Pictures: Justine Flanigan of Tiporo Photography.
For five magical days, Kiwi acting duo Antonia Prebble and Dan Musgrove traded scripts, film sets and the bustle of home life for a romantic Rarotongan honeymoon full of cocktails and sunsets.
The island adventure was an unforgettable way for the lovebirds to end a year of special celebrations, starting with their dreamy Waiheke wedding in March, followed by Antonia’s milestone 40th birthday in June.
After their wedding, the long-time couple, who fell in love on the set of Westside seven years ago, had a two-day “mini moon”, but they always planned to have a proper honeymoon when they could fit it in around their busy schedules, shares Antonia. “We chose Rarotonga because we wanted to go somewhere tropical. It really was the perfect place to pause, recharge and have some rare uninterrupted time together.”
Dan, 42, says relaxation mode was activated the minute they stepped off the plane and were greeted by the island’s warm tropical air and the sound of ukuleles playing.
“I felt like I slowed down straightaway,” he says. “I remember thinking on that first day that I already felt so relaxed. Then with each subsequent day, I would unwind even more!”
A luxurious garden villa at Nautilus Resort, nestled on the shores of the island’s famous Muri Beach, was home for the couple during their stay. Chilling beside their private plunge pool, surrounded by lush, tropical greenery, was a highlight for Antonia.
“The resort was so beautiful with stunning gardens and gorgeous palm trees. We spent the majority of our time there having a cocktail or swim, or just chatting and making plans together. It was a world away from our regular life.”
The couple, who are doting parents to Freddie, five, and Gus, three, say the honeymoon wasn’t just about the stunning location. It was about finding time for each other.
“It’s almost impossible to have a full conversation when you’ve got two young kids,” laughs Antonia. “At home, we always seem to be rushing between bedtime routines, house and life admin, and work.”
Adds Dan, “Even though we live and work together, we rarely have time to hang out and just chat, which is one of our favourite things to do.”
Antonia may have been away from their children, but her nurturing instincts weren’t completely switched off. One day, a tiny, lost baby chicken wandered into the couple’s villa. Concerned, she began feeding and caring for it.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of it being separated from its mother,” she admits.
Dan grins, “We ended up with two chickens. I think word got around that someone was dishing out free food!”
The resort’s resident Alsatian, Dewey, also captured the couple’s hearts.
“He’s a big, gorgeous, friendly guy who just roams around,” recalls the actress. She became a household name as Loretta West on Outrageous Fortune and most recently starred on hit comedy Double Parked. “He’d wander in to say hello at breakfast or lie beside us on the beach. We loved him.”
On the second day of their blissful retreat, Antonia and Dan took turns heading off for a pampering massage at Nautilus Resort… Not that Dan remembers too much about the experience. “I fell asleep, which is probably a good indication of how relaxing it was!”
Though focused on unwinding, the honeymooners couldn’t resist immersing themselves in some of the vibrant Polynesian culture and delicious food on offer. A standout experience was the Koka Lagoon Cruise. They spent that time snorkelling among coral reefs, enjoying a freshly cooked island feast and the multi-talented crew even treated them to live entertainment.
“We loved the palm tree-climbing demonstration,” says Antonia. “The whole team were such impressive entertainers – we took some notes!”
The couple also enjoyed the “positive community vibe” of the Punanga Nui Markets and Muri Night Market. They also had memorable dinners at beachfront restaurant Trader Jacks and the neighbouring Pacific Resort.
“We had some incredible meals during our stay,” tells Antonia. “A sizzling platter of fish with a coconut-lime sauce at the Pacific Resort Restaurant is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted!”
The time out also gave the pair time to reflect on life and what lies ahead. Both are at exciting points in their careers. As well as working on new acting projects, Antonia recently launched season three of her podcast, What Matters Most, with co-host and friend Jacqui Maguire. “We have big plans for the podcast this year, creating events and possibly recording some episodes live around the country.”
Antonia also loves her role as a wedding celebrant.
“It’s such a privilege to be part of someone’s special day. Now I’m married myself, I feel like I can connect with the couples and their journey on a deeper level.”
Meanwhile, Dan has been busy with his production company, Luminous Beast. Its hit TV drama, After The Party scooped a record nine awards at the recent New Zealand TV Awards. Then, it went on to achieve critical acclaim internationally.
The award-winning actor, writer and producer recently returned from a week in London. There, he was involved in meetings to progress some of Luminous Beast’s other “really exciting projects”, as well as some joint endeavours he and Antonia are creating and developing.
“Our collaboration has grown naturally since we filmed Westside,” shares Dan. “I was also writing for the show. Antonia always gave me really great notes and helped make the scripts better. It’s so cool to have gone from writing scripts for her to writing with her!”
As they reflect on their “wonderful, warm and worry-free” honeymoon, Dan says the couple is keen to inject a bit of the “Raro vibe” into their family life.
Explains Antonia, “During our honeymoon, we talked about the possibility of packing up and heading overseas with Freddie and Gus for a few months. We definitely want to take them on some international adventures.
“We’ve been in a wonderful domestic bubble while they’ve been little, but we’re starting to out to the horizon now. We’re thinking about ways we can broaden and deepen our life experiences, as a family and as a couple.”
As they look ahead to an exciting future personally and professionally, the lovebirds couldn’t be more grateful for the precious time they shared on their magical honeymoon.
“It was everything we dreamed it would be,” smiles Antonia. “If I had to sum it up in three words, they’d be ‘the absolute best’!”
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