Thousands applied, but only 50 lucky people made it to the first leg of MasterChef. An exciting start with a boat ride to Cockatoo Island and a massive Mystery Box Challenge awaiting them. Featuring the most popular supermarket ingredients, the Top 50 had to cook a dish to get them to the next round. The ten with the least impressive dishes would have to do an Adriano Zumbo challenge.

Day two of the MasterChef journey, and it’s a tough one – a Basic Skills Bootcamp with new judge, Matt Moran. The remaining 45 contestants go through three rounds which test their chip cutting, mayonnaise making, chicken break down skills. Five from each round will end up in the Elimination Challenge – making the perfect batch of scones in 45 minutes.

The remaining contestants cook off for the first 6 spots in the MasterChef Top 24. Contestants are given two hours to create a trio of desserts set by the guest chef, Maggie Beer.

The bottom 10 contestants from Maggie Beer's challenge are faced with a choice - either go fishing and cook what you catch, or risk creating a dish with the mystery ingredient.

With another six spots in the MasterChef top 24 up for grabs, the final 30 contestants cook with their five favourite ingredients to create what they believe is the ultimate desert island dish.

In the first master class of the series, a few special contestants take a trip to the Barossa Valley to visit Maggie Beer in her home and to learn the secrets of the perfect pastry and roast chicken.

There are two dozen contestants remaining and only 12 spots left in the top 24. The next challenge is a formidable taste test - identity the ingredients in Aria's signature dish, peking duck consomme.

As our Top 24 enter the MasterChef kitchen for the first time, they are surprised to see no judges. Only a few notice the clock has started ticking down. Has the first challenge already begun?

The winner of the first challenge will cook for immunity against apprentice chef, Alex Keen, who works under Allesandro Pavoni. Will a 10 minute headstart be enough to beat the best?

The Top 24 are woken in the middle of the night and told to head to Sonoma Bakery where, in teams, they will be baking bread for five of Sydney's most illustrious restaurants.

As the winning team from last night's challenge head off to their reward lunch, the losers trudge back to the MasterChef kitchen to face this season's first elimination.

The lucky 23 contestants who survived the first elimination are treated to a scrumptious MasterClass. Tonight, George will teach them the secrets of his sweet bougatsa with poached figs.

Tonight, the Mystery Box delivers more than one surprise - not only are the contestants faced with an array of unusual food, they must create a dish using ALL of the ingredients!

The bottom three contestants from yesterday's Mystery Box challenge must face off in a Pressure Test. They have two hours to recreate their best version of the Cherry Bombe Alaska.

With an Immunity Pin up for grabs, guest chef, Colin Fassnidge, better bring his A-game because this season's MasterChef contestants aren't going down without a fight!

It's boys versus girls in today's epic Team Challenge! The two teams head to the Mean Fiddler Pub where they have to cook for 700 hungry revelers.

All eleven contestants of the losing team face elimination tonight. They must cook off in a Rapid Fire challenge over three rounds.

Tonight, Gary and George give the contestants a MasterClass on the art of cooking rabbit. Later, Gary whips up a modern take on the classic Shepherd's Pie.

Cooking in threes, the contestants are faced with a challenge that fuses the finest elements of both the Mystery Box and Invention Test by creating an outstanding dish using unknown ingredients.

Yesterday they were team mates, today the losing trio from Sunday's challenge compete head-to-head in a high-intensity Pressure Test. Two contestants will stay in the kitchen, one will be going home.

The winning trio from the Lucky Dip Invention Test face off against chef, Adam D'Sylva, from Melbourne restaurant, Coda, in the first team Immunity Challenge.

The task seems simple enough - make enough gelato and sausages for 500 Nippers on Cronulla Beach. But this is MasterChef Australia and nothing is ever as easy as it seems!

The losing team from last night's Sausage Sizzle challenge face off as individuals in a Skills Race Elimination. Contestants must complete four pastry elements and create a beautiful finished dessert.

In this MasterClass, Gary makes a hearty veal osso bucco with cannellini beans and George teaches the contestants how to cook snapper en papillote. Special guests include Donna Hay and Romeo Baudouin.

The contestants head west where they are faced with one of the most daunting challenges in MasterChef history - cooking for 450 hungry gold miners in the heart of Western Australia.