The Crocodile Dundee ad that charmed Superbowl and Youtube audiences across the world may be for a fake film but there is nothing fake about the North West Queensland locations in the video.
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One of the best kept secrets in the region came out today after the big game in the United Stated when Adels Grove owner Gary Murray revealed that – apart from a few beach shots near Cairns – the video was all shot on location at Adels Grove, nearby Boodjamulla National Park and on the road to Riversleigh National Park,
The video featured Chris “Thor” Hemsworth and comedian Danny McBride who plays the role of Crocodile Mick Dundee’s long lost son. It was produced by Tourism Australia and although the original film was set in the the Northern Territory, the video was appropriately made in the same part of Queensland where many of the original 1986 movie’s scenes were filmed such as Fountain Springs and The Walkabout pub in McKinlay.
Hemsworth and McBride filmed their scenes in November and Adels Grove owner Gary Murray said it was a huge job to keep it a secret until Monday’s Superbowl which was watched by over hundred million people.
“They used Cloncurry Helicopters to put Danny on the cliff and ferry all the boom equipment and crew up on the cliff,” Mr Murray said.
“The bus they used was a Mount Isa coaches bus and they flew an art department up the week before to put a 70s retro wrap on it and spray paint fake dust on it.
“It was all done out of Mount Isa and it wasn’t easy keeping a low profile.”
The hyped, mock movie Dundee was in fact a massive tourism campaign to lure more US tourists to our shores though many are now calling for the film to be re-made.
The Federal Government decided last April to buy a prime time advertising spot during the American NFL Super Bowl, one of the most watched TV shows in the States and across the world.
More than 400 million people have been reached on social media platforms and the video is likely to be a bonanza for Adels Grove resort which is located 10km from the Lawn Hill Gorge, Boodjamulla National Park and 50km from the world heritage Riversleigh fossil fields
Mr Murray said Hemsworth was blown away by the natural beauty of Boodjamulla National Park, 300m north west of Mount Isa and it is only likely to add to the tourism potential of the region.
“The secret of Lawn Hill Gorge is out now,” he said.