GUEST NOTICE: SEA SURGE EVENT ON RAROTONGA

Kia Orana,

We would like to provide you with an update regarding the high seas event that affected Rarotonga this morning.

Earlier today (Tuesday 5 August on Rarotonga), a handful of rooms and the restaurant experienced water inundation due to unusually high tides and a sea surge. We sincerely thank our guests for their understanding and cooperation as we deal with this situation.

As you may have seen, our Maintenance and Housekeeping teams have been working tirelessly since before dawn to clean and restore affected areas. They will continue until all rooms and facilities are fully operational once again. We are very grateful for their dedication and their commitment to ensuring the comfort and safety of all our guests.

The Cook Islands Government Emergency Management Office has advised that the worst of the sea surge has now passed, following the 7:00am high tide this morning. However, we are closely monitoring conditions, with the next high tide expected around 7:00pm this evening. We will assess the situation again during mid-tide at approximately 4:00pm, based on the latest expert advice.
In addition to guidance from the Government Meteorological Service and Emergency Management Office, we are consulting a number of international scientific and meteorological sources to ensure we remain fully informed. That said, Mother Nature doesn’t always follow predictions, so we are proceeding out of an abundance of caution.
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DINING ARRANGEMENTS
To ensure your comfort and safety:
• Dinner tonight (Tuesday, 5th August) will be served in the Treetops Verandah Room (upstairs) from 5:30pm to 7:30pm.
• We will be offering a SPECIAL BUFFET DINNER for only:
o $NZ 39 per adult
o $NZ 19 per child (3–11 yrs)
o Children 2 yrs & under – Free

BUFFET MENU
Mains & Hot Dishes
• Minute Steak with Mushroom Sauce
• Beef Lasagna - traditional beef ragu with béchamel & parmesan
• Teriyaki Chicken glazed with Honey & Sesame
• Chickpea, Pumpkin & Potato Curry (Vegan Friendly)
• Slow-Roasted Island Vegetables
• Cumin-Scented Basmati Rice
Salads
• Penne Pasta Salad with Sundried Tomato, Feta & Olives
• Garden Salad with Mixed Leaves, Pawpaw & Vinaigrette
Desserts
• Dark Chocolate Brownies
• Tropical Fruit Trifle
• Passionfruit Cheesecake
• Bread & Butter Pudding with Custard
• Upside-Down Pineapple Cake
Please note: À la carte orders will be available but may be delayed by up to one hour. We recommend booking in advance or enjoying the buffet.
• Full Cooked Breakfast Buffet on Wednesday, 6th August (7:00am – 10:00am) will also be served in the Treetops Verandah Room.
Should you have any dietary requirements, please speak to one of our friendly team members.
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ACCOMMODATION PRECAUTIONS
As a precaution, we are preparing additional guest areas with bedding for temporary overnight relocation, should it become necessary:
• The air-conditioned Guest Lounge (just up from Reception)
• The Brandy’s Guest Lounge (past the spa)

If you are staying in a ground floor beachfront room, we kindly recommend:
• Packing your bags in advance, and
• Lifting all belongings off the floor,
just in case relocation becomes necessary. While this is not expected, it is a sensible precaution.
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ACTIVITIES & EXCURSIONS
Due to the current sea conditions, lagoon-based activities around the island, such as swimming with turtles and lagoon cruises are temporarily suspended. However, there are still many wonderful land-based experiences available, including:
• Raro 4WD Mountain Safari Tours
• Circle Island Tour
• Eco Cycle Adventures
• Town visits & shopping excursions
Please call the operators directly or see Reception for assistance in booking.
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We're Here to Help
Our team is monitoring the situation 24/7 and doing everything possible to ensure your comfort and safety.
If you have any concerns—or would prefer to relocate to one of the upstairs guest lounges—please contact Reception at any time.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding during this unusual sea surge event. We remain fully committed to making your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Kia Manuia,
Mr Akuila Kula
Resort Manager

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THE RAROTONGAN’S GUEST ACCESS POLICY  

To ensure the privacy, comfort and security of our in-house guests, access to The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium and all its facilities & services is strictly reserved for registered guests only.

This includes:
• Restaurants, Bars, Island Night & Guest Lounges
• Swimming Pool
• Beach Sun Loungers, Stand-Up Paddle Boards, Kayaks & Snorkelling Gear
• Activities Programme, Games Room, Gym, Tennis & Beach Volleyball Courts
• Moko Kids Club & Little Dolphins Mini Water Park
• SpaPolynesia
• Resort Gardens & Grounds
• All other Resort Amenities & Services
NO BEACH ACCESS VIA RESORT.
Day Passes not available.
Staff on-site, Security Officers & Cameras operating 24/7.
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Visiting a Guest?
Meeting someone staying with us, or attending a wedding or event? Please visit Reception, where our team will register you as their guest for the day.
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Interested in Staying With Us?
We welcome prospective guests for guided site inspections, available Monday to Friday at 4pm by appointment.
Please contact us in advance to schedule your visit.
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Local Residents & Te Arakura Landowners
Ask us about our special local accommodation rates:
Email: reservations@therarotongan.com
Phone: (+682) 25 800
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Meitaki Ma’ata!
Thank you for helping us maintain a peaceful and private paradise for our guests.

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COVID-19 POLICY 

The Cook Islands Government currently has no COVID-19 restrictions for visitors entering the Cook Islands.  However, as a responsible visitor, we do ask that guests complete a COVID-19 test before coming to the Cook Islands.  

If you test positive for COVID-19 we would ask that you reschedule your visit.  For guests that start to show COVID-19 symptoms after arriving in the Cook Islands, we provide COVID-19 RAT tests at Reception.  

We ask that any guests that do test positive for COVID-19 to let us know via Reception, self isolate in their rooms, to wear a face mask and maintain a two metre distance from others when out of the room , order room service for meals and vacate their room for housekeeping service.