The Amazing Race Australia 8, also known as The Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition 2, is the eighth season of The Amazing Race Australia, an Australian reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. The season is the fifth instalment of Network 10's iteration of the show and the second celebrity edition. Hosted by Beau Ryan, it features eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship and including at least one celebrity contestant, in a race across the world to win the grand prize of A$100,000 for the winners' chosen charity.
This season visited three continents and four countries and travelled over during twelve legs. Starting in Buenos Aires, racers travelled through Argentina, South Africa, Namibia and Thailand before finishing in Bangkok. The season premiered on 9 September 2024 and concluded on 20 October 2024.
MMA fighter Tai "Bam Bam" and his brother Logan Tuivasa were the winners of this season, while AFL player Billy Brownless and his son Oscar finished in second place and married country singers Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley finished in third place.
Production Development and filming
On 24 October 2023, The Amazing Race Australia was renewed for a second celebrity season. In January 2024, Daniel Monaghan, SVP Content and Programming, said that the route for this season would be going "a bit further" compared to the previous season. During the launch event for Top Gear Australia in early May 2024, Ryan stated that filming would start "relatively soon".
Filming for this season began on 7 May 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In an interview after filming began, Monaghan announced that this season would travel to multiple continents, after the previous season only visited Asia, in an anti-clockwise direction. Later in the month, the show visited Spitzkoppe, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, Namibia. In September, it was revealed that the season visited the continents of South America, Africa and Asia and the countries of Argentina, South Africa, Namibia and Thailand.
Casting Former NRL player Matthew Johns was rumoured to have been set to compete with his son Cooper; however, they dropped out at the last minute.
Release Broadcast At upfronts in 2023, Network 10 announced that the season would air in the second half of 2024. On 16 May, Monaghan stated that the season would air after the third season of Hunted. On 20 August 2024, Network 10 announced that the season was scheduled to premiere on 9 September.
Cast
The cast consists of celebrities and their relatives and friends.
ContestantsNotabilityAgeRelationshipCharityStatus Comedian 41Son & MumMudgin-Gal Women's CentreEliminated 1st(in Buenos Aires, Argentina) 63 Singer & actress 48SistersBlack Dog InstituteEliminated 2nd(in La Caldera, Argentina) 50 Married at First Sight 6 contestant 35EngagedBraveheartsEliminated 3rd(in Tilcara, Argentina) Love Island 1 contestant 31 Model 30DatingendEDEliminated 4th(in Johannesburg, South Africa) Influencer 26 DJ 39BestiesThe Salvation Army's 614Eliminated 5th(in Krugersdorp, South Africa) 38 Professional soccer player 29Matildas TeammatesNational Breast Cancer FoundationEliminated 6th(in Dorob National Park, Namibia) Professional soccer player 32 Olympic swimmer 41MatesReachout AustraliaEliminated 7th(in Usakos, Namibia) 38 Comedian 48Married Cure EB FoundationEliminated 8th(in Phuket, Thailand) 44 Singer 43Married Country SingersRural AidThird place Singer 42 Australian Football League player 57Dad & SonRead The PlayRunners-up 24 Mixed martial artist 31BrothersSydney Region Aboriginal Corporation Winners 35
Future appearances Cyrell Paule competed on the twelfth season of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2026.
Results The following teams are listed with their placements in each leg. Placements are listed in finishing order.
A placement with a dagger () indicates that the team was eliminated. An placement with a double-dagger () indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Pit Stop in a non-elimination leg and had to perform a Speed Bump task in the following leg. An italicized and underlined placement indicates that the team was the last to arrive at a Virtual Pit Stop, and had to perform a Speed Bump task in the following leg. There was no rest period at this Virtual Pit Stop with all teams instructed to continue racing. A indicates that the teams encountered an Intersection.
+Team placement (by leg) Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Bam Bam & Logan9th1st2nd1st2nd4th1st3rd3rd2nd2nd1stBilly & Oscar6th2nd8th7th6th3rd4th4th4th3rd2ndBrooke & Adam4th3rd6th4th1st1st2nd2nd1st3rd1st3rdPete & Bridget8th7th5th6th7th6th3rd1st2nd1st Thorpie & Christian2nd4th7th5th5th5th5th Chloe & Emily1st5th1st3rd4th2nd Havana & Steph5th6th3rd2nd3rd Jett & Lily3rd8th4th Cyrell & Eden10th9th Nat & Mel7th Luke & Julie
Race summary
Leg 1 (Argentina)
Episode 1 (9 September 2024) Prize: A stay at a hotel suite during the Pit Stop (awarded to Chloe & Emily) Eliminated: Luke & Julie Locations Buenos Aires, Argentina (Plaza de Mayo – Casa Rosada) (Starting Line) Buenos Aires (Obelisco de Buenos Aires) Buenos Aires (Plaza Intendente Alvear – Gomero de la Recoleta) Buenos Aires (Casal de Catalunya Plaza Dorrego) Buenos Aires (La Boca – Caminito) Buenos Aires (Silos Puerto Madero) Buenos Aires (Centro Cultural Kirchner)
Episode summary Teams set off from Plaza de Mayo and had to travel by taxi from Obelisco de Buenos Aires to Gomero de la Recoleta, where they had to find a statue of Atlas with their next clue. There, teams had to find four paseadores de perros – dog walkers – and count their dogs (35) before receiving their next clue. This season's first Detour was a choice between National Dance or National Sandwich. In National Dance, teams had to make their way to the theatre inside Casal de Catalunya and perform an Argentine tango to the satisfaction of a judge before receiving their next clue. In National Sandwich, teams had to cook 24 choripánes, consisting of chorizo, chimichurri, salsa and bread, in Plaza Dorrego before receiving their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to travel by taxi to the neighbourhood of La Boca. Once there, they had to recite a football chant for the Boca Juniors football club to the satisfaction of a judge before receiving their next clue. Teams then had to travel by taxi to Silos Puerto Madero before travelling by foot to the Pit Stop: the Centro Cultural Kirchner. Additional note Freestyle football star Bárbara Roskin appeared as the Pit Stop greeter for this leg.
Leg 2 (Argentina)
Episode 2 (10 September 2024) Eliminated: Nat & Mel Locations Buenos Aires (Retiro Bus Station) → Salta (Terminal de Ómnibus de Salta) Salta (Cerro San Bernardo) Salta (Parque San Martin) Salta (Monument General Martin Miguel de Guemes) Vaqueros (Finca La Huella) San Lorenzo (Finca Lesser) La Caldera (Dique Campo Alegre) Episode summary During the Pit Stop, teams travelled to Salta. Once there, teams had to travel by taxi to the top of Cerro San Bernardo and find their next clue. Teams then had to take the cable car down Cerro San Bernardo to Parque San Martín in order to reach the Roadblock. In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to search amongst Carnival dancers at Monument General Martin Miguel de Guemes for one with a pattern that matched a provided swatch. Racers then had to memorise a medallion worn by the dancer and pick out the correct one from a table before receiving their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Strong Stomach or Soft Touch. For both Detour tasks, teams first had to drive to Finca La Huella. In Strong Stomach, teams had to eat a cabeza guateada – roasted cow head – before receiving their next clue. In Soft Touch, teams had to extract two kilograms of goat milk before receiving their next clue. After the Detour, teams had to drive to Finca Lesser, where they encountered this season's only Intersection. Two teams had to join up and perform a gaucho horseback riding routine before receiving their next clue, which directed teams to the Pit Stop: Dique Campo Alegre in La Caldera. The teams intersected as follows: Bam Bam & Logan and Jett & Lily, Chloe & Emily and Thorpie & Christian, Brooke & Adam and Billy & Oscar, Havana & Steph and Pete & Bridget, Cyrell & Eden and Nat & Mel.
Leg 3 (Argentina)
Episode 3 (15 September 2024) Prize: A stay at a hotel suite during the Pit Stop (awarded to Chloe & Emily) Eliminated: Cyrell & Eden Locations Purmamarca (Ruta Nacional 9) Purmamarca (Estacionamiento Municipal) Purmamarca (Paseo de los Colorados Iglesia Santa Rosa de Lima) Tilcara (Caravana de Llamas) Tilcara (Hostal La Casa Del Puente) Tilcara (Pucará de Tilcara)
Episode summary During the Pit Stop, teams travelled from Salta to Purmamarca. Once there, teams were instructed to drive to the Fábrica de Ladrillos inside Estacionamiento Municipal and mould 18 adobe bricks before receiving their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Walk Like An Incan or Dress Like An Incan. In Walk Like An Incan, teams had to load provisions into traditional Incan blankets known as aguayos, carry them on their backs down the mountain trail in Paseo de los Colorados and deliver them to a nearby shop before receiving their next clue. In Dress Like An Incan, teams had to find the town market outside of Iglesia Santa Rosa de Lima and tie items onto an ekeko statue so that it matched an example before receiving their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to dress a llama from the Caravana de Llamas in Tilcara and then lead it on a walk through a valley before receiving their next clue. After the Roadblock, teams had to drive to Hostal La Casa Del Puente and then travel by foot to the Pit Stop: Pucará de Tilcara.
Leg 4 (Argentina → South Africa)
Episode 4 (16 September 2024) Eliminated: Jett & Lily Locations Buenos Aires (Aeroparque Jorge Newbery) → Johannesburg, South Africa (O. R. Tambo International Airport) Sandton (Sandton Station) Sandton (Sandton Station) → Johannesburg (Johannesburg Park Station) Johannesburg (Kwa Mai Mai Traditional Market London House) Johannesburg (Diagonal Street) Johannesburg (Rand Club) Johannesburg (Hallmark House)
Episode summary During the Pit Stop, teams flew to Johannesburg, South Africa. After departing from Sandton Station, teams were instructed to travel by train to Johannesburg Park Station and find their next clue. This leg's Detour was a choice between Healer or Styler. In Healer, teams had to travel to the Kwa Mai Mai Traditional Market and set up a nganga stall by placing items next to the correct Zulu language labels before receiving their next clue. In Styler, teams had to find London House in Johannesburg's fashion district. Once there, one team member had to use a sewing machine to sew a garment called a dashiki while the other team member had to sew a matching tote bag by hand before receiving their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to eat a popular street food dish called walkie talkies – grilled chicken heads and feet – at Diagonal Street before receiving their next clue. After the Roadblock, teams had to travel by foot to the Rand Club and search the club for representations of the Big five game until they found an African buffalo statue with their next clue, which directed them to the Pit Stop: Hallmark House.
Leg 5 (South Africa)
Episode 5 (22 September 2024) Locations Sandton (The Catalyst) Soweto (Lebo's Backpackers) Soweto (Mandela House) Soweto (Umbuyisa School of Arts and Culture) Soweto (Onions&All Take-Away Restaurant Emaplazini/Polar's Place & 6362 Mashane Street) Soweto (Soweto Theatre)
Episode summary Teams received their first clue at the Pit Stop hotel and were instructed to travel to Lebo's Backpackers in Soweto, which had their next clue. In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to assemble a bicycle before receiving their next clue.