Zac Efron confirms he’s not in Australia for work as rumours swirl he’s settling Down Under for good

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Zac Efron confirms he’s not in Australia for work as rumours swirl he’s settling Down Under for good

By Candice Jackson For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Zac Efron has been quarantining in New South Wales’ celebrity haven, Byron Bay.

And now it’s been confirmed the Hollywood actor’s extended Australian stay is in no way business-related.

‘He is not there for work,’ a spokesperson told Sydney Confidential on Monday.

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Here to stay? Zac Efron confirms he’s not in Australia for work as rumours swirl he’s settling Down Under for good

It has been reported that Zac has been quietly living in Byron Bay for ‘months’, with sources suggesting he moved there to escape the global coronavirus pandemic.

The 32-year-old, who hit the big time after starring in Disney’s 2006 hit High School Musical, was spotted earlier this month at the Byron Bay General Store café. 

In photos obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, Zac hugged a brunette waitress and gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek goodbye.

There is nothing romantic going on between them, however, because Zac is believed to be in a long-term relationship with actress Halston Sage, 26. 

Laying low: Zac has been quietly living in Byron Bay for 'months', with sources suggesting he moved there to escape the global coronavirus pandemic. Pictured in Sydney

Laying low: Zac has been quietly living in Byron Bay for ‘months’, with sources suggesting he moved there to escape the global coronavirus pandemic. Pictured in Sydney

Spotted: The 32-year-old, who hit the big time after starring in Disney's 2006 hit High School Musical, was keeping a low-profile earlier this month at the Byron Bay General Store café

Spotted: The 32-year-old, who hit the big time after starring in Disney’s 2006 hit High School Musical, was keeping a low-profile earlier this month at the Byron Bay General Store café

The actor previously hinting at his plans to leave Hollywood in his new docuseries for Netflix – Down to Earth.

In the fourth episode, the Baywatch star confesses he has ‘gotta get out of Hollywood’, adding that he is ‘done’ with that lifestyle because it is ‘not conducive’ to a ‘long, happy, mentally-sound life’. 

Although Zac joked that he isn’t planning to flee Hollywood for good, just yet, his decision to escape Los Angeles in favor of Australia during the coronavirus pandemic suggests he may well be exploring relocating there temporarily. 

'I've gotta get out of Hollywood': The actor previously hinting at his plans to leave Hollywood in his new docuseries for Netflix - Down to Earth

‘I’ve gotta get out of Hollywood’: The actor previously hinting at his plans to leave Hollywood in his new docuseries for Netflix – Down to Earth

Interestingly, Australian heartthrob Chris Hemsworth also cited similar reasons when he moved his family to Byron Bay in 2016.

‘I love what I do as an actor, but when you are surrounded by it constantly, it becomes a bit suffocating,’ he said at the time. 

‘We were living shoulder to shoulder in the suburbs and thought that’s not how we want our kids to grow up. Moving to a kind of farm setup back here on the coast in Australia has been the best thing.’ 

Chris, 36, Spanish wife Elsa Pataky, 44, and their three children live in a $20 million mega-mansion in Byron Bay’s hinterland.

'It becomes a bit suffocating': Australian heartthrob Chris Hemsworth also cited similar reasons when he moved his family to Byron Bay in 2016. Pictured with Spanish wife Elsa Pataky at their $20 million mega-mansion in Byron Bay's hinterland

‘It becomes a bit suffocating’: Australian heartthrob Chris Hemsworth also cited similar reasons when he moved his family to Byron Bay in 2016. Pictured with Spanish wife Elsa Pataky at their $20 million mega-mansion in Byron Bay’s hinterland