‘Like a nice family holiday’: Queensland fans’ shock encounter with George Clooney

George Clooney appeared like any other holiday-maker in his downtime while starring opposite Julia Roberts on location in the Whitsundays.

Fans say a relaxed George Clooney appeared like any other holiday-maker playing tourist during his downtime in Queensland’s Whitsundays shooting big-budget flick Ticket to Paradise alongside Julia Roberts.

The award-winning actor and filmmaker has been spotted by fellow Hamilton Island guests “scooting around on a buggy” with his twins Ella and Alexander at the state’s top holiday destination.

Fans said he appeared relaxed and happy as he waved at them while they basked in the sunset at One Tree Hill lookout last week.

Julia Roberts on Haslewood Island in the Whitsundays. Picture: Backgrid

Chelsea Winn, from Auchenflower in Brisbane, said she was shocked when spotted him while enjoying a drink and the view.

“It just looked like we caught him on a nice family holiday with his twins, scooting around on the buggy,” the 23-year-old said.

“We all looked at each other and went, ‘Holy crap, was that George?’

“On reflection, it’s probably the most famous person we’ve ever seen.”

George Clooney is on Hamilton Island to film Ticket to Paradise alongside Julia Roberts.

George Clooney takes a ride in one of Hamilton Island's trademark golf buddies.

The Hollywood star, 60, was also spotted by locals and tourists chauffeuring himself around the Queensland holiday destination in one of the island’s distinctive buggies.

A family of holiday makers shared a series of photos of the relaxed actor at the weekend, dressed down in a polo shirt and shorts as he smiled and waved to them near the entrance to the island’s walking trails before driving off in the club car.

Meanwhile, Roberts, 54, was seen exploring the island. She visited the hillside All Saints Church the previous Sunday, sitting inside with a member of her team before smiling and exchanging greetings with a delighted holiday maker.

Roberts and Clooney are reuniting to film the upcoming romantic comedy and the pair were also snapped on set in casual clothing as they disembarked a helicopter on the sand on Haslewood Island.

They will play a divorced couple who fly to tropical Bali for their daughter’s wedding in the movie that will be based in Australia over the next few months.

George Clooney on Haslewood Island in the Whitsundays. Picture: Backgrid

The Oscar winners separately underwent mandatory hotel quarantine due to the global pandemic – Clooney in the NSW Southern Highlands and Roberts at a harbourside mansion in Sydney’s Vaucluse – before flying north.

Ticket to Paradise is set to inject nearly $50 million into the Australian economy and has created nearly 300 jobs.

Kaitlyn Dever will be seen as Clooney and Roberts’ on-screen daughter, while the film also stars Billie Lourd, daughter of the late Carrie Fisher, and Lucas Bravo.

The director is Ol Parker, acclaimed for his work on films including Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

It is the fourth film to co-star Roberts and Clooney.

They were previously seen in Ocean’s Eleven, Ocean’s Twelve and Money Monster.

Originally published as ‘Like a nice family holiday’: Queensland fans’ shock encounter with George Clooney