each island. The series is beautifully shot, capturing the spectacular scenery and exotic creatures that make these islands so special.
Clunes begins his journey in Sydney's iconic harbour, before travelling to Lord Howe Island, where he discovers the story of the Kentia palm, the world's most popular indoor plant. He then visits Norfolk Island and uncovers the dark past of what was once the most notorious prison island in the British Empire.
The actor also explores the Tiwi Islands of Bathurst and Melville, where he gains a firsthand look at the ancient customs and Aboriginal culture of the region. He takes a dip in the Ningaloo Reef and ventures to the Magical Muirons, a cluster of islands known for their natural wonders. Carnac Island, home to hundreds of venomous tiger snakes, offers a thrilling and dangerous contrast to the serene beauty of other islands.
Throughout his travels, Clunes meets a diverse range of people, from the solitary older gentleman living on his own island to the Grundy family on their 600-acre farm on Mundoo Island. He also works with scientists on Maria Island to learn about the disease threatening Australia's iconic Tasmanian devil. 'Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia' is an informative and entertaining series that showcases the best of Australia's vast and varied island landscape.
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Norfolk Island: once the British Empire's most brutal prison
Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia is a documentary series that first aired in 2016. In it, Clunes explores some of the 8,000 islands that surround Australia, meeting a variety of people and taking in the spectacular scenery, intriguing history, exotic creatures, unusual pastimes, and eclectic inhabitants.
Now, here is some information on Norfolk Island, once the British Empire's most brutal prison:
Norfolk Island, located in the Pacific Ocean, has a dark history as one of the British Empire's most brutal prisons. In 1788, the British established a penal colony on the island, which operated until 1855. The tropical island, now a glorious idyll, was once known as "Hell in the Pacific" for the convicts who served life sentences there.
The penal colony on Norfolk Island was reputed to be one of the harshest in the British Empire. Uprisings and escape attempts were common, and an uprising in 1834 resulted in the execution of thirteen prisoners, with their headstones now standing in the Kingston cemetery. The island was seen as a place of "the extremest punishment short of death", with Governor Ralph Darling wishing that the convicts should "be worked in irons" to deter others from crime. Reformation was not an objective, and the settlement was intended as a "place of the nec plus ultra of Convict degradation".
The commandants, mostly military officers, ruled with excessive harshness, relying on a large number of military guards, civil overseers, ex-convict constables, and convict informers. The brutality bred defiance, as demonstrated by several mutinies. A recent study, however, has challenged the assumption that convicts engaged in 'murder-suicide pacts', drawing lots to select a killer and willing victim to escape the island.
Today, Norfolk Island stands as a reminder of this brutal period, with the 250-acre Kingston World Heritage Site housing the ruins of buildings that once held convicts and later, the descendants of the Bounty mutineers, who were granted the island in 1856 by Queen Victoria. Visitors can explore the Commissariat, which once stored food supplies for convicts and jailers, and learn about the island's history at the Bounty Folk Museum and Fletcher's Mutiny Cyclorama, a 360-degree panoramic painting.
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Lord Howe Island: home of the world's most popular indoor plant
Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia is a TV mini-series documentary that was released in 2016. In the series, Clunes explores the islands around Australia, meeting interesting people and learning about the history and nature of the islands.
Lord Howe Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about 500 kilometres from Australia. The island is known for its stunning natural beauty, featuring turquoise coral lagoons, dense stands of palms, and craggy emerald mountains. It is also home to the world's southernmost coral reefs, which support both temperate and tropical fish species.
One of the most notable features of Lord Howe Island is its native plant life. The island is home to several endemic plant species, including the kentia palm (Howea forsteriana), which is commonly referred to as the "king of indoor plants". The kentia palm is a popular houseplant and garden plant and is known for its ability to thrive in both tropical and temperate climates. The export of kentia palm seeds and sprouted seeds is a significant part of the island's economy, along with tourism.
The forest at lower elevations on Lord Howe Island is considered a subtropical rainforest, with a mix of indigenous plants creating a natural and serene garden environment. The island also features two endemic palm species that grow in denser stands than the mountain palms: the kentia palm and the curly palm (Howea balmoreana). The kentia palm, in particular, has boomed in popularity and is often used as a hothouse and indoor potted plant. Its seeds were taken to Norfolk Island in 1828 to establish a kentia palm seed business, and today, both Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island partially depend on exporting kentia palm seeds and sprouted seeds worldwide.
Lord Howe Island stands out for its remarkably intact native ecosystems, with 90% of its original forest cover remaining. The island is also home to other endemic plant species, including four species of tree fern and two additional endemic palm species. The unique mix of tropical and temperate elements on the island provides a diverse and thriving habitat for these plants.
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The Tiwi Islands: a showcase of ancient Aboriginal culture
Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia is a TV mini-series documentary released in 2016. In the documentary, Martin Clunes explores the islands around Australia, including the Tiwi Islands, which are a showcase of ancient Aboriginal culture.
The Tiwi Islands, lying about 48 kilometres (30 miles) from Darwin, are made up of two large inhabited islands, Melville and Bathurst, and many smaller uninhabited islands. The Tiwi people, or Tunuvivi, are one of the many Aboriginal groups of Australia and have lived on these islands for thousands of years before European settlement. In 2021, the total population of the islands was 2,348, of whom 87% were Aboriginal people.
The Tiwi people have their own distinct language and culture, which differs from the Aboriginal culture in the rest of Australia. Their society is based on matrilineal descent, and marriage plays a significant role in their lives. Art and music are also integral to their societal and spiritual rituals, with the Tiwi people following a form of indigenous Animist belief system.
Hunting for food is still an important part of Tiwi life, with wallaby, lizards, possums, and bandicoots among the animals they hunt on land, and turtles, crocodiles, and fish from the sea. Yoi, or dancing, is also a part of everyday life, with dances being performed to depict everyday life or historical events.
The Tiwi Islands are also home to a diverse range of bird species, including red goshawks, partridge pigeons, and great knots, making them an Important Bird Area as identified by BirdLife International.
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Carnac Island: home to venomous tiger snakes
Martin Clunes: Islands of Australia is a documentary series that was released in 2016. In the series, Martin Clunes explores the islands around Australia, meeting various people and interacting with the locals.
Carnac Island, one of the islands off the coast of Perth, is home to hundreds of deadly tiger snakes. The island, which is just 19 hectares in size, has an estimated 20 adult snakes per hectare, with a total population of up to 400. The venomous tiger snakes are considered to be the fifth deadliest snake in the world.
The snake colony on Carnac Island is unique for several reasons. Firstly, the island is densely populated with snakes, with up to three tiger snakes in every 25 square meters. Secondly, the tiger snakes on the island are larger than typical mainland tiger snakes, with jaw bones that are 20-30% longer. This is due to the abundance of prey on the island, particularly seagull chicks, which has allowed them to develop bigger bites.
Another curious feature of the island's tiger snake population is that a small percentage of them are blind. This is caused by birds defending their chicks by pecking at the snakes' eyes. Despite their lack of sight, these blind snakes survive and thrive by relying on their sense of scent and eating immobile prey such as seabird chicks. Carnac Island is the only place in the world where this behavior has been observed.
The origin of the tiger snakes on Carnac Island remains a mystery. One theory suggests that they were introduced to the island in the 1930s by a travelling snake showman named Rocky Vane, who released them there after his wife was bitten and died. However, other theories suggest that a small snake population may have existed on the island for over 1000 years.
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Frequently asked questions
2016.
The documentary series can be streamed for free on ABC iview. It is also available to buy on Apple TV.
There are three episodes in the series.
Martin Clunes visits 16 islands, including Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, the Tiwi Islands of Bathurst and Melville, the Magical Muirons, Carnac Island, Mundoo Island, and Phillip Island.
In the series, Martin Clunes explores the diverse environments, histories, and cultures of the islands he visits. He interacts with locals, learns about conservation efforts, and discovers the unique challenges of island life in Australia.
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