The Brando

White sand runs beneath coconut palms on Onetahi motu, the atoll's largest island and the site of every villa here. Thirty-five villas and one residence sit just back from the beach, spread through foliage that gives each one a wall of green rather than a neighbour. Doors fold fully open, turning the living space into a breezeway between garden and shore. Each villa has its own infinity plunge pool, and the largest run to 246 square metres with three bedrooms and a kitchenette for eight. The Teremoana Residence is the outlier: 279 square metres inside, an equal footprint of deck and pool outside, and a dedicated butler and staff room. Construction favours thatch and timber over concrete, with insulation and ventilation built for a mostly closed, quiet interior; the resort holds LEED Platinum certification, the first in the world to do so. Beyond the villas, a barrier reef rings a lagoon used for snorkelling, kayaking, and outrigger canoeing, while naturalist guides from the Tetiaroa Society lead trips to neighbouring motu for bird life and old marae sites. Dining runs from a beachfront café to Les Mutinés, a twenty-cover restaurant with a French chef and a serious wine cellar. Check-in is at 3pm.