ELECTRICITY
Voltage in the Cook Islands is 240Volt 50 HzAC. Three-pin plugs are used, the same as for New Zealand and Australia. Your room has been fitted with a dual voltage outlet for a 110-volt shaver. For any other 110-volt appliances (such as curling tongs or hairdryers) you will require a 2-pin adapter (also called a converter) and a transformer. Adapters are available for hire from the Treasure Chest Gift Shop (located across from the Business Centre).
Travellers Tip! Remember to bring your own transformer, otherwise you are up for a charge of about NZD$150 to buy one on Rarotonga. If you are stuck, Monarae Electronics in Matavera stock transformers, phone 20 910. Using curling tongs without a transformer can result in singed hair - now that’s a bad hair day!
You can connect your laptop to the phone line in your guestroom (by attaching the jack from your laptop to the phone’s data port). The setup cost NZ$15 dollars. All dial-up connections are charged at NZ 40¢ per minute.
The Resort also offers a Telecom Cook Islands Hot Spot wireless internet service poolside. All computers with a WiFi facility are able to use the Hot Spot service. The Hot Spot has a 256KBPS internet connection speed. You can buy a Telecom WiFi prepaid card from The Rarotongan’s Front Desk. There are 4 different WiFi prepaid cards available: NZ$15 for 50MB, NZ$36 for 150MB, NZ$50 for 250MB and NZ$64 for 400MB. The card is valid for 30 days after activation. The internet service will be disconnected if you have used up the data limit printed on the prepaid card.
If your computer has got no WiFi facility built-in, you will not be able to use the Hot Spot service. However the Resort offers a PCMCIA WiFi adapter installation service for you to use the Hot Spot service at the following prices:
Standard |
NZ$15 |
Bond |
NZ$100 |
The Standard Set-up charge involves 15 minutes of IT personnel time. Any further technical support required is charged at NZ$1 per minute.
Technical support is available between 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays).
You can send and receive emails 24 hours a day at the Internet Booths located in the Lobby. The charge is NZ 30¢ a minute, with a minimum period available of 10 minutes. For your convenience these service charges can be posted to your room account. For further details please dial “0” for Front Desk. For those who don’t have a personal online email account, The Rarotongan provides two guest email addresses that you can be contacted on, these are: email1@raroguest.co.ck or email2@raroguest.co.ck. These two Microsoft Outlook email accounts have been set up in our two public Internet Booth computers. If you have asked that a response to you be sent to either of these two email accounts, please ensure that you check for it. We strongly advise that you do not request for any confidential information to be sent to either of these email accounts. The Rarotongan’s email address is: info@rarotongan.co.ck If you have asked that any emails meant for you be sent to this address, please ensure that the sender clearly notes your full name to enable us to deliver the email to you.
ENERGY & WATER CONSERVATION
Energy and water are limited resources on our beautiful island. All electricity is generated using very expensive and non-renewable diesel, meaning our power bills are around 5 times what you will be used to (no exaggeration!). Please re-use your towel wherever possible (leave towels in the bathtub to indicate you would like your towel changed), and turn off taps, switch off lights, fans, and air conditioning when leaving your room. This will greatly assist Rarotonga to conserve its resources, and will be much appreciated. If you have any queries regarding energy or water please contact the Duty Manager through the Front Desk on “0”.
FACSIMILE & PHOTOCOPYING SERVICES
Facsimile services are available 24 hours a day. Faxes can be sent from the Business Centre, Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. Outside of these hours, faxes can be sent from the Front Desk. You can call the Business Centre on ext 8063 or Front Desk (press the icon on your phone or dial “0”). Please note that telecommunications charges in the Cook Islands are likely to be much higher that you are used to at home, as the Cooks is a small island nation a long way from anywhere else, and there is only one telephone company allowed to operate here. In addition, these charges also attract a hotel surcharge. The charge for receiving faxes is NZ$1 for the first page and NZ50¢ per page thereafter. Costs of sending faxes differ from country to country. For costs please contact the Business Centre on ext 8063 or Front Desk on “0”.
Photocopying is also available at the Front Desk at a cost of NZ50¢ per page. Fax and photocopying service charges can be posted to your room account for your convenience. The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa facsimile number is (+682) 25 799.
FILM DEVELOPING & PRINTING
The Fuji Image Centre located in Avarua town near Cooks Corner provides a photo printing and film developing service, and they use the latest digital processing equipment. You are also able to buy memory cards, batteries, films and disposable cameras. The Fuji Image Centre guarantees high-quality photographs, and you can phone Colin Burn or his staff on 26 238 for further information.
The Rarotongan offers CD or DVD back-up of memory cards, so if yours is full, we’ll download the images to CD or DVD. This allows you to delete the cards and keep photographing, rather than buying a new card, or not taking photos at all! This service is available through our Information Technology (IT) Department, please dial “0” and ask to be put through.
For a special occasion, or just to celebrate being together in paradise, the Resort’s in-house Photographer also offers a 1 hour professional portrait shoot for couples and families. Please dial our Resort Photographer on ext 8048.
FIRE SAFETY PROCEDURES
In the event of a fire, dial “0” immediately to report the fire’s location, then assemble in the Resort Lobby.
Each of our guestrooms is fitted with a heat and smoke detector. In the event of a fire, please dial “0” from any phone and report the location of the fire to the Front Desk. Alternatively, outside of each village is a fire alarm call point. In an emergency, you can break the glass at the call point and pull the lever to set off the alarm.
Please refer to your Emergency Map located on the back of your guestroom door to determine your location in proximity to the Resort Lobby, which is the evacuation point. This Map will show your evacuation route to the Lobby. Once in the Lobby, you will receive further instruction.
FIRST AID
To arrange first aid for minor emergencies, please contact the Duty Manager, Security Department or Front Desk on “0”. In more serious cases medical assistance should be sought. Panadol, insect repellent and basic first aid items are available at the Treasure Chest and CITC Gift Shops for your convenience.
FISHING
Marlin, Wahoo, Mahimahi (Dolphin Fish), Barracuda, Sailfish, Shark and Tuna such as Yellowfin, Albacore, Dogtooth, Skipjack and Big Eye are just a few of the exciting game fish that you have the opportunity to catch while fishing in the Cook Islands. Rarotonga’s waters are amongst the richest in the world and offer exceptional deep-sea game fishing, saltwater fly and light tackle sports fishing. Due to the close proximity of the reef, there are no long journeys out to deep water, and lines are set once out of the harbour ensuring maximum fishing time. Most trips are half day with prices starting from as low as NZ$80 on a boat share with 4-6 lines, and private charters can be arranged.
Catches usually remain with the boat although some companies do share it out and provide enough for dinner if the catch is sufficient. Morning trips go out at about 8am and afternoon trips at about 1.30pm.
Rarotonga has a Game Fishing Club located in KiiKii, phone 21 419, where visitors are made very welcome. The Club is affiliated to the International Game Fishing Association, and for a small fee you can join as a social member. This is the place to relax and share in a few of the ‘fish that got away’ stories!
Fishing Tour Operators
Akura Fishing Charters PH 54 355
Avana Fishing Charters PH 20 270
JR’S “Hupahupa” Game Fishing Charters PH 28 647 or 55 286
Pacific Marine Charters (Reel Time) PH 21 237
Raro Sports Fishing Tours PH 25 837 or 55 138
Seafari Charters PH 55 096
Seahunter Charters PH 25 254
FOOD PRICES
The Cook Islands produces a lot of its own fresh fruits, vegetables, pork and fish, however much of the food available in our small island nation has to be imported. Because of the relatively low volumes combined with high freight and refrigeration charges, the price of imported foods (such as fresh, airfreighted milk, or imported fresh vegetables) can be high in the Cook Islands. Despite this we endeavour to keep our prices competitive with similar resorts in the South Pacific.
GAZEBOS
Two popular locations for wedding couples to say “I do” are The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa’s Polynesian-style sand-floor Gazebos on Aroa Beach and within our lush Tropical Gardens. Within their cool, palm-thatched shade, the Gazebos provide the perfect setting for couples seeking privacy and intimacy to exchange or renew vows, and are also ideal for a romantic candlelit dinner a deux. A beautiful white sandy aisle bordered by young palm trees and tropical gardens traces a path to each of the Gazebos and provides a picture-perfect backdrop. The Aroa Beach and Tropical Garden Gazebos have a relaxed yet stylish Pacific ambience, and subtle lighting helps couples look their very best on their big day.
GIFT SHOPS
The CITC and Treasure Chest gift shops are located across from The Rarotongan’s Business Centre. Both gift shops are open throughout the week and stock some of life’s little essentials such as toiletries, pharmaceuticals, confectionary, stamps and second-hand books. The shops also offer a selection of gifts and souvenirs, including jewellery, resort wear, swimwear, polo & T-shirts, kids wear, Cook Islands handicrafts, books, cards and postcards. The Treasure Chest also hires electrical adaptors for a NZ$1 per day hire charge and NZ$20 deposit (refundable upon return).
GLASS BOTTOM BOAT TOURS
Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruize operates a glass-bottom boat tour of Muri and Tikioki Lagoons to view reef fish, fish feeding and off-boat snorkelling, and then it’s onto Motu Koromiri (one of the islets in the lagoon) for a delicious BBQ lunch and fun show. The tours operate every day except Sunday, from 11am to 3.30pm. Cost for tour is NZ$60 per person, half price for children, and includes beach BBQ lunch, return Resort transfers, and use of snorkelling gear. Pick-up time from the Resort is 10.15am.
Captain Tama’s Lagoon Cruise can be booked through our Front Desk, dial “0”.
GOLF
The Rarotonga Golf Club welcomes visitors to play on its 9-hole course. The green fee costs NZ$20 and you can play the course twice. You can also hire a set of clubs for a further NZ$20. The golf course is open weekdays from 8am to 2pm and also features a 19th hole (the all important club bar!). Saturday is for members only and the course and club are closed on Sundays. The Rarotonga Golf Club is approximately 10 minutes from The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa by car. Call the Golf Club on 20 621 for further information.
GYMNASIUM
The Rarotongan offers an in-house, air-conditioned Gymnasium beside the Activities Hut which is free to in-house guests. Open daily from 8am to 5.30pm. Please contact the Activities team on ext 8061 for further information.
The Top Shape Health & Fitness Centre in Avarua town offers aerobic classes each weekday and a weights room, and is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 6am to 7pm, Tuesday 8am to 7pm, and Saturday 8am to 12noon. NZ$6 per session. Phone 21 254
Fitness Cook Islands is open Monday to Sunday 4am to 11pm, NZ$10 for casual visits. Short-term memberships can be negotiated. Phone 25 022.
HAIRDRYERS
For your convenience there is a hairdryer attached to the wall in your guestroom bathroom. To operate the hairdryer, please switch on at the wall.
HONEYMOON BUNGALOW
You don’t have to be ‘Just Married’ to be able to book into the Honeymoon Bungalow – just yearning for some private time alone to relax into each other’s company and rekindle the flames is enough!
This stylish bungalow sits off the ground and features a unique design with a broad wrap-around verandah and a high-pitched, thatched roof providing a fabulous sense of space and island romance. Nestled in a completely secluded, lush tropical garden, this is your own private paradise, complete with private swimming pool, couple’s sauna, outdoor ‘starlet’ spa bath and inviting open-air shower.
Featuring elegant polished tropical hardwood floors, rattan-lined walls, chocolate-coloured water-hyacinth furniture, privately-commissioned lighting hand-laced with coconut sennit and black pearl shell, and spacious bathroom with raintree vanity top and oversized His & Hers vanity basins, the Honeymoon Bungalow offers an incredible sense of freedom with spectacular indoor-outdoor flow through four wide opening on the verandah, and the broad encircling deck means that sun-lovers can follow the sun all day in complete privacy.
HORSE RIDING
Aroa Pony Trek is situated on the Aroa back road not far from The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa and offers horse riding tours along the backcountry roads and beaches. Treks operate Monday to Friday with a 2-2 ½ hour morning ride at 10am and an afternoon ride starting at 3pm. Rides go down along the beach, inland up to Papua (Wigmore’s) Waterfall for a swim, then back again. Cost is NZ$40 per person; children under 14 are NZ$25. Bookings essential. Call Aroa Pony Trek on 21 415 for further information.
HOUSEKEEPING
Your room is serviced daily, and Housekeeping is also at your service from 9am to 5pm daily for additional pillows, blankets, towels, room supplies, and valet laundry. Please dial 8023. After 5pm, please contact Front Desk on “0”. If your DO NOT DISTURB sign is out, your room will not be serviced. If you would like to request a room service time, please contact Front Desk.
