1. Best for adventurers: The Brando, Tetiaroa
Why go?
Marlon Brando bought this private atoll after falling in love with it during the filming of 1962’s Mutiny on the Bounty. Tetiaroa, just 50 kilometres north of Tahiti, is now home to a super-luxurious beach resort. The atoll’s 12 low-lying islets frame a fairy-tale turquoise lagoon, a piece of paradise that can only be reached by helicopter or small aircraft.
Eco credentials
It’s a playground for animal lovers. From August to October there is a good chance of seeing humpback whales, and year-round, anyone brave enough to dip below the surface of the sea with their snorkel will see lemon sharks, turtles, rays and rainbow-hued fish. A bottle of coral-friendly sunblock even comes free with your package (as do daily spa treatments and champagne on tap for honeymooners). You won’t see anything so polluting as a car or speedboat—instead, the lagoon can be explored by Polynesian outrigger canoe, kayak, paddleboard, bicycle or simply with a pair of flippers.
Honeymoon treat
This is where Pippa Middleton spent her honeymoon, so follow her lead with a private dinner on a deserted stretch of beach, or spend a day exploring the colourful coral on a one-on-one snorkelling excursion.