Places across the country with links to the famous.
While just about every hotel will claim someone famous once stayed there and every restaurant likes to boast of its celebrity diners, some places have inextricable links with the stars. Whether it's spa retreats owned by singers, streets named after bands or courses designed by legendary golfers, there's always somewhere to bask in the celeb glow.
The Gaia Retreat
Where? Brooklet, Byron Bay hinterland, Northern NSW
Designed as a place to refresh, renew and replenish body mind and soul, the
Gaia Retreat likes to think of itself as being a step above the usual spa retreat. Gaia takes pride in excellent hospitality and harnessing the new age treatments and therapies that the Byron Bay area is renowned for.
It's certainly not cheap — this is aimed at the high end of the earth child market — but it has a consistently good reputation.
And the celebrity link? Well, the Gaia Retreat is part-owned by Grease star and Australian national icon Olivia Newton-John. Perfect for those hopelessly devoted to yoga, then...
ACDC Lane
Where? Melbourne CBD
This tiny little street, just off Flinders Lane between Russell and Exhibition sts, is hardly a highway to hell — far too small for any of that. But it did cause a bit of a stir in 2004 when the city council decided to rename boring old Corporation Lane in tribute to Australia's greatest rock band.
Despite Acca Dacca originally coming from Sydney , Melbourne likes to play up its links — the famous video to 'It's A Long Way to the Top' was filmed on Swanston Street. The council could hardly rename the main thoroughfare, so Corporation Lane was picked instead for a tribute to AC/DC.
There was more controversy when the lightning bolt slash from the band's name was omitted from the road sign — it would have contravened the policy of the Office of the Registrar of Geographic Names. Bizarrely, there is also a Calle AC/DC in Léganes, Spain.
Australia Zoo
Where? Beerwah, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Snuggled in the Glasshouse Mountains, makes for a fantastic day out. It's way more than a lot of animals in pens, and there's a genuine attempt to provide both entertainment and education. This includes live feedings of saltwater crocodiles, snake-handling sessions and lot of informative information on the 1000-plus creatures housed in the various areas of the zoo.
The zoo was set up in 1970 as Beerwah Reptile Park by Bob and Lyn Irwin, and their son took over in 1991 before renaming it in 1992. And it's that son that made the zoo an international tourist attraction. This is partly due to the improvements he made, but mainly due to him becoming an international celebrity; he was Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. The zoo is now owned and managed by Steve's widow Terri.
The Vintage
Where? Hunter Valley, NSW
Primarily a residential resort for the rather rich and golf mad, the key point to The Vintage is that it is surrounded by a golf course designed by Greg Norman. It's also possible to stay there with a short stay rental, and have access to the facilities. Aside from the Great White Shark's masterwork, this also includes a 25 metre pool, spa, fitness centre and tennis courts.
Norman is something of a busy boy when it comes to designing courses — his fingerprints are also all over the National Golf Club's Moonah Course on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula and Club Pelican at Caloundra on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Norman is also heavily into his wines, and has his own range. Most of the grapes for these are sourced from vineyards and wineries on South Australia's Limestone Coast. As good as an excuse as any to go for a wine tour...
The Stamford Plaza Hotel
Where? Double Bay, Sydney
Situated in the rich part of town, the Stamford Plaza is a seriously luxurious joint and it's not averse to hosting the odd visiting celebrity when they're in town (although, naturally, they're far too classy to name names).
Despite the award-winning restaurant, outdoor heated pool, sundeck and high quality of service, however, the hotel is best known as the where Michael Hutchence died. The former INXS singer was found dead in his room on November 22, 1997, back when the hotel was in its former incarnation as the Ritz-Carlton.
The Pub With No Beer
Where? Taylor's Arm, near Kempsey, North Coast NSW
There's some debate over which pub the famous song — written by Gordon Parsons and immortalised by Slim Dusty — was based. Some argue it was the now defunct Day Dawn Hotel in Ingham, Queensland, but it's the Pub With No Beer in Taylor's Arm that wins the marketing battle hands down.
The theory goes that the Cosmopolitan Hotel (as it was formerly known before the cash potential of changing the name was realised) once ran dry, and as a result one of Australia's most iconic songs was born.
Now there's absolutely no chance of it running out — the pub even has its own micro-brewery. It also doesn't have the rough and ready country pub vibe that the song suggests any more. It's been spruced up for the tourist market, and also provides good food and accommodation nowadays.
What Australian places spring to your mind when it comes to famous people? Have you bumped into celebrities while travlling around the country? Let us know:
