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Honeymoon & Travel | South Pacific
Find information on honeymoon destinations in the South Pacific.
- Koala Kingdom
Hey, mate, those cuddly creatures aren’t the only reason to visit Australia. Fabulous snorkeling, golfing, scenery and luxe resorts have put the “Land Down Under” on top of the world. by Dena BraunOffering the world’s oldest rain forest, the largest coral-reef system on Earth, as well as several of the top beaches, the northwest region of Australia is vacation nirvana. Whether you prefer spending your days snorkeling, sailing or spa-ing, we’ve got the right honeymoon for you. For DIYersWhitsunday Island looks like virgin territory.Set sail into married life with a chartered cruise exploring the hidden bays, inlets and coves around the 74-isle Whitsunday Archipelago, located near the Great Barrier Reef. With the freedom to set your own itinerary, you can drop anchor anywhere for an impromptu swim at a deserted beach or a hike across rocky landscape. Come dusk, enjoy the silence together as you watch the sun set into the sea. Sunsail Charter Company, based on Hamilton Island, provides vessels that range from power catamarans to ultraluxe yachts. Each is equipped with up-to-the-minute safety features, full galley kitchens and snorkeling gear; most offer autopilot and GPS. And while no certification or license is necessary to charter a boat, Sunsail requires that at least one of you have prior sailing experience. The company offers a five-night honeymoon package onboard the Sun Odyssey, a 32-foot yacht, which includes fuel, insurance, overnight mooring fees, transfers, a guided first day and a romantic dinner at Pepper’s Palm Bay on Long Island. Even if you do lack sailing experience, you can still explore the high seas by opting for the six-day land and sea package with an onboard crew. You’ll spend three nights aboard a 46-foot catamaran enjoying gourmet meals and activities like snorkeling, windsurfing and kayaking. Then you’ll choose among resorts on Hamilton, Hayman or Daydream Islands and stay put for the rest of the time (rates for the land/sea package start at about $1,765 per person and include accommodations, transfers, meals and some activities; rates for the five-day charter start at about $1,321 per person; sunsail.com.au). For Amateur AnthropologistsTrekking is a fantastic way to explorediverse countryside.Immerse yourself in indigenous history and culture with a stay at the boutique Daintree EcoLodge & Spa. Featuring 15 treetop villas in the heart of the world’s oldest rain forest, the property gives a unique and intimate view of the lifestyle of the Aboriginal Kuku Yalanji people. The tribe’s elders once used the space, with its fresh water and edible and medicinal plants, as a camp. Today you can take a baral mardjanda (rain forest trek) with a tribal guide. As the one-and-a-half-hour excursion weaves through the property’s banyan and eucalyptus trees, your guide will point out the native flora and fauna and share ancestral stories. At the julay binalbu (art workshop), you’ll paint your own masterpiece with ochre pigments sourced on property.The ancient people referred to this area as wawu-karrba, which means “healing spirit,” and the Daintree Eco Lodge reflects that ideal in its world-renowned spa. The treatments highlight Australia’s natural resources and traditional Aboriginal techniques. And many of the spa’s 100-percent organic products utilize ingredients that are grown right at the resort. The signature two-hour walbul-walbul (butterfly) experience features an exfoliating salt body scrub, a detoxifying mud wrap and a relaxing application of warm oil. The spa is surrounded by the peaceful, misty rain forest, just the right setting for its private yoga and meditation classes. The hotel hosts weddings, which can incorporate Aboriginal customs, such as a smoking ceremony (to call upon the spirits of the land and bless the union) and a corroboree dance, which is accompanied by the didgeridoo and said to awaken and cleanse the aura (rates start at about $530 a night; daintree-ecolodge.com.au). For Luxury LoversAssisted stretching ups the relaxation factor.Hamilton Island, located on the northern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, is home to the ultimate secluded (and luxurious) experience: the new six-star (yes, that category exists) resort, Qualia. The name means “a deeper level of serenity,” and the resort lives up to its moniker by offering holistic spa treatments, impeccable service and private villa accommodations, most with personal plunge pools. The resort’s 60 guest rooms are ensconced in private cottages that are spread across the 30 acres of eucalyptus forest. Each room is fashioned from native woods, stone and other local materials. They all afford jaw-dropping views of the gorgeous surroundings, via either expansive wooden balconies or outdoor plunge pools that seem suspended above the ocean. The main building, called the Long Pavilion, features unbeatable vistas of the inky-blue ocean beyond, as well as the other Whitsunday Islands. The hotel’s saltwater infinity pool is quite a spot to soak and ponder the enormity of it all; the edge hangs high above the endless ocean. The resort’s second pool, located at Pebble Beach, is surrounded by comfy chaises and white umbrellas. It has a full-service bar, restaurant and complimentary kayaking and snorkeling equipment, as well as two sailboats and a motor boat available for your use. Take a small catamaran out to the reef, drop anchor and spend the afternoon exploring the most exciting underwater location in the world. Or opt for a personalized excursion to uninhabited Harding Island, which includes guides, lunch and whatever else you desire (champagne toast, anyone?). Qualia’s two restaurants feature fresh seafood and local produce enhanced by Asian spices. All meals may also be taken in your room. No stay at Qualia is complete without a visit to the spa. Try the two-and-a-half-hour signature treatment, an indulgence designed to eliminate stress and promote the ultimate in relaxation. The session includes assisted stretching and meditation, followed by a massage with customized organic oils that promises to balance your chakras, or energy points (rates start at about $1,400, all-inclusive with a personal buggy for your use around the property; qualia.com.au). For Outdoor Adventurers The sun sets over ReefSleep on Hardy Reef.Imagine looking up at the night sky and seeing only a dense carpet of stars, hearing nothing but the sound of waves and realizing the nearest fellow guest is actually the water-bound Wally, the resident giant Maori wrasse fish. Welcome to your private paradise, ReefSleep, a permanent pontoon anchored at Hardy Reef, a section of the Great Barrier Reef. By day, hundreds of divers and snorkelers visit the area hoping to spot green sea turtles, seahorses and other species of ocean life. But once the last day-tripper leaves at 3 p.m., the area becomes tranquil, thanks to the fact that this hotel can only accommodate six guests. The digs may not be ultraluxe, but they are clean and comfortable. Besides, ReefSleep isn’t about being an all-service five-star resort, it’s about an experience you can’t get anywhere else. How many people can say they spent the night on The Great Barrier Reef? A helicopter ride to ReefSleep from Hamilton Island is a worthwhile splurge. Seeing the reef from overhead provides a totally different—and awe-inspiring—experience. Once at ReefSleep you’ll spend two days diving and snorkeling. Kate, the host, chef and reef interpreter, will jump in the water and lead you on a guided snorkel tour, pointing out species of fish, including grouper, angel and rainbow fish, the different kinds of coral and maybe even a shark or two (don’t worry, there has never been an attack here). At sunset, the first mate will take you on the hotel’s submarine (during the day it’s used... - Cruising Around New Zealand
Take a 14-day cruise along the rugged coast of New Zealand and experience some of the most unspoiled scenery on earth. by Dena BraunNew Zealand, comprised of the North and South islands, is a majestic country filled with soaring mountains, towering cliffs, magical fjords and glistening waters. The pace here may be slow, but when it comes to active adventures, the area promises visitors a heart-pumping experience. A 14-day sailing on Holland America’s luxury ship Volendam leaves from Auckland, on the North Island, and stops at various spots along both coasts before crossing the Tasman Sea to end in Australia (rates start at $1,800 and include all meals; hollandamerica.com). Take a TumbleOn a wild downhill ride inside a ZorbOur first port of call was Tauranga on the North Island. My husband and I decided to rent a car and explore the inland town of Rotorua, which is built near an area of active volcanoes. We wound past vast pasturelands, and after navigating the curving route for about 45 minutes (while driving on the left), we arrived at the village and its natural hot springs. Since New Zealanders are world famous for their adrenaline-seeking ways—they’re the folks who originated bungee jumping—we couldn’t resist trying a little “zorbing.” Invented here, the Zorb is a clear inflated sphere, 11 feet high and wide, which contains a shallow bath of warm water. My husband and I were loosely harnessed into the sphere and instructed to walk forward. We took a step, immediately fell to our b