ROD & PENNY RENEW THEIR VOWS IN OZ!

It's third time lucky for the happily married couple

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With their 16th wedding W anniversary just around the corner, friends say Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster were determined to make their trip to Australia unforgettable... by getting married again!

The 78-year-old rocker, who has been touring Down Under for the past month, has been relishing catching up with his Antipodean friends as the duo enjoyed the sunshine with their sons Alastair, 17, and Aiden, 12, and niece Raphaella, 18.

"There's a very good reason why Rod's insisted he space out his tour dates - it's the perfect place and the perfect time to renew their wedding vows," says a longtime friend. "They wanted to do this years ago but, just like his Aussie tour, that's been another thing on hold. Now they can't wait and are using this chance to do something special while here.