Moorea, French Polynesia

The stunning white sand beaches and beautiful mountains of Moorea amaze even the most seasoned traveler. A small tropical island in French Polynesia, Moorea is neighbor to the island of Tahiti, and the island of Bora Bora is also nearby. Romantic Moorea is a popular honeymoon destination, known for its exquisite scenery, excellent snorkeling and diving, and enchanting rain forests. Visitors can get to Moorea via a ferry that departs daily from Papeete, Tahiti. The island of Tahiti is home to Faa’a International Airport, the gateway to this region. This is definitely a case of high society - Moorea is a soaring island formed by volcanic action in French Polynesia's Society Islands (so named by Captain Cook). The island is 19 km (12 mi) to the east of Tahiti, and shaped like an inverted triangle with two deep bays nibbled out of the north coast. It isn't huge at 135 sq km (52 sq mi), but large enough to absorb the many tourists in reasonable comfort. There are three main settlements - Teavaro, Papetoai and Afareaitu, plus numerous resorts including those with the inevitable stilt houses extending into the lagoon.

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Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii, USA

The sunny South shore of the island of Kauai (known as the “Garden Isle”) in the tropical state of Hawaii in the United States is home to Poipu Beach. Poipu Beach is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top 10 beaches due to its pristine white sands, swaying palm trees, and sparkling blue waters. The activities to be enjoyed in the area are seemingly endless and include kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, surfing, mountain biking, deep-sea fishing, horseback riding and ATV tours. There are also two 18-hole golf courses. The classic beach is popular for weddings and honeymoons. There is a large variety of accommodation in the area, including the exceptional Villas at Poipu Kai. The Villas at Poipu Kai is a new boutique condominium resort with 3-4 bedroom poolside villas, 2-4 bedroom garden villas, and a stunning private home on the villas property.

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Wineglass Bay, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania, Australia

On the east coast of the island state of Tasmania, south of Australia, you will find the lovely Freycinet National Park, home to the stunning Wineglass Bay. Some notable feature of Wineglass Bay, besides its distinctive “wineglass” shape, are some interesting pink granite peaks standing in a line on the beach. These are called “The Hazards”, and the beach they stand on is often referred to as Hazards Beach. Australians have long known about this haven for fishing, boating, sea kayaking, rock climbing, and fun in the sun, but so far this lovely slice of heaven isn’t on the rest of the world’s radar. That’s partially due to this area of Tasmania being somewhat hard to travel to. The nearest airport is in Launceston, a 2 hour drive from Freycinet National Park.

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