Zac Efron basically ghosted Hollywood. It wasn't a sudden disappearance, but more of a slow fade that started during the pandemic and turned into a total lifestyle overhaul. People keep asking where does Zac Efron live because they're used to seeing him in Los Angeles paparazzi shots, but honestly, that life is long gone for him. He isn't tucked away in a Beverly Hills mansion anymore.
Instead, Zac has planted his roots deep in the red soil of Australia. Specifically, he’s moved to the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, near the celebrity-heavy enclave of Byron Bay. But he isn't just renting a beach house. As of early 2026, he is officially under construction on a massive, experimental "Futurecave" that might just be the most sustainable celebrity home on the planet.
From Los Feliz to the Tweed Valley
Back in 2021, Zac made a pretty definitive move. He sold his stunning Los Feliz home in Los Angeles for about $5.3 million. That house had everything—city views, a gym, a spa with a waterfall. But he was done. Sources close to him at the time told People that he had no plans to live in LA again. He felt "sick and tired" of the Hollywood scene and the constant paparazzi hum.
He spent years traveling, filming his Netflix show Down to Earth, and essentially living out of a van or high-end rentals around Byron Bay. He even dated a local, Vanessa Valladares, for a while, which really cemented his "honorary Aussie" status. But the real commitment came when he dropped $2 million on 128 hectares (about 316 acres) of bushland in Tomewin.
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This isn't just a plot of land. It's a rugged slice of paradise that straddles the border between New South Wales and Queensland. We’re talking cliffs, rainforest, spring-fed dams, and actual waterfalls. It's the kind of place where you don't just build a house; you build an ecosystem.
Building the "Futurecave" with Joost Bakker
If you want to know where does Zac Efron live right now, the answer is "on a construction site." Construction on his permanent residence is scheduled to kick off in February 2026. This isn't your standard luxury build. Zac teamed up with Joost Bakker, an eco-activist and designer known as the "poster boy of zero-waste living."
Bakker’s vision for Zac is a six-bedroom, six-bathroom off-grid retreat dubbed "Futurecave." Here is the wild part: the house is being built largely out of hemp.
- Hempcrete Walls: They are using over 80 tonnes of Australian-grown hemp and straw. It's carbon-negative, fire-resistant, and it breathes.
- Zero Waste: The home is designed to be self-sustaining and zero-waste.
- Living Roofs: The design includes 100 tonnes of soil on the roof to create habitats for endangered insects and local plants.
- Natural Materials: They’re even using oyster shells as a natural lime source for the building blocks.
Zac’s mandate to the builders was simple but intense: don’t cut down a single tree. He wants the house to act more like a forest companion than a piece of real estate. The budget for the build is estimated at an additional $2.6 million, which, for a global superstar, is actually somewhat modest. It’s more about the tech and the philosophy than the gold-plated faucets.
Why the Move to Australia Stuck
It’s easy to think a celebrity move is just a phase. We’ve seen it before. But Zac’s transition seems different because it’s tied to his mental health. In various interviews and in his documentary series, he’s been vocal about how the "Hollywood treadmill" burned him out. He prefers the "no worries" Aussie mentality.
He’s not alone out there, either. Byron Bay has become a sort of "Hollywood 2.0" without the smog. His friends Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky are nearby. Other stars like Natalie Portman and Nicole Kidman have spent significant time in the area. But while others might just visit for the surf, Zac has essentially traded his US citizenship for a life centered on soil health and conservation.
Does he ever go back to the States? Sure, for work. He was back for The Iron Claw and Ricky Stanicky. But those are business trips. When the cameras stop rolling, he’s on the first flight back to Brisbane or the Gold Coast to head south into the bush.
What to Expect in late 2026
The "Futurecave" is slated for completion around September 2026. Until then, he's likely staying in high-end rentals or his luxury caravan while overseeing the project. This house is meant to be a blueprint. It’s an experiment in how to live "down to earth" while still having enough room for his brother Dylan and his family to visit.
If you’re looking to follow in his footsteps or just want to apply some of that "Efron energy" to your own life, here are some actionable ways to look at your living space through his new lens:
Evaluate your home's "health": Zac is obsessed with air quality and non-toxic materials. You don't need a hemp house to swap out synthetic rugs for wool or jute, or use low-VOC paints.
Consider the "Zero-Waste" lite approach: Start with a compost bin or a small herb garden. Zac’s move was inspired by seeing how much a single household can produce.
Prioritize nature over "the scene": If you’re feeling burnt out by the city, look into "tree-changing" or even just planning more off-grid weekends. Sometimes the best place to live is wherever the Wi-Fi is weakest.
Zac Efron’s current life is a far cry from the High School Musical days. He’s traded the red carpet for red dirt, and by the end of 2026, he’ll be living in a house that literally breathes. It’s a massive gamble on a new way of living, but for him, it seems to be the only way to stay sane.