# Outback Mike > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Outback_Mike > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Outback_Mike.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outback_Mike > Source revision: 1319912030 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Australian adventurer and filmmaker}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox social media personality | name = Outback Mike |image = File:Outback Mike (Michael Atkinson) in October 2025.jpg |caption =Atkinson in October, 2025 | birth_name = Michael Atkinson | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|47|2025}} | known_for = {{plainlist| * [Alone Australia](/source/Alone_Australia) * Filmmaking }} |occupation = {{plainlist| * Survival instructor * Filmmaker * [RAAF pilot](/source/Royal_Australian_Air_Force) (former) }} | website = {{url|outbackmike.com}} | youtube_handle = OutbackMike | youtube_display_name = Outback Mike | youtube_years_active = 2017-present | youtube_genre = | youtube_subscribers = 101K | youtube_views = 19.5 million | stats_update = October 6, 2025 }} '''Michael Atkinson''', popularly known as '''Outback Mike''', is an Australian adventurer, filmmaker, author, and survival instructor.{{Cite news |date=2021-07-16 |title=It's Castaway meets crocodile country as 'Outback Mike' sets off on solo expedition |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-16/outback-mike-sails-in-footsteps-of-james-morrill/100289134 |access-date=2025-10-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} He has appeared on the first season of [''Alone Australia''](/source/Alone_Australia), and is known for undertaking solo survival adventures recreating historic expeditions, which he records and publishes as films. Atkinson's first film details a six week survival expedition across the [Kimberly](/source/Kimberley_(Western_Australia)) in [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia).{{Cite news |date=2025-08-16 |title=Outback survival makes for fun TV, but the reality is much darker |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-16/robert-bogucki-nowhere-man-reveals-cultural-survival-obsession/105562102 |access-date=2025-10-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} He is currently touring Australia for the release of his second film, 'Modern Day Castaway', featuring his journey along the [Great Barrier Reef](/source/Great_Barrier_Reef) in [North Queensland, Australia](/source/North_Queensland), in a [dugout canoe](/source/dugout_canoe).{{Cite web |last=McKillop |first=Brought to you byABC Far North QueenslandPresented byCharlie |date=2025-06-19 |title=A modern-day castaway comes to Cooktown |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/farnorth-breakfast/a-modern-day-castaway-comes-to-cooktown/105440792 |access-date=2025-10-06 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}} Atkinson spend most of his career as a pilot in the [Royal Australian Air Force](/source/Royal_Australian_Air_Force), to which he attributes his survival skills.{{Cite web |title=About Mike - |url=https://outbackmike.com/about/ |access-date=2025-10-06 |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |last=Jacob |first=Joseph |date=20 February 2024 |title=The ultimate test of Defence survival skills |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-02-20/ultimate-test-defence-survival-skills#:~:text=With%20the%20second%20season%20of,Air%20Force%20pilot%20Mike%20Atkinson. |access-date=6 October 2025 |work=Australian Government Defence}} == Early life and military career == Michael Atkinson was born in [Canberra](/source/Canberra) on August 22, 1976.{{Cite web |title=Michael Atkinson |url=https://filmfreeway.com/MichaelAtkinson |access-date=2025-10-06 |website=FilmFreeway |language=en}} He developed an interest and ambition in survival skills at an early age. Atkinson served in the [Royal Australian Air Force](/source/Royal_Australian_Air_Force) and the [Royal Australian Army](/source/Royal_Australian_Army) as a pilot for over twenty years, flying [Kiowa](/source/Bell_OH-58_Kiowa) helicopters in the army and Hornet jets in the air force. During his military service, he became skilled in various survival techniques, particularly during his time in [Darwin, Northern Territory](/source/Darwin%2C_Northern_Territory), where he was posted to [NORFORCE](/source/NORFORCE), a regiment of the army consisting mainly of Indigenous soldiers who patrol remote areas of the [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory). Atkinson attributes much of his [bush tucker](/source/bush_tucker) knowledge and skills such as [spearfishing](/source/spearfishing) to traditional [Aboriginal](/source/Aboriginal_Australians) methods and techniques. == Major expeditions and filmmaking == Atkinson is known for filming and publishing his survival expeditions unsupported. He often recreates historical expeditions and journeys of past explorers. === Surviving the Outback (2017) === Atkinson's first major film was originally titled ''Surviving the Kimberly'', but was re-titled to suit international audiences. The film follows his four week expedition across the [Kimberley](/source/Kimberley_(Western_Australia)) in [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia), modelled on the [1932 stranding and journey of German aviators](/source/1932_Kimberley_rescue) Hans Bertram and Adolf Klausmann.{{Cite web |last=Heathcote |first=Angela |date=2018-08-27 |title=Surviving the Kimberley |url=https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/australian-geographic-adventure/adventure/2018/08/surviving-the-kimberley/ |access-date=2025-10-06 |website=Australian Geographic |language=en-US}} === Modern-Day Castaway (2021) === {{Expand section|date=October 2025}} Atkinson's second major film is based on the experience of [James Morrill](/source/James_Morrill_(castaway)), an English sailor who was [shipwrecked](/source/shipwreck) off the coast of [Queensland](/source/Queensland) in 1846. 21 people from the wreck successfully boarded a makeshift raft, on which they drifted for four weeks, although all but Morrill ended up dying either on the raft or at their eventual landing point near modern-day [Townsville](/source/Townsville). He was found and taken in by a local clan of [Aboriginal Australians](/source/Aboriginal_Australians), where he lived for 17 years.{{cite book |last1=Morrill |first1=James |title=Sketch of a residence among the Aboriginals of Northern Queensland for seventeen years. |date=1863 |publisher=Courier General |location=Brisbane |url=https://nqheritage.jcu.edu.au/724/}} Atkinson's film documents his attempt to "escape" Morrill's situation by building a [dugout canoe](/source/dugout_canoe) and sailing up the coast along the [Great Barrier Reef](/source/Great_Barrier_Reef), before rounding [Cape York Peninsula](/source/Cape_York_Peninsula) to arrive at [Booby Island](/source/Booby_Island_(Queensland)), the site of a rescue haven for repairs and supplies in the early days of [colonisation](/source/Colonisation_of_Australia).{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Ernestine |date=1935 |title=Rock of castaways: A history of Booby Island |work=Western Argus |issue=10 December}} == Alone Australia == {{Expand section|date=October 2025}} Atkinson appeared in the first season of [''Alone Australia''](/source/Alone_Australia), a survival reality television series in which contestants attempt to survive for a long as possible, unassisted in the wilderness, with only a limited amount of survival equipment.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-27 |title='Alone Australia': SBS reveals release date of global hit series |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/whats-on/article/alone-australia-sbs-reveals-release-date-of-global-hit-series/2rike309e |access-date=2025-10-14 |website=SBS What's On |language=en}} Atkinson survived 64 days before being forcibly [medically evacuated](/source/Medical_evacuation) due to [low blood pressure](/source/Hypotension) and [malnutrition](/source/malnutrition). He was the runner-up behind winner Gina Chick, who survived 67 days. == References == {{Reflist}} Category:Survivalists Category:Australian filmmakers Category:Australian YouTubers Category:1970s births Category:Living people --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Outback Mike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outback_Mike) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outback_Mike?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.