Honeymoon in New Zealand or Tahiti end of Jan/Feb?

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Honeymoon Dilemma: New Zealand + Whitsundays vs. French Polynesia (Late Jan–Feb)

Planning a January–February honeymoon and weighing two standout options:

Option A: New Zealand + Whitsundays
– Focus: Adventure and hiking, scenic accommodations, with a few relaxing days in the Whitsundays
– Highlights: Diverse landscapes, outdoor experiences, and nature-driven stays

Option B: French Polynesia
– Focus: Moorea, a Windstar cruise, and a few nights in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora
– Highlights: Island luxury, iconic overwater experiences, and romance-inspiring settings

Considerations
– Travel window: Late January to early February coincides with the rainy season in several tropical destinations. This raises questions about weather reliability and climate-related disruptions.
– Budget: Targeting a total budget under $20,000
– Availability: Some premium accommodations and experiences in New Zealand are becoming scarce due to late bookings
– Destination trade-offs: French Polynesia offers high-end, focused luxury experiences, while New Zealand offers a broader range of outdoor adventures and scenic stays.

Questions for those with firsthand experience
– If you’ve visited both destinations, which would you recommend for a honeymoon in this timeframe?
– For Bora Bora specifically: have you traveled there in late January or early February? Did rain impact daily plans, activities, or overall enjoyment?
– How did weather, crowds, and costs influence your itinerary and satisfaction?

Practical considerations
– Weather expectations: What’s typical for each destination during late January–February, and how did it affect activities (hiking vs. water-based adventures, boat schedules, snorkeling visibility, etc.)?
– Rain impact: Were rain showers brief and intermittent, or did they affect key plans?
– Travel logistics: Flight routes, inter-island transfers, and the practicality of pairing multiple regions within the same trip
– Budget planning: How to allocate funds across accommodation, activities, and transportation to stay under $20,000

If you’ve got personal experiences, tips, or sample itineraries for these periods, your insights would be greatly appreciated.