Got a text… Love Island Australia is back! After a year off thanks to the pandemic, more sexy Aussie singles are heading to the villa for a shot at love in season three.
The hit reality dating show was originally going to be filmed in sunny Port Douglas, Queensland for its third season.
“I can’t wait to join a whole new group of girls and guys looking for love, and filming in my hometown of Queensland is an added bonus for me as well, as Port Douglas is one of my favourite places to visit,” host Sophie Monk revealed in a statement.
However, due to Premiere Anastasia Palaszczuk’s strict border closures, the team confirmed to WHO that Love Island Australia will be filming in Federal, a northern NSW coastal town that’s just a 25-minute drive from Byron Bay’s town centre.
“As a result of the current COVID-19 situation and fluctuating border restrictions, we have decided to move the filming location of the upcoming third season of Love Island Australia to Federal, Northern NSW,” ITV Studios Australia CEO & Managing Director, David Mott, said in a statement.
“This decision has been made with the best interests and safety of all cast and crew involved. We have found a brilliant location and can’t wait to get started.”
Back in 2018, season one was filmed in the same location as the original UK series – Mallorca, Spain.
Not only that but the villa featured six bedrooms, a hot tub, swimming pool, cinema room, private gym and even a wine cellar. Season two, filmed in 2019, was filmed a lot closer to home in Fiji.
In 2021, fans will notice that the villa looks much the same as it did in seasons one and two. A beautiful white home with a large pool, deck and garden – all pulled together with a string or two of fairy lights.
“There is a template we follow for all Love Island Villas and then we work from that,” Art Director Rodney Brunsdon revealed to 9Honey recently.
WATCH BELOW: Inside the Love Island Australia 2021 villa. Post continues after video…
“There are definitely very significant colours through the Villa,” he continues. “It maintains that Spanish feel with lots of white and popping colours that appeal to the young Islanders coming in, as well as the viewers.
“One of the heroes of this Villa will be the 300-year-old black bean tree that looks incredible at sunset from wherever you are in the Villa.”
As always, the Villa has ample space for games, gossip sessions and the all-important ‘chats’ between contestants. There are lounges, bean bag chairs, day beds and benches strewn all about the property.
The contestants may have filmed in some beautiful locations around the world, but they are not allowed to leave the villa unless it’s for a specific date or challenge approved by producers.
In fact, some stars previously admitted that they’d spend a lot of their time in the villa sitting, chatting and eating.
“I used to sit in that kitchen in the Villa and eat 20 at a time,” Season Two winner Josh Packham revealed. “It was bad.”
Gerard Majda who also starred in the show’s second season told Now To Love that they would stress-eat in the early hours of the morning.
“They had to start rationing how many cookies and snacks were in there because we were smashing through them all, we were taking the hints when there was only one box of cookies instead of two that they started off with!”
Cookies aside, this year’s villa promises to be the backdrop for one of the most thrilling seasons yet. Find out more about the cast here.
Love Island Australia airs Monday to Thursday, 8:40pm, on Nine and 9Now.
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