Central Coast, Byron Bay and Hamilton Island: Celebrity holiday hot spots revealed

Erin Molan, Ben Fordham, Grant Denyer and more celebrities have revealed their holiday plans now that we are out of lockdown.

The New South Wales Central Coast and Byron Bay are shaping up to be this year’s go-to holiday destinations after months in lockdown.

Despite international borders reopening for the first time since March 2020, many celebrities including 2GB host Ben Fordham have opted for domestic travel to support local businesses.

“We never stray too far from home over summer,” Fordham said.

“There’s no better place to be over the Christmas break than NSW. We’ll be spending a few days down the South Coast but the majority of our time will be on the Central Coast.

“We love Avoca and Copacabana. We’ve also got a secret fishing spot at Empire Bay but the locals will kill me if I tell you where it is.”

Ben Fordham, his wife Jodie Speers and three kids Freddie, Pearl and Marigold will spend the holidays in Avoca Beach this year. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Hollywood actor Luke Evans is also a fan of the Central Coast after he travelled to Somersby while shooting Nine Perfect Strangers earlier this year.

Ryan South, General Manager of Belle Escapes Central Coast, has been inundated with bookings from various parts of Sydney.

Avoca, NSW.

Ben Fordham's wife and kids on a family holiday in Avoca, NSW earlier this year. Picture: istagram

“The Coast is the place to be this summer, we are gearing up for our busiest season ever,” he said.

“Belle Escapes Central Coast, which manages the creme de la creme of holiday homes on the Central Coast, has taken hundreds of bookings in the past few weeks.

“Most of our summer guests are coming up from Sydney, from the North Shore to the North West and the Eastern Suburbs and Inner West, and are enjoying an extended stay of 10 days or two weeks.”

He said part of the appeal of the Central Coast is the close proximity (one hour north of Sydney’s CBD).

Erin Molan and her daughter Eliza will spend the holidays with family in Royalla. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“[People] are lapping up the chance to relax in multimillion-dollar properties that will make them feel a million miles from home, even though they only have to scoot an hour or so up the M1,” South said.

“While Terrigal, Avoca and Killcare are always popular places for Sydneysiders to spend their summer, there are some new properties putting new areas of the Coast on the map including Daleys Point, Blue Bay, Booker Bay and Gorokan.”

TV presenter, Erin Molan, is looking forward to spending quality time with family in Royalla after being separated during lockdown.

“I’ve been waiting desperately to go and see mum and dad who live in regional NSW - Royalla - just outside of Canberra,” she said.

“Dad [Jim Molan] was diagnosed with cancer just before lockdown this year... it has been really tough supporting them from a distance... though thankfully - he clearly didn’t need me close by - he’s doing brilliantly and back at work... and [my daughter] Eliza and I can’t wait to go down and give them a hug.”

2DAY FM’s Dave Hughes, his wife Holly Ife and their kids Tess, Sadie and Rafferty, will stay in Balmain.

Dave Hughes, Molan’s co-host on 2Day Fm’s The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed & Erin, will stay local with his family.

“So many people can’t wait to get out of Sydney, but my family and I are looking forward to spending summer around our beautiful harbour in Balmain,” Hughes said.

Grant Denyer will travel to Bathurst with his wife Chezzi and daughters Sailor and Scout.

TV host, Grant Denyer and his wife, Chezzi, will head to the NSW town of Bathurst, where they own a 27-acre farm.

“Grant and I are renovating the farm house which has been a long and exhausting project, so for our next holiday we would just love to go home,” Chezzi said.

Hollywood actors George Clooney and Julia Roberts recently jetted to the picturesque Whitesundays to shoot their upcoming romantic comedy, Ticket To Paradise, which will no doubt boost local tourism.

The A-list pair will spend two months working at a lavish Hamilton Island resort, and travellers are expected to flock to the area if border restrictions begin to ease in Queensland in late November as planned.

George Clooney and Julia Roberts will spend two months filming at Hamilton Island, which will no doubt boost tourism when Queensland borders reopen . (Photo by Toni Anne Barson/FilmMagic)

Former SAS Australia contestant, Roxy Jacenko, is also making her way there.

“I am headed to Hamilton Island with the family - it’s one of our favourite destinations in Australia, following that I’ll be headed to Los Angeles with my mum Doreen visiting my sister and my nephews,” Jacenko said.

Former Bachelor Sam Wood and his wife Snezana will make their way to Tasmania.

“For us it will be Tassie as we have missed family so much,” said Wood.

“It is as much about the people as it is the place. When WA opens up we cannot wait to see Snez’s family too and desperately hope we can do that before Easter.”

DJ Brooke Evers, who is based in Queensland, will travel to Byron Bay with her husband Matt Strafford and their baby daughter Rocky.

Nicole Kidman brought a star-studded cast to Byron Bay last year while filming Nine Perfect Strangers.

“It all depends on the borders... my number one holiday is Byron Bay. I got married there and I made Rocky there so it’s a very special place for us,” she said.

Since last year, the quiet coastal town has had an influx of celebrities including Nicole Kidman and Melissa Mccarthy for filming of the miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers.

It’s also home to the likes of Chris Hemsworth and Zac Efron which has boosted its appeal, according to travel specialist at Finder, Courtney Edwards.

“Byron Bay has evolved from a laid-back beach getaway destination to an escape from city-living during the pandemic,” Edwards said.

“It has become an ideal remote working destination. With an increase in popularity comes an increase in rental prices.

Sam Wood and his wife Snezana are pictured in a throwback photo with daughter Eve. Picture: Instagram

“During the holiday period, Airbnb prices peak with visitors easily spending $12,000 for a 2-bedroom rental over the course of a week in the heart of Byron Bay. Last holiday season saw celebrities including Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg spending some time in Byron. As more celebrities hit the beach in Byron, more everyday Australians have made their way too.”

One local accommodation business said this year holiday bookings have been selling “like hot cakes”.

“Everybody wants to be here. Anyone who’s anyone is here,” said Destination Byron Bay owner, Tanya O’Neill.

“Last year we were sold out from October onwards, whereas this year January is filling like hot cakes. It’s impossible to get anything, the first three weeks of January are done and dusted.

“I thought we may have seen a change with the international border changes happening but that is not the case and when you think about it, why would you go overseas at the moment? Your travel insurance isn’t going to cover you. It is too problematic even though you’re allowed to travel. How can anyone travel with confidence?”

Finder analysis of Tourism Research Australia revealed that in December 2020, the North Coast region of NSW, including Byron Shire, had 4.3 million domestic visitors, the highest number of overnight visitors in the entire regional NSW over that period.

Additionally, in the year ending December 2020, regional NSW had a total of 24.4 million overnight visitors racking up a total of $14.2 billion spend, the highest amount of visitors and spend in the entire nation during that period.

Originally published as Central Coast, Byron Bay and Hamilton Island: Celebrity holiday hot spots revealed