Western Australia’s Ningaloo region is an alluring destination for retired ‘grey nomad’ travellers seeking warm weather during the winter months. But getting there isn’t always easy - who will look after the cat? And is it wrong to miss your grandson’s first birthday?

This paper is informed by in-depth interviews with over a hundred repeat visitors to the Ningaloo region.

It examines the decisions and sacrifices that older travellers make in deciding to return to the region each winter.

The paper argues that, in order to understand ‘place attachment’ experienced by repeat visitors, it is essential to understand the role that such a holidays plays in the broader context of ageing travellers’ lives.