I Wondered When NCIS: Sydney Was Going To Head To The Outback, And Olivia Swann Admitted It Was ‘Incredible’ Even While Super Hot

by

Ever since the show *NCIS: Sydney* was announced, fans have been anticipating an adventure in the Australian Outback. It felt inevitable that Michelle Mackey and her team would eventually investigate a case in that iconic location. Now, it’s finally happening sometime in 2025, and Olivia Swann, who plays Mackey, told TopMob that filming in the Outback was “incredible,” even with the extreme heat.

The fourth episode of *NCIS: Sydney* Season 3, called “The Truth is Outback,” will premiere on CBS sometime before the end of 2025, but the exact date is still to come. When asked about filming in the Outback, actress Swann shared the following:

While it’s hot out here, the heat is actually a bit more manageable than in places like Darwin. Darwin is really sticky and humid – you can’t escape it. The Outback heat is much drier, which makes it easier to handle. Beyond that, this location is unlike anything we’ve ever filmed before, giving the show a huge, open feel. It also adds a real sense of danger because you’re so isolated. The sheer size of the Outback means something could happen and no one would even know, which made the experience really exciting. Just the visuals alone will make for an amazing episode.

More NCIS: Sydney Exclusives

Olivia Swann, star of NCIS: Sydney, has expressed interest in a crossover episode with the original NCIS series, and fans (including me!) are excited about the idea.

Fans of NCIS: Sydney are hoping Mackey and JD, played by Olivia Swann, will become a couple, as there’s clear chemistry between their characters who also happen to be coworkers.

The last two episodes of *NCIS: Sydney* Season 2 were filmed primarily in Darwin. While the Outback heat wasn’t comfortable, Olivia Swann actually preferred it to Darwin’s humidity. She also enjoyed the challenge of filming in such a remote location, as the Outback presents real dangers. Unlike a city like Sydney, where help is readily available, getting assistance in the vast Australian outback isn’t easy if something goes wrong.

Earlier this month, Morgan O’Neill, the showrunner for *NCIS: Sydney*, revealed that the upcoming episode, “The Truth is Outback,” will send the team to the Australian Outback to investigate the disappearance of a U.S. Navy pilot – a situation reminiscent of the Roswell incident. Hopefully, this investigation will be smoother than the events that unfolded in Darwin during Season 2. Thankfully, the *NCIS: Sydney* cast and crew had sufficient resources to ensure their safety while filming on location.

You can watch *NCIS: Sydney* on CBS Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, right after *NCIS* and *NCIS: Origins*. If you miss it, episodes are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. Hopefully, you’ll be watching from the comfort of your home, and not the Australian Outback!

Read More

2025-10-18 15:38