Parental Leave Trip

February - August 2024

A 187-day adventure by Matthew & Laura Read more

List of countries

Singapore
Australia
New Zealand
Cook Islands
French Polynesia
United States

Categories

None

63.9kkilometers traveled

Means of transport

Flight45.7kkilometers
Walking-kilometers
Hiking-kilometers
Bicycle-kilometers
Motorbike-kilometers
Tuk Tuk-kilometers
Car-kilometers
Train-kilometers
Bus-kilometers
Camper-kilometers
Caravan-kilometers
4x4-kilometers
Swimming-kilometers
Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
Motorboat-kilometers
Sailing-kilometers
Houseboat-kilometers
Ferry-kilometers
Cruise ship-kilometers
Horse-kilometers
Skiing-kilometers
Hitchhiking-kilometers
Cable car-kilometers
Helicopter-kilometers
Barefoot-kilometers

Newest first

Footprints
Photos

Parental Leave Trip
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- Day 13
- Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 10:03 AM
- ☀️ 28 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- French Polynesia Chenal d’Afareaitu -17.546754, -149.78083217°32’48” S 149°46’51” W
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Last night in Moorea
February 20, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
More rays, sharks and family time 😀

What we loved about Mo'orea:
- Coral gardens with incredible snorkeling (so many different fish to see)
- Lush tropical forests on the mountains
- The local public beach - just about the perfect beach! Shallow blue water, sandy shore, shade from palms and amazing snorkeling.
- The friendly sting rays and black tip sharksRead more
Traveler Hello Poppy!
2/21/24Reply
Traveler They obviously like the shallows. Nice video.
2/21/24Reply
Traveler Ooo. Such clear water!
2/21/24Reply
Looks stunning 🤩 [Katrina Hopkins]
4/8/24Reply
2 likes
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- Day 14
- Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 11:31 AM
- ☁️ 28 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- French Polynesia Motus Manini -16.466003, -151.75206216°27’58” S 151°45’7” W
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Bora Bora!
February 21, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
Just amazing! The over water bungalow is perfect 👌
Flight from Mo'orea was a bit delayed but still nice to fly from and to such a small airport and on a short flight!
Took the airport ferry from the airport island to the main island - very swish boats for the fancy resorts!
Hosts met us with the hire car and showed us where things were in the town.
Can't believe how amazing the overwater bungalow is.
Got some supplies from the supermarket - tuna was just £5 so had pasta and tuna steak, very tasty. Used a bit of raw tuna to see what fish we could attract which Rosie really enjoyed doing - got some big bites!
Beautiful sunset, so nice to see it as we often didn't in Mo'orea.Read more
TravelerWow! Stunning! 🌴🥰🐠
2/21/24Reply
TravelerLooks beautiful!
2/22/24Reply
Tropical paradise! [Simon]
2/22/24Reply
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- Day 15
- Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 9:15 AM
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- French Polynesia Motus Manini -16.465994, -151.7520516°27’58” S 151°45’7” W
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Day 2 in BB
February 22, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Another day in paradise 🌞
Saw dolphins right outside our bungalow this morning which was so special.
Matt took the kayak to the outer islands for an explore whilst Rosie and I had a chat with Mark and Kat - Rosie has been missing Kat very much. Today she asked me who are my friends that I miss. When I told her she'd say no they're my friends, you're not allowed them! 😂
We've booked a boat hire for tomorrow morning which is exciting.
Poppy has been especially smiley and cute today. She's getting better at rolling to her side.
Bought some more bananas and pineapple from a road stall - the pineapples are so sweet here and almost creamy!
Rosie had a go in the kayak with Matt when we got home. She did really well and came back very happy.Read more
Traveler Fabulous photos
2/23/24Reply
Traveler Is Rosie in charge of the camera?
2/23/24Reply
Traveler Hello Poppy.
2/23/24Reply
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- Day 16
- Friday, February 23, 2024 at 8:57 AM
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- French Polynesia Pointe Matira -16.540595, -151.7305416°32’26” S 151°43’50” W
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Bora Bora boat trip
February 23, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
I didn't know anywhere could be this beautiful! Rosie loved driving the boat too 😃
Saw lots more sting rays. They are much smaller than the ones in Mo'orea and definitely less tamed - probably because people aren't feeding them! So beautiful to see them swimming in the crystal clear water.
Fantastic snorkeling today with schools of fish between the reefs and bright purple coral.
Had both Poppy and Rosie asleep on me in the boat at one point!
Spent the afternoon at our place swimming, kayaking, painting and doing some Moana and Frozen themed yoga videos 😂
We've all had a lovely day.Read more
Looks perfect. Lovely days are what it is all about! [Simon]
2/24/24Reply
TravelerWow! Stunning! X
2/24/24Reply
Traveler Great photo
2/24/24Reply
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- Day 17
- Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 10:11 AM
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- French Polynesia Pointe Matira -16.541936, -151.73658116°32’31” S 151°44’12” W
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Chilled day in BB
February 24, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Spent the morning at Matira beach. Beautiful white sandy beach with huge shaded area. Very handy as Poppy had a sleep whilst Rosie and Matt went for a swim. I had a quick swim afterwards and came back to shore to Rosie shouting "Mummy" as she ran out to meet me. We built a sandcastle with sea defences which kept getting washed away. Rosie would just smile and say "don't matter, we'll build it again!".
Lunch at Snack Matira - fish and chips for me and Rosie and raw fish in coconut milk for Matt.
Chilled afternoon at the bungalow with some more swimming. Matt found a lionfish! Then pizza for dinner followed by feeding the scraps to the fish. The water was so still and clear it was like an aquarium.Read more
Traveler Beautiful
2/25/24Reply
Traveler Can you get to the top?
2/25/24Reply
Wow looks amazing guys! [Phil]
2/25/24Reply
Traveler I imagine there's a trail but would be very steep and far too hot to do any hiking with the girls!
2/25/24Reply
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- Day 18
- Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 7:41 AM
- ☀️ 28 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- French Polynesia Motus Manini -16.466003, -151.75206116°27’58” S 151°45’7” W
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Kayaking and cuddles
February 25, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Swim for Matt in the morning, then a kayak for Laura to the beautiful bay near ours. Quick trip to Matira beach and lunch with a sleepy and hungry Rosie at Bora Bora Yacht Club - stunning location overlooking Coral garden with lots of fish.
Trip to the shop to buy dinner before heading home. Matt took Rosie for a kayak whilst Poppy and I played and had cuddles. Rosie fell asleep though so couldn't appreciate the scenery!
More fish for dinner and feeding fish from the jetty afterwards.Read more
Traveler Is Poppy still sleeping a lot?
2/27/24Reply
TravelerYeah quite a bit. Think it must be the heat! She's feeding a lot too
2/27/24Reply
Traveler Great photo xx
2/27/24Reply
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- Day 18
- Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 9:26 AM
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- French Polynesia Motus Manini -16.465929, -151.75204116°27’57” S 151°45’7” W
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Breakfast with rays
February 25, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Rosie loved feeding the sting rays until one bit her hand.. She was quickly back on it though and even tried her first snorkelling with them. Amazing beach and almost no one else there 😃 The kayaking sent her to sleep in 30 seconds yesterday evening so I had to paddle round with a dead weight on my lap!Read more
Traveler Watch out for the tails!
2/27/24Reply
Traveler Wow they're close.
2/27/24Reply
Traveler Great video, what an experience for you all!
2/27/24Reply
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- Day 20
- Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 8:14 AM
- ⛅ 28 °C
- Altitude: 41 m
- French Polynesia Pointe Tereia -16.473603, -151.76217516°28’25” S 151°45’44” W
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Guns and coral gardens
February 27, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Visited two lots of canons used in WWII. Tried to get out as soon as possible so we could do the walks whilst it wasn't too hot. First one was very steep but a very short walk. Nice views of the Motus (outer islands).
Second one was a much longer and hotter walk! All 4 of us were very sweaty by the end but it was totally worth it for the views of Mount Otemanu.
Quick dip back at the bungalow before lunch out and some time hanging out play Matira beach - definitely seems best for snorkeling and shade! Saw so many different kinds of fish when snorkeling today. It was amazing! Huge shoals of fish lurk around the drop off and there are beautiful Coral gardens with all sorts of different fish. Wish I knew what they were!
Rosie did some great swimming today and is getting more confident dipping her head into the water.
Poppy was so happy and smiley this afternoon and has been great fun to hang out with.Read more
Traveler Lovely
2/28/24Reply
Traveler Who built them?
2/28/24Reply
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- Day 21
- Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 6:26 AM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- French Polynesia Tahi -16.464501, -151.7435216°27’52” S 151°44’37” W
Manta Rays
February 28, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Turns out there are manta rays a 5 min kayak from our bungalow! They are a lot bigger than I expected, so graceful too..
Plus lunch in Bora Bora yacht club, not many yacht clubs are built onto beautiful reef!Read more
TravelerLucky things!
2/28/24Reply
TravelerWow! Feeling envious again.
2/28/24Reply
TravelerWe both got to have a swim with a manta ray this morning. It was huge and so graceful. Must have been twice as wide as my arm span!
2/28/24Reply
TravelerVery jealous here! What an experience.
2/29/24Reply
TravelerThat sounds beautiful!
2/29/24Reply
Living the dream! [Simon]
2/29/24Reply
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- Day 22
- Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 10:44 AM
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- French Polynesia Vaitape -16.506886, -151.75247516°30’25” S 151°45’9” W
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Bye Bye Bora Bora
February 29, 2024 in French Polynesia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Really sad to leave Bora Bora but looking forward to the next part of our adventure.
We'll miss:
- Our idillic overwater bungalow
- The incredible snorkeling and graceful rays
- Swimming, kayaking and feeding fish off the jetty
- Seeing local families playing at Matira Beach (one of the most beautiful beaches you will find!)
- The vivid blue of the shallow waters
Couple of nights in Tahiti then on to the Cook Islands!Read more
Traveler She's going to be well travelled!
3/1/24Reply
Traveler Stunning light.
3/1/24Reply
TravelerThe last 3 weeks have flown by. We're loving seeing all your photos.
3/1/24Reply
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