Zac Efron says Kangaroo Island is a ‘gem of a place’

Hollywood heart-throb Zac Efron has returned to SA shores, cuddling kangaroos and swimming with dolphins as part of a new documentary series.

Hollywood heart-throb Zac Efron has described Kangaroo Island as a “gem of a place” as he returned to South Australia last weekend to shoot a new documentary series.

Three months after he wrapped filming on his made-for-TV thriller in the SA outback, Efron was back with his brother Dylan, swimming with dolphins and getting up close and personal with local wildlife.

“I’ve never been that close to dolphins, that was mind-blowing. Under water you can hear them talking, communicating … it’s just fascinating, it was really cool,” Efron said in an exclusive video.

“To be with them that close, it just feel like you’re in space or something, I’ve never had an experience like that in my life.

“What a gem of a place, I just love it here.”

Zac Efron and brother Dylan Efron at Kangaroo Island Australia. Picture: zacefron/Instagram

Zac Efron at Kangaroo Island Australia. Picture: zacefron/Instagram

The actor shared photos of his trip – which was organised by the SA Tourism Commission – with his 45 million Instagram followers.

Efron was also here to shoot scenes for the second season of his Netflix documentary series, Down To Earth.

“All of it is just amazing, it’s a beautiful island, there’s nature absolutely abundant, everywhere, it’s really come back in a big way since the fires which were pretty devastating,” he said.

Efron was in the state late last year to shoot his new made-for-TV film in the South Australian Outback.

The actor’s first project since arriving in Australia, Gold centres on two men who find an enormous gold nugget in the Outback.

The Stan Original thriller, which will be released sometime this year, also stars Susie Porter and Animal Kingdom’s Anthony Hayes, who directed the movie, and is based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth.

Efron arrived in Adelaide in November and spent two weeks in the city before production moved to Leigh Creek.

The High School Musical star has embraced a low-key life in Australia, settling down on the NSW north coast with new girlfriend, local Vanessa Valladares.