A journey through the meandering waterways of Sydney’s Hawkesbury River system to the sublime wilderness of Lord Howe Island. Neil travels to the Heritage-listed treasure of Lord Howe Island in search for the world’s rarest insect before meeting some curious sea birds endemic to the island. Back on the mainland – he digs deep to find the true history of coal in Newcastle. Distinguished scientist Tim Flannery unleashes his inner fly-boy in the plane that was to Australia what the Spitfire was to England. Marine Scientist Dr Dean Miller puts his body on the line at Merewether Surf Lifesaving Club. Brendan Moar cruises the Hawkesbury River on the wartime boat that became a leisure-time icon. And Marine Ecologist Emma Johnston tattoos a seahorse for science near Nelson Bay