A long way from Summer Bay! Home and Away producers dump sand at a Sydney property to create a ‘fake beach’ after filming relocated due to the COVID-19 pandemic
For decades, Home and Away has filmed its exterior scenes in Sydney’s Palm Beach.
But producers have been forced to ‘get creative’ during the coronavirus pandemic, after being told they wouldn’t be able to shoot scenes in the northern suburb.
Aerial photos obtained by Daily Mail Australia show how an artificial beach was set up in another area of Sydney to replicate the fell of Summer Bay.
That’s not Summer Bay! Home and Away producers dumped 10 tones of sand to create a fake beach to film exterior scenes in Sydney last week. Pictured
A 10-tonne truck filled with sand was reportedly used to make the scenes appear as if they were taking place by the beach.
One photo shows how beachside walkway has been made using sand and wooden posts, even though the surrounding area is greenery.
It comes just days after it was revealed that COVID-19 travel restrictions meant that producers had to find an alternate location to film their ‘away’ shoot, because they were unable to travel to the Northern Territory.
Producers were forced to get ‘creative’ as the coronavirus pandemic meant unable to film at Palm Beach on Thursday last week. Pictured: cast members Lukas Radovich and Ray Meagher
Cast and crew are believed to be filming in the Blue Mountains, about an hour’s drive from Sydney.
‘Corona isn’t going to get in the way of us telling beautiful stories to the audience,’ series producer Lucy Addario told The Sunday Telegraph last week.
‘Creatively it made us think outside the square,’ she added.
Faking it: Another photograph sees several film trucks, a tent and pile of sand placed to make it appear caravan scenes were actually filmed on the beach
Home and Away shot a few episodes in Alice Springs in 2016, but production likely won’t be able to return for many months.
The soap opera usually films its indoor scenes at Seven’s Eveleigh Studios, and uses Palm Beach for its exterior beach scenes.
The show had been temporarily suspended in March due to COVID-19 safety fears.
Last week, producers revealed they needed to ‘think outside the square’ to find an alternate location to film their ‘away’ shoot, unable to travel to the Northern Territory. Pictured: Stars Cameron Daddo, Ray Meagher and Georgie Parker social distancing on set
When filming resumed on May 27 after a nine-week break, the stars all observed social distancing and strict hygiene practices.
COVID safety measures are still being implemented to ensure the safety of the cast and crew, including regular temperature checks.
Scripts have also been rewritten to allow for social distancing between the actors.
Safety on set: The soap resumed filming on May 25 at the Seven Network studios in Eveleigh, Sydney after adopting coronavirus safety measures. The long-running soap set in place strict measures to ensure the safety of their cast and crew