Zac Efron was finally spotted in Byron Bay on Wednesday after weeks of speculation he has been living in the popular New South Wales coastal town amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Following a string of unconfirmed sightings, the Hollywood star was pictured getting friendly with local woman Vanessa Valladares at the Byron Bay General Store café.
In photos obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, the Baywatch star hugged the brunette and gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek.
There is nothing romantic going on between them, however, because Zac is in a long-term relationship with actress Halston Sage, 26.
There he is! Zac Efron was finally spotted in Byron Bay on Wednesday after weeks of speculation he has been living in the NSW coastal town amid the coronavirus pandemic
Getting friendly: Following a string of unconfirmed sightings, the Hollywood star was pictured getting friendly with local woman Vanessa Valladares at the Byron Bay General Store café
Zac, who is lying low in Byron Bay to escape the pandemic in the US, attempted to go incognito during the outing in a hoodie and baseball cap that covered a portion of his face.
The actor was forced to take a break from his movie commitments due to COVID-19, and he appears to be making the most of his time off.
The High School Musical star enjoyed a beer as he chatted away to Vanessa before she leaned in for a friendly kiss and a hug.
She then took out her phone and it’s possible the pair exchanged numbers – but it’s not suggested they are anything more than friends.
After spending time with Vanessa at the café, Zac hopped into his car and continued on with his day.
Local brew: The High School Musical star enjoyed a beer as he chatted away to Vanessa before she leaned in for a friendly kiss and a hug
Familiar: The pair appeared to know each other quite well
Low-key: Zac attempted to go incognito for his outing in a hoodie and baseball cap
Under the radar: Zac is lying low in Byron Bay to escape the pandemic in the US
Loving life: The actor was forced to take a break from his movie commitments due to COVID-19, and he appears to be making the most of his time off
The sighting appears to confirm social media influencer Tarsha Whitmore’s claims that she had seen Zac at the same café a few weeks earlier.
‘Don’t mean to alarm anyone, but Zac Efron was literally eating at the same cafe as me when this was taken,’ she wrote on Instagram last month.
Another local claimed they had spotted the actor on the main beach a couple of weeks ago, sporting a slightly rounder physique and going incognito with a beard, baseball cap and dark glasses.
What a treat! Zac appeared to thoroughly enjoy his afternoon with Vanessa at the local eatery
Lucky girl! Vanessa was all too happy to give Zac a friendly squeeze
Looking good! Vanessa flashed her abs in a cropped blue top and brown suede pants
Swapping digits? Vanessa took out her phone and it’s possible the pair exchanged numbers – but it’s not suggested they are anything more than friends
What a babe! Byron Bay waitress Vanessa is pictured here in a recent Instagram selfie
Zac is said to have been quietly living five minutes away from popular nudist hotspot Belongil Beach for months.
He previously said it was ‘easy’ keeping a low profile during his visits to Australia because of the sparsely-populated beaches down 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.
Hot: Vanessa’s Instagram account shows her posing for a plethora of artsy bikini-clad snaps
Heading off: After spending time with Vanessa, Zac hopped into his car to continue his day
His new home? The sighting appears to confirm social media influencer Tarsha Whitmore’s claims that she had seen Zac at the same café a few weeks earlier
Zac is said to have fallen so deeply in love with the coastal town that he’s now considering purchasing the home he has apparently been renting.
According to The Sunday Telegraph, he has reportedly made an inquiry about buying the Byron Beach Retreats property named The Boardwalk.
The beachfront property is located in the coastal suburb Broken Head, a town close to Byron Bay where Chris Hemsworth also happens to live.
Low-key cool: Enjoying the winter sunshine, the handsome actor added to his low-key look with a pair of shorts
Moving here? It looks like Zac has very much made himself at home in Byron Bay after seeking out the local hotspots
Hiding out: Zac has spent the past few months lying low in Byron Bay to escape the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Pictured on Netflix show Down to Earth
The property has private beach access and a 12-metre magnesium pool and spa, as well as boardwalks with tropical gardens.
The luxurious home also has five bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms and huge bi-fold doors that open the kitchen and lounge pavilions onto the deck.
Days later, in a conflicting report, Realestate.com.au speculated that Zac was likely staying at either Baywatch at Wategos, which is part of Byron Bay Luxury Homes, or local hotspot Rae’s on Wategos.
Spacious and modern: According to The Sunday Telegraph , the American star has reportedly made an inquiry about buying the Byron Beach Retreats property named The Boardwalk
Privacy: The property, which he has apparently been renting, has private beach access and a 12-metre magnesium pool and spa, as well as boardwalks with tropical gardens
Outdoor living: It also has huge bi-fold doors that open the kitchen and lounge pavilions onto the deck
Location: The beachfront property is located in the coastal suburb Broken Head, a town close to Byron Bay where Chris Hemsworth also happens to live
Rae’s is an ‘exclusive boutique retreat in an idyllic beachfront setting’, and its penthouse rooms cost up to $2,000 a night.
Baywatch at Wategos is nestled underneath the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse.
The rental home is located on Wategos Beach and offers guests spectacular views of the water and Julian Rocks.
Home sweet home? According to Realestate.com.au in a conflicting report, Zac is likely staying at Baywatch at Wategos, which is nestled underneath the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse
Wow! The beachfront home offers guests spectacular views of the water and Julian Rocks
Location: Zac could also be staying at Rae’s on Wategos, a luxe hotel located on Wategos Beach
Luxurious: Rae’s is an ‘exclusive boutique retreat in an idyllic beachfront setting’, and its penthouse rooms cost up to $2,000 a night
Zac was last pictured in his hometown of Los Angeles on January 25.
In April, his former High School Musical co-stars all reunited via video link to sing a rendition of We’re All in This Together.
However, Zac raised eyebrows when it was revealed he wouldn’t be a part of the singalong due to a ‘bad Wi-Fi’ connection – fuelling speculation he was living somewhere remote.
The California native is known to jump at the opportunity to fly Down Under, whether it’s for work or a secret surfing holiday.
In December, Zac was flown to Brisbane for urgent medical attention after being struck down with a serious infection while filming a TV show in Papua New Guinea.
‘I did get sick in Papua New Guinea, but I bounced back quick and finished an amazing three weeks in PNG,’ he later told his Instagram followers.
Zac previously said it was ‘easy’ keeping a low profile during his visits to Australia because of the sparsely-populated beaches down the coast.