The WORST episodes of Globe Trekker

#1 - Australia: The South West

Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/27/2002

Estelle Bingham explores Goolwa's boat festival; food and wine festival in Adelaide; making wine in the Barossa Valley; opal mining; Karjini Gorges.

#2 - East Texas

Season 15 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/20/2014

Presenter Zay Harding makes his way across the urban and rural landscapes of Eastern Texas and he encounters everything from rootin’ tootin’ cowboys, rodeos and oil, to prisons, guns and rockets, and discovers a dramatic and colourful history. Zay’s journey starts in ‘cow town’, Fort. Worth. Once a major cattle exchange, these days it is a showcase for the spirit of the Texan cowboy. Zay’s leaps right in, taking some roping lessons from a former rodeo star Pam Minnick and takes part in the evening’s whip-cracking rodeo show. But no cowboy would be complete without his trusty pistol and Ft. Worth is home to the longest running Gun Show in the State. Having little experience himself Zay explores the show and learns why Texans are so attached to their firearms but none of the answers are as shocking as his encounter with a tazer display! JFK assasination - DallasOnwards to Dallas, where Zay experiences a darker side to Texan history by visiting arguably the most famous spot in the city: the scene of President Kennedy’s assassination. Zay relives JFK’s final moments with the help of Pearce Allman, a local newsman, who witnessed the tragedy first hand. No story on East Texas would be complete without mention of that old ‘black gold‘ – Oil! Zay travels to Kilgore, the heart of the East Texas oil boom of the 1930‘s. This small town was once home to the richest acre in the world and helped to create the oil-rich reputation the state enjoys to this day. Texas also has a long-standing reputation for tough justice. Moving south, Zay stops at one of the most fearsome prisons in the State: Huntsville. Texas executes more people than any other State in the union and all of them occur in the Huntsville State Penitentiary.Texas state penitentiary Zay explores the sensitive subject by meeting a former warden from the prison’s death house and some newly-released prisoners. For the final leg of his journey Zay travels to Houston

#3 - West Texas

Season 15 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/8/2012

They say everything is bigger in Texas and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Western half of the State. With its big landscapes, big history and big steaks, West Texas is bursting at the seams with action packed adventure and offers up a colourful mix of the iconic and unexpected. Fort Worth Cattle Drive In Globe Trekker West Texas presenter Zay Harding begins his journey in the state capital, Austin. With its vibrant music and arts scene, Austin is a shining Mecca for the weird and wonderful and Zay dives right in exploring everything from rattlesnake hotdogs to bingo with chickens. After a night out soaking up Austin’s wild and crazy music scene Zay heads south to visit the laid back city of San Antonio where he explores the Alamo and gets a lesson in what it really means to be Texan. Our next stop is El Paso,a multi layered city defined by its complex relationship with Mexico colourful, vibrant and oozing with Latino charm. Zay meets the locals and learns about the good, the bad and the ugly sides to life on the border. Heading into the desert surrounding El Paso, Zay gets a taste of the old Wild West. In a landscape straight out of a John Wayne movie he boards a stagecoach and travels along the old Butterfield trail. It’s a journey back in time, to a place where banditry and Indian raids were common place and beautiful rock formations like Hueco Tanks provided a welcome respite from the punishing travel conditions of the 19th century American West. For the final leg of his trip Zay takes to the road in a 1960’s mustang and travels to the far north of the state into an area known as the pan-handle. It’s a classic road trip that takes in the stunning Palo Duro Canyon and most of the Texas leg of Route 66. Determined to get his kicks on Route 66, Zay busts a gut in Amarillo’s steak eating challenge, leaves his mark on a bizarre art installation known as Cadillac Ranch and concludes his journey on the border with New Mexico in the

#4 - Paris City Guide 2

Season 12 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/13/2007

Globe Trekker travellers Adela Ucar Innerarity and Justine Shapiro explore the city of light, love and culture and enjoy a wonderful week of museums, romance, haute cuisine and superb entertainment.

#5 - Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef

Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/1/2002

Megan McCormick travels to Queensland, Australia’s second largest state whose 3000 mile coastline borders the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest living organism. She begins her journey at Surfers’ Paradise on the Gold Coast. Surfers were originally attracted by the beautiful deserted beaches and gigantic waves, but unfortunately they were followed by the big developers eager to exploit 70 kilometres of idyllic coastline. From here, Megan heads north by bus to Noosa – another surfers’ mecca but one which has avoided the scourge of the poms. It’s also renowned for it’s fabulous cuisine, and Megan meets a local chef called Gary Rhodes, who combines produce form Queensland with Thai food to make innovative dishes unique to Noosa. She then continues her journey along the Bruce Highway to Harvey Bay, from where she catches the ferry to Fraser Island.

#6 - Georgia and Armenia

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/7/2002

Gerhard Church, Lake Sevan and the Armenian Genocide Memorial; Tbilisi, Georgia; the Caucasus Mountains; roots of Georgian song and dance; the carved city of Vardzia.

#7 - Greek Islands

Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/9/2002

Megan McCormick is now visiting several islands from Greece: Hydra, Patmos, Mykonos, Delos, Santorini, Crete and Gavdos. She sees a traditional festival, visits interesting archaeological places, learns about Greek History, discovers beautiful beaches and enjoys the night life.

#8 - California

Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/11/2002

Situated on the West Coast, California is the most populous state in America. From the gold rushes of the 1800's to the Hollywood of today, California has long been the land of dreams. Traveler Justine Shapiro begins her journey in Palm Springs, a sparkling oasis in the middle of the desert. From there she travels to sprawling Los Angeles and tours the Hollywood Hills. Heading north she continues to beautiful Big Sur before heading inland to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. She ends her journey in Humboldt County - home of the Giant Redwoods.

#9 - Scotland

Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/13/2002

Megan McCormick is our guide to discover Scotland. She visits cities such as Glasgow, Stirling or Edinburgh. She doesn't waste the chance to wear Scottish traditional clothes or take their food. She gets to take part in the Highlands Games, visits Loch Ness and even spends a night in a haunted castle.

#10 - Germany

Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/15/2002

#11 - Venezuela

Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/19/2002

Ian Wright presents an independent travel guide to Venezuela, including paragliding from the Andes and sampling a traditional drink made from fruit, milk and bulls' eyes

#12 - Tahiti and Samoa

Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/25/2002

Ian's journey starts in Tahiti, where he starts off by judging the Mr. Tahiti contest. From there he visits the Gaugain museum. He then heads out to the neighboring island of Moorea, where he witnesses a wedding special: Tahitian style weddings for westerners. His island hopping continues on to Bora Bora, where he goes for an underwater reef walk, wearing a huge aqua helmet. On Bora Bora he meets with "the Shark Man", who takes him out to meet some sharks and manta rays. Continuing on, Ian flies to Western Samoa. While there he stays in a traditional village, where he goes fishing, meets the tattoo artist, and partakes of a huge feast and dance. His final island destination are the Marquesas, where Ian treks through some mountains to join villagers in a traditional wild boar hunt. The end of his journey culminates back in Tahiti for the Heiva festival, which includes canoe racing, fire walking, dancing…a perfect end to a trip in paradise.

#13 - Eastern Canada

Season 15 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/28/2012

Join Nova Scotia native Zoe D Amato as she travels across Eastern Canada. Starting at Cape Spear, the eastern most point of North America, Zoe's adventure takes her to St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador; Halifax, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and finally to Toronto, Ontario. She finishes her journey at majestic Niagara Falls.

#14 - New Zealand 2

Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/8/2006

The motivations of those who left China and the impact they've had on their new homes are explored.

#15 - Venice City Guide

Season 11 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/27/2005

Traveller Justine Shapiro explores what is arguably the world's most stunning city, Venice. Situated in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea off mainland Italy, this city built on water is a maze of over 100 tiny islands linked together by a network of bridges. The way to explore Venice is either by boat or on foot - there are no cars in the city. Justine hops aboard a public waterbus, or vaporetto, that takes her along the Grand Canal to her evening's accommodation, an elegant palazzo with amazing views over the city. Justine begins her sight-seeing at the epicentre of Venice, St. Mark's Square. Napoleon described it as the 'the finest drawing room in Europe' but Justine finds it full of tourists and pigeons today. She marvels at the basilica, and its ornate mosaics that tell of how daring Venetians stole St. Mark's body from the Orient and brought it to the city for prestige and honour. As Justine leaves the main sights behind and explores Venice's backstreets she finds that it's all too easy to become lost in the labyrinthine alleyways, although she also discovers this is a perfect way to stumble upon hidden treasures. No visit to Venice would be complete without a ride in a gondola; Justine gets a romantic ride and a cheeky insider's view on the city from pin-up gondolier Gianbattista. Justine takes a ten-minute boat ride from Venice across the lagoon to the island of The Lido for some glamour. It is the setting for the annual Venice Film Festival and she lines up with other tourists along the red carpet hoping for a glimpse and a chat with some of Hollywood's hottest stars. Next stop is Burano, a complete contrast to The Lido. This sleepy fishing village is famous for its brightly coloured houses and lace-making. Justine tries her hand at the intricate needlework with the help of an octogenarian islander. Back in Venice, Justine mingles with young Venetians at a popular bar and tries the local seafood tapas before taking an unusual night tour w

#16 - Sweden and Denmark

Season 12 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/1/2007

Megan McCormick travels to the lands of Abba, Vikings and Smorgasbords as she uncovers what Sweden and Denmark can offer to the global traveller. Starting in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, Megan takes herself on a city tour to learn more about the famous mermaid and Hans Christian Anderson, all with the aid of a free city bike! In Aarhus on the Danish mainland, one of the biggest Viking festivals in the world brings together 300 warriors for one almighty battle, and a weekend of living and drinking like the Vikings! Then it’s onto one of Denmark’s most famous attractions, the free state of Christiania. Megan is welcomed by the locals and spends time learning about their lives, taking a tour of the collective and sussing out a few passing policemen!

#17 - Istanbul City Guide

Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/11/2002

Estelle Bingham starts her exploration of the ancient city of Istanbul at the famous Topkapi Palace, former home of sultans and their concubines. From there she visits the former seat of Christendom, the beautiful Aya Sophia church. She interrupts her sight-seeing for a day trip to Gallipoli, the site of an infamous World War I battlefield in which thousands of Anzac soldiers died. Continuing her journey around Istanbul, she visits the opulent Pera Palace hotel, visited by Agatha Christie amongst many others, and has a belly dancing lesson from some gypsies. She visits the Florence Nightingale museum and has some retail therapy in the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest markets in the world. She takes another day trip to the amazing Edirne Wrestling Festival, with over 1000 well-oiled men competing for the gold belt. Her last day in Istanbul has her visiting the famous Blue Mosque, and going to see some Whirling Dervishes.

#18 - Kenya

Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/15/2002

#19 - New England USA

Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/17/2002

Suffused with colonial history, New England boasts a mixture of Old World Charm and New World sophistication. A visit to New England at this time of year guarantees a fantastic spectacle of autumnal natural beauty throughout the region. Our journey begins in Plymouth, site of the first Pilgrim community in America, where Megan visits the restored Plymouth Plantation. From there she heads to Boston, the lively and cultured hub of New England. She passes by the Boston Tea Party Ship, and visit some other Revolutionary War sites in and around Boston. A quick visit to Harvard, a college football game and some delicious local oysters rounds out her Boston visit. Heading out of town in her rental car, Megan meets some witches in notorious Salem, eats at the original hamburger stand in New Haven, and takes in a biker convention in Danbury Connecticut. From there she heads west to the Hancock Shaker Village, then drives through historic Deerfield before landing in Stowe Vermont for some gorgeous fall foliage and hiking. She continues north into Maine for some rafting and lobster, before getting some sun in New Englands' summer playground of Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. She ends her journey in Newport, taking in the famous mansions and having a sail on a beautiful old 12 meter yacht.

#20 - Rome City Guide

Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/19/2002

Estelle starts her trip to Rome touring the famous Forum, the hub of ancient Rome. Starting her second day she tastes as many different forms of espresso as possible before continuing her exploration of the city by visiting Michelangelo's beautiful Piazza Campidoglio, and the historic museums flanking the piazza. She then learns how to make a real Roman pizza, before strolling through charming Trastevere, and visiting the oldest church in Rome, Santa Maria. Her next day finds her watching a mass in St. Peters, trying on the latest in clerical garb on some streets nearby, and visiting the home near the Spanish Steps where Romantic poet John Keats died. Taking a break from Rome, she goes on a day trip to Anzio, site of a famous Allied landing and victory during World War II. Back in Rome she visits the Piazza Navona before taking in the sumptuous sights of the Villa Borghese, one of the greatest private art collections in the world. She looks at the balcony where former dictator Mussolini exhorted the crowds, before visting the famous Colosseum. She takes another day trip away from Rome to go to a unique festival in Tuscany: a duck derby. On her last day in Rome she has lunch with a movie star, and visits the Pantheon, the resting place of Raphael.

#21 - Southern Mexico

Season 8 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/21/2002

Ian starts his journey at the unique Day of the Dead festival in Pazcuaro. After reveling late into the night, he goes to the old colonial town of Guanajuato, where he spends time bull riding with some Mexican cowboy. From there he goes to Acapulco, where he takes in the glitzy nightlife and watersports before watching the famous cliff divers. Continuing his search for the perfect beach, he heads to Puerto Escondido for the annual surfing festival. He then travels to the Mayan ruins of Palenque, before visiting the Zapatista stronghold of San Cristobal. He ends his journey with an amazing trek through the Lancondon jungle.

#22 - Ultimate Australia

Season 8 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/23/2002

#23 - Ultimate Indo-China

Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/25/2002

#24 - Southeast China

Season 10 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/9/2004

#25 - World History: The Middle East

Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/12/2003

The Middle East is known as the 'cradle of civilisation' for good reason. The area has been home to some of the most formidable empires the world has ever known and is the birthplace of the world's three biggest monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Pilot team go in search of the major empires, religions and conflicts that have, and continue, to shape the region. The Ancient Egyptian Empire flourished for over 3000 years and bequeathed us some of the most amazing structures in the world. Estelle Bingham visits the Giza plateau, home to the Pyramid of Khufu, the only remaining wonder of the world where renowned Egyptologist Dr Selima Ikram explains the significance of the Sphinx and the Pyramids. Then Megan McCormick travels south down the Nile to the Valley of the Kings and cycles round this working archaeological site. Dr Badir takes her into Tomb No. 34 where he deciphers the scenes and texts depicting the trip through the afterlife. Rameses II built his sun temple at Abu Simbel on the southern border of Egypt to awe travellers from Africa. Megan discovers that the effect hasn't waned even after thousands of years. Meanwhile, the Persian civilisation was flourishing to the northeast on the site of modern-day Iran. Ian Wright visits the ruined city of Persephelis built by Darius the Great over 2,500 years ago. Then it's north to the Tombs of Naghsh-É-Rostam where the four greatest shahs of the empire are buried. The Nabatinian empire's capital was Petra, a city carved out of sheer rock in the sixth century BC and now in modern-day Jordan. Ian checks out this premier tourist attraction and puffs his way up the to the 2500-year-old monastery above. In 100 BC the next great empire appeared on the scene. Justine Shapiro goes in search of the Roman's premier archaeological sites in the Middle East. Ephesus in Turkey was a powerful and influential city in its time; nowadays it's a stunning site with some wonderfully preserved mansio