Vanessa Hudgens couldn't cope with long distance love

Vanessa Hudgens split from Zac Efron because they were always apart.

The 22-year-old actress - who began dating the heartthrob when they met on the set of Disney movie 'High School Musical' in 2005 - insists the couple had trouble keeping the spark in their relationship alive because they spent so little time together.

She said: "Long-distance relationships are hard no matter what. When you have face-to-face time, it's just different. Having an iPhone helped but it just wasn't the same."

However, she still has fond feelings for Zac, 23, because they have had so many shared "experiences" together.

She said in an interview with Shape Magazine: "We grew up together. It was nice to have someone to share all those experiences with."

Last month, Vanessa revealed the pair were still "figuring" out their relationship after he visited her on the set of 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island'.

She said: "We're still friends. Who knows what the future will bring? We're figuring things out."

The pair were seen at a restaurant in North Carolina during the visit and were spotted holding hands and kissing.