Heralded as the most beautiful islands in the world, The Society’s do little to disappoint. Lush land masses confettied with tropical flora rise up proud from turquoise lagoons teeming with life.

But it was this smaller, lesser known island that captured our hearts. With a population of just over 1,000 and a strong opposition to the building of resort hotels, it is a stunning example of Polynesian life that feels lightyears away from the honeymooners of Bora Bora. And, even if the hotels did want to build, the island has a self defence mechanism that has been in place for thousands of years - its’ pass. There is one way in and one way out and it’s through a narrow and extremely hazardous corridor in the coral reef. Placed on the South of the island, it funnels in the prevailing swell creating perfect but deadly barreling waves - a wall of water preventing anyone coming or leaving.