Stacey Dooley Explores Kangaroo Island in New Travel Documentary

Presenter Stacey Dooley has ventured to Kangaroo Island in South Australia for the Channel 4 travel documentary series Stacey Dooley’s Australia: Off the Beaten Track. The program explores the island's communities as they continue to rebuild following severe bushfires that destroyed half of the region seven years ago.

During her visit, Dooley stops at Kangala Kangaroo and Wildlife Rescue, an organisation established during the fires by Lisa and Jared Karran. The rescue founders cared for orphaned animals including kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and possums. Lisa Karran shared accounts of kangaroo mothers who shielded their offspring from the flames, sustaining fatal injuries to their feet while keeping their young safe.

The documentary also features interviews with local residents affected by the disaster, including Ben, a sheep farmer who lost his home and flock to the inferno. Dooley examines smartphone footage of the fire's aftermath during her conversation with the farmer. Later segments of the journey follow the presenter as she participates in a boat trip to swim with local seal populations off the coast of the island.

The series marks a shift for the investigative reporter, who is known for previous documentary work covering international social issues and trauma on BBC networks, alongside ongoing projects handling topics such as murder, suicide and addiction.

Review coverage from The Guardian noted that the lighter, personality-driven format presents different challenges for the presenter compared to investigative reporting, observing that the inoffensive schedule-filler relies on personal encounters and local landscapes.