We’re not all about the wedding day here at Wedding Ideas, you know. We love to see your real-life honeymoons, too! We caught up with Fiona and Jonathan while they were on their idyllic break in the South Pacific. If you’re craving a little sunshine right now, read on…
Where did you go?
We spent a month island-hopping around the South Pacific, combining French Polynesia and the Cook Islands. We visited Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Huahine, Moorea and Tikehau.
That’s pretty long haul – why did you choose the South Pacific?
Exploring the South Pacific has always been one of those once-in-a-lifetime trips that we’d both dreamed of. We both love being in the water so the lure of getting up-close and personal with some of nature’s most incredible creatures — from humpback whales to manta ray and shark — was a big draw for us. The stunning backdrop of pure white sandy beaches and turquoise blue waters was the icing on the cake!
What did you do?
So much, I’m not sure where to begin! Jonathan fulfilled his dream of swimming with manta ray, and while on a whale-watching trip in Moorea, I was truly awe-struck when we were able to see a mother whale and her calf playing together. The hours of feeling seasick instantly disappeared, and we were completely mesmerised by nature at its very best! Also, flying over Bora Bora in a private helicopter was incredible! It’s really an island that has to be seen from above to truly appreciate its beauty.
What was your most romantic moment?
Again, we have so many precious memories, lots of which include jaw-droppingly beautiful sunsets. We loved sipping cocktails and watching the sky transform from our over-water bungalow in Huahine. I’ll never forget ‘walking’ out to One Palm Island from our amazing beach hut at Ninamu on the atoll of Tikehau. It involved walking, wading and swimming across sand banks — but wow, was it worth it! We had found paradise, and we had it all to ourselves.
Would you recommend it to other couples?
If you want laid-back luxury with lots of underwater adventures thrown in, there is no better place! We are lucky enough to have travelled all over the world, and we’ve seen some pretty amazing places, but the South Pacific still managed to top it all! And nine months on, with the arrival of our beautiful baby girl Mia, the South Pacific will have a special place in our hearts forever.
Why did you use Buy Our Honeymoon?
We were very conscious that our family and friends wanted their wedding gifts to be personal, so when I discovered Buy Our Honeymoon I knew straight away this was the perfect idea. We researched all the islands and put our list together including the restaurants, activities and trips that we wanted to do. The response was amazing from our family and friends who loved the idea — and they were excited to hear all about our adventures when we came back, knowing that they had helped us fulfill so many of our dreams!
Need some more honeymoon inspiration? Check out some of Thomson’s fabulous honeymoon venues for foodie couples. Or enter our amazing honeymoon competitions here, and bag yourself the trip of a lifetime!
