Free Rein

World Premiere

Free Rein

About the show

The Kimberley is one of the harshest, most unforgiving and extreme parts of the Australian continent. Its arid deserts, majestic plateaux and crocodile-infested rivers are home to about 30,000 settlers, who proudly claim it as Australia’s last frontier.

Like that other great frontier in the American West, the Kimberley landscape has proved fertile territory for nation-building myths and larger-than-life heroes, none more central to the Australian imagination than the iconic Aussie drover.

Symbols of freedom and rugged individualism, the Aussie drovers (or stockmen) played a critical role in opening up the Kimberley to European settlement. Their consummate horsemanship, stoic survival skills and appetite for adventure also made them great Australian archetypes – most recently brought to life by Baz Luhrmann’s epic feature film 'Australia'.

125 years after the first cattle drovers arrived in the frontier lands of the Kimberley, two hard-riding Australian icons of the modern era experience the pioneering spirit of the drovers first-hand, by embarking on a contemporary horseback adventure along one of the region’s legendary stock routes.

One of them is Bryan Brown, the face of Australian cinema, a much-loved larrikin of convict descent and the quintessential Aussie bloke. The other is Rachel Ward, born in England but whose great-grandfather was a Governor-General of Australia.

Although they come from radically different backgrounds, two passions that this husband-and-wife team share is a love of horses and a fascination with the frontier spirit of the Australian Outback. These are the drivers that set them off on a challenging personal journey across this vast and remote region of Australia to unlock the story of the Kimberley.

Latest Fan Comments

5 comments so far...

  1. Christine Collinge

    Monday 27 February 2012, 12:50am

    I too, was unable to see Full Rein when it aired and would love a dvd of it. I stayed at Diggers Rest Station with my hiusband & kids in 2004 and it was definetly the highlight of our trip. Its very frustrating that so many good shows are only on pay tv as many , like us, do not have it.
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  2. Melissa M. Wilson

    Wednesday 22 February 2012, 5:07pm

    I would like to purchase this episode on the Kimberley with Bryan Brown & Rachel Ward. It introduces the viewer to an adventure not many are able to experience. The American West must have been a piece of cake compared to the Outback of beautiful and dangerous Australia. If anyone knows how to purchase this episode please get back to a curious American. Love your country and hope to visit someday.
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  3. robyn keher

    Tuesday 17 January 2012, 8:15am

    would love to be able to purchase the dvd as i was not able to see it when it was screened.
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  4. Sandra Murphy

    Monday 7 November 2011, 9:12pm

    I could not watch Free Rein when it aired in Perth, Western Australia. Is there any possibility of it being shown again on Free to Air television in Australia? It looks too good to miss!
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  5. Carol Becker

    Saturday 29 October 2011, 7:17pm

    Looking forward to sharing in this adventure! A wonderful story, a dream-come-true for the actors and fulfillment of fantasy for armchair travellers!
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