When most people picture a honeymoon in Tahiti, they immediately think of the iconic overwater bungalows floating above impossibly blue water. And trust me, those bungalows are every bit as dreamy as they look. But after returning from our honeymoon in French Polynesia, I can confidently say that while the resorts were incredible, it was the experiences we shared throughout the islands that truly made this trip unforgettable.
From swimming with sharks and stingrays to jet skiing around Bora Bora, learning about Polynesian culture, enjoying dinners at local restaurants, and soaking in sunsets from our bungalow deck, this trip became so much more than just a luxury beach vacation.
For our honeymoon, we stayed at three beautiful properties:
- Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
- The Westin Bora Bora
- The St. Regis Bora Bora
Each one brought something completely different to the experience, and together they created the perfect balance of adventure, culture, relaxation, and romance.
After landing in Tahiti, we took the quick 30-minute ferry ride over to Moorea, followed by about a 10-minute drive to Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort. Even just arriving at the resort felt surreal. Moorea has this dramatic, lush beauty that instantly makes you feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
We stayed in a Luxury Beach Bungalow, and I absolutely loved it. Our patio was only about twenty steps from the sand, making it incredibly easy to wander down to the beach whenever we wanted. The room itself felt very traditionally Polynesian, with dark wood tones, a spacious layout, air conditioning, and a ceiling fan that kept everything comfortable in the tropical heat.
When we arrived, the staff had decorated the room with flowers, a sweet honeymoon message on the bed, and thoughtful honeymoon amenities gifted by the property. It immediately made the experience feel special and personal.
We spent a lot of time at the infinity pool overlooking the overwater bungalows and the bright blue ocean beyond them. One thing worth noting about the beach here is that it can be rocky until you reach a certain depth, so I highly recommend bringing water shoes.
Polynesian Dinner Show at PURE
Our first night at the resort, we had dinner at PURE, the restaurant that also serves the breakfast buffet each morning. Luckily, the evening we arrived happened to be their Polynesian show night, and it ended up being one of our favorite evenings in Moorea.
The show included traditional dancing, live music, and an incredible fire performance. At the end, they invited guests to join in and learn some of the dances themselves, which made the entire experience feel interactive and fun rather than just something you sit and watch from a distance.
A Romantic Breakfast on the Beach
The next morning, we experienced one of the most romantic breakfasts either of us has ever had.
The resort arranged a private breakfast setup on the beach at K Restaurant, and the spread was enormous. Fresh pastries, eggs, charcuterie boards, tropical fruits, juices, jams, and more covered the table. We never once felt rushed, which allowed us to truly slow down, take in the ocean views, and enjoy the quiet start to the day together.
Sometimes the simplest moments on a honeymoon become the ones you remember most, and this was definitely one of them.
Exploring Moorea Beyond the Resort
One of the things I loved most about Moorea was how easy it was to combine relaxation with adventure.
Our Nature & Culture Tour
We joined a small-group Nature and Culture Tour with only about eight people total, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our time on the island.
The tour picked us up directly from the resort and took us around Moorea to experience different viewpoints, local products, and historical sites.
Our first major stop was Magic Mountain, which offered breathtaking panoramic views over the island. The views from the summit honestly didn’t look real. While hiking independently to Magic Mountain can be fairly intense, our guide drove us almost entirely to the top, leaving only a short staircase climb to reach the viewpoint.
We also stopped to sample locally made jams in flavors like mango, pineapple, and vanilla, visited a pineapple farm to learn how the fruit is grown, and explored ancient temple ruins while learning about their cultural and spiritual significance throughout Polynesian history.
I really appreciated how the excursion balanced beautiful scenery with cultural education. It made us feel more connected to the island itself rather than simply visiting a luxury resort nearby.
Swimming with Sharks and Stingrays
The following day, we headed out on a lagoon tour by boat, and this was easily one of the most unforgettable experiences of the entire honeymoon.
Almost immediately after heading out onto the water, we encountered a huge group of dolphins swimming near the boats. They were leaping, spinning, and coming unbelievably close to us. It genuinely left us speechless.
Later, we stopped at a snorkeling area where we swam with stingrays and black tip reef sharks. Swimming with sharks and stingrays had been at the very top of my honeymoon bucket list while planning this trip, especially because it had been one of my favorite memories from my first visit to Tahiti years ago.
Being back in that crystal-clear water surrounded by marine life felt surreal. We spent plenty of time snorkeling, taking photos, and simply soaking in the experience together.
We also attempted to spot sea turtles in another area known for them, but the current was extremely strong that day, making visibility difficult despite how incredibly clear the water remained.
Polynesian BBQ on a Private Motu
One of the most unique parts of the lagoon tour came when we stopped on a small private island for a coconut demonstration and traditional Polynesian BBQ lunch.
Devin actually got pulled into the demonstration and helped open a coconut using a stick in the ground before using a machete to access the coconut water and meat. The freshly extracted coconut milk was then used in the meal preparation itself.
Lunch was served buffet-style with fresh fish, chicken, Polynesian ceviche, tropical fruits, and more, all while we sat at tables directly in the water surrounded by fish swimming around our feet.
It was one of those experiences that felt incredibly immersive and unlike anything we’d ever done before.
Rudy’s: Our Favorite Local Restaurant
One of the best surprises of our stay in Moorea ended up being Rudy’s, a small local restaurant the resort offers complimentary transportation to each evening.
We loved it so much that we actually went twice during our stay.
Sometimes the most memorable meals aren’t necessarily the fanciest ones. Rudy’s had such a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and by the end of our trip it genuinely became one of our favorite dining experiences in all of French Polynesia.
Slowing Down in Bora Bora at The Westin
After Moorea, we flew directly into Bora Bora, where we were met at the tiny airport and escorted to the complimentary boat transfer for The Westin Bora Bora.
Fun fact: The Westin Bora Bora actually took over the former Le Méridien property, which arguably has one of the best views in Bora Bora. Mount Otemanu sits directly in front of the resort, creating absolutely unreal scenery throughout the day.
While waiting for our room to be ready, we grabbed lunch at the pool bar and had what may have been one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ever eaten. We also took full advantage of a complimentary pool cabana and accidentally ended up taking one of the best naps of the entire trip while overlooking the lagoon.
At The Westin, we stayed in a Lagoon View Overwater Bungalow that felt bright, airy, and incredibly peaceful with white tones and blue accents throughout the space.
This ended up becoming our “ultimate relaxation” portion of the honeymoon.
We spent hours swimming directly from our bungalow, ordering room service dinners, watching Netflix from the bathtub, and simply slowing down together after the more excursion-heavy portion of our trip in Moorea.
The sunsets here were absolutely incredible, and some of our favorite quieter moments happened right from our deck overlooking the water.
We also loved lunch at Varavara Restaurant with our toes in the sand, and the breakfast buffet at Tipanier became one of Devin’s favorite parts of the stay.
Our Favorite Stay: The St. Regis Bora Bora
As incredible as every property was, The St. Regis Bora Bora ended up being our favorite overall experience.
We arrived via complimentary boat shuttle from The Westin and were immediately blown away by the sheer beauty and scale of the property.
Our Lagoon View Overwater Bungalow was enormous. It included a separate living room area, a massive bathroom, and stunning lagoon views from nearly every angle. One of the sweetest surprises came when we discovered the staff had printed and framed one of our wedding photos and placed it on the dining table in the bungalow.
It was such a thoughtful touch and immediately made the experience feel deeply personal.
Jet Skiing Around Bora Bora
Before our room was ready, we headed straight into one of the most fun excursions of the entire honeymoon: a jet ski tour around Bora Bora.
We spent several hours riding around the lagoon surrounding the main island, stopping occasionally for fresh coconut and incredibly sweet grapefruit along the way.
At one point I genuinely thought Devin was trying to throw me off the jet ski because of how aggressively he was taking turns, but apparently he was just having the time of his life.
He eventually let me drive too, which was both terrifying and exciting since I’d never driven a jet ski before. Surprisingly, it was much easier than I expected once I got comfortable with it.
This excursion was such a perfect mix of adrenaline, laughter, sightseeing, and fun.
ATV Adventure Through Bora Bora
The following day, we headed to the main island for an ATV excursion.
This ended up being another unexpectedly memorable experience because neither of us had ever really driven ATVs before. We explored the island, visited scenic overlooks, learned more about local plants and wildlife, and stopped at another ancient temple site.
At one point, I ended up driving the ATV down the mountain for the first time and probably gave Devin mild emotional distress with my abrupt stopping and accelerating.
Thankfully, once we got onto flatter roads, I became significantly better at it.
The views from the mountain were absolutely unreal, with every possible shade of blue stretching across the lagoon below us.
Swimming with Manta Rays
Another unforgettable excursion we did in Bora Bora was a snorkeling tour where we got to swim with manta rays, and it honestly felt magical. Watching them glide so effortlessly through the water was mesmerizing. They truly are gentle giants. Devin pointed out how the white markings on their bodies almost seemed to glow beneath the surface, even at the depths they were swimming, and once he said it, I couldn’t stop noticing it too.
After spending time with the manta rays, we headed to a coral garden where we fed bananas to tropical fish. I could not stop laughing because the fish kept nibbling at my hands and ring instead of the banana itself. It didn’t hurt at all, it was just incredibly ticklish. The coral garden was filled with so many colorful fish and marine life, and we even spotted an octopus perfectly camouflaged against the rocks. If someone hadn’t pointed it out to us, we would have completely missed it.
We finished the excursion swimming above eagle rays, which was another incredible experience and such a beautiful way to explore Bora Bora’s underwater world.
Champagne, Sunsets, and One Final Night in Paradise
On our final evening, we attended the complimentary champagne sabering presentation at the resort, where we learned about the tradition and history behind the ceremonial opening technique.
Afterward, we made our way to the iconic 727 Bar for sunset cocktails and mocktails.
The mountains looked like they were glowing as the sun began to disappear behind them, creating one of the most beautiful sunsets we witnessed during the entire trip.
I also had my favorite mocktail of the honeymoon there: The Black Pearl. I still think about it.
We then headed into Lagoon Restaurant for dinner, where glass floor panels throughout the restaurant allowed us to look directly into the water below. At one point during dinner, we even spotted a sea turtle swimming beneath the restaurant.
It felt like the perfect final evening in Bora Bora.
After dinner, we returned to our bungalow, took a long bath, climbed into bed, and talked about how unbelievable the entire honeymoon experience had been. We were sad knowing it was our last night in paradise, but incredibly grateful for every moment we experienced together.
Final Thoughts
Having visited French Polynesia before, I already knew that what makes these islands so special goes far beyond the overwater bungalows and beautiful resorts. The experiences, the culture, the people, the adventure, and the feeling you get while exploring these islands are what truly stay with you long after you return home.
One of the things I was most excited about while planning this honeymoon was getting to share that magic with my now husband for the first time. Watching him experience Bora Bora and Moorea, swim with sharks and manta rays, try new adventures like jet skiing and ATVs, and take in those unreal lagoon views made the trip even more meaningful for me.
Of course, the resorts were incredible, and every property brought something unique to our honeymoon. But the moments we’ll talk about forever are the experiences we shared together. Swimming with stingrays, watching dolphins leap beside our boat, feeding fish in the coral gardens, laughing through ATV rides, sunset mocktails overlooking Mount Otemanu, and ending each day talking about everything we’d experienced together.
French Polynesia has a way of making you slow down, soak in every moment, and truly connect with the place around you. For us, it was the perfect balance of adventure, romance, relaxation, and unforgettable experiences, and I already know these memories will stay with us forever.