Has Zac Efron SPLIT from his Australian girlfriend Vanessa Valladares?

Hollywood star Zac Efron’s relationship with his Australian girlfriend Vanessa Valladares is said to be on the rocks after four months of dating.

The actor, 33, has been separated from the budding model since landing in Adelaide last week to film his new thriller Gold – just days before the city was declared a coronavirus hotspot and tight border restrictions were put into effect. 

Fuelling break-up rumours, 25-year-old Vanessa appeared noticeably downcast during a solo outing in Byron Bay on Monday. 

When it came to deciding between flying interstate for work or staying in Byron with the stunning brunette, Zac apparently didn’t hesitate to jump on the plane.

A local told Woman’s Day: ‘Filming a local production is probably needed to support his visa, so there’s no backing out for Zac. He’ll be here in Adelaide for a while.’

Zac, who first met Vanessa while she was waiting tables at the Byron Bay General Store café in July, has been making the most of his time in Adelaide getting to know the locals.

‘He doesn’t mention his girlfriend much and seems keen to hang out with the locals,’ the insider added.

‘Zac’s a nice guy and a seasoned flirt. If I were Vanessa, I wouldn’t be thrilled about him being in another state.’

Meanwhile, Vanessa, who was said to be ‘inseparable’ from Zac when they were living together in Byron, looked rather glum while stepping out on Monday without her famous boyfriend.

The brunette dressed her model figure in a baby blue mid-length dress with a sweetheart neckline.

Sauntering along in a pair of black boots, Vanessa furrowed her brows as she appeared deep in thought.

She made her way to the Zulu & Zephyr boutique, where she appeared to relax while enjoying a brief conversation with the sales assistant.

Meanwhile, Zac has hit the ground running after landing in Adelaide.

He was recently seen enjoying a night out at Crybaby in Adelaide’s CBD, where a female fan invited him to her upcoming 21st birthday party. 

‘We were sitting just near him and he walked past us to the booth next to us and as he walked past I looked up at him nervously and said hi,’ the woman said. 

‘He stepped aside and said hi and asked how we were going and what our names were. He was so lovely and chilled. He just smiled at everyone.’

She added: ‘His eyes go really shiny when he smiles in movies and it’s exactly the same in person.’

Zac and Vanessa had started their whirlwind romance in July, and the former waitress appeared to seamlessly fit into the movie star’s circle of high-profile friends.

Reports of a possible split come only a few weeks after they fuelled engagement rumours around mid-October.

The Baywatch star reportedly gifted the stunner a ring made especially for her during his star-studded 33rd birthday bash, which Vanessa organised.

A source told Woman’s Day at the time: ‘He gave it to her after the party – it was incredibly romantic. Neither of them are saying much about it, but there’s no doubt it was some kind of unofficial engagement.’

Zac and Vanessa appeared so smitten that even radio host Kyle Sandilands couldn’t help but fawn over the couple after he attended the birthday bash.

Speaking on his KIIS FM radio show following the party, Kyle said: ‘Zac absolutely loves Australia. He’s in love with this girl, Vanessa. They’re a beautiful couple. They do everything together.’

‘They seem really sweet and really settled and nice,’ he added.

Kyle also explained that Zac had ‘no idea’ the party was happening and that it was actually Vanessa who had arranged the surprise event.

‘Vanessa invited me. You couldn’t get a lovelier, sweeter girl. She knew everything, and she put everything together. She’s a sweetheart,’ he said.

Zac, who had been residing in Byron Bay since March amid the coronavirus pandemic, first met the part-time model when she was waiting tables back in July.

They hit it off right away with an insider saying at the time that the pair were so close it was ’embarrassing being around them’.

‘She knows she has to meet his family back in LA before they can make it formal, but they’re very committed to each other,’ they said.

‘They’re talking marriage, babies, baby names – it’s a very serious relationship.’

Zac was previously in a relationship with his High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens for five years before they split in 2010.

In 2012 he briefly dated Lily Collins, seven years before they starred together in Netflix’s Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.

Zac was said to be in a relationship with American actress Halston Sage at the beginning of the year, but the pair never confirmed their split.

Meanwhile, Bryon Bay ‘It girl’ Vanessa is also understood to have spent time with Australian actor Liam Hemsworth following his split from singer Miley Cyrus.

Multiple sources told Daily Mail Australia they’d heard the pair briefly dated following his split from the Can’t Be Tamed star in August last year.

Liam also lives in the beachside town of Byron Bay and has since moved on with model Gabriella Brooks, whom he has been dating since the start of this year.

Meanwhile, Zac arrived in South Australia two weeks ago to commence filming for the new Stan Original movie, Gold, which will be shot in the Australian outback.

The movie will follow two strangers travelling through a desert who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found, reports Deadline.

Gold will be directed by Anthony Hayes, who co-wrote the script with Polly Smyth. 

Production on the movie has since been halted after Adelaide was declared a coronavirus hotspot.