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There are plenty of places both in Australia and across the globe that are enjoying sunny days and balmy nights right now. The difficult question is though, where to go?
With so many stunning destinations around the world to choose from, it can be a struggle to decide where the best spot is for a vacation. If you’re wondering how on earth to make a decision, consider looking to Hollywood for guidance. Movies are often set in some of the most beautiful tropical locations around the world, from Hawaii or the South Pacific, to Greece, Brazil, and even Australia’s far north. If you’re keen to start packing your bags for a warmer locale this winter, it’s time to stream some films to your living room and get inspired. Read on for some of the best tropical movie locations to add to your travel list.
Hawaii
Hawaii has to be one of the most popular movie locations ever, and with its stunning scenery, beautiful beaches and proximity to Hollywood, it’s no wonder why. Films have been shot here for decades, including the 1953 romance “From Here to Eternity”. More recently, Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler got comfortable shooting scenes in Hawaii for their 2004 movie “50 First Dates”, as did the cast of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Russell Brand, and Mila Kunis) for the 2008 romantic comedy.If you’re a fan of the blockbuster “The Hunger Games” franchise though, you might be most interested to know that the 2013 sequel, “Catching Fire”, was shot amongst the Hawaiian landscape. In the movie, heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), and her fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), again find themselves targets and on the run. If you’re keen to check out some of the key locations from the film, pay a visit to the jungles of the Waimea Valley, the pretty Kawela Bay, plus the Manoa Valley Trail system.
Brazil
Another popular film franchise that made its way to a tropical location was “Twilight”. If you are addicted to vampire movies then you may already be aware that the second last film in the series, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”, was shot partly in Brazil.Much of the movie revolves around the marriage and then honeymoon of the two main characters, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), as well as the baby created by their union. In the 2011 flick, the fourth in the “Twilight” franchise, the highly anticipated honeymoon scenes were filmed in locations such as Rio de Janeiro, Paraty, and Mamangua Bay, as well as a beautiful waterfall in Taquari.
Greece
Another smash-hit, the 2008 musical rom-com “Mamma Mia! The Movie”, was also filmed at a tropical location. The flick was shot mostly on location in Greece, and tells the story, to the music of ABBA, of a single mother named Donna (Meryl Streep) and her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). As Sophie gets ready for her wedding day, she decides she’d like her father — who she has never met — to be present. Not sure who, out of three potential candidates, her biological dad is, Sophie sends wedding invitations to all of them and sets out to discover the truth.Although the singing, dancing, comedy and romance made the movie a hit, the setting of beautiful Greece also played a key part in the film’s success. The musical showcases the small Greek island of Skopelos, plus seaside hamlet Damouchari, the Agios Ioannis Prodromos Monastery, Kastani Bay and beach, and the cliffs rising above Glisteri Beach.
Australia’s Far North
It might not have become the most memorable film to feature Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, but the big budget 2008 movie “Fool’s Gold” certainly features a drool-worthy, and more local, backdrop. Shot primarily on location in Port Douglas, in Australia’s Far North region of Queensland, “Fool’s Gold” depicts the story of a divorced couple who find themselves unexpectedly reconnecting when spending time together on the hunt for lost treasure.The movie also depicts other stunning, and sunny, Queensland locations. Keep an eye out for shots of popular tourist destinations such as Cairns, Fraser Island, Hamilton Island, Hervey Bay, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
With so many stunning destinations around the world to choose from, it can be a struggle to decide where the best spot is for a vacation. If you’re wondering how on earth to make a decision, consider looking to Hollywood for guidance. Movies are often set in some of the most beautiful tropical locations around the world, from Hawaii or the South Pacific, to Greece, Brazil, and even Australia’s far north. If you’re keen to start packing your bags for a warmer locale this winter, it’s time to stream some films to your living room and get inspired. Read on for some of the best tropical movie locations to add to your travel list.
Hawaii
Hawaii has to be one of the most popular movie locations ever, and with its stunning scenery, beautiful beaches and proximity to Hollywood, it’s no wonder why. Films have been shot here for decades, including the 1953 romance “From Here to Eternity”. More recently, Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler got comfortable shooting scenes in Hawaii for their 2004 movie “50 First Dates”, as did the cast of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Russell Brand, and Mila Kunis) for the 2008 romantic comedy.
If you’re a fan of the blockbuster “The Hunger Games” franchise though, you might be most interested to know that the 2013 sequel, “Catching Fire”, was shot amongst the Hawaiian landscape. In the movie, heroine Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), and her fellow tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), again find themselves targets and on the run. If you’re keen to check out some of the key locations from the film, pay a visit to the jungles of the Waimea Valley, the pretty Kawela Bay, plus the Manoa Valley Trail system.
Brazil
Another popular film franchise that made its way to a tropical location was “Twilight”. If you are addicted to vampire movies then you may already be aware that the second last film in the series, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1”, was shot partly in Brazil.
Much of the movie revolves around the marriage and then honeymoon of the two main characters, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), as well as the baby created by their union. In the 2011 flick, the fourth in the “Twilight” franchise, the highly anticipated honeymoon scenes were filmed in locations such as Rio de Janeiro, Paraty, and Mamangua Bay, as well as a beautiful waterfall in Taquari.
Greece
Another smash-hit, the 2008 musical rom-com “Mamma Mia! The Movie”, was also filmed at a tropical location. The flick was shot mostly on location in Greece, and tells the story, to the music of ABBA, of a single mother named Donna (Meryl Streep) and her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). As Sophie gets ready for her wedding day, she decides she’d like her father — who she has never met — to be present. Not sure who, out of three potential candidates, her biological dad is, Sophie sends wedding invitations to all of them and sets out to discover the truth.
Although the singing, dancing, comedy and romance made the movie a hit, the setting of beautiful Greece also played a key part in the film’s success. The musical showcases the small Greek island of Skopelos, plus seaside hamlet Damouchari, the Agios Ioannis Prodromos Monastery, Kastani Bay and beach, and the cliffs rising above Glisteri Beach.
Australia’s Far North
It might not have become the most memorable film to feature Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, but the big budget 2008 movie “Fool’s Gold” certainly features a drool-worthy, and more local, backdrop. Shot primarily on location in Port Douglas, in Australia’s Far North region of Queensland, “Fool’s Gold” depicts the story of a divorced couple who find themselves unexpectedly reconnecting when spending time together on the hunt for lost treasure.
The movie also depicts other stunning, and sunny, Queensland locations. Keep an eye out for shots of popular tourist destinations such as Cairns, Fraser Island, Hamilton Island, Hervey Bay, the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
