10 of the Best Rarotonga Resorts for Families

Rarotonga is one of the top vacation destinations in the world. The natural beauty of the volcanic island mixed with the tropical atmosphere makes it an enchanting destination you and your family can enjoy.

The largest of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga, is located in the Realm of New Zealand and its capital city, Avarua, has a laid-back atmosphere that is perfect for relaxation. With a plethora of bananas, coffee, and papaya, you are sure to experience the tropical culture in every shape and form. 

When taking a family vacation to the paradise of the Cook Islands, it is vital to find a resort that fits your family’s lifestyle and lodging needs. Rarotonga has a plethora of resorts catering to your family’s needs. This means you can get the most of your vacation while creating lasting memories. 

The Best Rarotonga Resorts for Families

It’s not always easy to pick a resort for your family vacation. Aspects to consider include swimming pools, free breakfast, space, and on-site activities. While the beaches of Rarotonga are enough to sustain the adults, the kids may need a little more to keep them entertained.

Here are 10 of the best family resorts in Rarotonga that offer what you and your family need for a successful vacation. 

The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium

The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium is a full-service, 4-star resort that will mark all the boxes on your family’s checklist. This one-of-a-kind resort is on the Aroa Lagoonarium, boasting the island’s best snorkeling opportunity. 

While the kids are exploring aquatic life through their goggles and snorkels or enjoying the many activities offered at the Kids Club, the adults can relax at the spa or enjoy an adult beverage at the Beach Bar & Grill; all without leaving the resort grounds.

The Two-Bedroom Beachfront Interconnecting Family Suite is directly on Aroa beach and is complete with two separate, interconnecting rooms. This suite offers privacy but is spacious enough for a family of six. 

If luxury and ultimate privacy is more up your family’s ally, try reserving the Three-Bedroom Private Pool & Spa Villa. This Villa comes with a jacuzzi, private pool, a terrace, sauna, bathhouse, lounge, and much more. The three-bedroom layout offers privacy, making it an excellent destination for families with adult children. While this villa comes with all the private amenities you need, your family still has access to resort amenities. 

Lagoon Breeze Villas

A perfect option for families, couples, or groups, the Lagoon Breeze Villas is a luxurious Rarotonga stay. With a safe and secluded location, the Lagoon Breeze Villas staff caters to its guests’ needs making it the ultimate vacation spot. 

Lagoon Breeze offers twenty-five spacious villas for you and your family to choose from. The Two-Bedroom, Two Level Villa has a max occupancy of five guests and features a private balcony, two separate bedrooms, two bathrooms, and all the kitchen amenities you need. Similarly, the Two-Bedroom, One Level Villa has the same offerings but is only ground level. 

If you have a big family you need to accommodate, try reserving the Five-Bedroom Deluxe Villa. This Villa sleeps up to twelve guests and has four spacious bedrooms, and two ensuite bathrooms, and one main bathroom. This 2,152 sq. ft. villa also comes with a private pool! 

Whether your family is staying in a two-bedroom or five-bedroom villa, all guests have access to a complimentary daily breakfast. 

The Edgewater Resort & Spa

Complimentary tropical breakfast, kids club, sand deck, room service, and a chlorinated pool are just a few of the amenities that The Edgewater Resort & Spa offers to you and your family. This resort is the ultimate family getaway destination on Rarotonga. With the immaculate views you get from every room to the pristine dining options, it is hard to go wrong with a stay at The Edgewater.

With lagoon and garden view rooms, you are entering a tropical paradise anytime you walk out onto your private balcony. The apartment-style rooms provide all the necessary amenities for you and your family to obtain private sleeping quarters while still sharing the same space. With a max occupancy of four, the lodge rooms are perfect for small families.

If your family needs a little more space, consider the Three-Bedroom Garden Villa or Three-Bedroom Beachfront Villa. Both spaces sleep up to six guests and provide a unique vacation experience. 

Dining at The Edgewater Resort & Spa draws in the local crowds as it is known as the center of entertainment and dining on the westside of Rarotonga. The Brasserie restaurant offers impressive views of the lagoon and the ocean as you sit back and enjoy the local cuisine as you listen to the waves crash against the shoreline. 

You also have the option to enjoy Italian delicacies at The Spaghetti House Pizzeria & Grill or take in the true island experience at the buffet offerings of the Island Umukai Feast. 

Club Raro Resort

The Club Raro Resort has a variety of room types; meaning, they are sure to fit the needs of you and your family. With the garden and poolside family rooms, your family can experience the convenience of close access to the amenities and the beauty the tropical foliage offers—right from the comfort of your room.

The poolside rooms are designed specifically for parents with children so they can enjoy the comfort of their room while still watching the children splash around in the pool. These rooms frame the edges of the pool and provide direct patio access to the pool. The poolside rooms sleep up to four guests. 

One of the key amenities at Club Raro Resort is the complimentary tropical breakfast served daily. The resort is a firm believer in allowing guests the option to not cook on their vacation, and they accomplish that goal by the various food offerings. 

Jalapenos is located on the resort grounds and provides an a la carte menu that offers local flavors of the South Pacific. These flavors are as local as they get as the resort grows their chilies and infuses them into the dishes they offer for an authentic experience.

If you have a picky eater in your family, and local cuisine doesn’t make for a good menu option, try the resort’s all-day pizza menu for a taste of home. Club Raro Resort also has a poolside bar where the adults of the group can swim up to the bar and order a staple or custom cocktail. 

Pacific Resort Rarotonga

Rarotonga is full of unique resort accommodations that ensure all visitors can relax and enjoy an unforgettable vacation experience. At Pacific Resort Rarotonga, you will find the unique accommodations you desire. The boutique-style rooms and resort accommodations make for a one-of-a-kind tropical experience you and your family will reminisce about for years to come.

Pacific Resort Rarotonga is a 4.5-star resort offering full service in its sixty-four rooms. With a complimentary Kids Club and free kayak and paddleboard availability, your family can explore the lagoon and remain entertained for the entirety of your stay. The resort’s swimming pool is surrounded by tropical gardens giving you the ultimate Rarotonga experience. 

The suites and villas at Pacific Resort Rarotonga are designed to cater to every type of family. The Premium Garden Villa is a two-bedroom villa surrounded by tropical foliage and all the necessary amenities including, a private courtyard, sheltered outdoor dining area, and an in-room safe. 

You may also consider the Premium Family Room for your vacation getaway. This studio-style room has an open plan, steps away from the adult and children’s pools. This conveniently located room sleeps up to four guests and boasts serenity and relaxation with two private patios. 

Palm Grove

If you’re looking for a private Rarotonga experience with a luxurious setting, look no further. Palm Grove is a five-acre, beachfront resort offering only twenty-two bungalows, which means privacy is what you will receive on your stay here. 

The bungalows range from beachfront villas to garden studios, with options to rent a single bedroom or an entire house. The Beachfront Villa is a two-story house that sits directly on the beach, making it the perfect getaway. This villa can house up to eight people, making it a popular option for families. 

The studio options are small and cater to a young family with a max capacity of three. While it is smaller than the villa, it has direct access to the pool and is hidden by flowering tropical foliage. 

Palm Grove has one dining option that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. The Yellow Hibiscus is a restaurant and bar that provides open-air dining where you can enjoy the tropical weather while still enjoying a bite to eat. The Yellow Hibiscus offers a Friday night Happy Hour and has live music on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Activities on the resort are not in short supply as they range from scuba diving to hiking. Upon arrival at Palm Grove, you won’t want to leave!

Nautilus Resort

If your family loves the beach but has a heart for the mountains, the Nautilus Resort is an optimal choice for your Rarotonga vacation. This beautiful resort boasts luxury in every shape and form, with an infinity pool overlooking the ocean and a majestic mountain backdrop. 

The eco-friendly and boutique beachfront resort is a vacationer’s dream as the natural beauty of the island flourishes at the Nautilus Resort. Each Are’ and Villa at the resort is freestanding and includes a private pool and either a beachfront location or tropical garden views. With only 17 accommodations, a stay at Nautilus makes you feel like you’re the only one on the island. 

The Two-Bedroom Beachfront Are’ sleeps up to four adults and one child, making it an excellent destination for your family. The Polynesian design has a contemporary touch making you feel like you’re living in luxury. With a private deck and the Muri Lagoon steps away, you don’t have to travel great lengths to enjoy the blue waters.

If you need a little more room for your family, Nautilus Resort also has a Three-Bedroom Are’ that sleeps up to six adults and two children. Regardless of the size of the room, each space comes with the same accommodations and amenities as a salt-water plunge pool, private deck, full kitchen, espresso coffee machine, and luxe bathrobes. 

Muri Beach Resort

Advertised as affordable and eco-friendly, the Muri Beach Resort is the perfect setting for your tropical island getaway. With a plethora of resort activities and amenities, there is something here for your whole family to enjoy.

One of the keys to ensuring a resort is family-friendly is the available offerings to keep the kids entertained. Muri Beach Resort understands that this can be difficult to find in luxury resorts. Therefore, they have taken it up a notch and offer amenities the whole family can enjoy.

Such amenities include the rental of snorkeling gear, kayaks, sup, and beach towels. They also offer a games library, complimentary wifi, and intro to scuba diving lessons. If the adults in the family want to escape and enjoy an in-room massage, the resort offers child care to ensure you reach the highest level of relaxation.

The Two-Bedroom Villa is the perfect spot to house your small family at the Muri Beach Resort. If two bedrooms don’t suit your family, try reserving the Plantation House. The Plantation House is advertised as a holiday home and is the perfect getaway for larger families. The three-bedroom layout means you receive privacy while remaining close. 

Sunset Beach Resort

Sunset Beach Resort is a clean and conveniently located lodging destination for your family. Close to Avarua, this resort provides a tranquil beach getaway while still remaining close to the hustle and bustle of the city.

One of the drawing factors to the resort is hammocks situated between two palm trees directly on the beach. After a long-or short- day of shopping, there is nothing quite as relaxing as plopping down on a hammock and feeling the ocean breeze flow through your hair as you reminisce on your shopping experience. 

If the convenient location isn’t enough to sway a booking at the Sunset Beach Resort, consider the family-friendly amenities and room sizes. While the resort is kid-friendly, there is a minimum age requirement of twelve years. 

The Beachfront Two-Bedroom Suite is designed to fit four guests comfortably and contains two private patios with views of the lagoon. This suite also has a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom, and two water closets. Take your family on a luxurious beach vacation at Sunset Beach Resort in Rarotonga. 

Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa

Seclusion is the name-of-the-game at Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa. The luxurious setting mixed with the remote location takes guests off the beaten path for a unique island experience. Surrounded by the pristine waters of the Muri Lagoon, there is not a villa on the property that does not boast spectacular beachfront views. 

With only thirteen suites making up the available lodging at Te Manava, guests’ experience at the five-star accommodation is next level. The high-end luxury at Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa will ensure your family receives the vacation they deserve.

Pool and beach villas are available for guests to choose from. The Ultimate Pool Villa is a two-bedroom villa that offers both privacy and convenience as a plunge pool is located just outside the patio doors. This villa contains a full kitchen, two bathrooms, outdoor bbq, and has a max capacity of four guests.

A grander lodging option is available with the Ultimate Beachfront Villa. This villa has three bedrooms and can hold up to six guests. The abundance of space makes it an excellent option for larger families looking to enjoy some beach serenity. While the space is a bonus, panoramic views of Muri Lagoon are what make this villa exceptional.

Final Advice

Whether you are a young family taking your first destination vacation or a large family looking for a unique beach vacation getaway, Rarotonga boasts some of the best ocean views and beaches on the planet. 

From luxurious apartment-style lodging to spacious beachfront villas, Rarotonga is full of family resort destinations that will fit your family’s needs. Resorts that have child care and kids clubs to help keep the young children entertained while the adults visit the spa, to private pools right off your patio; there isn’t a bad option when selecting your family’s vacation villa. 

Known as one of the top vacation destinations globally, Rarotonga should be on your family’s vacation bucket list. Now comes the hard part, which vacation resort destination will you reserve for your family?