Castaway returns seven years on
The castaways' new home
The castaways will spend three months in a remote place, cut off from the world
and forced to fend for themselves.
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This location is a bay on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand. The setting is
stunning: sandy beaches surrounded by the deep blue ocean, green hills and
winding streams.
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When the castaways arrive, it will be the end of summer, with the sun shining
for 13 hours a day and temperatures ranging from 15 to 27 degrees C.
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In terms of potential food sources, the area is rich in marine life, with an
abundance of fish such as snapper, red moki and leatherjacket. The broken reefs
provide an excellent habitat for crabs and crayfish, with the red rock lobster
the most common. The clear waters are perfect for swimming and snorkelling,
with temperatures around 21 degrees. There are many protected species in the water,
including the small spotted black grouper, and there are moves to make the area
a marine reserve in the future.
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The location has several water sources, including a freshwater stream which
runs through it and is filled with eels and mussels. There is a spring with
drinking water several miles from where the castaways will be living.
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Great Barrier is a haven for a vast array of wildlife found in few places on
Earth. The endangered brown teal (pateke) and New Zealand dotterel can be seen
on the beach, especially at dusk and in the evenings, and might also be spotted
paddling in the sea.
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The island is notorious for sudden weather changes and can often experience
four seasons in one day. Pouring rain and driving winds can appear without
warning, especially during the wet season from March until September, which can
have up to 150mm of rain a month.
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The castaways will have to get back to basics: build their shelter, grow and
collect their own food, and use the land and ocean to feed themselves. It will
not be a place for the squeamish, the lazy or the fussy.
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