by Johanna Osborne.

Honeymoon Destinations

Pack your bikini and grab your sarong, we have some fabulous romantic honeymoon ideas for you! And who isn’t ready for some Vitamin D after our stolen summer!? We might be stating the obvious with some of our destinations, for usually sun seekers know where’s it at pretty much the same way a bee always finds the flower… but, no harm in sharing the joy and a few tips along the way…

1. Fiji – You just can’t beat the tropical atmosphere to really bring romance alive. Flowy dresses, bare feet, sandals, sunhats – life is beautifully simple in paradise. Warm sunshine to greet you every morning, tepid waters, amazing multi-coloured fish…it all screams romantic holiday. The Fijian mainland offers some great specials and a vast array of resorts for various budgets. But if it’s a true tropical island experience you are after, you can’t look past the actual islands. These are something else altogether! With so many to choose from, it’s hard to decide whether to pick a child-free island like Tokoriki or Matamanoa for a quiet, subdued couples retreat, or whether to go somewhere like Castaway for its hustle and bustle and array of activities. Having been to many, we would rate Castaway our favourite getaway by far. Even pre-children we just loved the vibrancy of the island.

2. Rarotonga – Besides Fiji, Rarotonga rates as one of our top destinations. Depending on what hotel you pick, your experience will either be good or out of this world. We can’t recommend ‘Rumours of Romance’ highly enough. It’s simply ideal as a honeymoon spot. Private, gorgeous and totally luxurious. We’ve never stayed anywhere more fabulous than the beachfront villas. And not only that, a quick 20 minutes from there takes you to Aitutaki, an escape from civilisation and totally back to basics, with some of the most pristine beaches and clearest water you can find. Survivor filmed a series there, and the beach is still as unmarked now as it was then. You can stay at Pacific Resort Aitutaki and receive the same VIP treatment that Jeff Probst did! Having stayed there ourselves, we can vouch it has the luxury + factor.

3. The Gold Coast – You can’t beat the golden sand, gorgeous bays and beautiful little towns dotted along the coastline. Not to mention the multitude of fun parks that bring out the inner child in all of us! If you are not into the plastic fantastic vibe of Surfers Paradise, there are plenty of alternatives and it’s so easy to get to. Jump on a plane for 3 hours and suddenly it’s “hello summer”. If you grab a special well in advance this jaunt needn’t cost you an arm or a leg either.

4. Taupo – Good old Taupo is and always will be a NZ favourite. Who wouldn’t want to wake up next to the crystal waters of the grand lake, and while the day away in the many cafes and cool little spots? Mini golf, hot pools and renting a boat are all part of the Taupo experience. We rate Manuels on the waterfront as a top destination.

5. Europe – Now we’re going big. Why not make your honeymoon your OE? Couples that travel together stay together, because it’s a well known fact that travel brings out the best and worst in us. If you are going to Europe then you really can’t pass Santorini or Mykonos – the 2 most stunning Greek islands ever. Our tip? After a bit of island hopping visit gaye Paris, spend a few love-drunk days sightseeing and munching on croissants, and then catch the train to Marseille, rent a car and drive down the French coastline all the way along to the Italian border. You can visit all the gorgeous little towns dotted along the way – St Tropez, Cannes, Cap D’Antibes, Nice, then hop over to Monaco, Portofino, Cinque Terre… the list goes on. The best journey of a lifetime lies on the French/Italian coastline. Trust us! It’s heavenly! But really Europe is a treasure-trove of places to discover and see… there aren’t enough superlatives for me to go on…

PS; Honeymoons are best in 2s or 3s. That is, once you have your first honeymoon, plan your second and then your third. It keeps the fun alive, and why let that beautiful time ever come to an end?! We are about to go on our 7th honeymoon – and proud of it!

PPS; Make your wedding register a honeymoon fund! Most travel agencies are happy to set these up and your guests can make a contribution directly into it. Bellissimo!

 
Just had your honeymoon? Want to share your honeymoon tips or story with us? Email us as [email protected]