Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve Aroa, Aroa Beach Cook Islands
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About
#1 of 2 hotels in Aroa Beach
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
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.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Wifi
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Beach
Bicycle rental
Airport transportation
Parking
Paid wifi
Adult pool
Outdoor pool
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Complimentary welcome drink
Happy hour
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Swimup bar
Poolside bar
Canoeing
Game room
Golf course
Snorkelling
Tennis court
Bicycle tours
Billiards
Entertainment staff
Evening entertainment
Fishing
Table tennis
Walking tours
Shuttle bus service
Taxi service
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Full body massage
Hand massage
Head massage
Massage
Neck massage
Adults only
Gift shop
Picnic area
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun loungers / beach chairs
First aid kit
24-hour check-in
24-hour front desk
Clothes dryer
Laundry service
Self-serve laundry
Washing machine
Ironing service
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Room features
Blackout curtains
Air conditioning
Private beach
Housekeeping
Refrigerator
Cable / satellite TV
Extra long beds
Walk-in shower
Private balcony
Room service
Safe
Seating area
Sofa
Telephone
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Iron
Private bathrooms
Tile / marble floor
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Hair dryer
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Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Ocean View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
57Somewhat walkable
Grade: 57 out of 100
63Restaurantswithin 10 km
30Attractionswithin 10 km
Contact
Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve Aroa, Aroa Beach Cook Islands
Getting there
Car HireSee all Aroa Beach car hire
665Reviews19Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveller rating
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+1
What can I say really… the moment we arrived just pure bliss!! The amazing most friendly staff made it extra special. Home now and so miss them all!! Everything you need is right here.. wake up boom the beach is yours AND NO KIDS!!! Best stay ever and the rooms were perfect and perfectly serviced every day!! We will be back!!
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Haimona Browne, Owner at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 5 days ago
Kia Orana, Thank you for your kind review. We are so thrilled to hear you had an amazing time with us and you enjoyed the no kids aspect of our resort. Thank you again for choosing to stay with us and we look forward to welcoming you back soon! Yours sincerely, Haimona Browne Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Our stay at Sanctuary was wonderful. The service at the bar and for meals was fantastic. Meli and Akqu were the best their friendliness and helpfulness and overall awesome service made the entire trip. The beach and snorkelling out front is the best on the island. Highly recommended.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Haimona Browne, Owner at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 5 days ago
Kia Orana, Thank you for your 5-star review. We are pleased to hear you had a wonderful stay an you enjoyed your meals and the snorkeling directly in the front of the resort as well as the warm hospitality from our staff, in particular from Meli and Akuila. These two staff members are our superstars! Thank you again for choosing to stay with us and we look forward to welcoming you back soon. Kind Regards, Haimona Browne Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Friend’s birthday We had a fantastic time. Staff were friendly and helpful. Breakfast was lots of fruits, toast, croissants, mini muffins. Also hots cakes, cereals with yoghurts. We danced in the evening in the outside bar. We had beachfront studio, with a view of the beach. Small table with two chairs and enough wardrobe space. Coffee, tea with a jug. Water jug, glasses and wine glasses. Outside were lounger to watch the sea. The resort had a swim up,bar with loungers around the pool. We enjoyed using the kayaks and swimming in the blue sea.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Haimona Browne, Owner at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 1 week ago
Kia Orana, Thank you for your 5-bubble review. We are thrilled to hear you had a fantastic time with us and you enjoyed the beachfront location, your Beachfront Suite and the meals. I am happy to hear you enjoyed the kayaking as well - bucket list ticked off indeed lol. Thank you again for choosing to stay with us and we look forward to welcoming you back soon. Yours sincerely, Haimona Browne Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
We previously stayed at the adjoining Rarotonga Resort but opted for Sanctuary this time as it is Adults only - however you still enjoy access to all the the Rarotonga has to offer The two resorts are on a beautiful marine sanctuary lagoon offering the ideal setting for fabulous swimming, stand up paddling, kayaking and snorkelling with an abundance of tropical fish The rooms are beautifully appointed “island style” the onsite restaurants and bar offer first class food and beverages and the staff are outstanding
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: The beauty of the Sanctuary Rarotonga and adjoining Rarotonga Resorts is that whether busy or...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Kerry Morton, General Manager at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 3 weeks ago
Kia Orana Vicki, WOW thank you so much for the wonderfully generous review and for taking the time to share your experience of staying at both our resorts. The Sanctuary Resort is Adults Only and has the only island swim up bar. The location of both our resorts offer our guests a truly amazing experience and the opportunity to explore the marine sea life in the surrounding waters. Thank you for your kind words about our wonderfully friendly staff. I will be sure to share your comments with them. We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your time with us, as well as all activities we have on offer. We look forward to welcoming you back to our beautiful stretch of paradise in the future. Warm Regards Kerry Morton Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Quite disappointing The rooms were smaller than expected but the place does have a nice beach The pool is near the entry so cannot overlook beach and have a pool swim. The bar is also back by the entry. A beach bar would have been a nice addition. I was unaware that is connected to the Rarotongan hotel It is adults only section Breakfast was expensive and disappointing with limited service. Ie had to order from the bar
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Haimona Browne, Owner at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 2 weeks ago
Kia Orana, Thank you for taking the time to post a review of your stay with us. We have detailed images and descriptions of our rooms and swimming pool online. The Sanctuary Rarotonga – on the beach is the only adults-only resort with a swim-up bar pool on the island. This offers two separate spaces to offer our guests two different experiences; the beach and lagoon and the tropical garden swim-up bar & pool. Also, if it is windy but sunny, the protected pool offers our guests the opportunity to be outside but not in the wind. The swim-up pool bar is the ideal place to cool off with tropical cocktail in hand. Table service is available at Sanctuary. Our breakfast rates are also in line with other resort restaurants and cafes around the island. Kind Regards, Haimona Browne Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at the Rarotonga resort and Lagoonarium but we also used this sister resort. We left today and we used the facilities of the Sanctuary on many occasion. .We had our evening meal here a couple of times and it was very peaceful. The pool was lovely and very quiet. The staff cannot do enough for you. The area is very clean and well kept. A fabulous place to unwind right next to the amazing Lagoon and additional facilities of the Rarotongan resort.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Kerry Morton, General Manager at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 9 Feb 2023
Kia Orana, We are incredibly grateful that you took the time out to leave us a 5* review! We take pride in knowing our customers are happy with their experience and we really appreciate it! It sounds like you had a wonderful stay at the Sanctuary, and it was a great complement to your time at the Rarotonga resort and Lagoonarium. The peaceful atmosphere and friendly staff make for a relaxing and enjoyable experience. And the fact that it is located right next to the beautiful lagoon provide a truly unique experience. I'm glad to hear that you had a memorable time at the resort and enjoyed all our facilities. It's always great to hear positive feedback and I'm sure our staff will appreciate it. We look forward to welcoming you back to our beautiful stretch of paradise in the future. Warm Regards Kerry Morton Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We have stayed at this hotel a few time it has a great layout with the pool and the beach, this visit there was a large group of people taking over the cabana every day smoking and being noisy put the things on the seats every morning to reserve the same area and drinking and making noise till late every night, I did ask the staff to do something about it they said they were all new staff and they didn't know what they could do .after the 4th day I showed the staff members the signs saying no smoking, they didn't even know there was a sign or had ever been told about the signs. THEY rang a manager and came back to me saying that she said that there was to be no smoking around the pool ,after this the staff still let the smoking and loud noise continue, it is stupid to have smoking around the pool as a lot of people we spoke to said it stopped them from eating around the pool, we ended up leaving the hotel a booking into another one All there was no internet over the whole time we was there or even before we arrived at the hotel A Very big number of people was not happy about this and we should have been in formed of this before being checked in , the new staff was not very wel trained they were very friendly but didn't have any training and very slow behind the bar …
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Ask about internet before checking in or day before arriving ,the most mosquitos of hotel we...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Kerry Morton, General Manager at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 9 Feb 2023
Kia Orana Chrisatcwp, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences with us. We take all feedback seriously and strive to provide our guests with the best possible experience during their stay. In response to your review, we would like to address some of the concerns you raised. Regarding the smoking and noise issue, we acknowledge you speaking with a member of our management team and the appropriate action was taken to resolve the issue. As you may recall you approached Resort Manager Mark in the at the entrance of the Sanctuary Resort informing him of the incident, identifying that the guests that were smoking and jumping into the pool were still beside the pool. You asserted that this kind of activity does not reflect well on the resort, to which Mark said he would act on it immediately. You asked him to ensure that the guests did not know it was you that complained. Mark immediately spoke with two ladies who were smoking, asking them to move to the other side of the pool area where smoking is permitted. The guests complied. Mark also informed the guests that the behavior around the pool that had been displayed would not be tolerated. Our resort has a strict no smoking policy around the pool area, and we apologize if our efforts were not fully effective, and we will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that all guests are able to enjoy a comfortable stay. With regards to the internet issue, we would like to advise we have been providing vouchers for Wi-Fi access to our Sanctuary guests from our main reception. Guests are advised of the different packages upon checkin should they wish to purchase. Due an unfortunate equipment malfunction and having to rely on third party providers to rectify any issues, we provided an alternative solution for our guests to still enjoy connectivity. Regarding the staff training, we are constantly working to improve the level of service provided by our team. In further conversations with Mark throughout your stay you praised the bar staff and did not identify any failings in the service level you received. Providing the highest level of hospitality is our number one priority for all our guests to enjoy. Finally, we would like to clarify our hotel system records confirm you stayed for the duration of your booking, and we were glad to hear that you appreciated the late check-out. We hope that this response provides some clarity and reassurance for our future guests, and we look forward to welcoming you back to our beautiful stretch of paradise in the future. Best regards, Kerry Morton Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Spent a night at Sanctuary after a flight from NZ. Big shout out to Mila Taylor Marianne and Mark. Also Mr Brown and Mii. Martha and Mama Tai. Also big thank you to Mama Teremoana and the chef Maitia Vano. All these people make our stay most memorable and will definetely be back. Metaki ma ata
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Kerry Morton, General Manager at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 4 weeks ago
Kia Orana, WOW thank you so much for the wonderful review and for taking the time to share your experience of staying with us. In addition a big thank you for your huge shout out to our team and I will be sure to pass on your comments to them all. We look forward to welcoming you back soon to catch up with everyone and meet more members of our amazing team. Warm Regards Kerry Morton Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ashleigh H wrote a review Jan 2023
+1
Was exactly what we needed, an escape from the 'Real world' or normal life. The staff are so friendly and helpful. Our favorite Illesipe "Elizabeth" in Fijian was always lovely and helpful..... made some great cocktails 😘. The rooms were great, water pressure in the shower was really strong ! If you need an unwind And an escape, this is the perfect place
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Get mossie spray, bring reef shoes, hire a car,
Go to Ariki Adventures and swim with the...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Haimona Browne, Owner at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 2 weeks ago
Kia Orana, Thank you for your review. We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your getaway break with us and you loved the Elizabeth's yummy tropical cocktails. Thank you again for choosing to stay with us and we look forward to welcoming you back soon. Kind Regards, Haimona Browne Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sanctuary on the beach was such a great pick for a relaxed holiday. We loved the option of have access to the Rarotonga but staying on the adults only side. The snorkeling is so great directly in front of the resort. With options of SUP and kayaking. The staff are so friendly and helpful, a stand out staff member was Meli! We loved coming back after being out to be greeted by Meli, always friendly and helpful. We would definitely pick to stay here again!
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Haimona Browne, Owner at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Responded 2 weeks ago
Kia Orana, Thank you for your kind review. We are so pleased to hear you had an amazing stay and you enjoyed the warm hospitality from our team, in particular Meii. Thank you again for choosing to stay with us and we look forward to welcoming you back soon. Kind Regards, Haimona Browne Resort Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
US$192 - US$242 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sanctuary rarotonga-on the beach hotel aroa beach
LOCATION
Cook IslandsSouthern Cook IslandsRarotongaAroa Beach
NUMBER OF ROOMS
49
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Frequently Asked Questions about Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach
Which popular attractions are close to Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach?
Nearby attractions include Tik-e Tours (4.4 km), Aroa Marine Reserve (0.4 km), and Cook Island Christian Church (CICC) (3.2 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a swimup bar, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach?
Guests can enjoy a swimup bar, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach?
Conveniently located restaurants include Beluga, Tuoro Tapas Bar, and The Waffle Shack.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness centre during their stay.
Does Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach have airport transportation?
Yes, Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Does Sanctuary Rarotonga-on The Beach offer any business services?
Yes, guests have access to meeting rooms and a banquet room during their stay.