Geo: -16.4993, -151.74Today is the last day of our stay on this beautiful island and the sun is shining with hardly a cloud in the sky.We have been offered a late checkout today, we will be picked up from our room at 3.30pm transferred by boat to the airport at 4.00 and catch our plane to Tahiti at 5.20, so we have plenty of time to do as we wish.First order of the day is a little sun baking followed by a swim from our pontoon, then a shower to wash off the salt.We order a mid morning champagne breakfast with Billecart Salmon Brut, toast, croissants, omelettes fresh fruit and cheese, this will be our only meal today. We opted not to go with the infamous canoe breakfast as we didn't like the choice of food. ... read more

Geo: -16.4993, -151.74It's our anniversary today in Tahiti time so we have decided to celebrate by going to the Lagoon Restaurant. Suspended over water, Lagoon features breathtaking views of Mount Otemanu, while Jean-Georges Vongerichten's menu supposedly offers the finest gastronomic experience in all of French Polynesia. It has been raining all night but soon clears as we shower and then settle down to some episodes of Glee on the one and only channel that has English speaking content, be it with French subtitles.As the sun peakes out behind the clouds we decide to go down to the pool for a swim and to sit at the Aparima bar on the submersed stools.We grab some towels from the beach hut and find ourselves a nice spot under a shady umbrella, it not to long when we are ... read more

Geo: -16.4993, -151.74Today we wake to pouring tropical rain and as we open the curtains, Mt Otemanu is covered in cloud. After working our way through all the leavers and taps in the bathroom we finally manage to switch on the waterfall shower and get ready for breakfast. We call for a cart to take us to the restaurant and still pouring rain we get soaked as the rain blew into the vehicle. On arriving at the restaurant were were given towels to dry off and both of us ordered poached eggs and helped ourselves to a very average breakfast from the buffet, the best being the eggs and beautiful fresh fruit.After breakfast we headed back to our room and read our in room brochures as we waited for the rain to stop. We were looking ... read more

Geo: -36.8474, 174.766Still raining as we wake at 8.30am with a view over the car park, but hang on its only 5.30 at home. Walked over to the airport terminal to buy something light for breakfast as we didn't want the AUD $30 buffet breakfast at the hotel. Also checked out the shops and where to check-in, and noticed our flight to Tahiti was on the departure board (getting excited)!Late checkout at 2.00pm with no extra charge. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Checked our baggage and passed through customs using our e-pass then headed to duty free. We were allowed a massive 4 litres of spirits each however we only purchased about half of that with assorted spirits, wine and champagne, just enough to last our 7 days in Tahiti.Next we purchased an Asian mixed savory ... read more

Geo: -27.4676, 153.028 We rise at the ungodly hour of 3.30am and pack our bags for the last time. We catch a free hotel shuttle to the airport and begin the frustrating process of clearing customs. After picking up some duty free we head into the Air NZ lounge to wait for our boarding call. We are surprised at how nice the lounge is and decide to have a Bloody Mary for breakfast ........we need something to wake us up. The flight home is very ordinary! We have boarded another old clunker and once again feel ripped off having paid for premium class seats with very little advantage.On touching down in Brisbane we have made up 3 hours and it is only 7.30am but wow it's hot outside being 28 degrees already. Clearing customs was surprisingly ... read more