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Mark Wahlberg in Byron Bay after 'skipping' hotel quarantine

Mark Wahlberg is officially Down Under and while most people jetting into Australia are required to quarantine for two weeks in a hotel — which can cost them thousands — that’s reportedly not the case for the Transformers star.

After flying into Sydney airport on Sunday via private jet, the 49-year-old A-lister was allegedly given permission to ‘skip’ hotel quarantine and self-isolate for a hefty fee in private according to The Daily Telegraph.

Mark Wahlberg is seen wearing a blue t-shirt on March 3, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
Mark Wahlberg (pictured on March 3, 2020 in LA) has reportedly 'skipped' hotel quarantine in order to self-isolate in private in Byron Bay. Photo: Getty Images.

Wahlberg is said to have switched jets in Sydney for the short flight to celeb hotspot Byron Bay on the NSW north coast where he’s now holed up in a private residence just outside of the beachside town.

The father-of-four reportedly paid a high price for his special treatment — which has to have been approved by NSW police — and is thought to be out of pocket to the tune of $400,000.

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Unlike several of his Hollywood peers, Wahlberg isn’t in town to shoot a film but rather a TV commercial for online betting agency Ladbrokes.

Once his two weeks of quarantine are completed he’s expected to fly back to Sydney to shoot the ad.

Prior to arriving in Australia, Boston-born Wahlberg spent the Thanksgiving holiday with his wife of 11 years, Rhea and their children Ella, 16, Michael, 14, Brendan, 12, and Grace, 10.

Nicole Kidman wears a blue beaded gown at the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 19, 2020 in Los Angeles, California
Production for Nicole Kidman's latest TV series, Nine Perfect Strangers, is underway in Byron Bay, NSW. Photo: Getty Images.

Byron Bay is a hive of Hollywood activity at the moment, with Melissa McCarthy and Chris Evans on the ground to shoot Nicole Kidman’s new Hulu mini-series, Nine Perfect Strangers. Rose Byrne is also reportedly filming her musical dramedy Seriously Red in the area as well.

Up in Queensland Natalie Portman is working on the Marvel blockbuster Thor: Love and Thunder while Sydney is hosting British star Idris Elba as he films Three Thousand Years of Longing.

Liam Neeson was on set in Melbourne back in November for his latest thriller, Blacklight, which also stars Aussies Guy Pearce and Yael Stone.

And of course, who can forget honourary Aussie Zac Efron who’s currently shooting his latest project, Gold, in Adelaide after calling Byron home for almost the entire pandemic.

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