Hotel Kia Ora Resort & Spa

Hotel Kia Ora Resort & Spa sits on the atoll of Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago, about 340 km northeast of Tahiti. Its 58 private villas and bungalows are scattered through a coconut grove, along a white-sand beach and out over one of the largest and most beautiful lagoons in French Polynesia.

The resort lies between the Avatoru and Tiputa passes, the two channels that have made Rangiroa famous among divers. For honeymooners it offers something rarer still: a quiet, stylish hideaway where an infinity pool, an overwater bar and the endless blues of the lagoon are all you need to fill a day.

Every villa and bungalow at Hotel Kia Ora is spacious and private, with contemporary design warmed by local crafts and tapa cloth.

On the beach, the Beach Bungalows sit under the coconut palms, each with its own outdoor Jacuzzi, and two Beach Duplex Bungalows offer two bedrooms over two levels. In the gardens, the Junior Suites with Pool add a separate lounge. For a honeymoon, we recommend:

•  Overwater Bungalow – Set above the lagoon, with a glass floor panel in the lounge and steps leading from the deck straight into the water.

•  Villa with Pool – A private walled garden with your own swimming pool, an open-air bath and shower, and a covered terrace for dinner under the stars.

•  Beach Deluxe Bungalow – Right on the sand, with a private pool on a terrace facing the lagoon and an outdoor bathtub.

Te Rairoa Restaurant serves Polynesian and international cuisine built around fresh fish and seafood, coconut, vanilla and Rangiroa honey. On Polynesian evenings, dinner comes with a traditional dance show.

Miki Miki Bar stands on stilts over the lagoon and is the place to be at sunset, with a cold beer or a local cocktail in hand. For a special honeymoon evening, the resort can set a private candlelit dinner for two facing the lagoon.

The infinity pool looks straight out over the lagoon, and the Aito Fitness Center is open to all guests. Bicycles are an easy way to see the island at your own pace.

Rangiroa is best explored by boat. Excursions from the resort include the Blue Lagoon, Reef Island, drift snorkeling in the Tiputa Pass, dolphin watching and sunset cruises, as well as a visit to the atoll’s own wine cellar. Divers are looked after by the Blue Velvet Diving Center, based at the hotel, with dives leaving from the hotel pontoon in search of dolphins, manta rays and gray sharks.

Poekura Spa, tucked into the coconut grove, offers the traditional Polynesian taurumi massage along with treatments using Sothys products and the spa’s own range of Polynesian oils. Some treatments take place in the Vaimiti area, beside a fare pote’e with two Polynesian rain showers.

When you book with Remarkable Honeymoons, your package includes a fresh flower lei greeting on arrival, round-trip resort transfers, your choice of accommodations and a farewell shell lei. Meal plans and other extras may be available for your travel dates. Ask us for details.