Next week will see Australia’s two biggest breakfast shows embark on a week of outside broadcasts with TODAY exploring the east coast of Australia, while the Sunrise team will take on a five-day mystery tour of the United States of America. 

It will be interesting to see which show performs better in the ratings. Viewers can often be frustrated by international broadcasts, prefering to recieve local news.

Sunrise will broadcast from a new destination in the USA every day next week as chosen by viewers at home. It’s up to them to decide where they want to go, and Sam, Kochie, Nat, Beretts, Eddy, Sam Mac and the Sunrise crew will have less than 24 hours to get there.

Seven is claiming this will be another television world-first attempt for Sunrise. "No other live television program has ever attempted a broadcast of this magnitude." And there’s more: this time Sunrise is giving four lucky viewers the chance to come along for the ride.

“This is the experience of a lifetime – and all the power is in the viewers’ hands,” said Sunrise Executive Producer, Michael Pell. “They tell us where they want to go, and we take them there. Our viewers have always shaped the show, so we can’t wait to see what they come up with this time for Sunrise’s greatest challenge yet.”

So, where will it be? Waikiki, LA or New Orleans? Buckle up! Each day will be a new adventure decided by Sunrise viewers and our cameras will capture every minute behind-the-scenes.

“This is a massive trip to take on, I’m a bit nervous but very excited. I can’t wait to see where the viewers send us!” says Samantha Armytage

“I love an adventurous school trip; it’s a chance for us to hang out for a week. Even more, I love that it’s all up to the viewers.” added - David Koch

 

Meanwhile the TODAY team of Lisa, Karl, Richard, Tim and Natalia will begin the week in the beautiful New South Wales Southern Highlands town of Bowral. There the team will chat with Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes, taste-test what are claimed to be the best pies in Australia, and we will see Karl and Tim go up against thebrawniest highlanders in the country in a very unusual strongman competition.

Then the team will head for the glorious Gold Coast for a festival of sport and entertainment to celebrate the one-year countdown to the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Viewers will get a chance to see how the Gold Coast is transforming for Australia’s biggest international sporting event since the Sydney Olympics, and learn how they can make money from the Games.

TODAY will be joined by Aussie sporting greats Sally Pearson and Libby Trickett, Rugby Sevens star Charlotte Caslick, The Volleyroos, and Borobi the Blue Koala, the official mascot for the Games. 

On Wednesday it’s off to Tasmania’s magnificent west coast and the beautiful town of Strahan – gateway to the state’s World Heritage-listed national parks, where the rainforest meets the sea. The team will take in the stunning natural sights from a river cruise, jump aboard a steam railway train and head to the dunes for high-octane buggy racing. They will also explore the town’s fascinating convict history.

Next stop is the scenic seaside town of Inverloch in Victoria’s Gippsland region, an easy 90-minute drive from Melbourne. There the team will be camping in true Aussie style: waking up, barbecuing, and broadcasting from the front of their caravans at the Inverloch Big4 Holiday Park. As well as testing Karl and Lisa’s camping skills, the team will dig for dinosaurs, check out the indoor water park and showcase all the spectacular local scenery.

TODAY will end the week with a massive party in the African savannah at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast. They’ll be joined by all manner of wildlife as well as one of the country’s favourite families – Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin. While Karl runs from the crocodiles, cobras and koalas, Lisa will sit down with Bindi Irwin for an Australian exclusive.  Plus, they’ll be offering free entry to the first 200 people who come down to the zoo before 7.00am that morning.

Lisa Wilkinson said: “So excited to be finally heading off on our first We Love Australia week for 2017. Although I’m definitely counting the days until we reach spectacular places like the Southern Highlands and the pristine beauty of Tasmania, I’m secretly longing for the big camping bash down at Inverloch in Victoria. Holiday and camping parks are the foundation of all good Aussie holidays. If you have a fun, holiday memory chances are it happened there.” 

Karl Stefanovic said: “Definitely ready to dust off the old double pluggas and hit the road, if not a tad nervous about the number of animals we have on the show. Sounds like there’s a lot. What could possibly go wrong?”