Old faves can offer new thrills

The other day, one of my Stuff colleagues posed an interesting question: If international borders only reopened for six months, before closing again forever, where would you travel?

This sparked a lively discussion about what would be the better strategy: to try to race around the world ticking off the places you haven’t been yet, or revisit some of your favourite destinations.

Our little corner of the office was split down the middle between those who would go somewhere new and those who would find more joy in going back to a place they already knew they loved.

I was in the latter camp. I’d go to Japan – for a sixth time. I can’t get enough of the place. And I know I’d be guaranteed the trip of a lifetime before having to say sayonara to overseas travel for good.

I’m a creature of habit when it comes to a lot of things. I go to the same restaurants, I always choose the same icecream flavour and, for holidays, I am inclined to go to a destination again and again.

I’m exactly the type of person Tourism New Zealand is trying to target with its ‘‘do something new’’ campaign. (Has anyone else had the song stuck in their head for weeks?)

And I’m not alone. Tourism New Zealand has said its biggest challenge is that Kiwis tend to be steeped in routine when it comes to domestic holidays, going to the same places year in and year out.

But I think it’s possible to strike a happy medium between having a special spot you always look forward to visiting, and doing something a bit different.

For example, this summer I’ll be returning to Naseby, a tiny town in Central Otago where I spent almost every holiday of my childhood.

I haven’t been in years, but it looms large in my memories. I remember the drive past the fire danger sign outside Naseby Forest to make sure the arrow wasn’t pointed towards extreme, which meant our favourite swimming dam would be open.

I remember the long, hot days spent bike riding and going for walks around the water race, broken up with regular visits to the dairy for ice blocks and lollies.

Of course, the risk of revisiting somewhere you hold dear in your memory is that there’s a chance it won’t live up to your expectations. Places change, and you might not like what you find.

This is something I was worried about with Naseby, but I’ve decided I’m going to try to look at it through fresh eyes this year. I’m going to make a point of doing things I’ve never done before, such as giving curling a go at the Olympic-standard Naseby Indoor Curling Rink.

No matter how well-trodden the path, there’s always something new to discover. And plenty of it won’t cost you a cent, as you’ll find in Brook Sabin’s story about the best free fun you can have this summer, on pages 36-37.