Warm Winter Honeymoon Destinations

While you may be dreaming of a snowy, white winter wedding, you might prefer a warm-weather getaway for your honeymoon. As the Northern Hemisphere begins to cool down for winter, the Southern Hemisphere is warming up for summer. It’s the best time of year to travel if you love the heat.

A few of the best warm-weather winter honeymoon destinations include South Africa, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.

Australia’s summer weather provides the best climate for outdoor adventures from hiking and biking to sprawling out on the beach and scuba diving. Scuba diving is a must this time of year; anemone fish (or clown fish) have been known to breed in the Great Barrier Reef during the month of December. However, if you’re looking for something more adventurous, February is the best month for swimming with sharks in the northern reefs and islands.

This is also the best time to hit the beaches in Cape Town, South Africa. The average temperatures generally range from about 60–70 degrees December to February, which makes for great weather when hiking and sightseeing. If you’re visiting between December and January, be sure to check out the Cape Minstrels’ (or Kaapse Klopse) annual parade and music festival which takes over the city with a bright display of cultural, technicolor costumes and lively musical performances.

Finally, our winter is considered the driest, least humid months to visit Thailand. Although, beware sunny skies and calm seas also mean this time of year is the high season for tourism. A stay in Phuket will satisfy beach bums happy with palm-fringed coastlines and some of the best diving excursions departing from Chalong Bay from November to April. If you’re more excited about shopping and sightseeing, head to Bangkok to explore the grand palace and gorgeous Buddhist temples. But beware of the crowds during this time of year.

Book your warm-weather winter honeymoon at one of these destinations to thaw out on the beach with your toes in the sand and cocktail in hand.