Sand and seclusion
By Rachael Oakes-Ash
If you’re thinking about ‘going island’ for your honeymoon, there are enough beautiful spots in the Pacific to let you have a tailor-made holiday.
Fiji
There’s only so many ways one can describe the sea - aqua and turquoise don’t cut it for the plethora of hues in these waters. Only a third of Fiji is inhabited, which means plenty of secluded beaches and coves for honeymooners.
The islands lie in a horseshoe shape covering more than a million square kilometres of Pacific Ocean, with the same time zone as New Zealand - so don’t worry about jetlag.
Top-end
The cashed-up tourist heads east to the Lomaiviti Islands and celebrity haven The Wakaya Club to hang out with Russel Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. At a starting rate of $1900 a night, it’s for the seriously rich.
Me? I’m heading for Sofitel on Vomo Island, an hour’s boat ride from Nadi, for my first taste of Fijian warmth.
The high chiefs of Western Fiji traditionally chose Vomo for their annual retreats. It’s easy to see why. Each of the 90 hectares of pure island paradise has something special, from the coral reefs that lap the shore to the marine life below.
Bliss
My days are spent snorkelling rocky outcrops, reef breaks and lagoons; playing with fish of every colour. When out of the water, I glide atop it in catamarans or kayak the coastline. It’s all part of the service and included in the prices of most resorts.
Weddings are big business here. Most resorts have co-ordinators who will sort out the finer details for brides wanting to tie the knot on a sandy beach, cliff-side chapel or hill top at sunset - all to the glorious sounds of a Fijian choir. It’s the music that makes the difference.
I bought a CD home but it doesn’t sound the same within the four walls of my office, even with a Pina Colada in hand. This means only one thing – a return trip.
Getting there
Melbourne to Fiji is a four-hour and 40-minute direct flight
Pacific Blue flies from Melbourne to Nadi twice a week
www.pacificblue.com.au
Where to stay
Sofitel Vomo Island – www.vomofiji.com
Wadigi Island – http://www.wadigi.com
Yasawa Island – www.yasawa.com
The Wakaya Club – www.wakaya.com
More information
www.bulafiji.com
Vanuatu
To the far west of Fiji, sit the islands of Vanuatu in the Coral Sea. With similar waters and landscape to Fiji, Vanuatu differs vastly in culture. Four main native cultures exist within Vanuatu with 113 distinct languages and dialects. French is the main western culture and the influence is obvious in the island’s cuisine.
To marry in Vanuatu all you need is your passport and witnesses to prove your identity. You need to be in the country three days before the wedding and lodge your application 28 days before.
Jetset Travel Rose Bay international travel consultant Marni Whittington tells travellers to make the most of the amazing fresh waterfalls in Vanuatu’s rainforests. “There are 83 islands in Vanuatu. The main island of Port Vila is a city on a harbour with beach-side activities, restaurants, shopping and more to do than the outer islands which are all about relaxing.”
Getting there
Pacific Blue flies once a week from Brisbane to Port Vila with connecting flights from all capital cities.
www.pacificblue.com.au
Air Vanuatu flies between Fiji and Vanuatu twice weekly. The flight takes 45 minutes. www.airvanuatu.com
Where to stay
Most accommodation is near the main island’s Erakor Lagoon. Choose from lagoon bungalows at Le Meridian (www.lemeridian.com) or the child-free zone of Iririki Island Resort (www.iririki.com).
More information
http://www.tourismvanuatu.com/