Celebs do it nine-to-five on Bora Bora

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Celebs do it nine-to-five on Bora Bora

By Jessica Marszalek


Some people have it made.

I can't imagine a better place to see out the nine-to-five work day than smack bang in the middle of a brilliant blue French Polynesian lagoon, the water lapping and the sun beating down.

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But that's exactly what a handful of Hollywood celebs are doing as our tour boat passes their movie set on our way back to our resort.

Thinking back to my own grey blue, bland office I turn a little green with envy.

Luckily I'm too relaxed to feel concerned for too long ... a week here will do that.

Bora Bora is among the most famous of the 118 islands that make up French Polynesia - a French territory that spans an area as large as Europe.

Tahiti is the largest and most populated island but is often just a stepping stone for holidaymakers, honeymooners and the rich and famous headed for Bora Bora - just an hour's flight to the north-east.

The island is the remnants of an extinct and sinking volcano with its two peaks - Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu - making up the two main islands.

Its volcanic crater is now covered by the island's lagoon, which is the tourist hub's best drawcard.

You can't visit Bora Bora without spending an entire day zipping across its waters and exploring the many sights.

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We while away the hours hand-feeding stingrays and sharks, laying on coconut tree-lined beaches and exploring coral gardens and fine sands like those used as mud treatments in the world's best spas.

It's here where we also encounter the movie set inhabited by Hollywood stars Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Kristen Davis and Jason Bateman, who are shooting their new romantic comedy Couples Retreat.

Perhaps it's lucky that snapping holidaying celebrities pays well with much of the impressive accommodation on the island having matching impressive price tags.

We got around much of the expense by staying at Club Med, where food and entertainment is all inclusive.

The open bar with its many tropical cocktails and generous lashings of rum and other spirits was a welcome surprise.

There's a wealth of free activities to keep the budget conscious traveller occupied, such as windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, volley ball, tennis and traditional cooking classes.

And a courtesy boat will also take you out to the resort's private beach and a coral garden filled with colourful coral and thousands of fish who stream past your mask or float motionless in eerily still schools.

Later that night our group bypasses the buffet restaurant and ventures into town, cajoled by today's almost-rendezvous with the celebs in town.

If we're going to run into them anywhere, it will be at the famous Bloody Mary's restaurant.

The seafood restaurant opened in 1979 and has since fed hundreds of A-listers, as advertised on two giant walls outside.

We skim the walls as we enter. Ringo Starr, Harrison Ford, Meg Ryan, Patrick Swayze, Sen John McCain, Janet Jackson, Pierce Brosnan, Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz have all dined here.

The restaurant, which melds Polynesian and Western influences, is an experience to sit in, let alone eat in.

The floor is covered in soft white sand, the tables made of beautiful wood and the sink in the bathroom is a rock waterfall.

And there are no paper menus here.

Instead your host takes you over to a three-metre-long ice chest covered in fresh seafood and meat and explains how each piece is cooked. The chefs work on their creations behind him.

I order fresh reef fish with vanilla bean sauce.

It's a great meal to end an unforgettable day.

IF YOU GO:

For full booking details call Club Med on 1800-258-263 or for general information visit www.clubmed.com.au. A special two-for-one offer is for sale until December 31 for travel until April 30, 2009.

Air Tahiti Nui: call 1300-732-415 or visit www.airtahitinui.com.au.

Visits to Bloody Mary's and lagoon tour bookings can be arranged at Club Med during your stay.

For more information on Tahiti and her islands, call Tahiti Tourism toll-free on 1300-655-563 or visit www.tahitinow.com.au

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The writer was a guest of Club Med, Bora Bora, flying Air Tahiti Nui.

AAP

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