By Salma El-Sakka
The fourth series of Celebrity Race Across the World has begun, with four celebrity pairs embarking on a 4,660-mile journey from Kuching in Malaysian Borneo to Melbourne, Australia, using only local transport and a daily budget of £26.
Start: Kuching, Malaysian Borneo
The teams set off from Kuching, the capital of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. Known as "cat city" for its many feline statues, Kuching features the S-shaped Darul Hana Bridge, the floating Masjid India mosque, and a vibrant waterfront. The city's diverse ethnic communities influence its festivals and cuisine, including Sarawak Laksa and Kolo Mee. Kuching also serves as a gateway to Bako National Park, home to proboscis monkeys and unique rock formations.
Checkpoint One: Pangkalan Bun, Indonesian Borneo
The first leg covered 1,000 km 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 rehabilitation centre. Teams could choose a coastal route via Sematan and Pontianak, which lies on the equator, or an interior route through Dayak communities in longhouses near Mount Kuwai and Tae Village.
Checkpoint Two: Balikpapan, Indonesian Borneo
The second leg spanned 1,200 km northeast to Balikpapan, Kalimantan's oil and economic hub. While not a major tourist destination, the city offers beaches such as Kemala and Manggar, and the Wain River Protected Forest with sun bears and langur monkeys. Teams could travel via the Trans Kalimantan Highway or venture through dense jungle to remote villages like Sei Gohong and Loksado in the Meratus Mountains, with many using Palangka Raya's bus network for connections.
Finish: Melbourne, Australia
The race concludes in Melbourne, Australia's cultural capital, known for its pedestrianised laneways, street art, coffee scene, and major sporting events like the Australian Open and Formula 1 Grand Prix. The city also hosts significant Aboriginal cultural institutions, including the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the Ian Potter Centre. Celebrity Race Across the World airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Wednesdays at 8pm.
