From correspondents in London, England, 01:31 PM IST

Australian moviemaker Baz Luhrmann, who has completed work on outback epic 'Australia', says shooting the movie in his country was punishing as the set was struck by a string of problems.

The 'Moulin Rouge' director had to cope with cast and crew illnesses, food poisoning and a host of other setbacks to complete the film, which stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Contactmusic.com reports Luhrmann saying: 'It was punishing. There was an equine flu outbreak. It rained for the first time in 100 years as we were about to shoot the desert scene. There was nothing that could have happened that didn't.'

But the director was encouraged through all the problems by his cast, who dealt with the hardships like professionals.

He added: 'Nicole is at her best in the unusual and difficult. I think it's one of her great characteristics. And no one camped out in the bush with me except for Hugh.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)