Byron Bay has become immensely popular with A-list celebrities, who have flocked to the NSW seaside town.

The coastal enclave has even been dubbed ‘Hollywood 2.0’ thanks to the number of Tinseltown stars who have in recent years either enjoyed vacations in the area, or settled down there permanently.

But the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Zac Efron, Natalie Portman and Mark Wahlberg frequenting the area has caused house prices and holiday rentals to soar, Domain reported on Friday.

According to Domain, the median house price in Byron Bay is now over $1.44 million, going up 22.8 per cent over the last year.

The real estate website claims that nearby towns like Lennox Head, Suffolk Park, Pottsville and Brunswick Heads have seen an increase in tourism as Byron Bay becomes increasingly pricey.

But even those more humble towns are now seeing price increases, the site reports, with prices in Lennox Head going up 44.7 percent.

Pottsville has a median house price is $780,000, up from $500,000 five years ago.

It’s no easier to rent in the area, with Mr Browning revealing a property listed on a Friday night had night had received 400 inquiries by Monday, with one applicant offering to pay $200 more than the asking price for rent in a bid to secure the home.

Peter Browning of LJ Hooker in Brunswick Heads told the site: ‘In the last three months, it’s gone off its head’.

Those hoping for a holiday in the Byron Bay area now need to book months ahead – even in the pandemic.

In recent months, a number of celebrities have spent time in Byron Bay.

Rumours are swirling that Zac Efron is planning to permanently relocate to Australia after falling for Byron Bay waitress Vanessa Valladares.

He spent most of the year in the region, and has now purchased $2million worth of land in Tweed Valley – a town on the Tweed River in north-eastern New South Wales.

Most famously, Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky arguably started the ‘Hollywood 2.0’ craze.

They now reside in a $20million mega-mansion in the area, situated on 4.2 hectares. The home boasts six bedrooms, a game room, gym, steam room, media room and a 50-metre rooftop infinity pool.

Chris’ younger brother Liam soon made the leap as well, while American actor Matt Damon is thought to own a holiday home in Byron Bay.

Nicole Kidman has been living in Byron Bay on-and-off with her husband Keith Urban and their two daughters since filming for her new show Nine Perfect Strangers began earlier this year.

Her co-star Melissa McCarthy has also been staying in the area with her family while filming Nine Perfect Strangers Down Under.

Aussie star Elyse Knowles bought a $2.3million beach house in Byron Bay in early 2020 after more than a year of renting in the coastal town with her boyfriend, Josh Barker.

Isabel Lucas first purchased a home in Byron Bay in 2016, but the Australian actress has lived on-and-off in the region for the better part of a decade.

Hollywood actress Natalie Portman was spotted on several occasions holidaying in Byron Bay ahead of filming Thor: Love and Thunder.

Earlier this month, Mark Wahlberg arrived in Australia to film an ad campaign for online betting agency Ladbrokes.

The Hollywood A-lister spent 14 days of quarantine at a luxury $2500 per night retreat outside of Byron Bay.