Nova 100’s breakfast show Jase & Lauren wrapped up its Hide & Seek competition this week, awarding $94,000 to a Melbourne father who tracked down the show’s hosts using only Google Maps and on-air clues.
Charles, a listener from Ormond and father of two, deciphered the show’s increasingly cryptic clues over several days, eventually identifying the location where the hosts were concealed. The game had begun with a $250,000 prize that decreased by $1 per second until the hosts were found.
Describing his approach on-air, Charles said, “I was like an absolute madman… up all night Googling.” He added that the money would allow both him and his wife, currently caring for their youngest child full-time, to take time off together.
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Where were Jase & Lauren?
The final location sat at 16 Sandilands St, between turns 7 and 8 of the Melbourne F1 track, near a Specsavers, a dog park, and a restaurant named Nana’s Place. Additional hints played on themes from real estate to Formula 1 sponsorships.
What were the clues?
“Play That Funky Music”: a nod to a once famous nearby nightclub
“Narre Warren also has one, kind of”: Narre Warren has a Sandilands Court
“It’s within 25kms of a Specsavers”: there is a Specsavers down the road
“I love a big birthday celebration”: street number 16 is also a big birthday celebration
“We are busy on school holidays”: a fake caravan business was set up at the address to throw off those walking past
“Hold back the river”: the location was close to Albert Park Lake, a similar body of water
“Jase bought his straightener”: hair tool brand Cloud Nine’s head office is around the corner
“Are you buying what I’m selling?”: referencing the building’s past as a real estate office
“What do Specsavers and 32 have in common?”: you divide both by 50%… to get Specsavers current sale and to get 16 from 32
“You can call us Hitchy”: you hitch a caravan, alluding to the fake business
“Keep an eye out for The Bont”: pointing to nearby dog parks
“Is nonna making sushi for dinner?”: Nana’s Place restaurant is around the corner
“If you’re lost, we can be found 22 minutes away”: pointing to Chadstone’s current exhibition Lost & Found
“Before seven, not as far as eight”: placing them between turns 7 and 8 on the Melbourne F1 track
“I need a new handbag”: also alludes to the F1 and Louis Vuitton’s current sponsorship
“West is not Best”: the team’s hiding place was not in the West
“We could walk to the footy in under an hour”: the team’s location was relatively close to the MCG
“Where there is danger, lurks opportunity”: a city power box is located outside the address with a sign that reads ‘danger’
The competition showcased strong listener engagement and innovative clue design from Nova’s leading breakfast show, which maintains its #1 position in Melbourne’s FM market. Jase & Lauren airs weekdays from 6am to 9am, with live streaming and podcasts available via the Nova Player.