Are tapu, Arorangi, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
#84 of 138 hotels in Rarotonga
Guests' ChoiceBased on 21 hotel reviews
9.2Cleanliness
10.0
Comfort
9.8
Location
9.4
Facilities
10.0
Staff
9.3
Value for money
9.0
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Showing 1 – 21
Reviewed: 10 August 2025
Bev
New ZealandBeautiful tropical garden. V spacious and comfortable house.
Stayed in August 2025
Reviewed: 21 July 2025
Richard
New ZealandCould do with more large serving dishes and utensils for preparing food and shared plates at home.
Great location. Large completely private property, with plenty of space inside and out. Very well set up.
Stayed in July 2025
Reviewed: 16 July 2025
Wendy
AustraliaThe retreat is comfortable and well stocked. The garden is relaxing and lush. Just across the road from the property is the beach with fantastic snorkelling.
Stayed in July 2025
Reviewed: 7 July 2025
Jenny
New ZealandOutstanding accommodation, definitely exceeded our expectations, perfect for our family holiday. Fresh fruit on arrival... such a treat. Wonderful location with great snorkelling nearby. Hosts were friendly and accommodating. Thank you for making our holiday so amazing.
Stayed in April 2025
Reviewed: 22 May 2025
Julie
United StatesThis is a perfect location near Rutaki Beach, I think the best beach on the island— water so clear and beautiful. Surrounded by beautiful foliage lovingly created by owner, you really know you are in a jungle paradise. House is super comfortable and clean. The owner David is very helpful.
Stayed in April 2025
Reviewed: 23 September 2024
Hinemihi
New ZealandClean, comfortable, modern. Well kept. Serene gardens around the property. Across the road from great swimming beach. Good communication with David - very good host! Excellent facilities.
Stayed in September 2024
Reviewed: 16 September 2024
Trudi
New ZealandNothing
Fantastic location close to excellent snorkelling beach. Spacious house with all mods and cons. David was great to deal with.
Stayed in September 2024
Reviewed: 21 July 2024
Jonz
New ZealandWonderful location, over the road for good snorkeling , we saw something new everyday. Supermarket close by & clean water station over the road. Close to resorts and local cafe if you wanted an easy meal out. Good beds, beach towels provided and fully equipped kitchen..including coffee press, blender etc. Great covered deck .
Stayed in July 2024
Reviewed: 22 June 2024
Stewart
New ZealandNothing
The house had private surroundings and offered everything we needed.
Stayed in June 2024
Reviewed: 15 May 2024
Anja
New ZealandWe had a very relaxing time, enjoying the nearby beaches, the beautiful garden, the spacious and comfortable house.
Stayed in May 2024
Reviewed: 28 April 2024
Fiona
New ZealandA beautifully appointed house surrounded by lovely gardens. It was a perfect place to explore Rarotonga from for our family.
Stayed in April 2024
Reviewed: 8 October 2023
Gary
New ZealandBeautiful home and gardens great patio excellent facilities. Fabulous beach 50m away, close to restaurants etc. Great people to deal with and we will be back. Thanks
Stayed in October 2023
Reviewed: 30 August 2023
Brett
New ZealandLovely house clean modern facilities everything we needed and much better value for money than the resorts
Stayed in August 2023
Reviewed: 21 August 2023
Elizabeth
New ZealandNothing I can think of!
The house was very inviting, well laid out with plenty of space rain or shine (and great for families), nestled in a lush grove of gardens from which David the owner, collected fresh tropical fruits for us. Very peaceful time and space and would stay there again in an instant. Very close (50 metres) to the beach
Stayed in August 2023
Reviewed: 11 August 2023
Robert
New ZealandLovely house with fantastic gardens and lots of space inside and out. Great facilities and awesome to be able to borrow kayaks also. Just across the road from a great snorkelling spot!!
Stayed in August 2023
Reviewed: 2 August 2023
Sarah
New ZealandFantastic property set in gorgeous private gardens. An easy walk across the road to a quiet secluded section of the beach (less than 3 min walk), perfect for relaxing and snorkelling. Loads of space inside the property, loved the deck area out the front for relaxing at any time of the day. Really recommend if you're looking for a quiet spot to relax away from it all!
Stayed in July 2023
Reviewed: 6 September 2024
Lisa
United KingdomHowever, I regret to say that our experience with the hosts significantly impacted our stay. Despite the many positive aspects of the property, the hosts were overbearing and excessively involved in our time at the house. They frequently "checked in on us," making us feel more like we were being watched by parents than enjoying a private holiday. On one particular occasion, while my friend and I were getting ready for our friend's wedding, the hosts (one being male) were in the garden, which directly overlooked our room. This made us feel highly uncomfortable, I had to keep closing my curtains as he walked past countless times. When we booked this property, we were under the impression that it would offer privacy, but unfortunately, this was not the case. While the hosts informed us upon arrival that they would be gardening over the weekend, this didn’t provide us with the opportunity to express our preference for privacy. Later during our stay, when we raised our concerns, the hosts became defensive, insisting it was their home. Had they asked in advance about a convenient time, we would have suggested after 1:30 pm, as we would be off the property for our friend’s wedding.I believe the hosts should make future guests aware, prior to booking, that they will be around frequently. If this had been stated clearly in the property description, I would have chosen a different place for our stay on Rarotonga. Telling us upon arrival didn’t give us much choice, and at the very least, they should ask guests in advance what time would be convenient for their visits. As for the issue with the local dogs, I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the local dogs during the unexpected visit from the hosts. Throughout our stay, I had been diligent in keeping the dogs away, regularly shooing them from both sides of the property.
Our stay at this property was a mix of highs and lows. The house itself is undeniably beautiful, and the grounds are equally stunning. The location is fantastic—close to some of the best snorkeling spots on the island and conveniently near great cafes. They also provide snorkeling gear and kayaks, which you can use at your leisure, adding an extra layer of convenience to your island experience.
Stayed in September 2024
Reviewed: 28 August 2025
Bev
New ZealandThere are no comments available for this review
Stayed in August 2025
Reviewed: 30 October 2024
Shannon
AustraliaThere are no comments available for this review
Stayed in October 2024
Reviewed: 18 August 2024
Dunc
New ZealandThere are no comments available for this review
Stayed in August 2024
Showing 1 – 21
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