From Tasmania to California: Same Ocean, Different World

The last time we dipped our toes into the Pacific Ocean, we were on the other side of the world—literally. Eastern Tasmania. A remote stretch of coastline where the sand squeaked underfoot and the only other footprints were ours and a few wandering gulls. Poky was still a floppy-eared puppy then, galloping headlong down the beach like he was chasing the edge of the world. The water was cold, the breeze brisk, and the beach? Ours. Always ours. Australia had a way of offering up world-class beauty without the crowds (except a few places around Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane)—empty white sands regularly ranked among the most stunning in the world, and yet… no one.

Fast forward to now, and we’ve arrived at the Pacific again—this time in Southern California. Same ocean. Same sea lions frolicking just offshore. Same kelp forests hidden beneath the waves. But the vibe? Very different. Around LA the beaches are surrounded by development, boardwalks, and parking garages. We’re shoulder to shoulder with sunbathers, surfers, and sandcastle architects, all staking out their square inch of coastline like gold miners in a sunlit rush.

There’s beauty here too—just a different kind. A buzzing energy. Lifeguard towers. Stroller parades. Sunset joggers. It's a dance of humanity along the same sea that once whispered only to us back in Tasmania.

Soon we’ll set out to visit Channel Islands National Park—a wild, wave-battered chain that feels like a time capsule from before California got crowded. But for now, we’re trying to reacquaint ourselves with this side of the Pacific. It’s good to be back on the shores of the biggest ocean, even if it feels a world away from last time we dipped our toes in this vast, chilly body of water.