Where the stars stay
When the eyes of the world were on them following the break-up of their marriage in 2001, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise could not have selected a better place to escape the ensuing media frenzy. They headed, separately – each took a week of the original fortnight’s booking - for the remote isle of Wakaya. The super-exclusive isle is served only by the owner’s six-seater plane and has no TV or phones, although it’s far from short on luxury.
When the late Princess Diana was in search of some peace in the sun she also opted for an island – Indonesia’s Moyo. The luxury resort of Amanwana features 20 palatial canvas pavilions, complete with air conditioning, room-service and haute cuisine, located in a natural jungle reserve.
A perennial favourite with celebs – among them, Cindy Crawford, Paul McCartney and Liam Neeson - is the eco-island resort of Parrot Cay in the Caribbean’s Turks and Caicos islands. The resort was haven of choice for Julia Roberts following her break-up with Benjamin Bratt, but the Pretty Woman actress is also a fan of the quiet Bahamas destination of Pink Sands, as are U2’s Bono and Tim Robbins.
Not all celebrity havens are located in the Tropics. Australia’s five-star Hayman Island resort, one of the Whitsunday Island group, boasts its own celebrity guest list. And Kevin Costner, Robin Williams and Mariah Carey are among those who have dropped by to enjoy the snorkelling, diving and bushwalking opportunities afforded by its unique location within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
