‘Snakes everywhere, skin peeling’: Why Chrissy Zaremba almost walked out on Australia Survivor

She’s a fast fan favourite on the new Australian Survivor, but Sunshine Coast teacher Chrissy Zaremba has revealed how Michael Crocker tricked her onto the show and the conditions that almost made her walk out on day one

Contestants often feign naivety on Australian Survivor to trick their tribe mates. Sunshine Coast teacher Chrissy Zaremba is not one of those people.

The 42-year-old mother of three was convinced to go on the Blood v Water season of the reality series by her brother-in-law, former NRL star and long-time Survivor fan Michael Crocker, despite never having seen an episode.

“He just rang me one day last year during Covid and said I’ve got an idea … I just laughed and hung up,” Zaremba told Confidential.

“Then he rang again. I didn’t have any idea. He said, it’s on an island, there’s salt water and coconuts. I was completely steered left field.”

NRL Legend Michael Crocker and sister in law Chrissy Zaremba are contestants on Australia Survivor: Blood v Water. Photo: Channel 10/ Supplied

But after a difficult Covid period, Zaremba thought: “if one student or friend, someone struggling watches this and goes, look at this screw loose having a crack, if it inspires one person to do something out of the box then I win.”

“My friends already think I’m a bit of nut-job so might as well give them something to watch.”

After being cast on the show Zaremba watched the last season of Australian Survivor and after 10 episodes “got so scared watching it I switched it off”.

She soon found herself in the harsh Charters Towers environment, in North Queensland, late last year with no idea about the game she was playing.

“There was no, turn the cameras off deliver a pillow. It was full on,” she said.

“I was exhausted. On the first day I remember thinking I’ve got to get out of here. I’m a bit of a princess. Your skin was peeling, there’s snakes everywhere. The environment I saw is just so far from what I’m used to. I don’t like dirt or dust. The ill-preparedness made it more shocking.”

“I had grey hair in days, I stank. We had no toothpaste or deodorant.

“I had to get a family together quickly or else I would have walked.”

Despite her uncertainty over the show, Zaremba has been a quick favourite when the first three episodes aired on Channel 10 last week, having become the declared mother of the water tribe.

“I’m a teacher so I avoid bullying at all costs. The reality was I had to lie cheat and deceive to win. I had to do all the things I preach to my kids to not do every day,” she said.

“(But) I’m a ridiculously good judge of character. I know when my kids are lying to me … I backed my instincts on who made me feel safe.

When it came to Crocker, she said “Let’s wait for the edit – if I do OK maybe I’ll thank him, but right now he owes me big.”

Australian Survivor: Blood v Water continues on Sunday on Channel 10.