Created by Tony Ayres and based on Jane Harper‘s bestselling novel, THE SURVIVORS is a moody Australian mystery thriller streaming on Netflix. The series draws viewers into the quiet seaside town of Evelyn Bay, where a return home stirs up deep trauma, long-buried secrets, and an unsolved murder. The visual tone of the six-episode series plays a major role in shaping its atmosphere—a dark, emotional landscape shaped as much by the natural surroundings as by the characters’ grief.
From the first haunting scene, viewers are transported to a windswept coastal town where cliffs, caves, and the crashing sea seem to whisper secrets of the past. But is Evelyn Bay a real place? Not exactly. The fictional town was inspired by Tasmania’s wild beauty, and the series was filmed across several spectacular Australian locations that help create its unique visual identity. Let’s explore where THE SURVIVORS was actually filmed.
WHERE WAS THE SURVIVORS FILMED?
Filming for THE SURVIVORS took place between December 2023 and April 2024 across multiple Australian locations, including Hobart, Eaglehawk Neck, Freycinet Peninsula, and Melbourne. The production team leaned heavily on Tasmania’s gothic landscapes to bring Jane Harper’s world to life. Here’s a detailed look at each filming location.
EAGLEHAWK NECK, TASMANIA
Eaglehawk Neck serves as one of the primary stand-ins for the fictional Evelyn Bay. This narrow isthmus on Tasmania’s southeast coast offers jaw-dropping coastal cliffs, sea caves, and stormy seas that became symbolic of the show’s core trauma—a deadly storm. Creator Tony Ayres called this location essential to the show’s tone and themes.
With production support from Screen Tasmania, the crew filmed near Norfolk Bay and the Tasman Sea. The surrounding area’s natural formations—like the Devil’s Kitchen, Tasman Arch, and Blowhole—served as visual metaphors for emotional intensity. Eaglehawk Neck’s eerie yet breathtaking cliffs highlight the show’s sense of foreboding.
This area is also known for its outdoor adventure activities. Tourists can enjoy whale watching, kayaking, diving, and more—though in the series, the coast is more a symbol of trauma than tourism.
HOBART, TASMANIA
Tasmania’s capital city, Hobart, helped shape much of Evelyn Bay’s small-town charm. Many of the town scenes were filmed around Hobart’s quiet streets and coastal edges. Known for its historic architecture and proximity to nature, Hobart offered the perfect backdrop for scenes capturing local community life, memories, and tension.
Some studio work was done in Hobart to film interior shots. The city’s blend of urban and rural settings allowed the production to film both open landscapes and more intimate scenes. Hobart’s Salamanca Place, Elizabeth Street, and the Theatre Royal are some of its best-known features, though specific filming locations in the show remain visually ambiguous to maintain the illusion of Evelyn Bay.
MARGATE AND DRU POINT, TASMANIA
Margate, a seaside town within Greater Hobart, provided additional shooting locations. Specifically, Dru Point Bicentennial Park at the edge of North-West Bay was used to lens some important outdoor scenes. This park features BBQ areas, recreational zones, and scenic coastal views that were visually integrated into the show.
This setting helped add more depth to the town of Evelyn Bay by providing different visual tones—from serene beaches to emotionally charged interactions between characters. The area’s peaceful vibe contrasts with the tension woven through the show’s narrative.
FREYCINET PENINSULA, TASMANIA
Some scenes were filmed at the stunning Freycinet Peninsula, part of Freycinet National Park on Tasmania’s east coast. The region is known for its dramatic granite peaks, pristine beaches, and deep blue bays. This location gave the series some of its most visually striking shots.
The Great Oyster Bay and the Hazards mountain range in the background became an integral part of the show’s cinematography. These locations not only enhance the naturalistic feel but also reflect the inner turmoil of the characters. The wild, untamed landscape mirrors their emotional chaos.
The Freycinet area is one of Tasmania’s oldest national parks and is celebrated for its biodiversity, making it a perfect location for a story so grounded in nature and its impact on memory.
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
Though most of the filming occurred in Tasmania, some sequences were shot in Melbourne, particularly at Docklands Studios. This facility features high-tech stages, two of which have waterproof pits ideal for ocean scenes. Controlled indoor scenes and post-production editing were completed here.
Docklands Studios also houses cutting-edge LED volume screens, likely used for digitally extending seascapes or simulating stormy weather. These tools allowed the production to maintain consistency and safety while filming intense ocean-based scenes.
Melbourne served as the creative control center of the production, ensuring the final polish matched the raw emotion captured in Tasmania.
WATCH THE SURVIVORS OFFICIAL TRAILER
CONCLUSION
THE SURVIVORS isn’t just a gripping mystery—it’s a story told through land, sea, and memory. Every cliffside, wave, and coastal breeze captured in the series adds depth to its emotional landscape. By filming in Tasmania’s most evocative locations, the show immerses viewers in a hauntingly beautiful world that mirrors its characters’ grief and secrets.
If you’re captivated by the moody setting of Evelyn Bay, it’s worth knowing that much of that haunting beauty is very real. From Eaglehawk Neck’s dramatic cliffs to Freycinet’s sweeping bays, THE SURVIVORS brings Tasmania to life like never before.
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