Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach-Adults Only

4-star property
Aroa Beach & Marine Reserve, Rarotonga,
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3.9 out of 5
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See all 42 Wotif Reviews

"Great room, nice outlook, awesome huge bed. Friendly and helpful staff. Water sports gear always available. Great snorkeling. Enjoyed the food and the ... " More

By a verified traveller on Thu 19 Apr 2018

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Hotel Description

A romantic stay in Rarotonga awaits you at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach-Adults Only. Within steps you'll find Aroa Beach and Puaikura Beach within a 20-minute stroll. Highlights at this beachfront resort include a private beach, a restaurant, and an outdoor swimming pool.

You can enjoy flat-screen TVs with cable channels, and all 49 rooms feature furnished balconies or patios, WiFi, and coffee/tea makers. Fridges and room service make in-room dining convenient. Nice touches to enhance your stay include free toiletries, while pillowtop beds and premium bedding invite a good night's rest. In-room massages, ceiling fans, and safes are also available.

A relaxing day at Spa Polynesia can include deep-tissue massages, body wraps, and body scrubs along with aromatherapy and hydrotherapy. The restaurant, Blue Water Grill Pacific, serves local and international cuisine and is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. At the resort's own poolside bar or bar/lounge, you can enjoy a drink. Enjoy the fitness centre, outdoor tennis court, sauna, and karaoke. Business amenities include a conference centre, meeting rooms, and a business centre. Additionally, you'll find WiFi in public areas, a coffee shop/café, and a snack bar/deli. Free continental breakfast is available daily between 7 AM and 10 AM. There's also free self parking, along with the convenience of an airport shuttle.

Sights within a 10-minute drive of this 4-star Rarotonga resort include Tikioki Marine Sanctuary and Te Vara Nui Village.

Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach-Adults Only ratings based on 42 Verified Reviews

Review Summary
3.9 out of 5 4.0 out of 5.0
Room cleanliness 4.0 out of 5.0
Service & staff 4.0 out of 5.0
Room comfort 4.0 out of 5.0
Hotel condition 3.5 out of 5.0
4 out of 5
Great room, nice outlook, awesome huge bed. Friendly and helpful staff. Water sports gear always available. Great snorkeling. Enjoyed the food and the service was good. Quiet and secluded with all the amenities we needed

Posted by , from Dunedin NZ on 19 Apr 2018

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Comment from Hotel Management

20 Apr 2018 by Haimona Browne

Kia Orana Clare, Thank you for your review, I am delighted you had a lovely stay. It was great to see that you enjoyed your Californian King bed; the amenities and complimentary water sports equipment; as well as the food and service. We hope to welcome you back again, and wish you all the best for 2018. Kia Manuia, Haimona Browne, Resort Manager

4 out of 5
Great location. Lovely surrounding with friendly staff A bit more attention to the cleaning of pathways and pool and dining room ambiance would make the place absolutely 100 percent. Loved our stay.

Posted by , from NZ on 17 Apr 2018

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Comment from Hotel Management

18 Apr 2018 by Haimona Browne

Kia Orana Mike, Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased you loved our location on the Aroa Lagoon Marine Sanctuary, and found our staff to be friendly. The resort is currently undergoing a full refurbishment of public areas and guest rooms, to further enhance our guests’ experience. Wishing you all the best for 2018. Kia Manuia Haimona Browne, Resort Manager

3 out of 5

Beautiful beach front veiw

Staff were beautiful and room was literally on the beach! Room was kept clean but aircon didn't work & toilet got clogged. Included breakfast was terrible would recommend not adding it to your room if you can and eat elsewhere

Posted by on 24 Nov 2017

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Comment from Hotel Management

6 Dec 2017 by Haimona Browne

Kia Orana, Thank you for your review. We are pleased to hear you loved the absolute beachfront view from your room. Our continental tropical buffet includes fresh island fruits, fresh fruit salad, home-stewed fruits, Bircher muesli, homemade yoghurt, fresh-baked breads, pastries, muffins & croissants, cereals, toast, spreads, fruit juices, tea & coffee, with other hot breakfast options available for an extra charge. We have a Duty Manager available from 7am – 10pm daily who would have been happy to address your issues. Wishing you all the best for the upcoming festive season. Kind regards, Resort Manager

4 out of 5

We'll be back

Pros: Great competitive rates, for a complex that offers everything for everybody, this is good value
Cons: Can you improve on Rarotonga, I dont think so...
Location: Everything is close on Rarotonga, grab a scooter and away you go..
Fantastic stay. Friendly staff, nothing is a problem. Great location for snorkeling, however you have to be aware of the current at certain times. We've checked out nearly all of the resorts/ accommodation and the Rarotongan and Santuary are excellent value for money. All types of accommodation for everyones taste.

Posted by , from New Zealand on 22 Sep 2017

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Comment from Hotel Management

3 Oct 2017 by Haimona Browne

Kia Orana Michelle Thank you choosing the Sanctuary Rarotonga for your tropical island getaway. We were so pleased to hear that you had a fantastic stay and felt it good value with all that we have to offer, that we have friendly staff and nothing a problem during your stay. The Aroa Lagoon Marine Reserve directly in front of the resort is the longest established marine reserve on the island and as it is a natural fish breeding site it offers Rarotonga's best all tide snorkeling. We would love to welcome you back to Rarotonga. Kind regards Haimona Browne, Resort Manager

5 out of 5

Great spot on the beach

Great to unwind and relax. Definitely going back for another visit.

Posted by , from Kaiapoi, NZ on 11 Sep 2017

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Comment from Hotel Management

3 Oct 2017 by Haimona Browne

Kia Orana Shona It sounds, and looks, like you had a really relaxing holiday. Thank you for posting the wonderful pictures showing the beautiful sunsets we get out over Aroa Marine Reserve. We would love to welcome you back for another visit. Kind regards, Haimona Browne, Resort Manager

4 out of 5

Great hotel on the beach

Cons: More loungers around the pool
Location: Great location, easy travel from airport
We really enjoyed our stay, location excellent, one of the best beaches in Raro we believe. Appreciated the extra care that was taken at breakfast for my gluten free bread requests and even special picklets made for me one morning which were delicious. Thanks staff at Sanctuary.

Posted by on 5 Sep 2017

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Comment from Hotel Management

3 Oct 2017 by Haimona Browne

Kia Orana, Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review. We are thrilled to hear that you really enjoyed your stay and appreciated the extra attentiveness we were able to provide in terms of your dietary requirements. The resort is certainly in a great location right on the Aroa Marine Reserve. We are only a 20min ride from the airport, and indeed it is very easy to travel to. We are delighted to hear that you were taken care of with your gluten-free bread at breakfast. Once again, thank you for choosing to stay with the Sanctuary Rarotonga, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Kind regards Haimona Browne, Resort Manager

4 out of 5

Sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of life

Pros: Location and room were perfect
Cons: The pool was too cold and the poor grounds person had to battle with leaves as it was quite windy
Location: Local buses arrive outside every 30 minutes - you are not far from the main town, which is less than 20 mins away. The Saturday market was good.
We really enjoyed our stay at Sanctuary, the staff were friendly, the accomodation was just as expected and it was great to wake up to the sound of the waves as we were right on the beachfront. Being on the child free side of the resort give us the option to stay in the quiet zone or head over to the main resort which was more lively.

Posted by , from Auckland on 22 Aug 2017

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Comment from Hotel Management

3 Oct 2017 by Haimona Browne

Kia Orana Angela Thank you for taking the time to write your lovely review, and telling us how much you enjoyed your stay. We are pleased to hear the location and room were perfect. As you say, the waves crashing right outside your Beachfront Suite is a wonderful sound, and with the round-island bus stopping right outside the resort, we are in a fortunate location right on the south-west side of the island on Aroa Marine Reserve. It is pleasing to hear that the staff were friendly, and you enjoyed the child-free aspect of the resort too. With The Rarotonga situated right next door you have the best of both worlds, being able to take advantage of both restaurants, and the many activities we have on offer. Once again, thank you for your review, and we hope to welcome you back to Rarotonga in the future. Kind regards Haimona Browne, Resort Manager

3 out of 5

Close to the beach; quiet location.

Pros: Location was nice
Cons: Food, food, food! and clean the rooms!
The resort beach was lovely, and most of the staff very friendly and helpful. The room we stayed in needed a thorough clean and the food at the resort was terrible (stale chips, undercooked seafood, generally overpriced for what it was).

Posted by on 21 Aug 2017

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Comment from Hotel Management

3 Oct 2017 by Haimona Browne

Kia Orana We appreciate your feedback. I am pleased to hear that you found the beach location of our resort to be nice and quiet. Unlike other resorts on the island our beach is private for our guests only, to enjoy seclusion and tranquillity it offers. We have taken your feedback on board in regards to food, and you will be pleased to know that we have recently welcomed an experienced Executive Chef to our resort, who is in the process of overhauling all our menus. We apologise for the shortfalls you experienced with our housekeeping team and your concerns have been addressed with the Manager responsible for this department. We have a Duty Manager available from 7am-10pm, who is happy to assist with any issues you may have during your stay. Wishing you all the best for the remainder of 2017. Kind regards Haimona Browne, Resort Manager

4 out of 5

Good location, quiet,

Quiet position, but adjoining Rarotonga next door accessible. Facilities are good. Great for a relaxing getaway.

Posted by , from Nz on 18 Aug 2017

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Comment from Hotel Management

3 Oct 2017 by Haimona Browne

Kia Orana Keith, Thank you for your glowing review. We are pleased to hear that you had a great relaxing getaway, and enjoyed the solitude and the great facilities on offer. Again, thank you for staying with us, and we wish you all the best for the remainder of 2017. Kind regards Haimona Browne, Resort Manager

5 out of 5

Nice relaxing place to stay

Beautiful location and relaxing environment. Lots of places to explore nearby. We loved how the staff facilitate booking activities and are always happy to assist with anything .

Posted by , from NZ on 15 Jul 2017

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About the Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach-Adults Only

Location Aroa Beach & Marine Reserve, Rarotonga,

Property Features

Step outside to unwind on the white sand beach. Sit back and relax on the beach with complimentary cabanas, umbrellas, and sunloungers. Have fun in the sun at Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach-Adults Only with summer activities such as snorkelling, kayaking and volleyball. Free breakfast is available daily. Along with a restaurant and a coffee shop/café, there's a snack bar/deli on site. You can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, which include A swim-up bar and A bar/lounge. A computer station is on site and WiFi is available in public spaces for a fee. This beach resort also offers an outdoor pool, an outdoor tennis court and a sauna. Free self parking is available. Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this 4-star Rarotonga resort.

  • 49 guestrooms or units
  • 2 levels
  • 3 buildings
  • 2 conference rooms
  • Built in 2010
  • Continental breakfast (free)
  • Dining venue
  • Karaoke
  • Bar by the pool
  • Swim-up bar
  • Bar or lounge
  • Coffee shop
  • Deli
  • Cabanas on the beach (free)
  • Beach lounge chairs
  • Towels for the beach
  • Umbrellas for the beach
  • Cabanas by the pool (free)
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Umbrellas for the pool
  • Conference centre
  • Business facilities
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Express check-out
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Wedding services available
  • Pool or billiards table
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • Gift shop
  • Television in lobby
  • Smoking in designated areas

Internet

Available in all rooms: WiFi (surcharge)

Available in some public areas: WiFi (surcharge)

Parking

Free self parking , Free parking nearby

Transport

  • Airport: Rarotonga (RAR-Rarotonga Intl.) (9.2 km / 5.7 mi)
  • Property shuttles: Airport shuttle, area shuttle, and shopping centre shuttle
  • Parking: Free self parking

Room Amenities

Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach-Adults Only offers 49 forms of air-conditioned accommodation which are accessible via exterior corridors, and features a safe and coffee/tea makers. Rooms open to furnished balconies or patios. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. 32-cm Flat-screen televisions come with premium cable channels. Bathrooms include complimentary toiletries and a hairdryer. Rarotonga's resort provides wireless Internet access for a surcharge. Additionally, rooms include an iron/ironing board and a ceiling fan. Housekeeping is offered on a daily basis and in-room massages can be requested.

  • Private balcony or patio (furnished)
  • Pillowtop beds
  • In-room dining (limited hours)
  • Flat-screen television
  • Cable channels
  • Premium channels
  • Fridge
  • Coffee maker
  • Luxury bedding
  • Rollaway beds (surcharge)
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Massage in room (surcharge)
  • Hairdryer
  • Safe
  • Toiletries (free)
  • Telephone
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Blackout drapes
  • Exterior corridor access
  • Climate control (air conditioning)
  • Ceiling fan

Food & Drink

Guests are served a free continental breakfast daily from 7 AM to 10 AM.

Blue Water Grill Pacific – This beachfront restaurant specialises in local and international cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Happy hour is offered. Reservations are required. Open daily.

Room service (during limited hours) is available.

Nearby Activities

A private beach and an outdoor tennis court are featured at the resort. In addition to an outdoor pool, other recreational amenities include a sauna and a fitness centre. The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or nearby; fees may apply.

  • Snorkelling on site
  • Ecotours on site
  • Golfing nearby
  • Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Volleyball on site
  • Beach volleyball on site
  • Kayaking on site
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Bicycle rentals nearby
  • Boat tours nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Golf lessons available nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Scooter/moped rentals nearby

Spa Services

  • Number of treatment rooms 2
  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Massages on beach
  • Body wraps
  • Body treatments
  • Body scrubs
  • Facial treatments
  • Aromatherapy treatments
  • Hydrotherapy treatments
  • Deep tissue massage
  • Prenatal massage
  • Sauna in spa
  • Spa tub in spa
  • Minimum age to access spa is 15
  • Reflexology
  • Sports massage
  • Massages

Accessibility

If you need to make special requests for accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when booking your stay.

Hotel Policies

Check-in

  • Check-in time starts at 2 PM
  • Minimum check-in age is 16

Special check-in instructions:

24-hour airport shuttle service is available upon request. Contact the property in advance to make arrangements.

Check-out

  • Check-out by 10 AM

Payment types

Children and extra beds

  • Children 16 and younger are not allowed at this adults-only property. All guests older than 16 are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for NZD 95 per night.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Policies

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed. The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guest room reservation.

  • No cots (infant beds) available
  • No lifts
  • Minimum guest age is
  • Caters to adults only

Fees

 

The charges below are included in your overall room price:

  • Christmas Eve gala dinner fee
  • Resort fee

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property, but they may vary based on length of stay or the room booked.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for in-room wireless Internet: NZD 10 per hour (rates may vary)
  • Fee for wireless Internet in public areas: NZD 10 per hour (1-device limit, rates may vary)
  • Airport shuttle fee: NZD60 per person (return)
  • Early check-in fee: NZD95.00
  • Late check-out fee: NZD95.00
  • In-room microwave fee: NZD10.00 per day
  • Rollaway bed fee: NZD95 per night
  • On-site credit card charges are subject to a surcharge

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

Hotel Names

You should know

  • To get to the property, guests need to transfer by required shuttle. Transfers need to be confirmed by contacting the property at least 48 hours before travel at the number on the booking confirmation.
  • Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach-Adults Only offers transfers from the airport (fees may apply). Please contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation 72 hours prior to arrival with your arrival details.
  • Reservations are needed for massage services and spa treatments. For reservations, contact the resort before arrival using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • The total price shown includes a resort fee.
  • For stays on 24 December, the total price shown includes a charge for a mandatory Christmas Eve gala dinner.
  • This is an adults-only property and guests under 16 years old aren't allowed.
  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.