Mona and Harsh, Fiji, Australia and New Zealand

College sweethearts Mona and Harsh embarked upon their new adventure together as newly-weds, a dream vacation. Mona shared with us the plush details of their exotic trip through Oceania that spanned Fiji, Australia and New Zealand.

How they met
Mona shares, “Harsh first caught my attention in my freshman college year while performing at Rutgers South Asian show. We kept running into each other after that, but never spoke much. I finally took the plunge and asked him for his number, and there was no looking back after that. After a while of dating, Harsh popped the question to me at the highest point in the East Coast where the sunrise first hits the United States, in front of all our friends and family. It was the most magical moment of my life”.

Honeymoon Planning
“Fiji has always been my dream honeymoon destination, so Harsh planned a 3 week trip to not just Fiji, but also Australia and New Zealand. The trip was planned perfectly allowing us to unwind from our wedding festivities in the first few days before raising the adventure quotient up a notch”, shares Mona.

Honeymoon Highlights
The trip kicked off in Fiji with an all inclusive stay at Namale the Fiji Islands Resort and Spa. The couple indulged themselves with massages and resort excursions including horse-back riding on the beach and to the coconut farm, hiking to the waterfalls, tide pool, Reef walks and much more. They then moved on to Auckland, New Zealand where they took a ferry to Waiheke Island for a winery/olive oil making tour. The next leg of the trip took them to Sydney where they toured the opera house, as they learnt about its rich history, before watching the breathtaking sunset over the Sydney Harbor bridge.

Finally, their Melbourne trip covered the Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles Tour, culminating in an unforgettable rendezvous with some adorable Koalas.

Best Meal of the trip
Mona shares, “One of our most cherished experiences was Toto Pizza, a simple hole in the wall pizza spot in New Zealand. Another was a delectable gourmet experience with a 15 course meal at Sidart. In Sydney, we had a memorable time at Quay, overlooking the Opera House and the Harbor. We also fell in love with a local brunch spot called Bloody Mary’s. Melbourne introduced us to some great local experiences across a variety of different food hotspots.

Most Romantic Moment
“Our most romantic moments were the amazing surprise meals at Fiji that Namala Resort set up for us each day at their secret locations. With exotic views and lip-smacking food, they were some of our most memorable moments of the experience”, shares Mona.

Advice for couples
“Your honeymoon is going to be the first and the most special trip you take as a newly-married couple. Make the most of it. Experience all that you can, and if possible, try to visit as many locations as time permits. We felt very fortunate that we chose to cover three locations instead of just Fiji, and given more time, we would have liked to see even more than we did”.

Must-do experiences
“Picking Namale Resort and Spa was the best decision we took. Their incredible experiences and services were worth every penny, and they went out of their way to make every second memorable and romantic for us. In Melbourne, touring the coast the entire day was completely worth the cost and is an absolute must-do.”

Can Avoid
We spent 4 days in Sydney, which in hindsight, wasn’t necessary. There isn’t much to see there, except the harbor and the opera house, which can be covered in a shorter trip. Looking back, we would have liked to explore the natural beauty of New Zealand a lot more. “

Hotels they stayed at
Namale the Fiji Islands Resort and Spa, Fiji
The Grand by SkyCity, New Zealand
Sydney Harbor Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay, Sydney
Melbourne Marriott Hotel, Melbourne

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