Off the Grid with Colin and Manu: Inside Their Friendship

There’s something genuinely disarming about watching two celebrity chefs—Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel—who freely admit they weren’t friends at first, stuffed into a vintage caravan called Betty, bickering their way through New Zealand’s back roads. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly where their friendship stands, where they live now, and why Colin can’t drive in New Zealand.

Show title: Off the Grid with Colin and Manu ·
Premiered: 2025 ·
Seasons: 2 ·
Main chefs: Colin Fassnidge, Manu Feildel ·
Country: New Zealand ·
Genre: Documentary

Six key facts in one view: a pattern of two chefs who’ve turned a working rivalry into a travel-show partnership with genuine stakes.

Are Colin and Manu Friends in Real Life?

The real story behind their feud

• Colin Fassnidge admitted in a Yahoo Lifestyle Australia interview: “We weren’t friends” at the start of their My Kitchen Rules tenure.
• The turning point came after an apology at the end of an early shoot, after which they became “very good friends,” per Colin’s account to Yahoo Lifestyle Australia.
• A 2023 7News interview reported their friendship had grown “closer and closer” as they worked together more.

What they said about each other

• Manu told Now To Love Australia: “We are actually very close – we’re like two brothers to be honest.”
• He also described their dynamic as “an old married couple” — affectionate but bickering, with an occasional need for space, per the same Now To Love Australia interview.
• Both chefs have publicly stated they get on each other’s nerves — part of the draw, not a breakdown.

On-screen vs off-screen dynamic

• Colin and Manu live in the same east Sydney neighborhood, have holidayed together, and spent family Christmases at each other’s houses, according to Now To Love NZ.
• A separate interview revealed Manu and Colin were together between six and eight months a year because of work — more than they were with their own wives.
• The implication: what viewers see as on-screen chemistry is the real deal, amplified by proximity.

Bottom line: Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel are genuinely close friends who transitioned from on-screen rivals to brothers-in-arms. For fans of My Kitchen Rules, the banter isn’t manufactured. For new viewers: expect affectionate bickering, not genuine hostility.

Where Does Manu Live Now?

Manu Feildel’s home in Australia

• Manu Feildel resides in Sydney, Australia, in the eastern suburbs, per multiple reports including Now To Love NZ.
• He lives in the same east Sydney neighborhood as Colin Fassnidge, as reported by Now To Love NZ.
• His primary residence remains in Australia, not New Zealand.

Does Manu live in New Zealand?

• Manu Feildel does not maintain a primary residence in New Zealand, but he spends significant time there for filming.
• The first season took the Sydney-based chefs around New Zealand for about a month, per Now To Love NZ.
• Season 2 filming spanned November to January 2026 according to The Australian Women’s Weekly, meaning extended stays in NZ but not permanent relocation.

Bottom line: Manu Feildel calls Sydney home, not New Zealand. For viewers curious about the show’s authenticity: the “visiting an old friend’s country” angle is real — Manu explores NZ as a welcomed outsider, not a local.

Is Colin from MKR Still Married?

Colin Fassnidge’s wife

• Colin Fassnidge is married to Andrea Fassnidge, confirmed by The Australian Women’s Weekly.
• His wife is not in the public eye and maintains a private profile away from Colin’s television career.
• They have children together, though their names and ages are not widely publicized.

Does Colin have children?

• Yes, Colin and Andrea have children, though the family keeps details out of the media spotlight.
• Colin’s demanding filming schedule means he spends extended periods away from home — Manu and Colin have said they spend 6-8 months a year working together, per Now To Love Australia.

Bottom line: Colin Fassnidge remains married to Andrea Fassnidge. For fans wondering if the show’s road-trip lifestyle strained his home life: the data suggests it’s a long-standing arrangement, not a new tension.

Where Did Manu and Colin Go on Off the Grid?

Season 1 locations

• The first season took the pair around the North Island of New Zealand, exploring local producers and traditional cooking methods, per Apple TV’s show description.
• Screentime New Zealand, the production company, describes the show as a journey to discover local flavours, hidden gems, and local producers.
• Specific destinations included Auckland and surrounding regions.

Season 2 destinations

• Season 2 expands to the South Island, with Queenstown featured as a key stop, according to episode listings.
• The opening leg reportedly includes Stewart Island and blue cod fishing, per RLSBB episode guides.
• Episode guides indicate a Fiordland flight and cooking onboard Pure Salt as part of the season, per RLSBB.

Notable stops and themes

• The caravan named Betty is their mobile base throughout both seasons, per Now To Love NZ.
• Every location focuses on meeting local producers and learning traditional cooking methods — not luxury tourism.
• TVNZ’s production materials describe them as “best mates returning for another culinary road trip through Aotearoa.”
• For visitors, the show’s food stops pair well with a fine dining experience like Orbit 360° Dining Menu: Prices, Dress Code & Parking in Queenstown.

Bottom line: Season 1 covered the North Island; Season 2 adds Queenstown, Stewart Island, and Fiordland. For travelers eyeing a New Zealand food-focused road trip: the show functions as a living itinerary of off-the-beaten-path producers worth seeking out.

Why Can’t Colin Drive in NZ?

Colin’s driving license issue

• Colin Fassnidge does not have a valid New Zealand driver’s license, according to on-show references and production interviews.
• Australian licenses are not automatically transferable for long-term stays in New Zealand, which creates the legal barrier.
• The limitation forces Colin to rely on Manu for all driving during the show’s road-trip segments.

Does Colin drive in Australia?

• Colin can and does drive in Australia, where his domestic license is valid.
• The NZ-specific issue is a product of residency and licensing rules between the two countries, not a universal driving prohibition.

Bottom line: Colin’s inability to drive in New Zealand is a real licensing restriction that the show turns into a running gag. For viewers: it’s authentic comedy born from a genuine bureaucratic quirk, not a manufactured bit.

How Old Are Colin and Manu Fassnidge?

Colin Fassnidge age

• Colin Fassnidge was born in 1977, making him 47 years old as of 2024, per public biographical records.
• He is the younger of the two chefs.

Manu Feildel age

• Manu Feildel was born in 1974, making him 50 years old as of 2024.
• He is three years older than his co-star and driving companion.

Net worth of Manu Feildel

• Manu Feildel’s net worth is estimated at $5 million, per public reports.
• This figure is not independently verified by financial documents and should be treated as an estimate.
• The wealth stems from his long-running role on My Kitchen Rules (Australia), cookbook publications, live appearances, and the Off the Grid series.

Bottom line: Colin (born 1977) is 47, Manu (born 1974) is 50. Manu’s approximate $5 million net worth makes him the wealthier of the pair, but both derive their income primarily from television and related media ventures.

Frequently asked questions

“We are actually very close – we’re like two brothers to be honest.”

Manu Feildel, speaking to Now To Love Australia about his relationship with Colin Fassnidge

“We weren’t friends.”

Colin Fassnidge, describing the early stage of their relationship to Yahoo Lifestyle Australia

For anyone who’s watched My Kitchen Rules and wondered whether the bickering between Colin and Manu was real: the evidence says yes, and so is the friendship. The two chefs have evolved from co-workers who didn’t get along into family who spend more time together than apart. Off the Grid with Colin and Manu captures that relationship on the road, with a vintage caravan named Betty as the third character. For New Zealand food travelers, the show offers a genuine itinerary of producers worth seeking out. For MKR fans, it’s the uncut version of a friendship that television built but real life sustained. The distinction between their on-screen and off-screen dynamic is essentially nonexistent — and that’s exactly what makes the show work.