A Nine spokesperson said they knew of Stefanovic's plans to leave midway through the show and added:"Karl is on leave for the next few days ... He will be back on air at the end of next week. Anything planned for the show in the future will,as always,be announced on the show."

Upon leaving the studio,Stefanovic headed straight for Sydney International Airport to catch a flight to New Zealand,then onto Tahiti before he made his way to Packer's 87-metre luxury super vessel,the Arctic P,parked in Povai Bay.

He will spend the week with the casino billionaire in paradise.

It'snot the first time this year that he has enjoyed leave from the network.

The week after Stefanovic was spotted kissing Yarbrough for the first time on a yacht in Sydney,he went missing from air. There were suggestions that Nine were in damage control to manage what washappening in his personal life and how it might impact viewers'attitudes towards him and the network. Despite double jobbing in the past,Nine said he was working on another show.

He took time off again in April during Easter school holidays to spend time with Yarbrough,her parents and her brother in Cabo,Mexico,while his family spent the weekmoving out of their Lindfield family home.

His two-month hiatus over December and January also raised eyebrows,especially at a time when Nine are head-to-head with rival Seven'sSunrisein theratings.