Fraser Island stars as final stop

IT WAS one of the Fraser Coast's best-kept secrets.

The Amazing Race Australia host Grant Bowler at the show’s final location – Fraser Island. Picture: Ata Taefi Photography

IT WAS one of the Fraser Coast's best-kept secrets.

The Amazing Race, Channel 7's wildly popular television program, had its grand final last night - and the location of the show's last episode was none other than our own World Heritage-listed Fraser Island.

Kingfisher Bay Resort group general manager and director of Tourism Fraser Coast David Hay said keeping the show's final location a secret wasn't easy, but somehow they managed to do it.

"Filming on Fraser Island was conducted under a shroud of secrecy on a gorgeous sunny day, with only a few key resort managers and our partners - Queensland Parks and Wildlife, Air Fraser Island and Aussie Trax 4WD in the know," Mr Hay said.

"Fraser Explorer Guides and Hervey Bay locals - Col Anderson, Les Sampson and Kevin Kinbacher - featured in the final show as contestants raced to the ultimate finish line on the shores of Lake McKenzie.

"It was pretty tough keeping things under wraps during filming - especially with the tell-tale yellow and red markers dotted around the island - but we managed it," Mr Hay said.

"And the results were spectacular." Victorian police officers Andrew Thoday and Shane Haw beat fellow finalists Paul Montgomery and Steve Scale and Michelle and Jo Troy in a thrilling race to the finish line at Fraser Island's picturesque Lake McKenzie aired last night .

Just a few days before setting out on their epic five-week race around the world, Thoday received a good omen in the form of a fortune cookie.

"I've still got it right here actually. It says: 'you will be a contest winner'," he said.

The show reaches an audience of 1.2 million people in Australia alone.

The cunning contestants rush to be the first to arrive at "pit stops" at the end of each leg of the race to win various prizes and to avoid coming in last which could see them eliminated or placed at a disadvantage during the next leg of the race.

Bringing the conclusion of the race to Fraser Island would be a major boost for tourism, Mr Hay said.

"In such tough times for tourism, we're absolutely chuffed we were able to play a part in showcasing Fraser Island to such a wide audience and hope that the images of all the experiences you can have on the island will help entice more domestic visitors to our shores," he said.

Originally published as Fraser Island stars as final stop