Honeymoon Monday: Dana and Mark's New Zealand + Fiji Holiday...

I'm so excited about the honeymoon I am sharing with you today! Dana and Mark's absolutely amazing trip to New Zealand and Fiji. It's so fun to experience this honeymoon vicariously through Dana and Mark as New Zealand is on my dream destination list, and Fiji is where my husband and I honeymooned!

Dana is no stranger to weddings and honeymoons. She happens to be the founder of Deposit a Gift, a cash registry service that is perfect for creating a honeymoon registry!

More from Dana:

When planning our honeymoon we decided it would be great to pick a destination that was easier to get to from the West Coast (where we got married) than the East (where we live) and also would have nice weather in February – the easy choice was to jump to the other hemisphere! Both Mark and I are avid travelers and love discovering new places in a deep way, but we’re also total suckers for kicking back in Paradise, so we decided that New Zealand and Fiji would provide the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. We explored the North and South islands of New Zealand in a whirlwind 10 days. We purposely went there first to capitalize on the adrenaline of the wedding and then picked the most incredible resort in Fiji, Qamea, to completely veg-out for 6 days…it didn’t disappoint!

Immediately after the wedding, we flew to Auckland, arriving first thing in the morning. Even the long flight couldn’t squelch this post-wedding glow!

We hit the ground running by hopping a ferry to Waiheke Island for some hiking, wine tasting and great food. As you’ll see, New Zealand is a haven for nature and adventure-lovers alike. The scenery is breathtaking.

A meal at Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant was the perfect way to start our trip!

From Auckland headed Southeast to Waitomo to go caving in search of the famous “glow worms” on The Black Labyrinth cave-tubing experience. It was worth the crazy outfits and braving the cold water to explore New Zealand’s underworld.

My husband is the master at finding hidden travel gems and we certainly found it in Kamahi Cottage, a quaint dwelling we could call our own for 24 hours. The owners spoiled us with home-cooked meals for both dinner and breakfast with food that had been grown and raised on their farm. It was a true taste of New Zealand hospitality.

Kiwis are all about extreme sports, and though by their standards we’re probably not that adventurous, we had a blast. Our favorite activity lasted less than 30 seconds when we went Zorbing down a hill in a human hamster ball filled with water. I’m not sure when we’ve ever laughed so hard!

We spent the night in Rotorua, famous for their hot springs. If you can stand the strong smell of sulfur that permeates the town, it’s definitely something you likely won’t experience elsewhere.

I have a mild obsession with Sauvignon Blanc and Marlborough in the South island is a haven for it. We had the pleasure of staying at the Straw Lodge in Blenheim, a boutique vineyard home-stay, which included a delicious breakfast, a hot tub for a dip under the stars (we saw The Southern Cross!) and free bikes. Take a gander at the ‘backyard’ that was the oasis for our morning walk…yes, those are actual vines!

We are farmer’s market junkies. They’re a great way to meet the locals and find some tasty treats indigenous to the area. We walked away with an amazing fig jam that we only found there as well as some delicious infused olive oils. Plus it was just plain fun!

Mark loves to tease me about my bike-riding skills. I had been so hyped-up on the romantic idea of biking through the New Zealand wine country, but it was a lot harder and way less graceful than I’d imagined, at least for me! Some favorite wineries were: Bladen, Cloudy Bay and Saint Clair.

Queenstown, our last stop, is the heart of New Zealand adventure, it is also the access point to Milford Sound. We had a great dinner the night before at The Bathhouse, a restaurant that had been recommended. By this point, the weather had started to cool down, but it was still gorgeous.

Everyone says you have to go to Milford Sound tour, but I’ll admit I was wary it would be a glorified ‘jungle boat cruise.’ Boy was I wrong. It’s a full day commitment and isn’t cheap, but it is worth it to see one of the world’s most spectacular Fiords (it’s called a ‘Sound’ but it’s actually a ‘Fiord’; one of the many things you learn). We saw incredible waterfalls and sea life like dolphins that came right up to the boat, which was a treat! The 4 hour drive just to get there is a tour in itself, with one of the most beautiful stops being the pristine Mirror Lakes.

Off to Fiji and our heavenly resort of Qamea! I still dream about this place and it’s been over 2 years. I have never been somewhere so special and treated so well. Getting there is an adventure, but well worth it: a flight to Nadi, a puddle-jumper to Taveuni (check out that runway!), a van ride through the villages to meet the boat that will take you to the private island of Qamea. That’s right, the island is the resort. It only has 16 bungalows, so there are never more than 32 guests. It’s total luxury within the most natural and exotic setting. They take complete care of you from the moment you arrive, beginning with a welcome bottle of champagne. Cheers!

We wavered over what kind of bungalow to get, but since we took such a big trip we opted for a regular beachfront bure, which in my book was not ‘regular’ at all, complete with an outdoor shower, personal hammock, a sitting room and our own front yard.

The wedding finally caught up with me…I’m dying to have my own hammock some day!

Even with the beach a hop from our doorstep, we loved our swims in this incredible pool. Qamea gets everything right, especially when it comes to building the complex within the natural landscape.

A typical morning started with an incredible home-made breakfast, which makes for a happy honeymooner! The culinary delights were consistent throughout every meal, which you could take in the main outdoor dining room or have delivered to your room. Qamea takes its food seriously, flying in experts to train the local staff on everything from sushi to pancakes to barbecue.

A romantic private beach dinner was just one of the many perks!

Not only does the staff think of every detail to ensure you have a once-in-a-lifetime stay, they also make sure you leave wanting more with a special send-off ceremony. They actually sing to you as the boat whisks you away. It’s a tear-jerker and completely responsible for said dreams of returning that have lasted for over two years.

This makes me want to get on a plane right this second and fly back to Fiji! It is absolute paradise, as you can see. New Zealand doesn't look too shabby either! Can't wait to make it there one day and explore all the amazing sights. Milford Sound looks particularly spectacular!

Travel Vendors:

Auckland: Westin, Lighter Quay 
Waitomo : Kamahi Cottage
Rotorua: Novotel Lakeside Rotorua 
Blenheim: Straw Lodge
Queenstown: Grand Mercure St. Moritz 
Qamea: Qamea Beach Resort  

Remember, I'm still looking for honeymoon submissions! Brides, bloggers, wedding professionals, I want to hear from all of you! Please send submissions to theloveliestday@gmail.com :)