It’s the most wonderful time of the year – no, not Christmas – but the last day on The Block . Time flies when you’re building expensive houses and feuding with your neighbours.
Chantel and Wyatt are dangerously close to making Block history – for all the wrong reasons. If they don’t win this week, they’ll be the first team in 22 seasons to never win a room reveal.
“We want this win so badly,” Chantel says. “We’ve not got one win this whole season so we’re hoping to go out with a bang this week.”
They’re counting on their luxury wellness retreat, with a sauna, a 4.6-million-year-old stone bath and an outdoor shower.
But despite the luxe inclusions that could set them up for success, Wyatt’s had enough and wants to go home.
“I hate it here, hey,” says the Big Grumpy Giant. “I am over it completely – I’m over pushing [wheel]barrows, I’m over the rain, I’m over the mishaps.”
When asked if he’s worried he’ll look ungrateful, Wyatt responds, “I do not care how it comes across, I am over it.” Get this man out of here, stat.
Over in House 4, Courtney and Sev aren’t confident that they’ll finish this week. They are short on cash, thanks to the gamble they took last week in Backyard and Garage Week . While they did come home with a win, they tied with Adam and Jolene in House 1, so instead of taking home the full $10,000 prize, they got $5000, leaving them shortchanged – and Troy shitty.
They know they can kiss a seventh win and the $50,000 off reserve goodbye. Mwah.
Jolene worries they won’t finish either. House 2 and House 3 could only access their yard through House 1, and Jolene wanted to shut off that access days ago, but Adam was being a nice guy, and they only closed their yard to the other contestants with about an hour ’til tools down.
“It’s not been a great day and we will not finish,” Jolene says.
She ends up in tears, describing her yard as “half-cooked” and “not good enough”. “We’ve just wasted a week and given someone else a win.”
However, it’s a different story in House 5. This could be the first week that Rick and Tayla actually finish – it’s only taken 12 weeks.
“It’s so good to finish on a good note,” says Tayla. “We have a very good chance of winning Sunday night, $50k off the reserve,” Rick adds.
He’s feeling good, probably for the first time all season.
It’s hugs all around as Scotty calls “tools down!” for the final time on the 2026 season, and I’m not crying, you’re crying.
And so, for the final time in 2026, we’re ready for the judges’ comments.
There’s no Marty this week, just Shaynna and Darren, and Dave Franklin is back.
“This is just so pretty, look at the colours,” Shaynna says as they step through the door and into the front yard.
The judges are all about “entrance appeal” today, and Darren thinks House 1’s entrance appeal is “heaven”.
They then discover the water feature, which to me looks like a giant pile of excrement, but Shaynna seems to love it, and Dave calls it “a cool feature”.
They also love the fire pit – Dave calls it “phenomenal”.
Further up the garden path and into the yard proper, the judges are in awe of the giant trees: “Wowwww, they are so quintessential Australia, aren’t they?” Shaynna says, craning her neck to see the treetops.
It’s quite fitting, really, for the quintessential Aussie couple who hail from outback SA.
They love the hulking timber and rock table in the yard, too, and Shaynna can’t stop saying “Wowwww”.
They sit down to look around the garden, and Dave says, “Whoever designed this really knows their plants.” You’d hope their landscaper would.
However, Dave then points out the “elephant in the room” – or the circular arbours in the garden. He thinks that when the Virginia creeper grows over them, it will obscure the water views from the garden.
It’s one small misstep in an overall positive experience for the judges, and Shaynna’s “mind is blown” at how much they’ve achieved in a week.
“It’s going to look a million bucks, and then some come auction day,” Darren says.
That’s pretty good feedback considering they had Houses 2 and 3 traipsing through their yard all week, and for a space Jolene thinks is “not good enough”.
“I think we nailed this week,” says a confident Wyatt.
It’s got to be their turn for a win, doesn’t it? Surely with a whopping 4.6-million-year-old stone bath they’re in with a chance? And this is just how The Block works – everyone gets a turn at winning.
Chantel says she hopes the judges “can see the vision” they were trying to go with the whole time.
“Oh my god! This is beyond cool,” Darren says when he sees their wellness area with a sauna, outdoor shower and that big bath. Shaynna’s jaw drops.
“It’s a water feature and a bath in one,” says an excited Darren.
Shaynna even suggests “bringing in three or four bags of ice and turning it into a cold plunge”. She’s full of ideas.
“This is absolutely beautiful,” Darren says when he realises you could bathe out here without anybody seeing your budgie smugglers – or bare bum cheeks if you’re that way inclined.
“It’s effin’ beautiful,” he says again, literally jumping with joy.
Up the stairs, and they all love the Trendz fireplace – clad in stone thanks to some creative problem-solving by the Cursio brothers.
Dave thinks the tilers have done “a fantastic job”, but it’s really a backhanded compliment because he says that some of the planting choices don’t mix. He’s concerned it “looks wrong” and that the magnolia tree will be suffocated by the plants around it.
“This is the most interesting, diverse space that Chantel and Wyatt have done this season on The Block ,” Darren says.
Shaynna agrees, admitting she was thinking, “this feels like home – and I have not said that about any of their spaces”.
Is this Chantel and Wyatt’s week? I’ve never heard the judges be so positive.
“We wanted to create something we love more than we cared about something the judges wanted and loved,” Wyatt says.
“Come auction time, we’ve got a good chance of winning.” There’s that confidence again.
Rosco’s feeling pretty relaxed about judging because, he says, “we couldn’t have done more. I’m very proud of what we’ve delivered.”
Then Shaynna questions: “Why would you put a shed here?” And honestly, I’m wondering the same thing.
But this is Rosco’s secret weapon, and when they open it, it all makes sense.
“Hello entertaining,” Shaynna says when she sees the TV, beer tap and spit inside.
“They call that ‘Dude Ranch’,” Dave says. Do they, Dave?
Up the stairs, Darren’s first comment is, “I don’t know about that bird bath.” Dave thinks it should be at his Nan’s house.
The bird bath isn’t a hit, but the kids’ mini picnic table in the yard is a hit.
Dave’s happy with the plant selection, but says he’d add more screening plants along the fence line. However, aside from that minor quibble, he says it’s the most usable garden he’s seen so far.
The judges are even forced to admit they were wrong – shock, horror! – after slamming Lisa and Rosco last week.
“They knew what they were doing all along and we didn’t – my apologies,” says Darren. “They’ve got it right.” You don’t hear that every day.
“To me, this space here is every family’s dream,” Shaynna adds.
“It’s a good family home … this is definitely delivering what the market wants,” Darren concludes.
After last week’s gamble didn’t quite pay off, the girls were left with a budget of $25,000 for Front Yard and Facade Week … but Troy the landscaper is quoting $45,000 – how will you pull this one off, girls?
Darren’s impressed that this front yard looks like a front yard, and he’s equally impressed that there’s a dedicated zone to park a boat or caravan – “That’s really clever,” he says.
Down the stairs and Shaynna’s a bit worried as she’s tottering around in her high-heeled boots – “Where’s the rail? There’s a lot of stairs, and they’re steep.”
She thinks the small garden and seating area outside the guest bedroom is “pretty cool”. But again, Dave’s not a fan. He thinks the water feature looks “cheap”.
Shaynna’s starting to notice that it looks like Courtney and Sev have run out of money – and she’d be right. She can’t believe that this is House 4.
“It doesn’t feel elegant, it doesn’t feel finished, it doesn’t have an impact on me at all,” she says.
“It’s a bit meh,” Dave adds, and Shaynna agrees. Oooft, is meh one of the worst criticisms you can get?
“This is the first time the girls have not sold the dream,” Shaynna says as she turns on her heel and walks off.
“I think we’re actually in with a frickin’ shot at this $50k off reserve,” Tayla says, and she might be right, because in the twelfth and final week, Rick and Tayla have completed a space! It’s a minor miracle!
It’s an instant “wow” from Shaynna as they head down the driveway and see the PGH stone cladding, and Dave is having his own wow moment. He loves the stonework on the house and says the planting selection is “on point”. He particularly loves the Scleranthus tufts – which Tayla describes as a “male’s shaved head”.
Scotty loves them too, but what he thinks doesn’t really matter.
“The simplicity of this is heaven,” Darren says. He does notice, though, that there’s no front fence to keep the kids and the pets in. Aside from that, he’s “enamoured”.
“This is a classic case of less is more,” Dave says, eyeing up the lawn, practically drooling. He’s channelling his inner Marty again and thinks the home has “kerb appeal”.
Down the stairs, Shaynna is still looking for a handrail, but she quickly forgets she might take a tumble when she sees the incredible water feature.
“Ohhh come onnnn, that is amazing! We’ve never seen anything like this on The Block ever!”
“I love that,” says Darren. “That’s so beautiful.”
After more exploring, the judges realise that this is the first space that Rick and Tayla have finished. “What a great way to finish The Block ,” Darren says.
“They saved the best for last,” adds Shaynna.
“This is life changing, this decision today for whoever is going to win,” Shaynna says, realising they’ve got some big decisions to make.
“It could mean whoever wins this week wins The Block ,” says Darren.
Rick and Tayla win Front Yard and Facade Week with a score of 27.5 – in one of the closest finishes yet.
Not only did Rick and Tayla finish for the first time this season, they come away with the game-changing $50,000 off their reserve.
The Block reserves were revealed by Shelley Craft in an on-air slip-up last week. All five homes have a reserve of $3.45 million.
“What a way to finish The Block with the biggest win of the season,” Scotty says.
“I think the houses are the best we’ve seen on The Block ,” says Shelley, who joined Scotty for the final judging. “What we have here in Mount Eliza is absolutely extraordinary, and I wish you all the best for auction day.”
‘I don’t think these guys are worthy of The Block’ : Drama erupts in week one
‘The most unfinished room in Block history’: Bathroom week carnage
‘A high-end coffin’: The Block’s Main Bedroom Week ends in a funeral for one team
‘Predictable’ and ‘boring’: Another minimalism hurdle in The Block’s En Suite Week
‘I’m infuriated’: The Block judges unleash in Living and Dining Week
‘This is terrible’: The room reveal that had The Block judges crying with laughter
“One of the best kitchens I’ve ever seen”: Judges blown away by Kitchen Week on The Block
‘This is a sexy laundry’: A drama-filled Rumpus and Laundry Week on The Block
‘So stubborn it’s ridiculous’: Block judges slam one team in Redo Week
‘This was a huge mistake’: It’s sink or swim in Outdoor Terrace and Pool Week
One loophole, two furious teams and The Block’s nastiest blow-up in Backyard and Garage Week
Jessica Dale Jessica Dale is the Advice and Living editor at Domain. Jessica has 10 years' experience as a property writer and was the deputy editor of Domain magazine in The Age, SMH and Australian Financial Review.
The Block reserve prices revealed as Mount Eliza homes set at $3.45m for 2026 auction
The Block has revealed reserve prices for its five Mount Eliza homes ahead of the 2026 finale auction, with reserves set at $3.45 million.
The Block 2026 episode 45 recap: Who won Backyard and Garage Week?
Houses 1 and 4 face off after a discounting drama, and two teams tie for the win – a first for the season.
The Block landscaper Troy Lovett’s five tips for creating a stunning garden on budget
The Block landscaper Troy Lovett shares five practical tips for planning a beautiful backyard, from setting priorities to managing costs and maintenance.
See more news from Domain in your Google search results.
The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs.
