- Water Sports
- Combat Sport
- Live TV & Guide
- Documentary
- Te Ao Māori
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- British & Irish Drama
- Foreign Language
- Natural World
- News & Current Affairs
- Sport Documentaries
- Home & Living
- Adult Animation
- Sustainability
- Travel Guides
Join these hilarious and unconventional every-day travellers as they call it how they see it, reviewing trips across Australia and the world. Bon voyage!
- Thursday 9 Nov 2023
PGC The guides are off to explore Morocco. Landing smack bang in the hustle and bustle of Marrakech, they experience Morocco's famed open-air marketplace, traditional cuisine, and more.
- Wednesday 7 Feb
PG Our intrepid Travel Guides have dusted off the slide projector, ready to take a walk down memory lane and reflect on the amazing holidays enjoyed over the past seven years.
- Tuesday 6 Feb
G Our Guides are on a tour of Great Britain taking in buzzing London, the English countryside and the wilds of Scotland and Edinburgh.
- Advertisement
- Monday 5 Feb
M Our Travel Guides are heading off on the beaten track for a super-sized, self-drive safari through South Africa before making a flying visit to Zambia's Victoria Falls.
- Thursday 2 Nov 2023
PG Our Guides are heading to Melbourne for a week long vacation in Victoria's capital of cool before a quick pitstop on Phillip Island.
- Thursday 26 Oct 2023
PG Our Travel Guides are about to embark on a Finnish adventure - a winter wonderland like no other! From the quirky cities to the rugged north, it's one heck of an Arctic ride.
- Thursday 19 Oct 2023
PG Hold on to your hobbit hats, because our Travel Guides are crossing the ditch to Auckland, New Zealand before hitting the road for an epic North Island road trip! S6 E6
- Thursday 12 Oct 2023
M Giddy Up! Our Travel Guides are getting behind the wheel on a real rural road trip through the New South Wales Riverina and Victorian High Country.
- Thursday 5 Oct 2023
G Our Travel Guides are ditching the rat race and hitting up the most chilled-out spot in the South Pacific - Vanuatu - for a tropical island adventure.
- Thursday 28 Sep 2023
ML Our Guides are in Malaysia for a truly multicultural experience. From the sights and sounds of Kuala Lumpur to the wilds of Borneo there's something here for everyone.
- Show more episodes
You may also like
Titles, characters and all other elements are the trade marks and copyright of TVNZ or its licensors. All rights reserved. Further details available here.
- Cast & crew
- User reviews
Episode list
Travel guides.
S1.E1 ∙ Tokyo
S1.e2 ∙ phuket, s1.e3 ∙ queenstown, s1.e4 ∙ oman, s1.e5 ∙ top end, s1.e6 ∙ south pacific cruise, s1.e7 ∙ gold coast, contribute to this page.
- See more gaps
- Learn more about contributing
More from this title
More to explore, recently viewed.
- Australian Celebrities
- Tips & Advice
- News & Trends
- Home & Tech
- Life & Culture
- Health & Wellbeing
- Homes To Love
- Home Beautiful
- Better Homes and Gardens
- Hard to Find
- Your Home and Garden
- Shop Your Home & Garden
- Now to Love
- Now to Love NZ
- That's Life
- Women's Weekly
- Women's Weekly Food
- NZ Woman's Weekly Food
- Gourmet Traveller
- Bounty Parents
- marie claire
- Beauty Heaven
- Beauty Crew
- ENTERTAINMENT
Everything you need to know about the Travel Guides cast
Travel Guides is one of Australia’s most beloved television shows, and with its crazy adventures and hilarious reviews, it’s not hard to see why.
WATCH BELOW: Travel Guides: The Fren family visit a farm
Channel Nine’s Travel Guides has taken off this year, with the reality show seeing everyday holidayers act as travel critics.
The very different groups of ordinary Aussies go on the same week-long holiday – reviewing the cuisine, accommodation, activities and local sights, where they tell it how they see it.
So, here’s everything that you need to know about this season’s cast.
Matt and Brett
New to the block are Matt and Brett, who have been together for 18 years and married for seven.
Matt, 45, works for the local council while Brett, 51, is a primary school teacher, and the two love to travel – meaning they have a lot of opinions on how holidays should be.
The difference between the two is that while Matt loves to organise everything, do everything and eat out for every meal, Brett is happy to go along for the ride.
They are quick with biting commentary on everything around them but are generous, kind and love a laugh.
Fren family
The Frens are well equipped to cope with stressful family situations and can always find the funny side of any holiday disaster.
Mark, 59, is the upbeat and forthright dad, so when on holiday he loves to negotiate hotel room upgrades.
For more than 30 years he has been happily married to Cathy, 57, whose quirky sense of humour and distinctive laugh is contagious.
Together they have two kids, Victoria, 27, who is always ready to voice an opinion, and Jonathon, 29, who is the more reserved one of the bunch.
The Frens are unafraid to give anything a go, which often leads them into unpredictable situations.
Kev, Dorian, and Teng
This trio, made up of Kev, Dorian and Teng, are all good mates who share a love of junk food, computer games, music and movies.
Kev, 28, is the sensible pop-culture expert with an arts degree, while Dorian, 24, is laidback, polite and studying to become a teacher.
As for Teng, 25, he’s the risk-taker who has deferred uni for the last three years and is always looking for a good time.
All are Australian-born and their combined Chinese, Greek and Vietnamese heritage gives them a unique take on the world.
Despite Dorian’s Greek heritage, they often refer to themselves as “the three Asian boys” who are fearless and willing to give anything a go.
Kevin and Janetta
Kevin, 63, and Janetta, 69, describe themselves as ‘holiday snobs’, as they want the best of the best for everything.
The pair, who have been married for over three decades, don’t have children, and are passionate wine enthusiasts.
They also love exploring big cities, but before hitting the road, they make sure they do their research to ensure they experience the best holiday.
And if the quality or service isn’t up to scratch they will not hesitate to make a complaint – earning them the “we don’t suffer in silence” catchphrase.
Stack and Mel
Identical twin cowgirls, Stack and Mel, are still relatively new to the travel game, and are a little wary when venturing anywhere beyond the Outback. Even so, they are willing to give anything a crack.
The girls, 31, are big on the rodeo scene, competing together and against each other in roping events. They have travelled extensively around country Australia for competitions.
Having spent most of their lives in the bush, they are blissfully unaware of other cultures, languages and customs – but this doesn’t stop them voicing an opinion.
They are used to roughing it and are not easily impressed by fancy holidays, and would much rather camp outdoors with their horses and dogs rather than stay in the city.
Chanelle is the Shopping & Streaming Editor across a broad portfolio of digital brands, including ELLE, Marie Claire, WHO, Now To Love and more. With a background in entertainment and lifestyle, she loves any excuse to talk about her latest celebrity crush, what’s trending on #BookTok and the latest watercooler show she’s obsessing over.
Want 15% off at THE ICONIC?
Sign-up to the latest news from New Idea.
Disclaimer: By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
Related stories
Everyone who has been eliminated from MasterChef Australia so far
MAFS’ Melinda reveals she is not “on the best terms” with her ex Layton
Native ad body.
Has the winner of MasterChef Australia been leaked?
Phillip Island residents tell The Block to “rack off”
- Boating Holidays
- Asia & Pacific
- Australia & New Zealand
- Central America
- Indonesia & Indian Ocean
- Middle East
- Scandinavia
- South America
- Business Travel
- Culinary Travel
- Wellness Travel
- Golf Travel
- Travel Style
- Travel Gear
- Travel Fashion
- Real Estate
- Destination Weddings
- Fishing Holidays
- Tricks & Hacks
- Travel News
- #WHERETONEXT
- Read All the Issues
- Working with DRIFT Travel
- Submit Your Photos to DRIFT Travel
- DRIFT Travel Magazine Media Kit
The Travel Guides Cast: Everything About Salary and Living Conditions
The Travel Guides is a popular Australian reality TV series. It first aired in 2017 and was met with positive feedback from viewers. Australians were eager to watch a different type of reality TV series. They found this show to be a refreshing change from the regular selection of reality TV programs.
This series follows groups of travellers from Australia. All of the travellers are ordinary Australians, but each group is different from the next. Their job is to review the accommodations, cuisine, and tourist attractions.
However, this isn’t your ordinary travel series. The contestants on this show are put in unpredictable situations. It’s part of what makes this show unpredictable and humorous. Each group of travellers will have a different take on the situations at hand.
What Does the Cast Do on Travel Guides?
The cast of this hit reality series gets to go on exclusive vacations around the world. While they travel, they will experience different activities, try dishes custom to other cultures, and stay at local hotels and resorts. In exchange for this, they will leave brutally honest reviews.
In each episode of the series, the travellers will go on a week-long vacation (all expenses paid). The groups each consist of family members or close friends. They will leave their comfortable nest in Australia and venture to big cities worldwide.
Viewers are introduced to new groups of travellers each season, and some fan favourites have returned to the show. One of the most popular groups on the show is the Fren family, who has appeared in all five seasons.
These groups have gotten to travel to places all over the world. Some of the places they’ve visited include:
- Tokyo, Japan
- Perth, Australia
- Argentina & more
Does the Cast of Travel Guides Get Paid?
It hasn’t been released to the public how much the castmates of Travel Guides get paid. However, the Fren family had openly commented on how the show saved them when they were experiencing financial hardship with the restaurant they own.
Many reality TV shows made in Australia will provide contestants with weekly pay while filming. Travel Guides is a different scenario. Ordinary Australians get to travel to tourist destinations in Australia and internationally for free. All fees are covered, including accommodations, transportation, meals, shopping, and other activities they participate in. Since everything is free for travellers, they don’t have to worry about any expenses.
Whether or not the contestants get paid per episode and how much they earn hasn’t been revealed. Each group of family and friends do have the job of leaving a red hot honest review. Even if they don’t get paid, the free travelling and TV exposure are worth it.
A lot of Australian reality TV contestants are able to earn money because of the exposure they have gotten. Once the TV series airs, fans of the show begin following the castmates on social media and subscribing to their content. Well-known castmates have been able to use their exposure to get further opportunities, such as appearances on other TV series. It’s also common for them to get paid endorsement deals where brands pay them to post content on Instagram and other social media platforms.
Another way that these contestants use their exposure to earn money is through paid online gigs, like Cameo and similar platforms. This is when they record personal messages for fans for a cost. The more popular a castmate is, the more they can charge for a video. It’s also common for castmates to use paid subscription platforms, like Patreon and OnlyFans, to earn an income. Also, a lot of contestants may like to relax by gambling and choose a new Australian online casino .
What Are the Living Conditions Like on Travel Guides?
Every country these travellers visit will have different accommodations. The accommodations will be based on the culture of the country they visit. This is why the reviews from the Fren family, cowgirl twins, and other favourite castmates are always red hot.
For the most part, they get to experience good quality living conditions. However, since the accommodations are often different from what they are used to, it leads to some hilarious reviews. This is one of the main reasons why this reality TV series has been such a hit with Australians and other viewers around the world.
Every episode is a different experience for the castmates and the viewers. Travellers could be enjoying the lux life on a cruise, visiting a casino in the city, or going on an off-road adventure. They must be up for anything to get the full travel experience.
Will Travel Guides Return for Season 6?
Do you want to see the Fren family and other fan favourites back on your TV screen? Currently, there is no word on when season 6 will be released. This is because the 6th season hasn’t been renewed yet.
Fans of this beloved reality TV show shouldn’t have reason to worry about the series’ fate. It has been confirmed that the series hasn’t been cancelled and is just on a break.
Does the idea of temporarily leaving your job and travelling the world for free sound like a dream? That’s exactly what the castmates of this popular reality TV series get to experience. While there currently isn’t any information released on what contestants earn from filming the series, the experience they get is well worth it.
RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR
New Zealand’s first hotel led regenerative travel experience
Lights On! Harbour City transforms for Vivid Sydney 2024
Ways to Explore Canberra’s glistening centerpiece Lake Burley Griffin
Privacy overview.
Things to Do in Louisville KY
Travel Guides
- Entertainment
Catch Up On 9Now
S8 E2: Florida
S7 E10: Great Britain
S7 E8: Melbourne
S7 E5: Riverina
S7 E4: South Africa
S7 E3: L.A. and Vegas
S7 E1: India & Nepal
S6 E11: My Favourite Trips
S6 E9: South Africa
S6 E7: Finland
S6 E6: New Zealand
S6 E6: Great Ocean Road
S6 E5: Brisbane
S6 E4: Vanuatu
S6 E3: Malaysia
S6 E3: Flinders Ranges
S6 E2: Croatia
S5 E4: Sydney
S5 E2: Perth
S5 E1: Sunshine Coast
S4 E14: Louisiana
S4 E13: Texas
S4 E12: South Korea
S4 E11: The Kimberley
S4 E10: Mexico
S4 E9: Turkey
S4 E8: South Australia
S4 E7: Vietnam/Cambodia
S4 E6: Mauritius
S4 E5: Greece
S4 E4: Tasmania
S4 E3: Whitesundays
S4 E2: Red Centre
S4 E1: Byron
S3 E9: Canberra
S3 E8: Israel
S3 E7: The Philippines
S3 E6: South Australia Foodie Tour
S3 E5: India
S3 E4: Argentina
S3 E3: Taiwan
S3 E2: European Cruise
S3 E1: Hawaii
S2 E8: Western Australia
S2 E7: Sri Lanka
S2 E6: Tropical North Queensland
S2 E5: Vietnam
S2 E3: New Zealand
S2 E2: Bali
S2 E1: Italy
S1 E7: Gold Coast
S1 E6: Cruise
S1 E5: Top End
S1 E4: Oman
S1 E3: Queenstown
S1 E2: Phuket
S1 E1: Tokyo
More like this.
Mastermind Australia
Tipping Point
Deal or No Deal
Peter Rabbit
The Magic Canoe
Pig Goat Banana Cricket
Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!
Judge Jerry
Two and a Half Men
Billy the Exterminator
The Casagrandes
The Big Steal
Travel Guides Season 2
- Official Site
Ep 5 Vietnam
- Aired 5th March 2018
- Discover Something New
Ep 3 New Zealand
Ep 4 south africa, ep 6 tropical north queensland, ep 7 sri lanka, ep 8 western australia, more of travel guides, gordon ramsay's food stars, 25 episodes, 10 episodes, good chef hunting, 12 episodes, explore tv viking cruises portugal & spain, 427 episodes, 18 episodes.
- Connect your TV
Travel Guides Competition
Win a USA and Caribbean Explorer Cruise
Want your own Travel Guides experience?
We're giving away a 13-day USA and Caribbean Cruise Package for two , all thanks to My Cruises !
This incredible prize includes flights, accommodation and spending money, v alued at over $18,000!
Watch the Travel Guides ' Florida episode Sunday, 2 June at 7.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now, or catch-up on the episode on 9Now. Keep an eye out for the codeword in the show, enter it below and tell us in 25 words or less, why you deserve a USA and Caribbean Cruise Package for 2.
I confirm I have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions and Nine's Privacy Policy.
I agree to sign up to receive marketing communications via email from Ignite Travel Group - ABN 86 119 314 377 . I have read and consented to the Privacy Policy.
Game of Skill.
Competition is open to Australian permanent residents.
Entrants must be over 21 to enter and must be able to travel to the USA and Caribbean on 8 November 2025.
Competition opens 2/06/24 at 7:00pm AEST.
Competition closes 9/06/24 at 11:59pm AEST
Competition drawn 10/06/24 at 10:00am AEST.
Terms and Conditions. Nine's Privacy Policy
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Travel Guides returns for more amazing and adventurous destinations experienced first-hand by your favourite guides and critics. These everyday, ordinary Aussies bring a funny and fresh perspective to holiday reviews as they go to the same location for a week-long holiday. However, they won't all have the same experience. Each Travel Guide group will leave the audience in stitches with candid ...
Travel Guides is an Australian travel series which premiered on the Nine Network on 14 February 2017. [1] The series follows groups of ordinary Australians who take on the job of travel critics who experience the same week-long international and domestic holidays, and review the same accommodation, cuisine, and local sights. [2] [3]
Featuring both extraordinary overseas adventures and domestic delights, the seventh season of Travel Guides will also see most our favourite travel critics return, including Newcastle's budget-hunting Fren family, happy-go-lucky couple Matt and Brett, retired jetsetters Kevin and Janetta, and best mates Kev, Dorian and Teng.. Karly won Beauty and the Geek in 2023.
Look out world! Here comes the seventh season of Travel Guides as Australia's favourite travellers return in 2024. It's not just your old favourites "holiday snobs" Kevin and Janetta, the Frens, best mates Kev, Dorian and Teng and Matt and Brett who are jetting across the globe this year. Travel Guides is coming soon to Channel 9 and 9Now.
Nine's hilarious and addictive Travel Guides is back. Fasten your seatbelt and prepare for take-off as very different groups of ordinary Aussies become travel critics. In each episode families ...
Season 7. Visit official site. Our Guides start in Miami at South Beach. They'll explore Little Havana before visiting a gator park. From there to the Bahamas on the world's sixth largest cruise ship.
Season 4. Visit official site. Our travellers head out to Mauritius, Greece and more, while also exploring Australia's iconic destinations, including the Whitsundays, Alice Springs, Byron Bay & Tasmania.
Fans adore the show's hilarious cast as they travel beyond their comfort zones to explore random holiday destinations around the world. Now, Travel Guides is back for its latest season and will return to Nine and 9now on Sunday, May 19 at 7:00pm. While fans are very keen to see the friendly faces on our screens once more, there have been some changes to the traditional Travel Guides cast.
Travel Guides: With Jonathan Fren, Victoria Fren, Mark Fren, Cathy Fren. With humour from personal insights, five very different groups of people experience then rate the offerings of popular tourist destinations in Australia and around the world.
Travel Guides - TVNZ OnDemand. Join ordinary Kiwis as they explore the world and share their honest opinions. From Bali to Japan, see how they rate the sights, food and culture.
S1.E5 ∙ Top End. Tue, Mar 14, 2017. The guides go on an eventful road trip to one of Australia's favourite travel destinations. The Top End experience includes some rugged beauty and grandeur, but it soon becomes clear that not everyone is a happy camper. Rate.
The Australian version of the series in which groups of ordinary Australians take on the role of travel critics when they all go on the same holiday, which could visit an international or domestic destination, and experience the accommodation, cuisine and local sights that it has to offer. At the end of the holiday, each group gives a star rating out of five for the destination.
Season 2. Visit official site. Our everyday travellers head across the globe to give honest reviews of dream destinations, from Bologna to Bali, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Season 1. Visit official site. Our Travel Guides are soaring to the USA. Doing their first ever two week vacation: a road trip through Texas and the Deep South.
Channel Nine's Travel Guides has taken off this year, with the reality show seeing everyday holidayers act as travel critics. The very different groups of ordinary Aussies go on the same week-long holiday - reviewing the cuisine, accommodation, activities and local sights, where they tell it how they see it.
The Travel Guides is a popular Australian reality TV series. It first aired in 2017 and was met with positive feedback from viewers. Australians were eager to watch a different type of reality TV series. They found this show to be a refreshing change from the regular selection of reality TV programs.
Pack your bags and don't forget your passport this time, because Travel Guides is returning for a world tour.. The sixth season of the Logie Award-winning show will feature all-new overseas adventures when it premieres on Wednesday April 19 at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
Discover the best of Australian free-to-air TV all in one place, with the Freeview app for iOS and Android. Download now to search for your favourite shows from last night or last decade. Watch, Search & Discover great TV shows from ABC iView, SBS On Demand, 7 plus, 9Now & 10 Play.
The latest season of Travel Guides begins with an Australian focus, with The Guides travelling to Byron Bay, The Red Centre [Alice Springs], the Whitsundays and Tasmania. There are two further Aussie locations within the season, South Australia and The Kimberley. RELATED: The Travel Guides explore The Kimberley and encounter some terrifying creatures ...
Ep 5 Vietnam. up next. Ep 6 Tropical North Queensland. 47 MIN. Ep 7 Sri Lanka. 48 MIN. Ep 8 Western Australia. Our Travel Guides are in Vietnam. In Hanoi they'll live like the locals, navigating through busy streets, sampling cuisine, shopping and joining a motorbike tour.
The 50 Best TV Shows on Netflix, Ranked (May 2024) By Paste Staff May 24, 2024 | 3:00pm 5 Burning Questions We Still Have About GLOW By Clare Martin March 22, 2024 | 3:02pm
A Strange Day 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland, $12 in advance, $15 day of show, 21-plus. portlandhouseofmusic.com
The Guides are then off to traverse our great Southern Land. They'll take in the beauty of the Twelve Apostles, the wilds of Fraser Island and the sparkles of Noosa, the tall ships of Sydney Harbour, swimming with dolphins off the coast of Western Australia, and the delights of the Great Ocean Road on a week-long, family-friendly road trip that includes a taste of Sovereign Hill in beautiful ...
Win a USA and Caribbean Explorer Cruise. Want your own Travel Guides experience?. We're giving away a 13-day USA and Caribbean Cruise Package for two , all thanks to My Cruises!. This incredible prize includes flights, accommodation and spending money, v alued at over $18,000!. Watch the Travel Guides' Florida episode Sunday, 2 June at 7.00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now, or catch-up on the episode ...