Islands of the rich and famous - NEWS.com.au

[Anguillan newsboy]

THERE'S something about an island that will always have romantic connotations – of running away to the South Seas, of buried treasure, of a paradise far from the madding crowd.
Fact is, some desert islands are downright crowded these days, running wall to wall celebrities, not to mention the wannabes who follow in their Havaiana-steps.
Almost all the islands you see the likes of Becks and Posh, Nicole and Keith or "Brangelina" frolicking on are also available to you – for a price, of course.
But if you've got the money, you've got the go to become part of how the other half (half a per cent, that is) lives.
And some celebrities love the privacy of island resorts so much, they buy their own. Mel Gibson bought Mago Island, Fiji, for $17.2m in 2004 as a private hideaway, complete with two lagoons and an eight-lane bowling alley.
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The latest couple to join the exclusive island-owners' club is Pitt and Jolie, who secured a man-made island in the Dubai development The World. They have reportedly bought Ethiopia (their two-year-old daughter Zahara was born in the real Ethiopia). Their neighbours will include Richard Branson and Rod Stewart and the islands are priced from $7.7 million to $46.1 million.
Other island owners include Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. Some of them, such as Branson and, soon, DiCaprio, rent out their islands when they're not there.
The trend started many decades ago and one of the most notable island resort owners was the late Marlon Brando.
He fell in love with Tahiti in 1965 while making the film Mutiny on the Bounty and bought the atoll of Tetiaroa.
The atoll already had a celebrity history in its own culture before Brando came along, as the holiday getaway for the chiefs and kings of Tahiti.
It is rumoured that there is still buried treasure on the island. Brando had the Hotel Tetiaroa Village built there, 13 basic palm thatched fares (villas) that were popular with rich couples who wanted a romantic holiday away from five-star hotels. The resort, however, became very run down and closed in 2004.
Now, however, developer Richard Bailey has bought part of the atoll and will turn it into a luxurious eco-resort called The Brando, scheduled to open next year and include accommodation for 30 couples at $1700 a night.
In the meantime, Brando's son Teihotu, 42, is the only official resident of Tetiaroa and works for Bailey as the atoll's caretaker.
NECKER ISLAND, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Necker Island is one of the world's most expensive resorts, owned by billionaire Sir Richard Branson.
Who: Mel Gibson, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Douglas, Prince Charles.
Where: Fly to San Juan (Puerto Rico), St Thomas, Antigua or Barbados, take a connecting flight to Beef Island, Tortola, than a short launch or helicopter trip to Necker.
Stay: Up to $52,700 a night for 26 people, including meals and drinks, water sports and Internet services, and laundry, too. When there's not an exclusive booking, couples can stay from $25,800 a week.
Random facts: Branson bought the island more than 25 years ago.
MUSHA CAY, Bahamas
Owned by magician David Copperfield, who named Copperfield Bay after himself.
Who: Google founder Sergey Brin was married there this year. John Travolta, Oprah Winfrey.
Stay: Eight people stay for $28,370 a night (extra for more people, up to 24). Minimum three-night stay and $28,647 security deposit. The rate includes food and drink but not airport taxes, tips or phone use.
Random facts: In October, a 22-year-old American woman who had stayed on the island accused Copperfield, 51, of raping her there. He has denied the claims and FBI agents are investigating.
GOLDENEYE RESORT, Oracabessa village, Jamaica
The former home of writer Ian Fleming, who wrote his James Bond novels at Goldeneye Hotel.
Who: Sting, Johnny Depp.
Where: Fly to Kingston Airport and then it's three hours by car to the village of Oracabessa, or take a small plane to Boscobel Aerodrome.
Stay: Ian Fleming's house costs from $2865 a night for up to six people, villas from $756 a night.
Random fact: One of the villas has a media room with a full-sized movie screen and a library of James Bond-only DVDs.
TURTLE ISLAND, Fiji
Champagne and lobster beach picnics are a specialty on Turtle Island.
Who: Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears.
Where: Fly to Nadi then take a 30-minute seaplane flight ($905 a couple).
Stay: There's 100 staff for a maximum 14 couples, who pay from $1870 to $2738 a night, including meals, beach picnics and deep-sea fishing.
Random fact: Guests are encouraged to eat meals at a communal table, whether they are a Hollywood goddess or Bruce and Val from the Melbourne suburbs.
WAKAYA CLUB, Fiji
The Wakaya Club prides itself on being paparazzi-free.
Who: Tori Spelling, Nicole Kidman, Keith Richards, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Celine Dion, Russell Crowe.
Where: Fly to Nadi, then a domestic flight on Air Wakaya ($1100 a couple).
Stay: There are four-poster beds and outdoor showers. Rates are from $2177 to $8710 a night. >Random fact: Owner David Gilmour built the neighbouring village, too, with a school, church and vegetable gardens.
ANGUILLA, Caribbean
Anguilla is a high-end tourist island especially popular with celebrities during December's festive season.
Who: Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Beyonce, Kevin Kline, Janet Jackson, Liam Neeson.
Where: Fly to Puerto Rico or Antigua and take a connecting flight to Anguilla.
Stay: Many resorts and villas have room for an entourage – security guards, nannies, private chefs and the like. Cerulean Villa costs from $37,800-$57,370 a week for seven guests.
Random fact: Anguilla is most famous in recent years as the location of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt's "break-up vacation".
CAP CANA, Caribbean
In his inimitable style, owner Donald Trump says Cap Cana is "the world's greatest destination".
Who: Expected to attract big businessmen and retired celebrities.
Where: South-east Dominican Republic. Trump is building a $1.7 billion resort with condominium hotel, villas, beach club and golf courses. Get there via the US, on a connecting flight to Punta Cana airport.
Stay: Already more than $400 million worth of real estate has been sold at the Trump at Cap Cana.
Random fact: Three of Trump's children are also involved in the development.
BORA BORA, French Polynesia
Most of the hotels here are on their own islands, popular with celebrities because Bora Bora is difficult for the paparazzi to spy on them.
Who: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on honeymoon, Charlize Theron, Sharon Stone, Chelsea Clinton, Eva Longoria.
Where: If you don't have your own yacht, fly to Papeete, Tahiti, than take a small plane to Bora Bora.
Stay: Nicole and Keith stayed at the St Regis Bora Bora at its private Royal Estate, at about $17,000 a night.
Random fact: You need to book the Royal Estate at least 550 days in advance.
BLACKDORE CAYE, Belize
The island is near the Belize Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Sight.
Who: Leonardo DiCaprio co-owns it with developer Jeff Gram.
Where: East of the mainland. Fly to Belize then take a boat to the island.
Stay: DiCaprio is an environmentalist and his deal with Four Seasons is to construct an eco-hotel.
Random fact: DiCaprio stayed at the Cayo Espanto resort and loved it so much, he bought the property next door to turn into his own resort.
FRENCH ISLAND, Australia
Here's your chance to stay on a celebrity island and not break the bank.
Who: Kylie Minogue has a holiday home there on a 100-hectare estate.
Where: 60km south-east of Melbourne at Western Port Bay. Get there by 75-minute boat trip from Phillip Island, $22.50.
Stay: You can't stay at Kylie's place, but you can stay nearby at McLeod Eco Farm, a former prison farm. Accommodation from $39 a night per person. Private guest house accommodation with meals $248 a night per couple.
mcleodecofarm.com
Random facts: French Island claims to have the world's most dense disease-free koala population.
Other popular islands
Ile de Re, France, off France's west coast, near La Rochelle (Juliette Binoche, Gerard Depardieu, Princess Caroline).
Harbour Island, Bahamas (Bond actor Daniel Craig).
St Vincent & the Grendadines, including the late Princess Margaret's favourite, Mustique (Mick Jagger and Prince William stay at the Cotton Club)
Cayman Islands (Tiger Woods, Chole Sevigny)
Kauai, Hawaii (Christina Aguilera).