The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium

Hotels
•
Independent
8 (136 reviews)
Aroa Beach Marine Reserve, Arorangi, Ara Tapu Rd, Rarotonga , Rarotonga , CK
682-2-5800

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Facilities

Free beach cabanas
Boat tours nearby
Fitness facilities
Proposal/romance packages available
Express check-out
Arcade/game room
No single-use plastic straws
Comprehensive recycling policy
No single-use plastic water bottles
Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great snorkeling
Friendly staff
Good food
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Room size discrepancy
Overpriced for quality

Categories

Cleanliness
6.71
Multiple mentions of bugs in the room and lingering sewage smells indicate cleanliness issues.
Service
8.68
Most staff were friendly, and the excellent service at restaurants was noted.
Location
9.22
The resort is situated in the best reef with fantastic snorkeling opportunities.
Room Quality
7.17
Complaints about room size and condition; not as represented in images.
Amenities
8.2
Amenities like snorkeling, pools, and kid-friendly areas receive positive feedback.
Value for Money
7.66
Perceived as overpriced compared to amenities and room quality.
Food and Beverage
8.21
Good food quality with variety at restaurants, although menus were repetitive.
Overall Experience
8.18
Overall a good experience with enjoyable activities for families despite some issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-16 22:29

Property Description

Escape to paradise at The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium, where crystal-clear waters meet luxurious comforts.

Unwind in Style
Indulge in one of our 104 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring modern amenities like flat-screen televisions, refrigerators, and complimentary toiletries. Each room offers a cozy haven after a day of adventure.

Culinary Delights
Savor the best of local and international cuisine at Captain Andy’s Bar & Grill, or enjoy a refreshing drink poolside. Our daily continental breakfasts are the perfect way to start your day in paradise.

Endless Activities
Relax on our private beach, dive into the outdoor pool, or challenge a friend to a game of tennis. With nearby attractions like Aroa Beach and Wigmore's Waterfall just minutes away, you’ll always have something exciting to explore.

Don't wait—book your unforgettable escape at The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium today!

Important information:

  • Up to 17 children stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.
  • Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
  • Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.
  • Contactless check-in and contactless check-out are available.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: RAR

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets not allowed

  • General

    Events/parties allowed

  • Check-in & Check-out

    Contactless check-out is available

  • General

    Cashless transactions are available

  • Accessibility

    No elevators

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 136 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.71
Service: 8.68
Location: 9.22
Room Quality: 7.17
Amenities: 8.2
Value for Money: 7.66
Food and Beverage: 8.21
Overall Experience: 8.18
D
Danyiell • family_with_children • au
8
Pros:

The staff were very friendly.

Cons:

I didn't like how everything was billed to the room number, it made it very hard to keep track especially in regards with the interconnecting room when the people in the two rooms weren't couples.

2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
S
Samira • family_with_children • au
7
It’s was great for kids and wonderful location
Pros:

It was private and large enough to not feel crowded

Cons:

There were cockroaches around and people said in their rooms.

2026-06-27 • via Nuitee
A
Amelia • family_with_children • nz
10
Amazing family holiday location for swimming with turtles
Pros:

Amazing beachside room
Great location
Swimming with turtles each day in the lagoon out front of the resort.

Cons:

Only able to keep gear for kayaking/paddleboarding or snorkelling for a short period before returning which meant a lot of back and forth to the area for that.

2026-06-23 • via Nuitee
T
Timba • family_with_children • nz
7
Week away with the family and grandchildren
Pros:

Location from the airport was great, especially with a mini bus hired for a week. Great reception on check in and felt like a welcomed guest.
Room wasn't what I thought I had booked but ended up enjoying it for the week as we were travelling with young grandchildren.
The breakfast choices were great and seemed the later you went in, the less was available, so go there around 8 - 9am to get the best choices. Overall a great selection.
We ate once in Captain Andy's and enjoyed the meal, but found better value elsewhere on the island which was disappointing as we generally like staying in house for our evenings.
Check out went ok, except for someone had charged a dinner show and drinks to our room, but luckily had proof we ate elsewhere and the bill was sorted.

Cons:

Beachside Room I would take as being on the beach, not being beside a pile of sand which looked like it had been made that way. No beachside view apart from a sandy soccer field from our villa.
The pool being very cold and we ended up swimming in the sea which was slightly warmer.

2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
A
Adam • couple • nz
9
2026-06-19 • via Nuitee
S
Sophie • couple • nz
4
2026-06-18 • via Nuitee
G
Gunhan • couple • au
10
Excellent
Pros:

Location

Cons:

No after hours eating options.

2026-06-16 • via Nuitee
A
Aimee • family_with_children • au
7
2026-06-14 • via Nuitee
M
Marg Bennett • extended_group • nz
9
Beautiful place with beautiful staff
Pros:

The complementary breakfasts were beautiful catering for every need from overnight oats to bacon and eggs to order. All of the staff at the resort were so kind and friendly. The snorkeling rite at the doorstep of the resort was breathtaking.
Cocktails and food was exceptional.

Cons:

Not charged so much to use the washing machine and drier.

2026-06-11 • via Nuitee
T
TinaDanz • Family • Gold Coast, Queensland
10
An island paradise
Pros:

Absolutely amazing place to stay beautiful staff who made us feel so welcome , amazing views and great facilities. Beautiful food and lovely cocktails would not stay anywhere else.

2026-06-10 • via Tripadvisor
L
Loved_My_Stay2021 • Couples
10
Great Location
Pros:

Such a beautiful location - snorkeling was amazing right at the resort. Best buffet breakfast I have ever experienced and the Island Night was also amazing. Would love to come back!

2026-06-10 • via Tripadvisor
E
Elizabeth • family_with_children • au
10
Great stay for families of all ages
Pros:

It was on the lagoon very nice

Cons:

It was all good

2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
G
Glenn • family_with_children • nz
8
Excellent location right by the best snorkelling on the island. Amazing staff and cool beach front rooms
Pros:

Amazing lagoon and snorkelling right on your door step. Free water activities and gear. The staff were amazing! Buffet breakfast was great.

Cons:

The coffee machine at breakfast kept breaking down. The cost of the cultural night was far too expensive for our family.

2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
L
Lauren • family_with_children • au
8
Pros:

Location

Cons:

I didn’t realize how big it was

2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
C
Chris • solo_traveller • nz
10
2026-05-31 • via Nuitee
B
Barbara • family_with_children • nz
3
Pros:

The beach was lovely

2026-05-28 • via Nuitee
F
Fraser • family_with_children • nz
6
2026-05-27 • via Nuitee
S
Sherrie • extended_group • au
10
Great value, amazing access to lagoon and the staff were extra helpful.
Pros:

Wonderful for families. We ranged in age from 1YO to 77YO and everyone enjoyed this place!

Cons:

Perhaps needed a couple more power points in the rooms.

2026-05-26 • via Nuitee
H
Happiness60443232751 • Couples • Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, Northland Region, North Island
4
Yeah - definitely Nah!
Pros:

I really don’t like posting a bad review, but honestly, this resort is not as dreamy as it sounds. We booked a Beachside Suite. Well what we got was a very small studio. Made a comment about the room and the comment was that they were out in what we had “supposedly” booked because their previous night was so busy! What? We’d booked a suite! So the next day the room we booked and got was about a metre wider but only half the wall. Still not a “suite” in our opinion compared to where we’ve stayed.
The storage area for clothes is pretty limited. Does not go with 2 people at all, let alone a family.
The Wi-fi is absolutely rubbish as knocks you out continuously. Try about 4-5 times when you can get it back again. Kids would not be happy.
The rooms are extremely tired, and considering the price you pay, you can find better. Pretty dirty too. Needs a major overhaul.
If the weather is not that flash, there are no overhangs on your deck to even sit outside. Many other resorts have that option.
Tried the buffet breakfast, definitely not that good compared to others we’ve been to. We decided we’d eat out at Beluga for a much nicer brekky.
Hey, the staff are friendly and it’s not their fault, but they have passed on to managers that guests have said you need to get Starlink, and it’s an absolute fact, but management are obviously too tight to spend the money. Such a shame.
Anyway, I am sorry to post this but I feel others need to hear. I read so many good opinions as we wanted to bring our family of 17 here next year, but that won’t be an option now.

2026-05-24 • via Tripadvisor
B
Bridget • family_with_children • nz
8
2026-05-23 • via Nuitee