Rarotonga
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40813
Printed Date: 27 August 2025 at 5:15am
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Topic: Rarotonga
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Subject: Rarotonga
Date Posted: 19 October 2011 at 4:55pm
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Who's been to Rarotonga for a family holiday?
I'm looking into it and wanted to know if there was a time of year that you shouldnt go (rainy season?)? And also if anyone would recommend a particular place to stay if you have kids? Friends recommended the Pacific at Muri Beach and it looks fantastic but their kids club is for 6 and up and our daughter will be 5 when we go. It would be nice if she could use the kids club for a little while each day. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 19 October 2011 at 5:08pm
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No help here sorry Azza, but I agree her being able to use the kids club would rock! We went to a resort with one when I was 7, and had the best time in the kids club! ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Faffer
Date Posted: 19 October 2011 at 5:59pm
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Try http://www.therarotongan.com/pages/kidsinparadise_stay_play_free.cfm - The Rarotongan we were there last year and it was great. I was pregnant at the time so didn't use the children's facilities but another couple at the wedding we attended brought their two kids and it looked like they had a ball. Their website says the kids club would cater for a 5 year old. -------------  
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Posted By: AnnaShev
Date Posted: 19 October 2011 at 6:33pm
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ive been late june early july, weather was hot but not unbearable could comfortably get around in shorts/skirt, tee shirt, and jandals. ------------- http://daisypath.com" rel="nofollow">   <
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Posted By: squoggs
Date Posted: 19 October 2011 at 6:47pm
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we went there in march a few years ago, it was lovely weather, quite settled & not stupidly hot. That was pre-kids though, so will be reading responses here with interest as we plan to go back :-) Muri beach is lovely too, we stayed there ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kandk
Date Posted: 19 October 2011 at 8:55pm
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Ask me again next week - SIL and her family are there now for a holiday! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 8:30am
Cool - hoping someone can recommend a hotel/resort  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: minipig
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 11:40am
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I've also heard that the Rarotongan is good for families
We went there for lunch and there were fun looking pools for kids and lots of activities to keep them entertained. Plus it is a lovely stretch of beach out front and very good for snorkling. We went in April this year (on honeymoon so stayed in non-child friendly places lol!) The weather was mixed. Always very warm (high 20s) but there were some rainy days. It always felt even hotter when it was raining than when it was sunny! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 11:53am
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Thanks minipig! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Evelyn4409
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 12:54pm
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Hubby and I were married in Raro. We went there at the end of March/beginning of April 2009. Right at the end of their rainy season - so it wasn't unbearably hot. And if it ever rained, it would be 10 minutes and then totally gone. So no biggie.
We also stayed at The Edgewater Resort. From what I could see they had a really cool kids club, where they would teach them how to catch crabs and weave headbands and that sort of thing. Very child friendly resort actually - coming to think of it. |
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 1:01pm
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What was the beach like at the Edgewater Evelyn4409? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Lulu
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 4:50pm
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We went in August/September about 3 years ago, my DD was 13 months old. It was considerably colder than I had expected (based on previous holidays at the same time of the year in Fiji), in fact we only got in the pool once and it was too cold to enjoy. The island is small and since the weather wasn't great, I found it a bit isolating. Even DH's scuba trip got canceled due to bad weather. When we got back alot of people said that the climate in Raro is such that you wouldn't usually go in our winter as it's just not hot enough there. So if I was ever to go again I would go in our early or late Summer. But to be honest, I have found Fiji (been there 5 times) so much better that Raro probably won't get another look in. We stayed at The Rarotongan, which was average. ------------- Lou http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: StaceyH
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 5:03pm
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The Rarotongan is the best! We got married in July this year and took our then 21month old and we all had the best time, the beach is awesome. I visited the Edgewater and def thought the rarotongan had a better beach! I cant wait to go back and would stay there again anyday.
If you can afford it, upgrade to at least a beachside suite rather than a garden room, nothing wrong with the garden rooms but the beachside rooms have a way bigger room and better with kids |
Posted By: snooze
Date Posted: 21 October 2011 at 8:53am
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There beach in front of the Rarotongan is awesome for snorkeling! We stayed at the Edgewater which is fine but always took our scooters (pre kids) to the other beaches as they were better for snorkeling/swimming. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 21 October 2011 at 1:29pm
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We stayed at the Pacific Resort which we loved but it was pre-kid the first time and the second time he was only about 10 months old so no chance to use kids facilities.
But, the staff were fantastic. Couldn't be more helpful. One of the waitress swooped in and grabbed him each mealtime and would take him walking and occupy him so we could eat in peace, no trouble to get toddler friendly finger foods etc. Rarotongan is meant to be one of the best places with kids I think. We went March the first time and it rained every day for six days but was warm (and still good fun) the second time was June and it was sunny, not terribly hot but warm. |
Posted By: queenbean
Date Posted: 22 October 2011 at 10:58pm
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We went in late September last year and I found it HOT!! I was 24 weeks pregnant at the time though, haha! I can't comment on the resorts or kids' clubs either as DS was only 19 months old, and we hired a holiday home which we found brilliant. -------------   
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Posted By: Dee_firsttimer
Date Posted: 25 October 2011 at 3:49pm
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We went for 5 nights in mid June this year and it was FABULOUS! No bad days and as someone else mentioned above there was rain but lasted for a short time and 10 minutes later only a few puddles left to know that it was even raining!
We didnt take any kids with us but stayed at Moana Sands Hotel - they also have villas you can hire that are self sufficient. They had a lot of stuff to use to keep amused and are on a safe bit of the lagoon for kids and most others staying there had kids about 5 or so - we were so busy when there that time to use a kids club etc would almost have not existed as it was really easy to fill in time there with family friendly activities - by the time you swim, theres a mini golf course, drive around, visit other beaches etc, plus a boat trip or something the days just fly by. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 27 October 2011 at 9:01pm
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Best time to go would be around Easter (just after peak season) or just before peak season. We went mid April and while it rained a couple of times, it was hot. We got stuck putting up with King Tides though so snorkelling wasn't the best, but that doesn't happen all the time.
The Rarotongan is so overpriced and rooms run-down. Nice though. Friends of ours had their kids when we went and they did the kids club activities. We stayed at a rental house just down the beach from it. Much preferred paying $55 a night for accommodation pp than $145! |
Posted By: Evelyn4409
Date Posted: 27 October 2011 at 9:51pm
| The beaches at Edgewater were nice. Quite rocky around the restaurant, but opened out to tiny shelly sand. And then in front of the accommodation, it was all sand. Great for snorkelling because you didnt have to go too far out to get to see the little tropical fish that swum in and around the rocks. Also, the Edgewater is on the sunset side of the island...so it made for some awesome happy hours. |
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 27 October 2011 at 9:54pm
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Well, after all that... I ended up buying a Grab One deal to Fiji (I'm sure my hand slipped and hit the buy now button accidentally).
Thanks everyone for the help! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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