David Whitley heads north of Byron Bay to learn why Australians are so proud and protective of their beaches

Sisto Malaspina has seen a few changes in old Melbourne in the forty-five years he has been running Pellegrini’s espresso bar. “From time to time I try to make some minor changes inside too. I try to repaint, decorate a bit – maybe a bit of minor renovation you know?” he smiles. “But I get in so much trouble from the locals. They see this as their bar now – and in a sense it is. ‘Don’t you dare change a thing Sisto,’ they warn me!”

On one extraordinarily long day that’s actually three, David Whitley visits two famous beaches on two continents.

With the possible exception of Santa Monica, Malibu Beach is arguably the most famous beach in the United States. In a way, it is indicative of Los Angeles’ sprawl – it feels like an incredibly long, stressful drive to downtown from there, but it is still regarded as part of the city. The Malibu sands stretch out for miles as well, prettying up the development that spreads along the California coastline north of LA.

David Whitley returns to Australia’s Hunter Valley wine region and shamelessly plumps for exactly what he did three years ago.

As a general rule, travel is about the thrill of the new. Exploring new horizons, sampling new experiences and making discoveries is generally where the thrill comes from. But sometimes a bit of what’s familiar can be just as rewarding.

One of my favourite places in the world is a small (but very stylish) bed and breakfast in the middle of Australia’s Hunter Valley. The Hunter Valley Cooperage (huntervalleycooperage.com) sits right in amongst the vines, and I’ve found few greater pleasures than tucking into Gay and Warren’s top grade breakfasts as the morning sun bathes the vineyard in that fresh, happy light of a new Australian day.