Inside Zac Efron’s low key Australian life
Zac Efron is living a world away from the bright lights of Hollywood, setting up in laid-back Byron Bay. Here is a peek inside his new life.
It was 2006 and Zac Efron went from being an unknown young American actor with little experience, to one of Hollywood’s most talked about stars.
The then 19-year-old appeared in the low-budget Disney Channel original film High School Musical, which was a runaway success and propelled its main cast to universal fame.
None more so than Efron and his leading lady, Vanessa Hudgens, who was also his girlfriend off-screen.
Their romance became the much talked about entertainment story until they eventually split in 2010, two years after the final HSM film premiered.
And while some thought he would have a hard time breaking free from his beloved character Troy Bolton, Efron proved his acting chops and role versatility with projects like Hairspray, The Lucky One, Neighbours, Golden Globe nominated film The Greatest Showman, as well as playing serial killer Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.
Efron’s life became red carpets, award shows and A-list parties, with paparazzi following his every move.
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Fast forward to 2020 and Efron’s life couldn’t look more different.
While the 33-year-old is still busy in terms of acting work, the star fled the US in March and settled in Australia amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But it wasn’t until July that he was actually photographed in the beachside town of Byron Bay, where interestingly he was seen kissing local waitress Vanessa Valladares at the Byron Bay general store.
At the time, media reported the pair were just friends.
But Valladares, 25, was photographed holding hands with Efron in early September, and is thought to be the reason why Efron has extended his visa in Australia for a further 12 months.
It is understood they are renting a $22 million beachside mansion.
LJ Hooker Avnu real estate agent Michael Coombs spoke to The Daily Telegraph about the property.
“We did have a few A-list celebrities inquire about it, and some sports stars,” he said. “In my opinion it is the best house in Byron Bay.”
The waterfront property boasts five bedrooms, one master suite and ensuite that has its own staircase to a walk-in wardrobe.
The luxury property has sweeping views of the ocean, and even has its own private set of stairs that lead down to Wategos Beach.
The property has its own heated infinity pool, yoga and games room, wine cellar and commercial laundry. The middle floor is an open-plan living space with a dining and kitchen area that leads out to a balcony.
RELATED: How Zac Efron met his Aussie girlfriend, Vanessa Valladares
Efron had previously said it was “easy” keeping a low profile during his visits to Australia due to the sparsely populated beach towns along the coast.
“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,” he said at the Australian premiere of his 2012 film, The Lucky One.
Efron has been in Australia for the better part of a year, after filming a reality show in Papua New Guinea Kill the Efrons in late 2019.
He had to be flown to Brisbane airport by a medical evacuation crew after falling sick with a “form of typhoid or similar bacterial infection”.
Very thankful to everyone who has reached out.
— Zac Efron (@ZacEfron) December 29, 2019
I did get sick in Papua New Guinea but I bounced back quick and finished an amazing 3 weeks in P.N.G.
I’m home for the holidays with my friends and family. Thanks for all the love and concern, see you in 2020! pic.twitter.com/SEcopCmqAB
Efron was able to return home to the US on Christmas Eve, with doctors giving him the “all clear” after a thorough assessment.
But by March he was back.
RELATED: Zac and Vanessa enjoy long lunch in Mount Warning
In 2020 Efron has enjoyed a ski trip to Thredbo with Valladares, a weekend away in Sydney where they dined at top restaurant Catalina, as well as having a 33rd birthday bash in Byron Bay.
He’s currently in Adelaide shooting the film, Gold, abouttwo men who find an enormous gold nugget while travelling through the outback. While one of them leaves to fetch the tools to dig up the bounty, the other stays behind to protect it.
He has been spotted filming in the Australian outback, as well as drinking at a local bar and shopping up a storm in the CBD.
In early December, Valladares travelled to visit him where the couple were pictured after a workout.
It is not known how long he plans to stay in Australia for but he has been cast in the remake of 1987 film Three Men and a Baby, which is reportedly due to film in the US soon.
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