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
B
Bridget • family_with_children • nz
8
2026-05-23 • via Nuitee
G
GrandTour49276321698 • Family
10
Simply the best!
Pros:

Main purpose of visit was to take my daughter and two grandsons snorkelling. From the moment we arrived until (sadly) we departed the experience was memorable for all the right reasons. The breakfast buffet is the best I have ever had and a great way to start each day. The activities on offer are comprehensive and cater for all ages. Other reviewers have alluded to both the location and staff. Both are outstanding. I am reluctant to single out any staff member but Joe in the activities must get a special mention. His obvious love and care for the lagoon and it's inhabitants is remarkable. At 1PM each day he takes a group out snorkeling and fish feeding. Make sure you go. Every day we saw 4 turtles and were swarmed by myriads of colourful fish. I have seen better coral but that means a long trip to Indonesia-the coral in the Lagoonarium is still better than anything I have seen in Fiji, Samoa or Tonga.
All in all a memorable stay.
Meitaki ma'ata and kia manuia.

2026-05-18 • via Tripadvisor
S
S7946EItoma • Business
10
Fantastic place to stay
Pros:

I stayed here while in Rarotonga for work. The resort is lovely and the food excellent. The staff are friendly and obliging and the rooms and facilities were always spotlessly clean. I was told that the resort was at full occupancy during my stay but it never felt crowded. Wish I had more time to enjoy the beach and lagoon.

2026-05-17 • via Tripadvisor
J
jane • couple • au
10
Lagoon is amazing
Pros:

Location, staff, cannot fault anything

Cons:

Nothing, it was beautiful

2026-05-14 • via Nuitee
M
Michela • family_with_children • nz
8
2026-05-13 • via Nuitee
H
Htun Nu Nu • couple • au
10
2026-05-10 • via Nuitee
M
Matt • family_with_children • nz
10
2026-05-08 • via Nuitee
E
Explore65141443084 • Couples • Karalee, Ipswich, Brisbane Region, Queensland
10
Would highly recommend this resort! It has everything
Pros:

We stayed at the Sanctuary and ate mostly at the Raratongan and it was nothing short of amazing! The staff and service was the best, the meals were always delicious, the lagoon was gorgeous, we did not want our holiday to end! We particularly wanted to give a shout out to Ronnel, Norman, Ringi and Aquila, but all the staff we came across were so lovely and couldn’t do enough for you! Ronnel actually helped us organise a trip to Aitutaki as the day trips were sold out and that trip was just perfect staying at there sister resort over there! We would highly recommend this resort and I think the Island night was one of the highlights of the trip! The snorkeling was so good just walk out your door and step into the lagoon……ah back home now but will always treasure our memories of our holiday and will be bringing our family back for sure!

2026-05-06 • via Tripadvisor
C
Craig • couple • au
7
2026-05-05 • via Nuitee
D
Dara • couple • nz
10
2026-05-05 • via Nuitee
L
Lizisamazing11 • Friends getaway • Perth, Greater Perth, Western Australia
10
Beautiful lagoon
Pros:

We visited in April and we were very excited to stay here. The beach was incredible and the snorkelling a pleasant surprise. Joe from the Activities department is an absolute legend. We attended the fish feeding and snorkelling tour with Joe 4 times. We were impressed the 1st time so we decided to follow every day. Incredibly talented, just as they say, he really is Aguaman. The fishes of the lagoon knew when Joe shows up, they would follow Joe the whole time around the lagoon. We also got to see a lot of turtles with Joe, Joe knew who was who and what their names were. Absolute legend, Special Thank you to Joe for giving us the best experience, what a legend.

Breakfast: Breakfast was good, loved everything, the staff were lovely and very friendly.

Our room was always clean, we had no issues with our room. Thanks to the staff

Overall, we loved our stay at the resort, thanks to all the resort staffs. A special shout out to the Activities staff for keeping us busy and entertained. Thank you for everything, we will back for sure.

2026-05-04 • via Tripadvisor
E
eljonfitzgerald • Friends getaway • Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, Northland Region, North Island
10
Paradise
Pros:

A warm welcome and cool drink on arrival was just the start of the wonderful hospitality we received at the Rarotongan Resort. We loved every minute of the 7 days we stayed there. Beautiful people, staff, food, cultural activities set in paradise. Meitaki Maata.paradise

2026-05-04 • via Tripadvisor
M
Marito • solo_traveller • ck
10
Pros:

Located right on the beach away. Had everything so very convenient. Room was cleaned consistently and the staff were all friendly.

2026-05-03 • via Nuitee
G
Gordon • couple • us
9
2026-04-26 • via Nuitee
G
Grant • solo_traveller • nz
8
Pros:

The private pool and air conditioning

Cons:

Thought the restaurant for breakfast was not very clean. Floor was greasy.

2026-04-25 • via Nuitee
A
Alan • solo_traveller • nz
9
Pros:

The beachfront rooms were awesome! We moved from the second level to the first, which was a top idea.

2026-04-25 • via Nuitee
K
Kaira • extended_group • nz
5
i had a great stay in the cook islands i myself and family loved how beautiful the resort was. one thing that we did not
Pros:

everything was good and convenient

Cons:

i got a completely different room to what was shown on my booking but it was fine still nice and clean

2026-04-24 • via Nuitee
M
MattDoel • Family
10
Warmest Staff and Special Resort
Pros:

Special Family trip celebrating 50th
Awesome experience whilst staying at Sanctuary resort and dining at Rarotongan Beach Resort and Captain Andys Bar

Highlights
Lagoon and snorkelling the best on island
Staff are wonderful and full of banter and warm smiles, special shout out to Va behind the bar and Sherry.
Excellent facilities including SUP boards, Kayaks , all ocean gear

2026-04-23 • via Tripadvisor
M
Marguerite • solo_traveller • nl
10
Snorkelen vanuit de hotelkamer
Pros:

Heel fijn hotel, vooral de kamers aan het strand zijn geweldig. Erg mooi om te snorkelen zo vanuit de hotelkamer in de zee. ‘S avonds met een afhaal maaltijd en een flesje wijn aan een picknick tafel en uitzicht op de ondergaande zon: puur genieten

Cons:

Niets

2026-04-22 • via Nuitee
M
MattBGreen • Couples • Sydney, New South Wales
10
Great location for swimming and snorkelling.
Pros:

Great location for swimming and snorkelling. Resort is very family oriented, but right next door is an adult resort called Sanctuary Rarotonga where you're welcome to go to if you need some time away from children. Staff are all super friendly, though nearly all are Fijian, so bula and vinaka was more common than kia orana and meitaki. Breakfast was excellent, something for everyone. Lunch and dinner was from their standard menu. Food quality was generally pretty good. We stayed in a Delux Beachront Suite, it was always kept clean and allowed easy access to the beach. Snorkelling gear is available near the swimming pool but has a 2 hour return requirement. Highly recommend the Island Night Show.

2026-04-20 • via Tripadvisor