Celebs flock to our coast for R&R

SUN, fun, celebrity and controversy.

The Christmas-New Year period has provided it all in the Geelong region, as a host of identities looked to recharge or escape the spotlight with stays on our stunning coastline.

Emma Blake-Hahnel returned to her old stomping ground on the Bellarine Peninsula, ahead of the summer of tennis in Melbourne with her divisive boyfriend Bernard Tomic. Sitting at 13th Beach in Barwon Heads, she posted online: “How lucky am I to call this place my home!”

Emma is also expected to be a guest of the Portsea Polo today.

Hugely popular The Block stars Elyse Knowles and Josh Barker have been holidaying along the Surf Coast. Amid rumours of an imminent engagement — and Knowles’ signing as a I’m A Celebrity ... contestant — the duo have been spending time in Torquay and Jan Juc.

Former Neighbours star Jenna Rosenow came back from the US to visit friends and family in Geelong over Christmas. With her boyfriend Chris Milligan, another ex-Ramsay St regular, in tow, she enjoyed some local brews at Little Creatures Geelong.

There was a strong footy presence at Kardinia Park for the Big Bash, with North Melbourne’s Geelong-born star, Shaun Higgins, and Melbourne Renegades chairman Jason Dunstall among the spectators.

AFL commentator Brian Taylor has been roaming along the Great Ocean Road, with BT spotted down in Lorne.

Tiffiny Hall and Ed Kavalee, with their baby Arnold, also took in Bells Beach last week while, in the days before the massive Craig McLachlan scandal broke, actor Erika Heynatz was spotted browsing stores in Barwon Heads and soaking up some rays at Anglesea beach.