Summerlee luxury accommodation truly is awe inspiring. I have never stayed somewhere quiet so beautiful. I found it online when I was searching for somewhere for us to stay on our honeymoon.  We wanted to go away but not to far from home, with Summerlee in the Hawkes Bay was perfect for us, in just over 2 hours we were in our very own paradise accommodation.

We had a king room with ensuite which was charming, it was beautifully decorated and very up market and luxurious.  The whole place was full with character and the huge grounds were well kept, and the views just breath taking. We couldn’t believe that in the grand scheme of things, this was right on our doorstep!

The weather was fantastic, so we made the most of the pool, and just down the way we could go river swimming and the beach was a short walk away.  A couple of times we heading away from Summerlee to Napier, only 20 minutes away. The art deco buildings made us feel like we had steps back in time, and we took a drive down south and stopped off to swim in the ocean.

In the evenings we would go out each night and enjoy the local restaurants and then return to Summerlee and relax, and enjoy our time together, and make the most of the accommodation. The Hawkes Bay really is a jewel in the crown and Summerlee is a luxury accommodation at it’s best. We loved our stay and would encourage anyone who is looking to ‘get away from it all’

The major attraction is the lagoon's rich tropical underwater life. To fully enjoy it, you would need a snorkel, mask and two fins. Don't worry because most hotels give these for free. Aside from the lagoon, most people visit Bora Bora for its historic relics. There are some archeological Polynesian relics and WWII remains scattered through the island.


Bora Bora Activities
As compared to other beautiful islands of French Polynesia, Bora Bora has enough to keep you busy. The place is quite remote so don't expect to find a cinema, museum or library; so the best things you can do here is to enjoy the great outdoors.

Water activities in Bora Bora include swimming in the beautiful, warm water lagoon or to go sun bathing at its most popular beach – Matira Beach which is located at the main island's southern tip.

Another activity to enjoy is snorkeling. Enjoy a breathtaking sight of being surrounded by schools of multicolor tropical fish in shallow waters. You may also sign up for snorkeling tours through the lagoon. The most popular tour which takes you farther off coast by boat is the Shark & Ray Snorkel Safari Tour. With this tour, you'll be able to experience feeding about 15 rays and 20 sharks via a boat over at the lagoon's shallow waters.

Another option is touring through Meridian Hotel's aquarium.  You'll be able to tour the marine life in pens. Afterwards, you need to swim back towards an area full of sharks and fish.

Scuba Diving is also a great option, wherein, you can swim with the Manta rays, turtles, shark and Napoleon fishes. Just sign up at Matira's Nemo World or Vaitape's TopDive. There are also clubs that offer scuba courses and initiations. Those who don't have a diving license yet, head on to Aquasafari. Here, even children aged 8 yrs old and above are accepted.

Jet Ski Tours as well as kiteboarding activities are also fast becoming popular in Bora Bora, particularly by Matira's southern tip. Other activities are biking, horseback riding and jeep tours.

Shopping in Bora Bora can be overwhelming, particularly once you've seen the price tags even of the grocery items. It's wiser to shop for groceries and commodities before going to this island. If you do need to buy something, just find a medium-sized grocery store called Chin Lee in Vaitape or a small grocery store close to Matira Beach.

For souvenirs, Bora Bora is famous for its Black Pearls.

Hotels in Bora Bora

As mentioned earlier about the cost of almost everything in Bora Bora, the best way to save when it comes to accommodations is to opt for family pension homes or by camping at Chez Henriette or Village Pauline. Other lodging options range from mid-range to Bora Bora luxury hotels.

For mid-range accommodations, consider the following:

Manureva House – This is an affordable yet luxurious two-bedroom, one-bathroom rental home suitable for 5 people. It is situated by the residential but still peaceful section of Bora Bora. It is by the mountainside, along a tropically manicured garden with a private sandy beach and rooms guaranteeing charming views of the lagoon.

Novotel Bora Bora Beach Resort – This hotel offers affordable rooms, excellent services and a great location. Although they don't have an overwater bungalow, they have rooms with tranquil garden views. The beach is not more than 10 meters away.