Why We Travel the Same Places Over and Over

Rediscovering the Familiar

We’ve travelled the east coast of New South Wales more times than we can count — often pulling into the same caravan parks, walking the same headlands, and ordering the same fish and chips from the local shop. And yet, somehow, it never feels repetitive.

Each visit holds something new: a tide that reshapes the beach, a walking track that’s reopened, or simply a shift in how we see it. Maybe it’s because the kids are older now, or maybe because we’re slower — less focused on ticking off places, and more intent on being there.

Seeing with Fresh Eyes

We’ve learnt that adventure isn’t about constantly finding new destinations; it’s about finding new moments within the ones you already love. Some of our best memories have come from re-visiting old favourites: sunrise at a beach we’ve seen a hundred times, a waterfall we finally hiked to, or just watching a storm roll in from the same stretch of coast.

Returning to familiar places strips away the stress of planning and lets us truly connect — with nature, with each other, and with the little things we missed last time.

Familiar Doesn’t Mean Ordinary

Every trip feels like a reset. We know where to stay, how the light hits the headland, and which bakery will have the best morning coffee. There’s comfort in that familiarity — a rhythm that lets us relax faster and notice more.

And when we look back through our photos, it’s never the same story twice. The waves change, the colours shift, the moments evolve. It’s proof that the best adventures don’t always start somewhere new.

Wherever you’re headed next — may it bring you calm mornings, messy afternoons, and memories that stay.

See you somewhere along the coast,