Light your torches and get ready to play because “Survivor: Australia vs. the World” has officially begun! The international all-stars season, featuring seven returning players from the Australian franchise, as well as seven global “Survivor” superstars from America, Finland, New Zealand and Canada, kicked off on Sunday, August 17, 2025, welcoming all 14 castaways to the islands of Samoa for the “fast and furious” 16-day game, described by host Jonathan LaPaglia as “a battle 25 years in the making.”
In the end, the player who manages to outwit, outplay and outlast all the others will recieve a grand prize of $250,000 and the coveted title of “The Greatest ‘Survivor’ Player of All Time.”
From daunting Day One challenges to daring Tribal Council blindsides, here’s everything that went down on the very first episode of “Survivor: Australia vs. the World.”
Meet the Tribes of ‘Survivor: Australia vs. the World’
The premiere episode begins with the all 14 players arriving in Samoa, by plane, train and truck, this season’s contenders are introduced one by one, starting with the returning players from the Australian series, who enter first.
The Aussie Tribe: Shonee, Luke, Sarah, Kirby, Janine, George, and David
Network 10Three-time “Australian Survivor” player Shonee Bowtell enters first. Having competed on “Contenders vs. Champions,” “All Stars” and “Heroes vs. Villains,” Shonee enters the game holding the record for most days of “Australian Survivor” played out of any previous contestant.
Network 10Shonee is joined by Luke Toki, who first competed on the show’s fourth season in 2017 before returning to compete on “Champions vs. Contenders.” Known by fans as the “King of the Jungle,” Luke comments that competing on “Australia vs. the World” is like participating in “the Olympics for lying, cheating and stealing.”
Network 10Sarah Tilleke, who similarly competed on Season 4 of “Australian Survivor” with Luke, enters next, with LaPaglia describing the player as a “devious mastermind” in his voiceover narration of the contestant’s entrances.
Network 10LaPaglia then introduces Kirby Bentley for the Aussie tribe. Better known as “The Rebel Queen,” Kirby earned the title during her first and only “Survivor” appearance on the cast of “Titans vs. Rebels,” by pulling off blindside after blindside throughout the competition.
Network 10Kirby is followed by Janine Allis, refered to as the “Godmother of Negotiation” from “Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders,” and George Mladenov, better known as “Mad King George” from “Brains vs. Brawn” and “Heroes vs. Villains.”
Network 10“The motto I live by is glory or death,” says George as he arrives in Samoa, adding, “Nobody has been a more powerful player in ‘Survivor Australia’ than me.”
Network 10Ironically, the only former Australian winner on this season’s Aussie tribe, David Genat, enters next. American reality TV fans will know David from his winning performance on “Deal or No Deal Island” earlier this year, a feat that comes into play during the premiere episode of “Australia vs. the World” – but more on that later.
David, known as “The Golden God,” was similarly declared the “Sole Survivor” on “Australian Survivor: All Stars” after making his series debut on the cast of “Champions vs. Contenders.” His entrance rounds out the Aussie tribe before the international contestants for the “World” tribe are introduced.
The World Tribe: Tony, Parvati, Cirie, Kass, Lisa, Tommi and Rob
Perhaps the best known players to “Survivor” fans around the world, the American players enter the season next in a truck bearing the Stars and Stripes.
Network 10Standing in the bed of the truck is two-time “Survivor” winner Tony Vlachos, who claimed the title of “Sole Survivor” on both “Survivor: Cagayan” and “Survivor: Winners at War.” Having also appeared on the cast of “Game Changers” between his legendary victories, Tony tells the audience that he’s ready to “hit the ground running” on “Australia vs. the World,” adding that he’s gunning for the world title.
Network 10Behind the wheel is Parvati Shallow. Having already appeared on the casts of “Survivor: Cook Islands,” “Survivor: Micronesia,” “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” and “Survivor: Winners at War,” Paravati’s appearance on “Australia vs. the World” marks her fifth time competing.
“I’ve been playing this game for decades,” says Parvati, who won the title of “Sole Survivor” during her time on “Micronesia,” adding that she’s returned to Samoa to “claim the win that should’ve been mine 16 years ago,” referencing her last minute defeat on “Heroes vs. Villains” in 2009.
Network 10Riding shotgun, also returning for her fifth “Survivor” appearance, is Cirie Fields. Despite competing on the cast of “Survivor: Panama,” “Survivor: Micronesia,” “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” and “Survivor: Game Changers,” Cirie is remembered not only as a master strategist, but also as one of the best players to never win the game, a fact that she hopes to change this season.
Network 10Joining the trio of American stars on the World tribe are: Kass Bastrarche, a “deadly triple threat” from “Survivor: Quebec”; Lisa Holmes, a “strategic assassin” and former “Sole Survivor” of “Survivor: New Zealand”; Tommi Manninen, known to “Survivor: Finalnd” fans as “The Nordic Wolf”; and Rob Bentele, a “charming puppet master” and the “Sole Survivor” of “Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets,” who claims that his sole objective on “Australia vs. the World” is to “restore balance to the world of ‘Survivor’.”
Day 1: The Tribes Meet and Complete First Reward Challenge
After their introductions, both tribes arrive at the first Reward challenge of the season, giving the Aussie veterans their first look at their international competitors, with the players notably excited to see legends like Cirie, Parvati and Rob enter the scene.
After announcing the season’s $250,000 grand prize and handing out tribe buffs, Jonathan explains the season’s first challenge: In seven rounds, one player from each tribe will race down a water slide before having to scramble through a sand pit beneath a low-hangign cargo net. Once through the net, players will have to throw sandbags at a bell. The first player from each match-up to hit the bell will be able to choose one reward item from a shelf of supplies, which includes the following items: a tarp, comfort items, a basket of fruit, tea and coffee, champagne, flint, and a mysterious wooden box.
In Round 1, David from the Aussie tribe faces off against Rob from the World tribe. As the two players walk to the platform ahead of the challenge, David propositions Rob with a cross-tribe alliance. The terms of the deal? If Rob agrees to provide David with vital elimination information about the World tribe, David will offer the same information in return. Before Rob can agree or disagree to David’s alliance, Jonathan announces the start of the first round and both men fly down the water slide.
Despite an early lead for Rob, David gains ground as he scrambles under the cargo net and they both reach the sandbags at the same time. Unfortunately for the former winner, Rob manages to hit the bell on his first throw, scoring for the World tribe. Unsurprisingly, Rob selects the mysterious wooden box reward, though its contents remain a mystery for the time being.
Round 2 sees George from the Aussie tribe face off against Tommi from the World tribe. Neck and neck down the slide, Tommi slams into the net at the bottom, slowing him down as they move into the second part of the race. The vital seconds lost results in George landing the first throw, striking the bell and scoring for the Aussie tribe. George then selects the flint reward for his tribe, ensuring that they’ll have access to fire when they arrive at camp.
Aussie Kirby goes head-to-head with Parvati for the World tribe in Round 3. Despite maintaining a lead down the slide and under the net, Kirby hits the bell on her first throw, defeating the former winner and earning the fruit basket reward for her tribe.
In Round 4, Luke gets the jump on Tony, scoring for the Aussie tribe before Tony is even able to make it off from under the net. Luke subsequently selects the tarp reward for his tribe.
Cirie wins Round 5 over Aussie player Sarah, selecting the comfort items reward for the World tribe. The World tribe scores again in the next round as Kass defeats Janine and selects the tea and coffee reward.
In the final round, Lisa from the World tribe faces off against Shonee from the Aussie tribe for the final reward of the challenge – a few bottles of champagne to celebrate the start of the game. Despite being an open lover of all things alcoholic, Shonee is unable to hit the bell on her first throw, and doesn’t even have a chance to throw a second as Lisa earns the title “one hit wonder” as she rings the bell on her first try, scoring the final reward for the World tribe.
As the tribes are dismissed to their respective camps after the challenge, here’s a breakdown of what each team took home to kick off the 16-day game:
- World Tribe: Mystery box, comfort items, tea and coffee, and champagne
- Aussie Tribe: Flint, fruit basket, and tarp
Day 1: Allies (and Rivalries) Form at Camp
The premiere episode continues with both teams arriving at their respective camps, where the strategizing begins as players scramble to form alliances, already thinking about the upcoming Tribal Council Ceremony on Day 2.
Day One at the World Tribe Camp
When the members of the World tribe arrive at their camp, they immediately try to open the mysterious wooden box only to realize that they need a key to unlock its contents. The castaways search their other rewards and camp site for any sign of the key, but to no avail.
With the box off their minds, the team pops the bubbly, cheers the start of the game, and sets to building their shelter, all the while testing the waters of potential alliances.
In confessional, Parvati announces her intention to keep a strong alliance with her fellow American players Cirie and Tony, both of whom she’s played with before, though she admits she’s worried about Tony’s “lose cannon” gameplay. To solidfy the alliance, Parvati approaches Tony, who admits he’s worried about the perception of being seen as a strong 3-person alliance, particularly with the non-US castaways making up the majority of the World tribe.
Despite Tony’s apprehensions, Cirie seems excited to be playing with Parvati again, and teases the return of their legendary “Black Widow Brigade” alliance from “Survivor: Micronesia,” which Parvati ultimately won. Regardless, Cirie similarly recognizes the potential threat the American players pose, and sets to forming alliances with the other World tribe members to expand her voting options.
Meanwhile, Rob pulls in the non-American World tribe members (Tommi, Kass and Lisa) to form a strong four-person alliance and announces his intention to eliminate an American player at the first Tribal Council ceremony.
“We are the only people who are alone here,” Rob tells the others. “You’ve got seven horses for Australia. You’ve got three horses for America. Our countries have one horse in this race. One of us leaves, and the Americans tear us to pieces.”
While Tommi and Kass appear to be on board with Rob’s plan (at least for the time being) Lisa is clearly star-struck by the legendary American players, namely Cirie.
While collecting bamboo for the shelter, Lisa informs Cirie: “Like everyone else in the world, you’re my favorite ‘Survivor’ player,” adding that it’s a “dream come true” to play alongside the legendary castaway. By the end of their conversation, Lisa and Cirie form a secret alliance, promising that they’ll never target one another at Tribal Council.
Later in the day, Parvati similarly attempts to forge alliances with the non-US World tribe members, pulling Rob into a conversation in the woods.
“I tend to eat guys like Rob for breakfast,” says Parvati in confessional. “But Rob gives me options.”
Attempting to manipulate the South African player into an alliance, Parvati reveals that she observed Rob and David conversing during the reward challenge. Unbeknowst to the other players, Parvati has a pre-existing relationship with David, with both of them having competed on “Deal or No Deal Island,” which, at the time of filming “Australia vs. the World” has not made its debut.
Parvati informs Rob that she knows David, adding that she knows David is a fan of Rob’s gameplay, hoping to flatter her way into an alliance. Rob promises not to reveal Parvati’s “DONDI” secret to the other tribe members and agrees (at least to Parvati’s face) to work with her. However, in confessional, Rob reiterates his conviction in eliminating an American in the first Tribal Council.
Day One at the Aussie Tribe Camp
At the Aussie tribe camp, pre-existing connections between players once again come into play as alliances form. Luke and David, who previously competed together on “Australian Survivor: Champions vs. Contenders,” fall into an easy alliance with little discussion.
David similarly pulls fellow “Champions vs. Contenders” alum Janine into his alliance, though he admits his concerns that being the only former “Survivor” winner on the tribe will put a target on his back.
George, recognizing the other men as major threats, especially then paired together, attempts to form alliances of his own. Unfortunately, the only player on the tribe that George has a pre-existing relationship with is Shonee, who he eliminated when they played together on “Heroes vs. Villains.”
Despite George’s attempts to clear the air with Shonee, she reveals in confessional that she has no intention of working with the “Mad King” this season, telling the camera: “I don’t want to work with George, under any circumstance,” adding that a driving motivation for her return to “Australia vs. the World” was to exact her revenge on George for cutting her “Survivor” journey short last time. Instead, Shonee approaches Kirby to form a secret alliance, to which Kirby, who also has no prior connections on the Aussie tribe, agrees.
As George continues to scramble for a foothold in the game, David and Luke lure him into a false sense of security, with the three men forming the “Power Bottoms” alliance. While George leaves the discussion believing he’s finally found allies, David and Luke laugh about how easy it was to manipulate the “Mad King.”
“[George] might be a strategic master,” says David in confessional. “But he’s got zero-self awareness.”
Day 2: Tribes Compete in First Immunity Challenge
Day 2 of “Australia vs. the World” dons on the World tribe, where Parvati celebrates her 42nd birthday. The five-time player similarly comments on another momentous occasion that Day 2 brings her, telling the camera: “If I stay in this game tonight, I am tied for the most amount of days played for ‘Survivor’ ever [at] 152.”
Tied with current record-holder Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano, Parvati adds: “I’m coming for that record.”
Meanwhile, Rob Belente jokes about gifting Parvati with a blindside elimination for her birthday before the World tribe set out for the first Immunity Challenge of the season.
Immunity Challenge
As both teams arrive at the season’s first Immunity Challenge, Jonathan explains the rules: For today’s challenge, teams will have to work together to move a heavy staircase across the challenge arena, then use it to climb over a wall. Once all team members have made it over the wall, they’ll need to construct a second staircase out of giant blocks. Once constructed, two players from each team will use the stairs to mount a tower and fire sandbags at a series of nine targets using a slingshot. The first team to successfully smash all nine targets will win immunity, sending the other team to the first Tribal Council ceremony of the season.
With the details of the challenge explained, Jonathan begins the challenge.
The World tribe establish an early lead, moving the first staircase to the wall with relative ease, while the Aussie tribe trail behind. Once over the wall, however, the teams realize that building the second staircase will be more challenging than they initially thought. Not only are the massive building blocks extremely heavy, but they also each feature a symbol on one side. In order to successfully complete the staircase, each block must have the symbol facing in the same direction, a feat that becomes more difficult as the staircase grows ever-taller.
Though the World tribe are able to maintain their lead, placing five of six blocks in quick succession, the Aussie tribe are able to regain some ground as their international competitors debate over how best to move the sixth and final block into place. As the World tribe continue to bicker, the Aussie’s overtake them, selecting Luke and David to mount the tower and begin using the slingshot to aim at targets.
Luke successfully smashes the first target for the Aussie tribe just as the World tribe completes their second staircase, sending Tony and Rob to the top to fire at their own targets. Luke furthers the Aussie’s lead, smashing a second target, though Tony is able to tie things up, smashing two targets back-to-back for the World tribe.
The tied score quickly slips away, however, as David and Luke successfully smash their third and fourth targets respectively. As Luke aims, fires, and smashes the fifth target for the Aussie tribe, Tony and Rob begin to panic, firing off sandbags with little to no strategy as they scramble to close the gap.
David smashes the Aussie’s sixth target, with Luke following with the tribe’s seventh. Falling quickly behind, Tony manages to smash a third target for the World tribe just before Luke scores once again for the Aussies.
With only one target remaining for the Aussie tribe, David takes aim, fires the sandbag, and shatters his team’s ninth and final target, securing immunity for the Aussie tribe and sending the World tribe to the first Tribal Council ceremony of the season.
As the Aussies celebrate their victory, Rob calls over to David and Luke, asking the opposing team to search their camp for the key to the mysterious wooden box, all within earshot of Parvati, who watches the exchange from below.
Day 2: World Tribe Scrambles Ahead of First Tribal Council
Back at camp, the members of the World tribe begin formulating plans for who to eliminate during their first visit to Tribal Council. Rob, standing firm in his strong four-person alliance with Tommi, Kass and Lisa, reiterates his intention to target an American, suggesting that the evening’s vote should be “very simple.”
When it comes to which American Rob wants to eliminate, he sets his sights on Cirie.
“They call Cirie the greatest player that’s never won,” he says in confessional. “And sorry not sorry, that’s not changing today, boss.”
Rob brings his plan to his alliance members, arguing that eliminating a woman will bring “balance” to the tribe that currently boasts three men and four women. He similarly tries to bring Parvati in on the plan, which she rejects outright. Knowing that she can’t suggest voting for any of the non-US tribe members, all of whom are allied with Rob, Parvati similarly refuses to suggest an alternative to the Cirie vote.
Angered by Parvati’s rejection, Rob alters the voting plan, setting his sights on eliminating Parvati instead. Once he informs his allies of the change, he then approaches Cirie and Tony to gauge their thoughts on voting out their American ally. While both Tony and Cirie agree to the plan during their discussion with Rob, Cirie, put off by Rob’s domineering gameplay, confirms in confessional that she has no intention of voting for Parvati, adding “Why should I listen to the king?”
Cirie later approaches Lisa, who she connected with on Day 1, to formulate a plan to eliminate Rob. Despite being Rob’s ally, Lisa agrees to the play, arguing that she’d rather play the game with Cirie than Rob and that she’s worried eliminating Parvati will ruin any chance she has at playing with Cirie later in the game.
Parvati eventually catches wind of Rob’s plan to blindside her and corners him at camp, saying, “Is this your game? You just try to bulldoze people into doing what you want them to do? Is that how you work with your allies?”
Frustrated with Parvati’s line of questioning, Rob openly admits his plans to write her name down at Tribal Council.
With her suspicions confirmed, Parvati approaches Kass and Lisa herself, trying to convince the other women to give Rob the boot instead. Meanwhile, Cirie approaches Tony, telling him that, “In order for us three [Americans] to stay here, Rob has to go.” Tony agrees to the plan.
Meanwhile, Lisa and Kass meet with Tommi to discuss the pros and cons of voting for either Rob or Parvati at Tribal Council. While Tommi argues that Rob’s physical strength will help them in challenges, potentially protecting them from returning to Tribal Council in the future, the women argue that Rob’s early control over the game could spell doom for all of them, especially as the “fast and furious” game progresses.
As the tribe sets out for Tribal Council, Parvati believes that she has Tony, Cirie, Lisa and Kass on her side for a Rob blindside. Meanwhile, Rob is convinced that he has Lisa, Kass, Tommi, Cirie and Tony on his side to eliminate Parvati.
Day 2: First Tribal Council Ceremony of ‘Australia vs. the World’
When the World tribe arrives at Tribal Council, Jonathan instructs the players to collect and light their torches with symbolic flames, “because, in this game, fire represents your life. Once it’s gone, so are you.”
Despite the freshly lit torches, things heat up quickly at Tribal as Parvati calls out Rob for forging cross-tribe alliances with David and Luke during the challenges. Rob admits to talking with the other tribe, telling Jonathan, “In ‘Survivor’ you always have to listen, especially to your enemy. If we hit the Merge and there are more Australians than us, we are all doomed.”
Meanwhile, Cirie comments on the fast pace of the game, telling Jonathan, “The game started the second we hit the mats. The game started the second you saw people having conversations and they weren’t having them with you. And typically, if conversations are being had and you’re not included, you’re probably in trouble.”
The clear division between the American and non-American players is similarly brought to the floor. While Parvati admits that she’s “very” worried about American’s being targeted, Tony counters, commenting that “We’re all here as tribe mates, we’re not from South Africa. We’re not from America. We’re just tribemates that got challenged by the Aussies.”
Despite Rob’s prior comments in confessionals, he adds that falling into easy tribe divisions could spell disaster for forming future alliances as the World tribe set their sights on defeating the Aussies in the end, adding that he hopes the tribe can make a “100% unified decision” in tonight’s vote.
Jonathan, however, points out that, in “Survivor,” there’s no such thing as a “100% unified” vote because, at the end of the day, someone is going home.
The reality of the looming elimination sets in as Parvati and Rob go head-to-head over Rob’s comments about keeping the World tribe “strong” and “loyal.” Parvati subsequently questions Rob’s own loyalty, with Rob countering that he has no interest in competing against the Aussies alongside Parvati after the Merge before revealing her secret about competing with David on “Deal or No Deal Island” in an attempt to undermine her own trustworthiness within the tribe.
“She’s going to turn on us first,” Rob informs the tribe. “The second she got to David she was going to trun on us.”
Parvati counters, insisting that Rob is lying. She explains to the tribe that she opened up about playign with David on the other competition series only to tell Rob that David spoke highly of his gameplay on “Survivor South Africa,” adding, “This is very intersting coming from you at this moment after we’ve seen you communicating with David multiple times in the challenges…it’s been very clear that you want to work with David. I know David from that game I played. We played together until he threw me under the bus.”
“It’s very clear that [Rob] wants to vote me out,” Parvati continues. “I don’t really get down with someone who wants to have control over everybody else. So I think I’ve made it clear where my vote is going.”
Time to Vote
As Jonathan sends the tribe to vote, viewers are let in on Parvati’s decision as she reveals Rob’s name written on her parchment.
“Try to blindside me on my birthday?” she says, adding, “I’m not mad. I’m just disappointed.”
Viewers also get to see Rob’s vote which, surprisingly, shows Cirie’s name (albeit spelt wrong), as he claims that he’s written her name as “backup” in case Parvati pulls out a Hidden Immunity Idol.
With the voting concluded, Jonathan tallies the votes and returns to the Tribal Council area to read them out:
First vote: Cirie.
Second vote: Rob.
Third vote: Rob.
Fourth vote: Rob.
Fifth vote: Rob.
The tribe has spoken and, having recieved the majority of the votes, “Survivor South Africa’s” Rob Belente becomes the first player voted out of “Survivor: Australia vs. the World.” It is later revealed that the entirety of the tribe, barring Rob himself, voted unanimously for Rob.
Network 10After Jonathan snuffs Rob’s torch, he awards the World tribe with flint and sends them on their way with this message: “This tribe might want to be the United Nations, but one thing is clear, World peace is a long way off.”
Speaking to the camera after his elimination, Rob says, “The World tribe decided to blindside me. I can kind of understand why. I’m a massive threat in the game. I was the only thing standing between them and the Australians. And now they will be sliced apart. I truly thought they had brains in them to realize that the only way to beat the Australians is to work together as a team.”
“I can 100 percent guarantee an Aussie will win Sole Survivor now,” he added. “Without a shadow of a doubt.”
13 players remain. Who will be the next castaway voted out of “Survivor: Australia vs. the World”? Stay tuned for future updates on the legendary season.
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‘Survivor: Australia vs. the World’ Episode 1 Recap