New Zealand and French Polynesia Honeymoon

Touch down in Queenstown to start the first active half of your New Zealand and French Polynesia honeymoon. A private driver transfers you to QT Queenstown — a boutique hotel imbued with artistic verve and blessed with arresting views of Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps. With the afternoon left open, settle in (perhaps a signature negroni at the sassy Reds bar?), or sleep off the long journey.

Privately guided, experience the gold rush charm of Arrowtown, then follow a scenic byway along the blue hem of Lake Wakatipu toward Glenorchy. In the afternoon, board a jetboat for an unforgettable journey along the braided and glacier-fed Dart River. Breathtaking scenery tangles with exhilaration as you zoom deep into Mount Aspiring National Park. If the landscape feels cinematic—you're right; scenes from Lord of the Rings were filmed here.

Drive from Queenstown to Te Anau to ease in your three-day, two-night Hollyford Track walking adventure. The route stretches 35 miles and follows a mountain-to-sea route along a valley floor. Pass the storied remains of Jamestown, wend beneath thousand-year-old giant trees, and into a wild coastal garden. You’ll meet your guides at your hotel for an orientation and pack your rucksack. Over dinner, mingle with fellow hikers from your hiking party.

Ramble through the glacier-carved Hollyford Valley, where a virgin forest laced with rivers, waterfalls, and lakes has remained unchanged for millennia. Along the way, guides decipher the landscape’s history and ecology. After 12 miles, arrive at Ka Tuku Lodge. Nestled beneath Mt. Madeline, welcoming hosts offer an antipasto platter ahead of a three-course dinner. And since this is luxe hiking, hot showers and a crisp New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc await.

Cross Fiordland National Park’s longest swing bridge en route to Lake Alabaster before jet-boating down the Hollyford River to reach Martin’s Bay. Wander ancient forests and pass the last vestiges of Jamestown before tracing wind-carved dunes along a rugged beach. As dusk falls, unwind at Waitai Lodge, soaking in wood-fired hot tubs beneath constellations of southern stars. 

Begin your final day on Hollyford with a walk through a towering podocarp forest, where rimu and kahikatea stand sentinel over the Tasmin Sea. Depart Martin’s Bay via helicopter for a spellbinding flight above the granite cliffs and hidden waterfalls of Milford Sound. Back on land, a scenic drive along the legendary Milford Road carries you to Gibbston Valley Lodge & Spa—where crackling fireplaces and spa treatments invite recuperation.

Set out on a full-day adventure through Central Otago’s kaleidoscopic landscapes of alpine plains, vineyards, and mountain gorges. Cycle scenic trails tracing the Arrow and Kawarau rivers, crossing suspension bridges, and stopping at the world’s first bungy jump site. Finish your ride among Gibbston’s vineyards, savoring an unhurried lunch and sampling pinot noirs, the region’s signature varietal.

Drive to Mt. Cook Lakeside Retreat, a High Country estate that rests between the milky-blue waters of Lake Pukaki and the soaring Ben Ohau Range. As night falls, step into the Pukaki Observatory for astronomer-led stargazing in the world-famous Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Sip wine as a telescope projects the cosmos onto a big screen and learn about constellation mythologies, nebulae, and more.

Lift off by helicopter into the heart of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park for a half-day heli-hiking adventure on the mighty Tasman Glacier—New Zealand’s longest river of ice. Land high on the glacier’s luminous surface to explore a frozen wonderland of sculpted ridges, blue-hued crevasses, and gurgling meltwater streams. On the return flight, soar past a towering icefall for a final, breathtaking glimpse of alpine grandeur. 

Fly north to Auckland, New Zealand’s lively waterfront metropolis. A private transfer delivers you to the stylish The Hotel Britomart, a trio of heritage buildings-turned-hip-hotel. Settle in, then step out the front door to find everything you want within easy walking distance.

Leave the city behind for a full-day, flavor-forward Matakana Coast tour. Privately guided, it’s an experience you won’t share with strangers. Sip elegant wines at two vineyards, taste honey straight from the hive, and wander a sculpture trail where outdoor installations hide in the forest. Lunch in Brick Bay where garden-plucked ingredients and site-made wine let the local terroir sing. Artisanal chocolates are a decadent finale.

It’s time to start the second, idyllic chapter of your New Zealand and French Polynesia honeymoon. A private driver brings you to the Auckland airport for an easy, five-hour direct flight to Tahiti. Maeva! Receive a warm Polynesian welcome—likely draped with a tiare (flower) lei. You’ll arrive after dark and stay a brief night at InterContinental Tahiti, so simply rest upon arrival. 

Take a ferry to neighboring Moorea. Lush, soulful, and wildly romantic, this heart-shaped island rises in emerald peaks and folds into jungle valleys. Arrive at Ginette Moorea, a four-suite guesthouse brimming with Polynesian warmth and style. Attentive butler service conjures your wants and whims. Downtime at Ginette feels dreamy, too—think beach hammocks, tropical gardens, and starlit dinners by the sea.

Board a private boat to cruise gin-clear lagoon waters that offer refuge to Moorea’s wonderous marine life. Your island-born captain imbues the day with a cultural connection. A highlight of the day unfurls in chest-deep water as playful rays skim your legs while reef sharks circle. Lunch is set on a white-sand beach, then don a mask to snorkel a vibrant coral garden. Wile away the rest of the afternoon.

Collect a cheerful buggy and drive Moorea’s ring road for a blissfully meandering day. Mid-morning, we’ve reserved you a spot in a hands-on Polynesian cooking class that stirs flavor and fun. In her Tahitian kitchen, Havaiki will teach you how to press coconut milk, prepare a raw fish salad, and mix vanilla punch before feasting on your creations. Later, visit a pineapple plantation or hike Three Coconuts Lookout.

Take a short flight to Bora Bora, transfixed by aerial archipelago views wrapped in kaleidoscopic blues. A short cruise across a glassy lagoon brings you to Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts where lovebirds will spend four “pinch me” nights in an overwater bungalow. If you can break the spell of jaw-dropping Mount Otemanu views, snorkeling, paddling, and lawn sports equipment are all on loan. 

Slip into Bora Bora’s radiant lagoon for a morning of underwater wonder. Drift above coral gardens where jeweled fish flicker between swaying anemones. After a seaside lunch, trade fins for throttle on a guided jet ski adventure, skimming turquoise shallows and darting around emerald islets. Back at the resort, toast yet another sky-swallowing sunset framed by an endless horizon.

On quad bikes, trace jungle trails and ridgeline paths that open to cinematic lagoon views. Along the way, your islander guide shares Bora Bora’s whispered legends. After lunch, romance takes the helm. Board a private sunset cruise kissed by golden light that delivers you to a secluded motu (island). Be seated for a romantic torchlit dinner set for two, where the moon and the sea conspire to make time stand still.

We’ve left your final day in paradise joyfully unscheduled. No plans, no pressure—just azure waters, gentle waves, and the pure presence of your beloved.

Your New Zealand and French Polynesia honeymoon comes to a gentle close. A private transfer delivers you back to Tahiti’s main airport for your international flight home. Depart with a trove of memories you’ll pore over forever.