Top Hotels in Southern Cook Islands
Top Things to do in Southern Cook Islands
10 hotels in Southern Cook Islands: Best hotel deals for 2023
Discover the best hotels in Southern Cook Islands including Little Polynesian Resort, Pacific Resort Rarotonga, The Edgewater Resort & Spa, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium, Aro'a Beachside Inn, Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach, Tamanu Beach, Castaway Resort, Club Raro Resort, Aitutaki Village.
Things to do in Southern Cook Islands
1. Little Polynesian Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 654 reviews
Inspiring Romance … For those seeking privacy and luxury, look no further than our award-winning adults only 5 star Little Polynesian Resort. Our leading boutique resort, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, makes an ideal location for honeymooners and couples seeking a romantic picturesque escape in paradise.
Absolutely Amazing!
Reviewed By angiess2016The thing that makes this place so special are the people. Greg and the staff really looked after us. Special mention has to go to Jiuta and Shania, who greeted us by name with big smiles every day. The resort was impeccable and the restaurant/bar area was always buzzing with activity. The food was so incredibly delicious that we ate there every night! There was plenty to choose from the menu and the cocktails were amazing! We loved waking up to the view from our beachfront bungalow and spending time on our deck. Perfect for ordering Room Service and chilling in privacy. The rooms were cleaned and tidied each day. We really didn't want to leave and can't wait to go back. :-)
2. Pacific Resort Rarotonga
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1438 reviews
Authentic Boutique … Pacific Resort Rarotonga, superbly situated on 5.5 acres of manicured beachfront, our 4.5-star full service authentic boutique resort, offering an intimate collection of just 64 rooms, suites and villas. Each room is tastefully decorated in a contemporary Polynesian style overlooking either the flourishing tropical gardens or the gorgeous white sands of Muri Beach and lagoon.
Wonderful experience
Reviewed By rachelAHopzFirst, it was so nice to be greeted at the airport with fresh leis and cold flasks of water after a rough flight with our 20-month old! We don’t normally splurge to stay at such nice resorts but were worried about how this vacation with our son might go as he’d been displaying meltdowns of epic proportion recently. The conveniences of complimentary breakfast, a high quality restaurant (one of the best continental breakfast spreads I’ve ever seen and highly recommend their amazing ika mata), filtered water refill stations, private beach access to a protected lagoon, complimentary kayaks/SUPs, fresh sheets on an extremely comfortable bed along with fresh towels daily, babysitter services, and the friendliest, most excellent staff doting on our son every day has made this an unforgettable trip, worth every penny!
3. The Edgewater Resort & Spa
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1998 reviews
The Edgewater Resort and Spa is located on six acres of lush tropical beachside, sheltered on the western coast of Rarotonga. The Edgewater Resort and Spa is a short 5-minute drive from Rarotonga International Airport, and a 10-minute drive from Avarua Town Centre. At The Edgewater Resort and Spa, we pride ourselves in offering a wide range of comfortable accommodation options to suit all holiday makers. We are sure that we will have the right space for you to unwind and relax. We offer an authentic Cook Islands experience that will be made memorable by the services we provide. Our team are here to take care of you and look forward to being able to share our Rarodise with you.
Island Night was OK
Reviewed By tully1971Went to the Island night and did not stay at the resort. The resort itself was very nice. Paid $65 each for buffet and the entertainment. The food was very good and plentiful. The service was quite slow. Also they seemed to be trying to make money left, right and centre. Charged 3.5% for using credit card, as it was an "overseas credit card" so they had to, none of the other resorts we visited did that. A raspberry and coke for the kids was $8 each and we asked for some water, but apparently "the water is not filtered" so the only option was bottled water at $7 per bottle, so it felt like they were trying to gouge as much money as possible. The show itself was OK
4. The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 1437 reviews
Slip off your watch, your shoes, your cares and immerse yourself in paradise at the renowned Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium. Hand feed the friendly reef fish or snorkel straight off the white sands of Aroa Beach in the crystal clear blue waters of Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve and enjoy Rarotonga’s best snorkeling (the resort’s guided Night Snorkeling Tours are a special treat!). The all-tide lagoon is also perfect for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, included as part of The Rarotongan’s extensive FREE Daily Activities Programme. The Rarotongan is located directly on Rarotonga’s best white sandy beach, Aroa Beach, on the island’s sunshine southwest coast. The Rarotongan is also Rarotonga’s most family-friendly resort and offers FREE Moko’s Kids Club, Little Dolphin’s Mini Waterpark and Teen Zone. Kids & Teens Stay & Play FREE (aged to 16 years)! Kids aged 4-11 years Play Free @ Moko’s Kids Club, and teens aged 12-16 years Play Free in Teen Zone.
Not A Lot Going For It Sadly
Reviewed By Don SPROS lots of watersports equipment location buses arrive at door step room cleaning service was very good There was a reasonably quick airport checkin with a bottle of awesome cold drink. Loved that. the Island night buffet was fantastic mostly nice staff, but read on ... CONS So hard to say this. We love RARO, we've been every year since 2017 (and prior) bar covid. It was difficult to reconcile this stay with the amazing places we've stayed over the years. Confusion reigned at checkin. We were staying at Sanctuary as were all the other arrivals in that flight. First it was take your bags to the Sanctuary. Then it was the bag man will take them. He got the 20 steps to the Rarotongan checkin and unloaded the bags. Then he asked who was staying at Sanctuary and reloaded all the bags (as we all were). We followed him to Sanctuary where a very nice lady asked if we were checked in (oh the bags were unloaded again by then). We all said yes and she gave us room keys in an envelope. So we now ask to get to the room. The bagguy puts our bags back on the trolley and says follow me ... then he unloads the bags a few minutes after and says your room is down there. Ok we didnt mind that but I've deliberately described this as it was quite keystone koppish so far. So we get to our room. For a supposedly upmarket adult resort it was very unappealing. From ripped curtains to the inherent darkness. But it was clean, very clean. Not worth what we paid we think, but clean. When we opened that envelope with the keys, we found a bill for $2300+ in it. We found someone at Sanctuary reception and she said that we hadnt paid for accomodation. Then she said Flight Centre hadnt paid them and we had to. Intending to ring FC next day, we tried to get some Internet. We ended up at the Rarotongan reception as it wouldnt work from our room. But when we went to pay we were told were not pre-authorised and our room would be blocked from any purchases. After a bit discussion, it turned out that the lady who gave us the keys should have done a pre-auth but had overlooked it for everyone. Again, it was a symptom of where this place is at. That lady was still in the office, so I asked her about the $2300 bill. She said it should not have been given to us as FC had already paid. So just why did the Santuary person, who was not there at the time, tell straight up FC hadnt paid them. Its all a set of symptoms of a disorganised and often disinterested entity. They definitely had a staff problem due to covid reducing numbers. But they just didnt have the skills or often knowledge or inclination to give accurate correct info. That internet by the way never worked from our room, reception told us did, but it didnt. It did work 3 metres from the room, just before a reception extender. I suspect that was broken. Yes we did tell them but never fixed. We were hungry by now and went down to the bar to see if they could do bar snacks. No, you to have to go the Rarotongan bar. Ok we did that. The buzzers were an unusual thing but have had before and no big deal with those, really quite a good way to handle covid and staff shortages . Quick snack of nachos and calamari, and a couple of cocktails. So now we are travelling downhill. The cocktails were simply awful. No ice, an over abundance of Just Juices and tasted, well like slightly weird Just Juice. Then the food came. Ok the 8 small pieces of calamari for $17 wasnt great, to oily and honestly poor value. The nachos were stale, no spiciness in the beans and huge lump of partly melted cheese. This became a trend with the food. It was either very bad, or just ok. It would take 15 minutes or 75. It would arrive hot, or cold (but rarely warm). In the Sanctuary dining area they take the order at the bar and then bring it over when ready. No idea where the breakdown occurs, but it just seems impossible to get consistent good food. So what was good: Ika Mata, cooks lager fish and chips, pizza. We tried a lot more food but ... it was very poorly cooked (or cold). A special brickbat for the indian chefs who presented a more cold than warm curry with no discernable spice, and so much salt that we couldnt eat much of it. That was the ongoing story of the food. Breakfast at the Sanctuary was actually at the Rarotongan. It was an unappetising messy looking few tables and the food wasnt exactly great. So we took advantage of the note we found in the room that said tell reception if anything is wrong. bad decision. There is one and only one person on reception who is interested (Martha -- although I am sure we didnt get to meet everyone who works on reception). The receptionist we spoke was incredibly aloof, grumpy and disinterested. We later found that she didnt pass on our feedback about breakfast. When our meals arrived cold another night after 75 minutes and we asked if they could be taken off the bill that wasnt passed on either by a different person. So if anyone wants to respond to this and says we should escalate problems to management, sorry but if your staff wont pass on these its out of our hands. So we really wanted to find that the resort chefs could cook and we could get food delivered hot. It just happened a couple of times, Cooks lager battered fish and chips were very very good. The chowder was also very good. Everything else was poor (how can a chef in Rarotonga cook gamefish till it resembles cardboard??). We went back to reception to ask about whether the meal that was late and cold was going to be removed from bill as had heard nothing. Thats where we met martha, and found nothing had been reported upwards. She took some details and escalated to the dept manager. We also bumped into that manager at the bar and had a long chat. I got the distinct impression she had heard similar stories often. We did get a call from Rob who said that the chefs had been given reminder about standards. At least he followed up, thanks for doing that Rob, but by now we had pretty well given up on eating there, we did a couple of times have those good fish and chips again ... The cocktails and the reliance on juice was new to us. Interesting that several others around the pool and the bar were not rapt with these. Possibly the most expensive cocktails on Raro, they overuse orange juice and the use of syrups in cocktails was just weird (and tastes awful). So after an Expresso Martine laced with chocolate syrup I asked the very nice bar host (Vai was very very good at what she did) whether she believed that a coffee based cocktail needed the chocolate syrup. She said NO, but that the management said they had to be used to sweeten up the cocktails. Enough said. We had perfectly good cocktails after that simply by telling the bartenders not to use syrup and avoiding the orange based ones. They do a great mojito! Checkout was lengthy, we couldnt tell if the cold meal had been refunded, as there were no debit/credit entries. Rob had a look, we went to town for brunch, on arrival back he had removed that meal. Basically, Rob's good, but he cant do everything. He was sure he'd said to remove that meal earlier. CHECK YOUR BILLS before you pay. Overall this was an enigma, sometimes pretty good, sometimes awful. But this was everywhere, not just food, or drinks, or internet, or reception but everywhere. When it was good it was perfectly fine, but it was like watching the Hurricanes, you never knew which team would front up and sometimes they seemed to trying to outdo some prior bad effort. There was other things that just didnt work for us, but had they been the ONLY things, probably we wouldnt have got concerned about them. We wondered if we had to higher standards, but Sanctuary claims to be a 4 star upmarket resort, and I think we had a right to expect better. So if Moana Sands at Muri last year, a 4 star adult resort was a 10 out of 10, then Sanctuary was near a one. But thats where we perceived we should compare, two adult resorts fighting for a niche market, one doing it very well under the same staffing/covid issues, one just not doing it well as well. We think that Sanctuary suffers through its use of the Raro kitchens, others may have a different experience. As I said to one person, had this been our first visit, we might not come back to raro, but we know how good various places can be. I wish that this had been better for us but thats life. We always stay somewhere different to ensure we support as much of Raro as we can anyway. One other point, way before we get near a place or even booking. The Sanctaury/Raro web page has the most irritating chatbot anywhere on the planet. It takes several clicks to get rid of is as it overlays near 20% of the screen, and as soon as you move to another screen, there it is again, and again, and again .... Make up your own minds about staying here folks, it might be fine for you. It just didnt for us. Could the person who cuts and pastes a stock response to these reviews, please not do that, it just amplifies the problem that people seem disinterested and ambivalent
5. Aro'a Beachside Inn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 218 reviews
Kia Orana, welcome to the Aro'a Beachside Inn an adult only (18+) resort. Located on western sunset side of Rarotonga, on a stunning white sandy beach with great swimming and snorkelling. We have a casual beach bar, the Shipwreck Hut, on property which serves "home cooked" bar meals, cocktails, beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks. Live music 3 times a week (Tues, Thurs, Sat) including our popular BBQ evening on Saturdays (numbers permitting). We have 12 self-contained units, tastefully decorated island style. Breakfast complimentary, daily house keeping service.
Beachside Perfection
Reviewed By ZenShellGorgeous garden setting flowing right onto a beach where you are lucky to see another person passing by. Great snorkeling, great bar food at great prices, comfy nicely appointed thoughtful accom. Don't miss the fish curry for $20 - swordfish one night, marlin the next. Was given a surprise upgrade to deluxe so I could be near a friend. Adjoining decks perfect. This is a small adults venue with a personable feel vs. resort. No need for a pool. Hammocks, quiet & sheltered from occ. rain. Staff are so warm & friendly & a nightly drink at the Shipwreck Hut is a must. Steve & Geraldine are the owners. There is nothing they won't help you with. Anna is Office Manager and is the same. Just awesome people and an awesome place.
6. Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 633 reviews
A true taste of the exotic Cook Islands in the heart of the South Pacific, Sanctuary Rarotonga is an adults-only resort located on the pristine white sand shores of Aroa Lagoon. All suites are absolute beachfront. Tropical buffet breakfast, many resort activities, and daily activities program are included in the nightly rate. The perfect location for a romantic honeymoon or a relaxed beach holiday. Three effortless Weddings in Paradise packages. A true South Pacific paradise.
Disappointed
Reviewed By ChrisB13746Stayed 9 nights check in is very slow and front reception seems very unorganized and staff are very overworked and not well trained . It all comes down to poor management. The property is run down and maintance is very lacking, our aircondition unit leaked water down the wall and a power socket was hanging out of the wall , obviously management dont do room inspections. The breakfast was dull and boring and had to continuely ask for items and the cocktails at the bar are not good ,again a lack of training. The location is excellent and the snorkelling is the best on the island . Sorry will not stay here again as it is very poor value for money and way better deals else were on the island
7. Tamanu Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 572 reviews
A warm island welcome to Tamanu Beach Hotel- your casual luxury Pacific Island getaway destination, on the pristine atoll of Aitutaki. Tamanu Beach resort is located on the western coast of Aitutaki, with stunning sunset views from our beachfront Restaurant and Bar. Tamanu Beach resort offers four bungalow accommodation options, including garden bungalows and one bedroom lagoon view bungalows. All of our Cook Islands bungalows are nestled amongst lush tropical gardens. Our beachfront bungalows are on the water's edge- a stone's throw from our gorgeous blue lagoon. Our stunning Aitutaki beachfront resort features 23 bungalows, conference facilities, two fresh water swimming pools, a beachfront bar and restaurant and a gift shop. Casual Luxury at Tamanu Beach Our private, white sand beach borders Aitutaki Island's crystal clear lagoon providing endless opportunities for island activities such as swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and SUPS in the azure waters. Tamanu Beach is family operated and we offer guests a truly unique Polynesian experience. Every Thursday enjoy our "Takurua" Island Feast and show - a performance of Cook Islands song, dance, fire dancing and more from our talented and dynamic cultural group. Tamanu Beach is a popular haven for magical Cook Islands weddings and honeymoons, and is within easy reach of local cafes, bars and restaurants giving you the opportunity to dine out at your leisure. Your stay with us includes the following complimentary services: •Return airport transfers •Daily tropical breakfast •All SUPS, Kayaks and Masks and Snorkels
Spectacular
Reviewed By Stephen GAnother addition to our honeymoon and we were lucky enough to get a complimentary upgrade to the 'suite' which was an amazing addition to the trip and completely unexpected. All the staff were very friendly, tentative and enthusiastic. The food/buffet dinner was lovely, as well as all the facilities and everything that comes with the room/s etc. Not to mention the amazing views and services that were provided by the resort
8. Castaway Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 359 reviews
Set in the enchanting western village of Arorangi, Castaway is the favourite farewell point of so many of our islands’ most stunning sunsets. Enjoy peace and relaxation at this lush adults-only oasis, where guests can enjoy the freedom of their self-catering rooms or dine at the on-property beach restaurant & bar. Castaway offers comfortable accommodation with rooms perfect for solo travelers, couples, families and small groups (Minimum age is 16 years and above) And if you’re looking for a little more, Castaway offers accommodation at their Beach House that’s right next door. All rooms are tastefully furnished and guests can enjoy kitchen facilities, air-conditioning, and TV in case of those tropical rainy days. Wilson’s Beach bar & restaurant is Castaway Resorts’ on-property restaurant and is considered one of Rarotonga’s Top 5 Restaurant & Bars (As per Tripadvisor) For good reason! The restaurants gourmet menu is diverse with themed nights every night of the week. From Monday: Pasta, Tuesday: A la carte, Wednesday: Mexican, Thursday: Pizza, Friday: Seafood, and Saturday: Curry. Sunday BBQs are special at Castaway, when live music is played all evening by local musicians Freddy and Pascale, and guitar talent Anania Browne. Specialty dishes like Mr Paul’s Crayfish and Papa D’s Crayfish platter are both very popular amongst the local community. An absolute must try if you want to know what all the local enthusiasm is about! Many returnees rave about the fantastic location, quirky character, relaxed ambience and the friendly, welcoming staff. Guests will enjoy personable service, as staff take the utmost care to remember your name! The resort is also close to many of Rarotonga’s best snorkeling spots, only 20 minutes from the town center, has a bus stop and convenience store across the road. The resort is also home to many unique attributes. Whale watching can be enjoyed right from the restaurant deck. Expect a free bevvy from the bar if you’re first to ring the Whale Bell! Their crayfish dishes are large, fresh and delicious – there’s nothing like it anywhere else on the island. And if that wasn’t enough, Cuban Havana Cigars can also be purchased and pairs well with their signature cocktail “The Big Kahuna” – exclusively available at Castaway. Castaway Resort is the perfect accommodation choice for travelers wanting independence of a self-catered room, or to enjoy a cocktail and delicious dinner without leaving the property.
Beautiful place, friendly crew
Reviewed By kiwichicky40Beautiful place, staff were awesome and friendly, we had crayfish platter absolutely beautiful, it was my birthday and my daughter asked them as a surprise to put candle in cheesecake which they did and added words on the plate with chocolate. The view with the sunset was so amazing and I couldn't think of a better place to spend my birthday
9. Club Raro Resort
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 366 reviews
Located on the Northern Coast of Rarotonga, Club Raro Resort sits on the edge of the Pacific Ocean with spectacular views out to the reef break and beyond. Club Raro Resort is located a short 10-minute drive from Rarotonga International Airport, and just a 5-minute drive from downtown Avarua. We have a selection of room types that will match your needs. From Garden and Poolside family rooms to Adults Only Ocean View rooms and self catering options, we have something for very traveller. Club Raro has one of only two swim-up bars on the island.
Good basic facilities and nice staff.
Reviewed By kererucornerA good basic clean resort with no frills hence the affordability. Lovely staff doing their best. Great cocktails and bar service and loved the swim up bar. Pool great and also has a tiny pool for littlies. Beautiful ocean view but unfortunately the rocky beach access hazardous and too windy for relaxed snorkeling so not suitable for kids. Only thing we were highly unimpressed with was their beach towel policy. When we asked for some it was $20 cash only per towel bond. We had no cash so asked to charge it to our room like everything else but were not aloud. This didn’t make sense to us and as we were running late for our activity had to go without towels. All in all a nice place to stay but probably better suited for adults or older kids.
10. Aitutaki Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 233 reviews
Aitutaki Village is a small boutique resort on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. Situated on the white sandy beach of Ootu (meaning full moon) on the south western point of the island. The property provides a quiet and relaxing environment on the edge of the protected Aitutaki lagoon, ideal for swimming and water activities at all tides.The Polynesian inspired restaurant and bar has stunning views and is located on the lagoons edge. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is available everyday, we also offer special dinner evenings, lagoon cruises, private island excursions, rental vehicles, kayaks and island tours.
Cute place
Reviewed By chatakellsRight on the lagoon, lovely rooms/huts, unfortunately the restaurant was only available for breakfast as they weren’t fully up and running due to travel only just opening up but there was a restaurant walking distance so it wasn’t really a problem, the staff were lovely, swimming was great
