By Fatma Younis
The new series of Celebrity Race Across the World will see four celebrity pairs race 4,660 miles from Kuching in Malaysian Borneo to Melbourne, Australia, relying solely on local transport, a map, and a budget of £26 per day.
Start: Kuching, Malaysian Borneo
The teams begin in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. Known as “cat city” for its many feline statues, Kuching features landmarks such as the S-shaped Darul Hana Bridge and the floating Masjid India Kuching mosque. The waterfront promenade offers stalls, cafes, and museums, while the city serves as a gateway to Bako National Park with its proboscis monkeys and unique rock formations.
Checkpoint One: Pangkalan Bun, Indonesian Borneo
The first leg covers 1,000 kilometres to Pangkalan Bun, a city straddling the Arut River. Most visitors use it as a base for Tanjung Puting National Park, one of the world’s best places to see orangutans, including the Camp Leakey research centre and an orangutan care centre. Teams could choose a coastal route via Sematan and Pontianak, which lies on the equator, or an interior route through Dayak communities living in longhouses.
Finish: Melbourne, Australia
The race concludes in Melbourne, Australia’s cultural capital, known for its pedestrianised laneways, street art, galleries such as the National Gallery of Victoria, and major sporting events including the Australian Open and Formula 1 Grand Prix. The city also hosts the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the Ian Potter Centre showcasing Aboriginal art.
Celebrity Race Across the World airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesdays at 8pm.
