KIA ORA RESORT & SPA RANGIROA: INFINITE RELAXATION

@Tahiti Cruise and Vacation ENG

On September 3rd, the recently refurbished Kia Ora Resort & Spa reopened to the public. 

This 4-star boutique hotel is set amid the lush white sand beaches and turquoise lagoon waters between the two passes of Rangiroa. It is built in one of the best (if not the best) locations on the main motu of Rangiroa and is has one of the few beaches on the island.

@Gina Bunton

After the 50 minute flight from Tahiti, the staff of the Kia Ora will greet you at the airport to drive you to the hotel which is situated only 5 minutes away. A fruit juice and cold towel will be waiting for you and after a speedy check in, you will be driven to you accommodation in the hotel's buggy.

 @Gina Bunton

You can choose from a variety of accommodation types as the hotel has 10 overwater bungalows, 20 private pool villas 4 junior suites, 3 Beach deluxe bungalows, 3 beach suites and 19 Beach bungalows. All have been designed with feng shui principles in mind and offer a modern yet traditional feel. They are equipped with wooden furniture, interactive TV, wifi and an iPod docking station...and the king size beds are simply sublime.

In the bungalows, the headboards are carved in Tahitian motifs while pieces of tapa painted by local artists adorn the walls. The decor is between traditional craftsmanship and modernity

All the villas have their own private pools, an outside patio and daybeds while the beach bungalows have their own jaccuzzi (pool and outside bathtubs for the deluxe bungalows).

@Gina Bunton

The hotel also offers guests a fitness center, a spa, a bar, a large infinity swimming pool with jacuzzi and a restaurant.

@Gina Bunton

10 best things to do while at the Kia Ora Resort & Spa:

- Enjoy a warm bath under the tropical night stars in your deluxe bungalow's outdoor bathtub;

- Gaze at the turquoise colored lagoon from your outdoor individual jacuzzi in your beach bungalow;

- Jump straight into the crystal clear lagoon from your own private terrace on your overwater bungalow;

- Laze around in the private pool of your garden villa;

- Go for a relaxing walk among the coconut grove and the serene garden of the resort;

- Treat yourself to the spa's signature massage with traditional essential oils;

- Have a house cocktail at sunset in the Miki Miki overwater bar;

- Appreciate the marriage of Polynesian and french cuisine at the Te Rairoa Restaurant;

- Discover Rangiroa's underwater world with Bathys Diving;

- Go for a snorkel in front of the resort.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

It's Friday everyone! Hope you have a fab weekend!

@ Le Taha'a ilsnad Resort & Spa

HAPPY SUNDAY

@ Gina Bunton

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM BORA BORA by Chris McLennan Photography

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'! -Audrey Hepburn.

Happy New year to you all! Whatever your dreams, whatever your hopes, may 2012 be the year of wondrous travels and extraordinary adventures. Paradise awaits!

xoxo

Image @ Chris McLennan Photography

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: MOOREA - A PIECE OF PARADISE

Thank you for sharing Tuki Huck, this video tells a thousand stories and shows the various faces of Moorea and the great time to be had there!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: DIVE INTO PARADISE

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: ANGELS IN PARADISE

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: BORA BORA, WHERE ELSE?

 @Gina Bunton

BORA BORA, HEAVEN ON EARTH?

@Mota-ru

Bora Bora needs no introduction. Novelist James Michener described Bora Bora as the most beautiful island in the world and the "Pearl of the Pacific" is considered one of the most desirable and romantic islands to visit. Its very name induces a state of intense reverie and visitors often lack the words to describe the feeling of awe that overwhelms them when arriving in this mythical island.

@Tim-mckenna.com

According to the legend, "Pora Pora" (the first born in Tahitian) is believed to be the first island to have risen from the waters after the creation of Raiatea. It seems that its ancient name, "Mai Te Pora", meaning created by the Gods, predestined the island to greatness.

@Gina Bunton

How do you describe paradise? A place of timeless enchanting beauty, this volcanic island with a palm-fringed coral reef that forms a lagoon of crystal clear water where a myriad of multi-coloured fish play, unaware of the curious visitors.

@Chris Mclennan Photography

The island is a 50 minute flight from Tahiti and you will first discover its beauty when landing at the airport which has been built on motu Mute, a small islet off the main land. A boat shuttle will take you to your hotel or to the main land where your paradisiac holiday can start. 

@Gina Bunton

Time will stop once you land and you will wish you had more time to enjoy the magic of the island. Whether you dream of a romantic hideaway, an unforgettable experience, an escape to your own tropical paradise or an exotic adventure, Bora Bora will fulfill your dreams.

@Gina Bunton

Just take the time to breathe and fall in love...Fall in love with Mount Otemanu, standing proud at the center of the island, fall in love with the warm turquoise lagoon, fall in love with your overwater bungalow, just fall in love...

@Pierre Lesage

Bora Bora is the place where dreams take over reality... enjoy the magic and be enchanted.

@Tim-mckenna.com

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: ROMANCE AWAITS AT THE ST REGIS BORA BORA

@ Gina BUNTON

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: FOUR SEASONS RESORT BORA BORA

@ Gina BUNTON

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: BORA BORA...

RANGIROA: ENDLESS SHADES OF BLUE FOR HOLIDAYS IN PARADISE

The atoll of Rangiroa, in the Tuamotu, is the second largest atoll in the world. The atoll, a string of coral encircling a lagoon of amazing shades of blue, is also known as Rairoa, meaning "Endless sky" in the Tuamotu. It is home to 240 small motu (islets) forming a 100-mile ring around an infinite lagoon. 

 @ clesenne, Creative Commons

As you approach Rangiroa by air, you can only be amazed by the different shades of blue that will welcome you, the blues of the lagoon, the blues of the ocean, the blues of the sky... There are 3 main colours in the paradise: white, for the white sand and coral beaches, green for the coconut trees and tiare bushes that grow everywhere and blue for the water and the sky.

 @ Philippe Bacchet / Tahiti Tourisme

Life in Ragiroa is serene, time seems to stop on the island as you will want to just sit down and listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the reef. You are surrounded by the sea, the motu are not very wide and on either side, you can see the ocean and the lagoon. The contrast is amazing, on the one side, the dark ocean, almost wild and mysterious, on the other side the lagoon, calm and inviting, with dreamy shades of blue.

@ D. Hazama / Tahiti Tourisme

No surprise Rangiroa is one of the world's greatest dive destinations and home to hundreds of marine species including various fish, eagle rays, sharks and dolphins. An incredible underwater fauna, 6 different dive centers to choose from, whatever your level diving in Rangiroa is a must.

We arrived in Rangiroa on a Thursday morning and could not wait to discover the treasures that were waiting for us underwater. As soon as we were settled, we booked one of the most popular activities on the island: Drift snorkeling in the Tiputa pass. This excursion lasts about 2 hours and is best done when the current is flowing into the lagoon. This is not your typical snorkeling in the lagoon, your guide will take you where the wild ocean (Moana-uri) meets the peaceful lagoon (moana-tea) at the end of the pass. Don your mask and fins before jumping in the water where you will let the force of the water carry you while you enjoy the underwater scenery. 

The boat will be waiting for you at the other end of the pass to take you to the lagoonarium, a natural aquarium where you will meet hundreds of fish and home of some of the biggest eels I have been given to see. Truly a great way to start a holiday!

Once you finish your snorkeling, make sure you go back into the pass as you would not want to miss the dolphins playing in the waves. It is truly an exhilarating moment and watching them jump in the waves is magical. If you are not a fan of boats and waves you can always watch the show from the shore on the point overlooking the pass.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: THE BRANDO IN TETIAROA PARADISE ON EARTH?

Discover The Brando and the island of Tetiaroa

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: GOLDEN SUNSET ON RANGIROA

@Peter Stone

TETIAROA: MARLON BRANDO'S PRIVATE PARADISE ISLAND

The mysterious and beautiful atoll of Tetiaroa is situated 30 miles from the island of Tahiti. It comprises 13 islets encircled by a coral reef.

Originally the summer residence of the ruling families and kings of Tahiti, Tetiaroa was considered to be the royal playground. The atoll was made famous by Marlon Brando, who decided to purchase it during the making of the "Mutiny of the Bounty".

One can only be seduced by the magic of the island, its charm, its beauty and the solitude of such an alluring and remote exotic paradise.

@ National Geographic Photos

Brando himself had no intention of  destroying the natural the beauty of the island and even said: "If I have my way, Tetiaroa will remain forever a place that reminds Tahitians of who they are and what they were centuries ago".

                                                                                                             @gegedeversailles

In Tahitian Tetiaroa means "who stands apart" or "keeps its distance", keeping in line with Brando's values and hopes for the island. The names suits perfectly, as access to Tetiaroa is fairly limited, making it a remote, secluded and exclusive destination.

I remember spending time at the Hotel Tetiaroa, run by Teihotu (marlon Brando's son with Tarita Teriipaia) during my youth in rustic Polynesian style bungalows with no electricity on the island apart from that generated by the electric group. Even then, I thought that this was actually what paradise should be like...No fuss, just natural beauty, modernity was left in Tahiti. On the island, time was irrelevant, it is an out of this world experience, like being in the middle of nowhere. Besides the laughs of children playing, the only sounds one could hear on the island where coconuts falling, the cries of the birds and the relaxing roaring of the sea when it came to break on the coral reef.

@ Hotel Tetiaroa

To me Tetiaroa will always be synonymous of beauty, simplicity, mystery, tranquility and discoveries. One of the islet, Tahuna Iti, also named Bird island is famous for the thousands of seabirds who lay their eggs on the white powdery sands. This seabird sanctuary is both amazing and striking, just make sure you don't watch Hitchcock's "The Birds" before going there. 

               © Renaud Laffontas

The hotel Tetiaroa I knew in my youth no longer is, as it was shut after Marlon Brando's death. Nowadays, the only way to visit the atoll, although you will not be able to access all of the islets, is on a catamaran day excursion.

@ Tahiti Tourisme

However, the magic will once again be open to visitors as in 2009, TetiaroaPacific Beachcomber began the construction of an eco-resort called "The Brando" comprising 47 deluxe bungalow villas (each with private plunge pools), a spa, fitness center, community pool, as well as various island activities including scuba diving and archaeological tours of royal Tahitian sites.

The resort is expected to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, reflecting Marlon Brando's passion for environmental sustainability.

To know more about Marlon Brando's Tetiaroa adventure, read "Waltzing with Brando" by Bernard Judge.