Zac Efron holds hands with new girlfriend Vanessa Valladares on lunch date

Hollywood heart-throb Zac Efron has confirmed his new romance with Aussie waitress Vanessa Valladares with the loved-up couple stepping out hand-in-hand for the first time during a lunch date at the trendy The Farm in Byron Bay. SEE THE PICTURES

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Hollywood heart-throb Zac Efron is officially off the market after confirming his new romance with model Vanessa Valladares.

The smitten couple stepped out hand-in-hand for the first time during a lunch date at The Farm in Byron Bay on Friday, after months of romance speculation.

The Baywatch actor, 32, is said to have met Valladares, 25, who hails from Byron Shire, while she was working as a waitress at Byron Bay General Store cafe earlier this year.

Zac Efron and Vanessa Valladares hold hands on a lunch outing in Byron Bay. Picture: Media-Mode.com

The pair instantly hit it off and have been inseparable ever since, with reports claiming Valladares has now quit her job and is living with Efron at Belongil Beach.

The pair did not respond to a request for comment.

Last week, the couple were spotted arriving at Ballina Airport together after enjoying a romantic ski trip to Thredbo and were later seen having brunch together at Lennox Head on Saturday.

The American actor ditched his hometown of Los Angeles for Byron earlier this year to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s been claimed he recently renewed his visa for 12 months.

Zac and Vanessa’s hand-holding PDA proves the lovebirds are indeed a couple. Picture: Media-Mode.com

A rep for Efron previously told The Daily Telegraph that his trip Down Under is not business-related and he’s simply enjoying the coastal lifestyle of Byron.

In 2012, he hinted at a possible move to Australia after being drawn to the surf.

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“It is easy to keep a low profile. We jump into a little bus and my Aussie friends know all of the best surfing spots,” he told AAP.

“We surf every day and barbecue every afternoon. Then we get to bed early, wake up, surf and do it all over again.

Zac Efron's new girlfriend Vanessa Valladares. Picture: Instagram

“I love Australia. I have been spoiled by how much I have been to Australia and have surfed all over. What I love about Australia, which is what we don’t have in California, is there are so many wide open beaches where no-one is at.”

Efron previously dated his High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens for five years before they split in 2010.

More recently, he was linked to American actress Halston Sage in January. Prior to this, he dated Olympian Sarah Bro.

Originally published as Zac Efron holds hands with new girlfriend Vanessa Valladares on lunch date