Here is my estimated timeline based on known infos from this thread. If you remember my estimated timeline from last year, it was missing a whole week in the middle because of some weeks only having one elimination...
I think the biggest question mark right now is whether they did film the finale yet or not. Since there doesn't seem to be much or any time for a filming break between Christmas and now, maybe they took a break recently and didn't film the finale yet, despite the filming being ahead of last year since they went overseas two weeks earlier. This is because they didn't take a break for the caravan show, but went on a Heston road trip instead. Otherwise I basically assumed the weeks have the same structure as last year
Edit (May 2): More people going to Japan than we thought, so have to fiddle a bit
Edit (May 5): More fiddling based on the fact that Heston filming runs until start of March...
Note: links to other posts do contain contestant spoilers such as photosWeek# (number of people left at the end of the week) Dates. Notes#1 (23) November first half. Opening week + one elimination
#2 (21) November last half. Note: last year this was Marco week
#3 (19) December first half.
<Christmas/New year filming break>
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3232/thread December 17, Matt Preston is overseas
#4 (17) January first half. January 2?? -- January 11??
#5 (15) January middle. January 12?? -- January 20??
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3239/thread We know on January 18 there is an outdoors challenge with 16 people
#6 (13) January last half. ***Yottam week*** Jan 22??? — Feb 1
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3243/thread January 25, Yottam has arrived already
evidence February 1??, Yottam's last day filming
#7 (12) February first half. We know now that there is a chance for returning contestant to come back in this week
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3393/thread February 3, judges are in Adelaide on the weekend for boxing match
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3393/thread February 15, filming in Williamstown (maybe this is Heston week, maybe not? guessing not)
#8 (11) February last half. ***Heston road trip week (maybe only one elimination though?)*** Feb 19 — March 4??
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3420/thread February 20 in Swan Hill
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3434/thread February 22 in Brim Silo art
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3432/thread February 23 in Mildura
?? That weird place in the desert where we can see in the promo 10 people left
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3435/thread February 25? back in Melbourne. Maybe the elimination is not filmed yet...?
?? March 4 or earlier: in Mandurah, WA
Discussion at
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3698/thread also. Geez this is a very tight schedule for the first part...!!!
#9 (9) March first half. Don't know anything about this week
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3569/thread March 16, NOT filming in the studio (
)
#10 (8) March last half. ***Japan week (maybe only one elimination?)*** March 22 (or earlier) until April 5???
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3838/thread March 23, contestants seen by locals in Tokyo
?? March 26, press release with photo of judges in Sensoji temple
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3612/thread April 1, judges on filming break in Kyoto
#11 (6) April first half. Maybe World best 50 week or something in Sydney or both??? Apr 10?? -- Apr 21??? (totally speculative dates)
kitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3352/threadkitchenettebalcony.proboards.com/post/3807/thread April 23 (Logies), judges just got back from filming in Sydney
#12 (2/3) April second half. "Finals week" Apr 26?? -- May 10?? (totally speculative dates)
?? May 5: sliceofsarah is filming "finals"
#13 May 12. Finale episode