KEY POINTS:
In the deep darkness of a New Zealand winter, my family decided we'd migrate to the warm tropical island of Bora Bora in Tahiti for a week of pure relaxation, uncompromising luxury and some quality family time.
Now close your eyes and visualise a long, white, sandy beach
with green palms, gently swaying like they are listening to a Tahitian love song. Imagine looking out to the ocean, the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the lagoon sparkling like a thousand pearls in the sun. Looking closer, you can see the bright flash of colour as the tropical fish dart past; now take some French bread and reach out to feed them.
La Orana - welcome to paradise!
So there we were: four slightly anaemic looking New Zealanders, dazed by the bright sunlight, stepping off the launch the resort had sent out to pick us up.
It sounds like a cliche, but it was like stepping into a South Pacific calendar - the strikingly rich contrasts of colour and luxury, the blend of natural beauty and European sophistication - it was all quite intoxicating.
Desperate to score some brownie points with the family for all the long hours at work, I booked us into an over-water bungalow to experience true luxury.
With marble bathrooms, timber construction, sea views and the fact that you wake up to the sound of the water lapping around your bungalow and go to sleep as the burnt orange sun slips under the horizon, my whole family agreed this was a good call by Dad.
The holiday routine was easy; each morning we were straight into our snorkel gear and splashed around for an hour or so feeding the fish and laughing as the kids squealed through their snorkels every time the fish took bread from their hands.
Then it was time for the leisurely stroll through tropical gardens to the breakfast buffet.
After the buffet, the most exercise I got was rearranging the beach chairs for a full and not so exhausting day of eating and drinking, reading, swimming in the beautiful pool, swimming in the beautiful lagoon, eating, drinking, ... you get the picture.
Only once did we break this routine by taking a motorised boat to the main island for a day to have a look around at the local markets and buy the children a few souvenirs.
For a truly special escape, Tahiti is the Pearl of the Pacific.
Adam Berry is an owner-operator with Orbit Corporate Travel.