Rarotonga offers accommodation to suit all budgets

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 29

Rarotonga offers accommodation to suit all budgets

Motels, hotels, lodges, resorts — call them what you like, but one thing is certain: Rarotonga has an excellent selection that caters for all pockets. Clean, comfortable accommodation can be found for as little as $2O a night. At the other end of the scale, The Rarotongan Resort Hotel can offer a luxury suite for $2OO a night. I spent an hour or so driving around the island inspecting some of the motels and hotels along the way. Perhaps the most surprising discovery was the number of ex-pat New Zealand managerowners involved in the industry. Kiwis certainly should feel very much at home in Rarotonga. Following a clockwise direction from Avarua I called first at The Paradise which is the closest accommodation to the centre of town. It used to be the old Mauraia dance hall which, with 5000 sq ft, was the largest in the South Pacific. It was converted by David Gragg into 16 self-contained units. Tariffs begin at $34.50. The Tamure Resort Hotel is about two kilometres further along the road and is managed by Lynda Greening, formerly of Auckland. This hotel is exceptionally popular as a fun place for group tours. Rooms which cost from $5B

a night are being refurbished. The Tamure has its own bar, restaurant, entertainment, and tennis court.

The Muri Beachcomber Motels, 10km from Avarua, were opened about 18 months ago and are managed by Vic and Jill Garner. Mr Garner used to work for Air New Zealand, a career which spans back to the Solent flying boat days. The motels are well appointed with a superbly manicured beach. The only problem at the Muri is finding a vacancy. Tariffs begin at $65. The Little Polynesian, managed by a flamboyant Englishman, Malcolm Lax-ton-Blinkhom, sits close to the beach at Titikaveka, 14km from Avarua. It has nine comfortable chalets costing from $65 a night. Moana Sands Resort is virtually next door and also has old ties with New Zealand’s travel industry. It is managed by Peter Hayes (ex-NAC and Trans Tours) and Jolene Bosanquet, formerly of Northland. They have opened an intimate little restaurant offering food at very reasonable prices. A cooked breakfast costs only $4.50. Rooms, from $75 a night, look over the beach and reef. Palm Grove Lodges is half way around the south coast, 15 km from Avarua in either direction. It has a

spacious garden and a private beach across the road. Manager Les Priest is formerly from New Zealand. “We meet you as guests and farewell you as friends,” he promises. Tariffs begin at $55. Lagoon Lodges, managed by Cassey and Des Eggelton (ex-Christchurch), is just past The Rarotongan Resort (see report on facing page). It has 10 spacious, well appointed units set amidst a lush tropical garden. Four two-bedroom villas are the largest on the island. Rates begin at $6O with the villas costing $B5. The beach and lagoon is across the road. Puaikura Reef Lodges is about Ikm from the Rarotongan and is also managed by Cantabrians — Carl and Elizabeth Miln. All units have refrigeratorfreezers. The lodges face the reef and beach across the road. Tariffs are from $6O. The Beach Motel (formerly the Beach Hotel) is well up the west coast towards the airport and only about 7km from Avarua. It is set well back off the road and is on the beach. Twenty selfcontained villas sleeping up to three persons cost from $59 (single) a night. It has its own bar and an excellent Sunday beach barbecue. Edgewater Resort Motel is the biggest on Rarotanga. Work is nearing completion on an additional 99 units which will increase its size to a total of 177 units by the end of the year, making it the largest resort motel in the South Pacific. It has its own restaurant, bar, and squash courts. The property is on the beach overlooking the reef. Tariffs are from $58.50 a night. The manager is Dave Parker. Rarotongan Sunset Motel is Rarotonga’s newest and is owned and managed by Nigel and Irene Purdie, both New Zealanders. Twenty self-contained studio apartments are tastefully carpeted and all have in-house video, which should prove popular during wet weather. Much effort has been put into landscaping and clearing dead coral from the lagoon. The motel has direct access to the beach. It offers excellent value at rates from $55 a night. Details of other accommodation available in Rarotanga can be obtained from the Cook Islands Tourist Authority, P.O. Box 3647, Auckland.