But this January's trip marks a milestone for the pair, who celebrate 50 continuous years of not only visiting the Bay, but staying at Halifax Holiday Park.

To mark the occasion, their sons, Paul and Peter Mowbray, organised with Port Stephens Council to have a seat installed under the couple's favourite tree at Little Beach.

"We don't think there would be anyone else on Earth who would go to the one place for so long, but that's what they've done," Paul Mowbray said.

"We just thought there needed to be some sort of recognition for that."

After arriving in the Bay last Saturday and setting up camp with help from friends Dawn and Keith Fraser, who have holidayed at the park during the same time as the Mowbrays for more than 30 years, Gordon and Fay went to Little Beach.

"I came out of the water and noticed a new seat," Mrs Mowbray said.

"A young couple were sitting on it, covering the plaque up.

"I mentioned it [new seat] to them and they said it was dedicated to a couple who have been coming here for 50 years.

"We [Gordon and Fay] just looked at each other and grinned."

They have spent many hours reading and lazing in the sun under the tree during the past 50 years, and the Mowbrays can recall when the landscape around them looked vastly different.

The "depression cottages" that once lined the water nearby are long gone, improvements have been made to the beach and amenities have been put in.

The holiday park has changed , shrinking in size but becoming a lot better, with new roads and toilet blocks.

For five weeks Gordon and Fay will stay at the park in their 20-year-old caravan on the same site they have claimed for 30 years.

On Saturday, Paul and his family will join the Mowbrays in Nelson Bay and on Monday will celebrate Gordon's 83rd birthday.