The traditional concept of travel from a point of departure to a point of arrival inherently incorporates the understanding that tourist behaviour relies on choice of destination and activity with the underlying motivator of that choice being the expectation of a pleasurable experience at the destination. However, the study on which this paper is based found that journeys of non-arrival – chaotic travel without a final destination or touristic goal – arose as a response to traumatic events. Participants were aged between 24 and 45 years and were Australian citizens travelling throughout Australia. Their journeys were multidestination and non-institutionalized and covered periods from as little as four months up to two years in duration. The grounded theory of journeys of non-arrival demonstrated that participants experienced a reactional trigger or catalyst (such as a relationship breakup or terminal illness) that provided the energising factor underpinning the motivation to travel. Throughout their journeys, the participants continued to experience emotional responses to that catalyst that impacted directly and indirectly on their motivation to travel and their experience choices.