Tahiti and Her Islands

Overview

Romance in Tahiti & Her Islands
By: Graeme Lay

Sun-tanned, wind-blown, honeymooners at last alone
(Cole Porter, High Society)

The wedding is over – the service, the greeting of relatives and friends, the feast, the toasts, the speeches, the photographs, the farewells. The culmination of months of planning has come and gone in only hours. With an undeniable sense of relief that the stress of their wedding day is over, the newly married couple are driven to the airport. By themselves at last, they board a flight for Papeete and sit back and relax. Just a few hours later the island of Tahiti appears like a mirage out of the ocean, and minutes later their plane touches down at Faa’a Airport.

Emerging into the hot tropical air, the honeymooners catch the fragrance of frangipani blossom. As they stroll towards the Immigration counter a beautifully scented tiare flower is placed behind the ear of the bride and groom by a smiling Tahitian girl. Joining the immigration line, the couple is serenaded by the lilting strains of Polynesian love songs, played by a group of Tahitian men on ukeleles and guitars. From Faa’a it is a quick transfer to the capital town, Papeete, and the next day, to one of a wide choice of island destinations. Already the hectic world the newlyweds have just left is almost forgotten, days of bliss stretch ahead, for they have chosen to spend this very special time in their life together in one of the loveliest places on Earth, one synonymous with love and beauty, the islands of French Polynesia.

A galaxy of 118 high islands and atolls scattered over an area the size of Europe, surrounded by the world’s largest and purest ocean, French Polynesia offers honeymoon couples a selection of natural and cultural pleasures and a choice of accommodation which can make the beginning of their married life together an unforgettable experience.

The people of the Tahitian islands have a culture which from time immemorial has celebrated human love. Sensuality is inseparable from these islands, another reason why they make the perfect destination for honeymooners. For the Tahitian people, love is as omnipresent and accepted as the sea which surrounds them. Romance is not only in the air, it has been embodied in their culture for a thousand years. And overlying this Polynesian naturalness is another dimension – that of French culture – which has long valued the concept of romantic love. This combination of Tahitian informality and European romantic tradition is what makes French Polynesia irresistible as a honeymoon destination.

For the honeymoon couple, or the nouveau marié, as they should now be called since they are in French Polynesia, many of the best things will be free: basting themselves under the tropical sun, exploring rock pools on a reef at low tide, snorkelling in the undersea world of coral and fish, wandering through a village market, swimming in a mountain pool, strolling on the beach at sundown, making love under the starry, moonlit sky. But to allow our honeymooners to fully indulge themselves in the pleasures of the Tahitian islands, there is every imaginable type of accommodation and entertainment available, to supplement the natural pleasures of romance which the happy couple have brought with them.

Most of the hotels and resorts throughout French Polynesia recognise the special needs of newly-wed couples and have developed programmes to meet these needs. For example, nearly all visitor accommodation throughout the islands is right beside the lagoon, but a very special type of room is the overwater bungalow. Most beachside resorts have this kind of accommodation: bungalows which are built on poles fixed firmly into the bed of the lagoon and thus surrounded by its lucid blue waters. The overwater bungalows have thatched roofs in the traditional Tahitian ‘fare’ style, and are connected by walkways to the resort’s central complex.

Complete with a deck cantilevered out over the water, the overwater bungalows combine total privacy, utter luxury and unsurpassed views over the azure lagoon and their nearby island. The bungalows all have king-size beds, ensuites, mini-bar and comfortable lounge furniture. Sleeping in an overwater bungalow is like staying in the luxury cabin of a cruise ship that is permanently moored in the islands’ loveliest anchorages. And even better, this type of cabin never pitches or rolls!

For a honeymoon couple, sipping cocktails at sunset on the deck of an overwater bungalow, or being lulled to sleep by gently lapping lagoon waters only feet below their bed, is truly paradise on Earth. It is also possible for the newlyweds to have a tropical breakfast delivered by outrigger canoe right to the deck of their overwater bungalow – surely the last word in room service and indulgence. And why not, during this very special, unique time in their life? And for more conventional dining, the resort’s restaurants, bars and swimming pool will all be just a short walk away from their overwater home.

All resorts throughout French Polynesia make special provisions for their honeymoon guests. For example, by notifying the hotel of their newlywed status when making their reservation, honeymooners receive on the day of their arrival a complimentary bouquet of tropical flowers, a traditional Tahitian pareu for the bride and a T-shirt for the groom (for a minimum stay of two nights); a bottle of champagne on ice (for a minimum stay of three nights) and a ‘canoe breakfast’ for two or a romantic room service breakfast if the couple is accommodated in an overwater bungalow. Another option is to have a romantic, fire-lit dinner right on the beach.

A unique attraction at the Moorea Beachcomber Inter-Continental Resort is Dolphin Quest. From the deck of some of this resort’s overwater bungalows, it is possible to watch dolphins at play in the lagoon, cavorting with people of all ages. The marvellously friendly marine mammals – les dauphins, in French – relish human company and can be encountered and swum with almost right outside the honeymooners’ front door.

Also see a related listing under Honeymoon Registry.

Contact Details

Address: Tahiti Tourisme Australia, Level 8, 25 Bligh Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000, Australia
Phone: (02) 9233 4920
Fax: (02) 9233 4906
E-mail: info@tahiti-tourisme.com.au
Website: www.tahitinow.com.au

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