As the series opens, Hugh travels to meet Paul at River Cottage Australia – a former dairy farm nestled between the pristine Sapphire Coast and the imposing Mt Gulaga – a place of enormous significance for the indigenous Yuin people. Together Paul and Hugh will hear first-hand their powerful message of sustainability – as well as discover how the mountain is central to their Dreamtime stories. On the farm itself, Hugh and Paul map out a sustainable plan for the future, discover fantastic bounty as they forage locally for food, and share the products of their culinary skills with the locals - who in return will try to help them overcome the challenges of living off the land.

With Hugh back in the UK, Paul finds himself alone at River Cottage Australia – but not for long. He’s about to welcome a new best friend to the farm – Digger the border collie pup. With his new mate nipping at his heels, Paul sets about getting his winter vegetable crop fed – and that involves an organic fertiliser recipe that makes use of some of the farm’s most unwanted products. It’s Festival time in the local village of Central Tilba, and Paul’s keen to make an impression with his cooking skills. But will his home-made relish - using locally gathered produce – cut it with the locals? Further afield with the help of local hunters, Paul discovers how a notorious pest can be turned into a delicious meal - and he welcomes his first dairy cow to River Cottage. But will he ever learn how to milk it.

With his cows, chooks and veggies thriving, Paul decides it’s time to explore the nearby coastline and he discovers an abundant source of seafood delicacies. He meets a local lobster expert, and together they catch a crayfish brunch and Paul introduces him to a deliciously different way of eating them. Back on the farm, Paul’s busy building a pig pen, before taking delivery of a small herd that will hopefully one day feed him. Before that, he prepares a pork dish using one of the tastiest and most under-used parts of the animal. Then, it’s off to the local harvest festival bake-off. With the help of a country cooking champion, Paul enters his pumpkin scones into the hard-fought contest.

With a malfunctioning water tank, and no dams to rely on, Paul is suddenly faced with a farmer’s worst fear – a critical shortage of water. His cows, pigs and veges all depend on a steady supply, so Paul enlists the help of a local farmer to see if they can tap on old spring on the property. But will it be enough to save the farm? Meanwhile, as Paul settles into his new rural community, he discovers one of the joys of country life – the local food swap. Armed with seafood he’s foraged nearby, Paul scores a boxful of unusual fruits, vegetables and wild game, which he uses to create a hearty winter meal.

Paul’s dream is to one day make River Cottage Australia self-sufficient – and he’s well on the way. With his own herbs, vegetables, eggs and cream - from Bessie the cow - he whips up his first ever “all from the farm” meal. But not all is going so well. Flies are a constant issue – especially in Paul’s country kitchen. So he meets a local sustainable farmer who introduces him to an ingenious all-natural solution. Down by the coast, it’s Oyster Festival time. Paul tries his hand at the oyster shucking contest – and then creates a traditional coastal favourite - a delicious oyster pie.