104 unlikely celebrities who starred on Getaway: Hollywood heroes, US Presidents and Aussie royalty
Getaway is Australia's longest-running lifestyle show, and in its 33 years on air has brought some familiar faces to Aussie screens!
And no, we're not just talking about beloved hosts like Catriona Rowntree.
Since its 1992 premiere, Getaway has built up a very impressive list of A-list cameos including Hollywood stars, future and former US presidents and Aussie royalty.
Stream the latest Getaway episodes for free on 9Now.
For many years, the series also had a segment called Celebrity Getaways, where stars would share their favourite holiday spots and travel experiences.
Keep on reading for the celebrities who have made appearances on Getaway – you won't believe some of the names on this list!
Robert Irwin
Wildlife prince Robert Irwin first greeted Getaway cameras when they visited his home at Australian Zoo in 2018.
When Jason Dundas filmed with the Irwins in LA, Robert promised him that if he was ever on the Sunshine Coast, he would show him the Zoo's latest attractions – and he stuck to his word!
Robert, who was then about 15, invited Jason to get up close and personal with meerkats and spoke about what a day in his life looks like.
"One day we might be off doing conservation work in Africa, the next day we'll be here at Australia Zoo jumping in with snakes and crocodiles so I'm really lucky, there's never a dull moment!" he said.
Steve Irwin
Robert wasn't the only Irwin to make a Getaway appearance.
He was in fact following in the footsteps of dad Steve, who appeared on the series in 2005 in a segment with Natalie Gruzlewski ... plus, a young Bindi in tow too!
Peep Bindi in the background! Nine
Kevin Costner
Long before he ran a ranch on Yellowstone, Kevin Costner fell for Sydney!
"This is gonna seem really obvious, but I was stunned at how beautiful Sydney was, how clean it was... It was one of the great cities that I've ever seen," he told Getaway in 2007.
Kevin Costner was charmed by Sydney during a trip to Australia. Stan
Besides that, his favourite Aussie travel memory was from visiting stunning Hayman Island in the Whitsundays... and seeing a swarm of bats!
"I thought I was watching The Wizard of Oz, you know, when those monkeys flew. That was one of the great adventures that I saw.
"I thought, man the last thing I would want to be is what a bat eats, because these things were monsters!"
Donald Trump
In 2006, Catriona interviewed President Donald Trump, who at the time was yet to even consider a tilt at the White House.
Catriona interviewed Trump about his hotel and tourism empire, but in a 2021 interview with 9Entertainment she revealed she was reluctant to talk about meeting him because people didn't want to hear a positive anecdote.
In an unlikely turn of events, Catriona interviewed President Trump (before he ventured into politics) in 2006. Nine
"I met him under the best circumstances where I was going to interview him about an award that one of his hotels had won. We shared an interest in travel and tourism, we discovered a shared interest in feng shui, which I had learned about on my travels through Asia, and that he applied to the hotels that he created," she said.
"He was as charming to me as he was to my sound operator, he was generous with his time, and the person that was later depicted was not the person that I met."
Jimmy Carter
Getaway didn't just feature future presidents, but past ones as well!
In 2008's season 17, Ben Dark visited former US president Jimmy Carter in his home town of Plains, Georgia.
Nine
The segment focused on Carter's post-presidency humanitarian work, including building homes for people in need through Habitat for Humanity and his own Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.
Keith Urban
Keith Urban made an appearance in 2004, meeting host Ben Dark for a segment in the US.
He looks practically the same! Nine
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Celine Dion
In 2007, Celine Dion told Getaway that Australia felt like home – that was the highest of compliments, as she revealed home was actually her favourite destination.
"It would be too easy for me to say home, but it is true every time I have a break and I go home it's the best vacation," she shared.
We'll take it! Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Richard Branson
Catriona Rowntree spent time with Virgin CEO Richard Branson and his family at his home on Necker Island in 2005.
"We're both Cancerians, I think we're a day different with our birthdays, and we just clicked straight away, and definitely and he was very generous with his time and unbelievably kind," Catriona recalled, adding that he made her a cup of tea while she swam in his pool.
Catriona hung out with Richard Branson in the British Virgin Islands on Getaway in 2005. Nine
Isla Fisher
Aussie icon Isla Fisher also appeared on Getaway twice.
The first was in 2005 during the press junket for Wedding Crashers, and the second in 2009 when she shared her favourite Australian travel experience.
Isla Fisher. Getty
"Some girlfriends, when we were 16-17, we got in a car and drove down to Margaret River and we rented a house and had just the best time, went surfing during the day," she said.
"It was just a magical time."
Hugh Grant
In a 2009 appearance, Hugh Grant named the south of France his top holiday spot.
"I like Mediterranean-lite, I like girls, I like food, it feels glamorous still. I like all that," he said.
He does strike us as a south of France guy, actually. Corbis via Getty Images
But don't count us out, either.
"I was in Sydney and that was fantastic, good parties. Then we were out in the Blue Mountains and place called Leura and I liked all that … eucalyptus trees, koala bears, it was nice," he shared his favourite Aussie memory.
John Travolta
In 2007, John Travolta revealed his favourite Australian travel spot... and it was practically the entire country!
"I really explored all the cities in Australia pretty much, there's a beautiful simpatico of a relaxed city atmosphere, that's what I like about it," he shared.
John Travolta considers us family. AP
"Australia's cities are exciting but they're relaxed as well, you can feel comfortable very quickly and they almost have a town and country feel about them. And the people, you can't beat the Aussies. They're my friends, my family."
Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis had spent a good chunk of time in Australia by the time he interviewed on Getaway in 2007.
"I like Sydney. Never been to Melbourne, but I like Sydney. Australians are cool people, like English people with a sense of humour," he said.
Claire Danes
Claire Danes is a big Byron fan! Getty
Claire Danes loves Byron Bay, as she told Getaway in 2007. Her favourite part? Stunning Lake Ainsworth, with its distinctive tea-tree oil-stained, dark water.
"You can have this very healing dip so I loved that," she explained.
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling spent many months living in Sydney while filming The Fall Guy in 2022-2023, but even before that he was a big fan of Down Under.
Ryan's got an Aussie restaurant rec for us! Getty
"I lived in New Zealand for like a year-and-a-half, which was amazing. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world and I'd love to die there," he said during a 2007 episode.
He also shouted out Sydney's restaurant scene, especially local institution Bills!
Matt Damon
Matt Damon was also a huge fan of the NSW capital.
"One of the best vacations I ever had was a few years ago to Sydney with my wife and my step daughter, my mother in law, my brother, his wife and their kids – for us, it's the other side of the world so it feels like a pretty big adventure," he said during a 2007 Getaway interview.
Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon told Getaway about her favourite Australian travel memory in 2009.
Reese soaked up the culture during a trip to Sydney. Getty
"I got to see an Opera, I got to see La bohème by Baz Luhrmann and the Sydney Opera House which was pretty amazing."
Delta Goodrem
Delta's been in front of Getaway cameras as both guest and presenter.
In 2007, she appeared as a celebrity guest and revealed her favourite Aussie travel experience was visiting Melbourne for the shopping.
Delta has appeared as a guest and presenter on Getaway. Getty
The next year, she was a presenter for a segment on her favourite local escape, Thredbo.
Poh Ling Yeow
Poh Ling Yeow guest hosted Getaway in 2022, and received the exciting assignment of travelling to Bordeaux in the south of France.
Of course, chef Poh was all about the food!
"My standout memory has to be the Arcachon Markets and just having oysters at the oyster bar. I thought that was just absolutely delicious," she told 9Entertainment of her travels.
Since then, she's also been on a Christmas Markets river cruise onboard Scenic Jasper.
Poh Ling Yeow kicked off her Scenic Christmas Markets River Cruise in Budapest on Getaway 2023 Nine
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld compared Australians to dogs during his 2007 appearance... but we promise it was in a good way!
"Australians are like the golden retriever, it's like the perfect dog. It's fun, it's got energy, it's got the shiny coat," he joked.
Matthew McConaughey
Alright, alright alright, he's actually been on Getaway twice!
The first was while promoting Fool's Gold with Kate Hudson, then later in 2009 alongside Ghosts of Girlfriends Past co-star Jennifer Garner.
Matthew McConaughey, seen here in 2024, has plenty of history with our nation - and Getaway itself! John David Mercer//USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
He recalled his time living in Australia as a teen.
"I've driven up and down that east coast. I've been Queensland and New South Wales. I've been interior. I've worked eleven different jobs over there," he said, naming the Great Barrier Reef a highlight.
Okay, how about some rapid fire namedrops? Here's an extensive list of celebrities who have also featured on Getaway over the years:
- Alicia Silverstone
- Amy Adams
- Anthony Hopkins
- Antonio Banderas
- Ashton Kutcher
- Ben Stiller
- Beyonce
- Bill Murray
- Brendan Fraser
- Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Cathy Freeman
- Charlize Theron
- Christina Ricci
- Christopher Walken
- Daniel Craig
- Daniel Radcliffe
- Diane Lane
- Elijah Wood
- Emma Watson
- Eugene Levy
- George Clooney
- Harrison Ford
- Heather Locklear
- Hilary Duff
- Hugh Jackman
- Jack Black
- Jackie Chan
- Jake Gyllenhaal
- Jennifer Aniston
- Jennifer Garner
- Jessica Simpson
- Jim Carrey
- Jodie Foster
- John Cusack
- John Goodman
- Johnny Knoxville
- Julia Robert
- Kate Hudson
- Katie Holmes
- Keanu Reeves
- Kiefer Sutherland
- Lara Bingle
- Liam Neeson
- Lucy Liu
- Meryl Streep
- Michael Caine
- Michael Clarke
- Michelle Pfeiffer
- Mike Myers
- Morgan Freeman
- Natalie Imbruglia
- Natalie Portman
- Nicolas Cage
- Owen Wilson
- Patrick Dempsey
- Paul Hogan
- Paul Rudd
- Queen Latifah
- Ray Romano
- Renee Zellweger
- Rob Schneider
- Robert Downey Jr
- Robin Williams
- Rodger Corser
- Ronn Moss
- Sam Worthington
- Samuel L Jackson
- Sandra Bullock
- Seth Rogan
- Steve Carrell
- Susan Sarandon
- Tatiana Grigorieva
- Terri Hatcher
- The Sex and the City cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Chris Noth
- The Veronicas
- Tim Allen
- Uma Thurman
- Vince Vaughn
- Will Ferrell
- Will Smith
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