Coast Crowing as playground of stars
RUSSELL Crowe has added his name to the list of celebrities taking a summer break on the Sunshine Coast.
The international celebrity wandered into a Minyama bakery on Friday and bought a bagful of goodies.
But the Sunshine Coast is growing used to playing host to celebrities.
And why not?
Our beaches are cleaner, our streets safer and our people friendlier than the places they're used to hanging out.
These days it's not unusual to see the likes of TV host Dave Hughes wandering down the Coolum beachfront or rugby league legend Wally Lewis hanging out at Kings Beach.
Wally's son, TV star Lincoln, goes wandering around Sunshine Plaza and tennis pro Daniela Hantuchova turned heads when she joined Coast-bred surfing pro Julian Wilson for some lessons at Coolum just after Christmas.
While One Direction band members Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson took surfing lessons from big wave surfer Mark Visser at Kawana, it didn't create as much commotion as the news of Crowe popping into the bakery.
He even reportedly left an autograph for staff.
Crust Bakery manager Jess Koperu was overwhelmed by the attention the bakery had received since the news broke, but was anxious not to offend the star or invade his privacy by saying too much.
"All the locals are talking about it," she said.
"There's definitely a buzz in the area. It's nice to know the Coast is the place to be."
Rusty's visit was the latest in a long line of celebrity sightings on the Coast over the holidays.
Neighbours' Ashleigh Brewer has reportedly been staying in Coolum, while The Renovators' judge and The Living Room host Barry du Bois was spotted in Noosa on Friday.
Formula One driver Mark Webber has also been seen around Noosa and host of The Amazing Race Australia, Grant Bowler, was spotted at Australia Zoo.
Crowe had his sons at the zoo last week but officials would not discuss reports he and the boys were guests of Terri, Bindi and Bob Irwin at their Minyama home.
His visit raises a question - will his Les Miserables co-star Hugh Jackman drop in?
Jackman professed his love for the Coast in a recent interview with the Daily, saying it had "everything you could possibly want in a place".
