NETFLIX’S SURVIVING SUMMER RETURNS TO VICTORIA’S ICONIC BEACHES FOR SEASON 2

Grab your surfboards—the second series of Netflix’s hit teen surfing drama Surviving Summer from Melbourne-based Werner Film Productions has just started filming on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

Released in 60 languages to over 190 countries in June 2022, the 10-episode first series immediately landed in Netflix’s Top 10 in 43 countries across the globe, including USA, Canada, UK, Brazil and Australia, with 20.3 million hours viewed in its first week. On TikTok, #survivingsummer has amassed over 52.4m views.

Surviving Summer. Photos Ben Saunders. Images Werner Film Productions — Kai Lewis as Ari Gibson and Savannah La Rain as Bodhi Mercer in *Surviving Summer S1.* Photo Ben Saunders

Filmed along the renowned Great Ocean Road on Victoria’s scenic Surf Coast—located 90 minutes from downtown Melbourne on Wadawurrung Country—Surviving Summer follows a rebellious New York teen, played by Sky Katz (Raven’s Home), who is sent to Australia to live with family friends in the tiny coastal town of Shorehaven.

Victorian producer Joanna Werner, who is known for the hugely successful teen dramas Dance Academy and Ready for This, co-created Surviving Summer with Josh Mapleston. The popular beaches and towns on the Great Ocean Road provided the inspiration for the series and the second series will once again place them front and centre, showcasing the region’s rugged beauty.

“The response from fans around the world was overwhelming as audiences fell in love with Summer, Ari, Marlon, Bodhi and Poppy and their adventures both in and out of the surf.”
Joanna Werner, Producer

Surviving Summer. Photo Katey Shearer. Image Werner Film Productions — Lilliana Bowrey as Poppy Tetanui in *Surviving Summer S1*. Photo Katey Shearer. Image Werner Film Productions

“We are thrilled to be bringing our amazing cast and crew back together for Season 2 and can’t wait to be back filming all along the Great Ocean Road. Here’s hoping we get some epic surf!!”
Joanna Werner, Producer

VicScreen is again supporting Surviving Summer to set up production in the town of Anglesea for eight weeks and film at various coastal locations including iconic surf spots Bells Beach, Jan Juc Beach and Anglesea’s Point Roadknight Beach through its Regional Location Assistance Fund. The grant supports productions to film off the beaten path and accommodate their cast and crew in regional locations.

Bells Beach. Photo Rob Blackburn. Image Visit Victoria

Jan Juc Beach and Surf Lifesaving Club. Photo Pam Hutchinson/VicScreen

Point Roadknight Beach. Photo Pam Hutchinson/VicScreen

Surviving Summer Season 1 is available to watch on Netflix now.

Feature image: Surviving Summer S1. Photo Sarah Enticknap

Want to find out more about filming in Victoria?

Get in touch with Joe Brinkmann,
VicScreen’s Head of Incentives & Production Support,
at [email protected]