HOLIDAY REVIEWS

We loved every minute at this resort. Booked a garden room(the cheapest) and found it quite good...plenty of space and all conveniences. All the staff were excellent and no request was a problem. We enjoyed the activities. Special mention to the island night, the crab races, fish feeding and snorkelling in the lagoon.
As 2 older ladies in their 50's needing a well earned rest from teaching, this was the ideal spot! There is a good mix of ages-families, honeymooners, older couples, singles, teenagers.

Stayed April 2012, travelled with friends

This was our second time staying at the Edgewater Resort. My partner and I are both high school teachers so the only time we can go on vacation is during school holidays. This pretty much means that places are always busy, however this didn't seem to be an issue at the resort! 

We stayed in a Deluxe Beach Front Room - number 3020. The view is amazing! We were on the third story and had an unobstructed view of the breaking waves and beautiful lagoon below. Our room was massive - there was a queen sized bed and a single bed, as well as a balcony which you could relax on as well as dry togs and towels rather quickly. My favourite thing about this room would have to be the bathroom! It was luxurious! There was an amazing shower with awesome pressure which you could extend so it was high above you which made it feel like you were standing under a waterfall. There was also a massive spa bath which we didn't actually use because it was too hot. Rooms are made up daily. The room also had a jug and fridge which you could use to boil your own water (bottled water is around $7.50 for a big bottle from the resort). 

Snorkelling as always was fantastic at the Edgewater. We took our own gear, but on the first day I borrowed a pair of reef shoes from the activities hut until I bought my own. I would suggest taking your own beach towel as apparently these run out from the resort. 

Breakfast is complimentary and is all you need! There is a choice of cereals, yoghurt, muesli, an assortment of fresh fruit and toast. The resort also provides gluten free bread and gluten free jam. Tea, coffee and different juices are also provided. We regularly ate dinner at the restaurant. The food is good, although can get rather repetitive after a week. The Spaghetti House at the end of the drive way is also good - I would definitely recommend making a booking, especially if you are with a large group. 

The staff at the Edgewater are mostly good. Jowana and Daphne at the restaurant are always lovely, as is Save at the bar. Always have a smile on their faces and if they aren't too busy are up for a yarn. My boyfriend also did a ukelele lesson with the staff at the activities hut. The lesson went for an hour and he came away with a two page handout on how to play etc. Result = a ukelele brought home for him and for my sister's boyfriend! 

Another thing to mention is that the bus that goes around the island drives right up to the reception of the resort. From what we saw, this is the only resort for which the bus service does this! 

All in all, Edgewater is an awesome place to stay and I recommend it!!

Stayed April 2012, travelled as a couple

Stayed for a week and anyone looking for a place to relax and let life slow down would be hard pressed to find somewhere better than here. Staff are amazing and very genuine, food is great with plenty of choice. Aircon was a little noisy but part of having such a great climate. Would recommend to anyone wanting to kick back and relax.

Stayed April 2012, travelled with family

Relax - Raro Style. April 13, 2012

Sorry to read that some people said they didn't have a great experience at Edgewater Rarotonga, because our experience was the opposite. Possibly because we did pay that little bit extra we were given the most fabulous of rooms with magical, unobstructed views over the lagoon. Our room with balcony was very clean and spacious and boasted a good size bathroom with large spa bath. Air conditioning was a blessing because after a day out on the beach snorkelling etc in the hot pacific sun it was bliss to get back to a cool room. The service was excellent, with very friendly and ever willing hotel workers. I would definitely recommend the Edgewater as a cost effective place to stay.

Stayed April 2012, travelled with friends

"More than we expected". April 6, 2012

 We arrived for two weeks in the Cooks, 1 week at Aitutaki and 1 in Raro. We were coming to a family wedding at the Edgewater and was only going to stay there as that was were the wedding was to be held also the family was staying there. By the way this was our fifth visit to Rarotonga. We were very pleasantly surprised by everything at the Hotel. We stayed in a Beachfront Deluxe and found the room fantastic. Our daughter and disabled grand daughter stayed in the room next door. We could not fault the service we received from everyone we encountered. The staff were amazing and they all took great interest in our Grand daughter and her pink plastic motorbike that she rode everywhere! As for the snorkelling in front of the hotel I do not put my face in the water but I saw so many fish that would swim right up to you, it was amazing. All my family snorkelled there and all agreed it was far better that a lot of other places on the Island. The Island night was great and the wedding we attended was beautiful and well organised. So to all the staff thank you from Jane Dave Nikki and Roxy. We would definitely stay there again and probably stay in one of the villas so we could cater for ourselves sometimes.

Stayed March 2012, travelled with family

Great Family Holiday, March 29, 2012

This resort has everything for the family vacation. We went for 2 weeks and had an absolute blast. We were in a family unit that was not attached to the actual resort but with all the resort facilities on call. Our unit was self catering so we could choose to cook ourselves or go the resort restaurant for food. We easily caught the bus into town (it goes around the island both ways) and that was fun coz the locals catch it too so the kids got a taste of local life. There was so much to do at the resort to keep the kids busy or you could do as little as you liked. We hired a car and tripped around running over coconuts and having a blast. We have never experienced freedom like it. We all felt so safe and the kids were free to roam and we didn't fear for their safety. Muri Beach was fantastic. It's on the other side of the main island to Edgewater but easy to get if you don't hire a car. A fantastic beachside bar/restaurant is there also. We hired kayaks for 1/2 a day and had heaps of fun on the lagoon. Again really safe lagoon. A highlight was seeing whales breaching from the outdoor restaurant one lunchtime at the Edgewater - what else could you possibly wish for!!!!

Stayed October 2011, travelled with family

"Has to be one of the best" March 29, 2012

May I take this opportunity to thank you for a fantastic holiday. You must be very proud of your staff. The Housekeepers did a fantastic job, Bar Staff and Restaurant Staff, friendly, efficient and great knowledge of their product. Chefs outstanding, couldn’t fault a meal. Activities Hut Staff, very helpful and friendly. The people that rake the sand every morning, what a fantastic job. The gift store, great variety of stock. Reception staff, friendly helpful and efficient. Always felt safe seeing the security staff floating about. Porters, ready and waiting to help with luggage. Budget Rentals right at hand, Daily activity schedule good variety, Island Night Show, well what could I say about that except, entertaining, educational and very professional. I would highly recommend your resort, the services and amenities are outstanding My Husband and I look forward to seeing you all again in the very near future. On my next visit I will for sure indulge in a pamper afternoon and experience the joys of a massage and hair treatment. Again thanks for a great holiday, and more so, lovely memories Yours sincerely Lynne and Alby Curle.

Stayed March 2012, travelled as a couple

Online Guest Review March 27, 2012

May I take this opportunity to thank you for a fantastic holiday. You must be very proud of your staff. The Housekeepers did a fantastic job, Bar Staff and Resturant Staff, friendly, efficient and great knowlege of their product. Chefs outstanding, couldnt fault a meal. Activities Hut Staff, very helpful and friendly. The people that rake the sand every morning, what a fantastic job. The gift store, great variety of stock. Reception staff, friendly helpful and efficient. Alway felt safe seeing the security staff floating about. Porters, ready and waiting to help with luggage. Budget Rentals right at hand, Daily activity schedule good variety, Island Night Show, well what could I say about that except, entertaining, educational and very professional. I would highly recommend your resort, the services and amenities are outstanding My Husband and I look forward to seeing you all again in the very near future. On my next visit I will for sure indulge in a pamper afternoon and experience the joys of a massage and hair treatment. Again thanks for a great holiday, and more so, lovely memories
Yours sincerly Lynne and Alby Curle

TripAdvisor March 3, 2012

MY SECOND HOME WHEN IN RAROTONGA

I have stayed here four times now over the past 10 years and every time it has always been great. I love the location, that the Resort has everything you need, bike hire, pool, snorkeling and much more. The housekeeping staff are great. Price is very good too

• Stayed October 2011, traveled as a couple 
 

TripAdvisor February 28, 2012

GREAT PLACE, LOVELY STAFF

Really happy with our stay at Edgewater. We had originally booked 2 separate rooms for our group of five (because it was cheaper) but one room had a minor problem so they upgraded us to a villa where we could all stay. We didnt expect that at all so we were ecstatic. The staff helped us move our luggage and made us feel very welcome. The bar and pool area was also great fun with lovely staff. The beach at edgewater is great to swim at. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

• Stayed February 2012, traveled with friends 

TripAdvisor February 15, 2012

GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY, SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

I sent my parents and my Aunty and Uncle to stay at the resort for 5 nights. Prior to this I checked out the resort to check the standards of the rooms they offered and was impressed at the different levels of accomodation they offered from basic to luxury, this would allow a large group with different needs all to stay in the same place. My parents had slight problems when checking in, the resort went out of there way to fix these and continued providing a very high level of service throughout there stay. They could not praise the resort enough on how much of an effort they went to ensure they enjoyed their stay. My parents are all ready planning a second trip to Rarotonga, wanting to stay at the edgewater.

• Stayed February 2012, traveled with family 
 

TripAdvisor February 13, 2012

FABULOUS SERVICE

Although the rooms are quite basic - but very comfortable the service at this property was second to none! Our TV stopped working during our stay and we were upgraded without any hassles. I have also stayed at the Rarotongan Resort and have to say I preferred my time here due to the friendly and laid back staff - well done and keep up the great work!!

• Stayed March 2011, traveled with friends 

TripAdvisor February 11, 2012

 IT WAS EVEN BETTER GOING BACK 

Our daughter was less than impressed that we had taken a holiday while she was at University and to apease her said we would take her when we went back. Well that was sooner than we thought and the three of us took a week at edgewater halfway through December. Beachside villa once again, and yes still comfortable even with 3 adults.

Once again charmed by the laid back friendly people that work in the resort. I thought the restaurants were better this time around, and the centrpiece of this resort, the lagoon had even more fish. You didn't even need a mask to see the variety of tropical fish swimming in water mostly shallow enough to walk in.

We tried a couple of different tours this time. The Te Vara Nui Cutural Village Island Night was really good. Entertaining show and fantastic Island buffet. Having enjoyed Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruise last time we gave Koka Lagoon Cruises a go this time. Chalk and Cheese, if you want to do a lagoon cruise Koka is it. Better commentary, great crew, one of whom is the world coconut climbing champ, unbelievable.

Our highlight of the week would have to be Aitutaki. We took Air Rarotonga's day trip, not cheap, but they packed so much into the day, with transfers, flights, bus tour and a truly outstanding lagoon cruise. Fanatastic snorkelling, Survivor and One Foot Islands, magic.

We will be back

• Stayed December 2011, traveled with family

TripAdvisor January 15, 2012

GREAT STAY!

My fiance and I have just got back from our second trip to Rarotonga in the last few months. This time we stayed at the Edgewater, and were hoping it would live up to the last place we stayed. Well it was even better!

We arrived late afternoon and were checked in promptly. On arriving at our room we were delighted to find we had been upgraded to a beachfront room, which really made our trip. The room was large and bathroom massive, and the view to die for. The only minor things I could complain about were that the pillows were a bit lumpy, but hey if that's the only thing to worry about, then I'm happy.

The resort is older and not the flashiest place I have stayed, but the staff are just fantastic. The pool is not massive for the size of the hotel, but it never felt overcrowded. Mind you, we did go at a very quiet time, so this may be something to think about in high season. Food was good. The tropical breakfast included was adequate with toast, cereals, muffins and fresh fruit.

The hotel also has large villas that share the resort facilities, and I would stay in those if I took the whole family.

On the whole would definitely recommend.

• Stayed January 2012, traveled as a couple

TripAdvisor November 12, 2011

AWESOME PLACE TO STAY!

Bang for buck this place was awesome.

Not a bad word could be said about the work the staff put in to keep the resort tourist friendly, welcoming and well maintained. The accommodation standards are what you pay for. We had two garden deluxe rooms which were cleaned every day, sheets, pillow slips and new towels supplied daily. Themed nights and food topped off a great family rarotongan experience. We will definitely stay there again.

Awesome job team at the Edgewater.

• Stayed November 2011, traveled with family

TripAdvisor November 3, 2011

FIVE NIGHTS IN PARADISE!

We have just returned from five nights in paradise, also known as Rarotonga. The decision to upgrade from a Beachfront Deluxe Suite to a Three Bedroom Garden Villa was a good decision as it gave us more space.

We were in Villa 19 which was in a fantastic location. Directly behind the beachfront apartments, and from the front patio there was a peep of the ocean, and amazing sunsets.

The villa had three large bedrooms - the master bedroom was huge with a good size ensuite and a walk in wardrobe of a similar size. The middle bedroom had a queen bed, and third room had two single beds - all very spacious. The lounge, kitchen & dining room were all open plan and were clean & tidy. Highly recommend these rooms for families.

It was only a short walk to the beach, and a few minutes futher you were in the heart of the resort and its facilities.

• Stayed November 2011, traveled as a family

TripAdvisor October 29, 2011

I’LL BE BACK!
Just got back from Raro today, sleepy and jet lagged but the first thing I had to do was got on here and give Edgewater a great review! We were in the Garden Superior rooms. The rooms very spacious with a tv, fridge and aircon. The aircon was a bit noisy but that was not a problem as the weather was cool. They were certainly not five star but they were fantastic for the price. Very pleasing.

The food at The Brasserie was very good and reasonably priced. I was reluctant to eat at the Spaghetti House but we gave it a go on our last night and I could not have been more pleased. It was the best meal I'd had the entire trip!

Mal's bar had a good range of drinks and more than one evening was spent sitting on the beach, cold beer in hand watching the sun set over the reef.

The island nights are not to be missed. The buffet had a good variety of local delicacies and regular buffet fair and the drummers and dancers were fantastic!

The absolute best thing about Edgewater Resort had to be the staff. The bar and restaurant staff were very friendly, knowledgeable and always happy to have a chat.

I will definitely be back to Rarotonga and when I do, I will be staying at Edgewater!

• Stayed October 2011, traveled with family

TripAdvisor October 26, 2011

FANTASTIC!
We were extremely lucky to find ourselves upgraded to a beachfront villa.The HOUSE was just fantastic.2 guest bedrooms with a bathroom. Full sized lounge. FULLY equipped kitchen. dining room a lovely back deck area for the REST of the familly.My wife and I got ourselves our own HUGE room with its own bathroom and a huge walk in wardrobe. The view out of the house was straight into the lagoon-ie stunning.

The airconditioning was cold and efficient.

The staff right from the first e mail contact were freindly and helpfull. The continental breakfast each morning was great and the kids meals were great.

Despite comments from other visitors we felf the one pool was just fine.

The only issues we had were just logistical. In exchange for the lovely house we had a fair ol walk to the resort centre. -Heck hardly a bad trade off

Will we be back? yep :-)

• Stayed October 2011, traveled with family

TripAdvisor October 24, 2011

EDGEWATER RESORT, RAROTONGA!
Great location, excellent snorkelling (plenty of fish), great atmosphere, friendly staff.

Great options for full serviced or self contained. Our Beachfront Villa had a beautiful view.

We also had our wedding on site which was easy to plan and went exactly as we wanted (including being blessed by the heavens).

We will definitely be back again.

Room Tip: Check for upgrades available

TripAdvisor October 11, 2011

A GREAT HOLIDAY & WEDDING
We stayed at the Edgewater for 14 days in September for our Wedding and Honeymoon.

It was everything we hoped for and more. We were upgraded to a very spacious VIP suite on the beachfront and had a perfect view of the lagoon, of which we snorkelled alot. We also saw whales nearly every evening while sitting in the brassierie which was such a treat.

The staff were always friendly, especially to our 2 year old daughter, and the food was always good.We particularly liked the pizzas from the Spaghetti house and the wide range of foods available for the buffet breakfast.

Our wedding was so amazing, thanx to our awesome wedding planner, with no major hiccups. The day went smoothly and all of our guests(who also stayed at the resort) had a great night. The ceremony was beautifully set up, the string band played beautifully, our photographer was 5 star. I have to mention the amazing staff at the salon and spa, especially Sanil who calmed my pre wedding nerves with his great ideas and confident abilities with my hair and make up. The reception was set up exactly how we wanted and the buffet dinner so yummy!

Overall, our whole stay at the resort was like a dream for us. We will definately be staying there again.

Rach, Marsh & Maia Wheoki AUS

• Stayed September 2011, travelled with family

TripAdvisor October 5, 2011

OUR 11th STAY AT EDGEWATER
We have stayed at the Edgewater 11 times now. This year we were entertained for hours watching whales play in the ocean. We watched the whales from the Edgewater Resort, incredible views.

Why we keep going back to the Edgewater; first and foremost is their friendly staff, they are always smiling and willing to assist you in any way they can. The food is great, their Islands Nights are a must see. The rooms are clean. The Edgewater continues to improve and update their facility. The Edgewater is our tropical paradise, and we are booked again for our 2012 visit. Thank you for always making our vacation memorable.

Jeff M Gunter

Idaho, USA

Room Tip: Any beach front room is incredible

• Stayed September 2011, travelled as a couple

TripAdvisor October 5, 2011

FELT GREAT TO BE BACK AT THE EDGEWATER
This was our 3rd trip to Rarotonga and 2nd time staying at The Edgewater. I honestly can not see us staying anywhere else in the future, as it just has too many positives about it.


The location is easily the best on the whole Island, from my point of view, and for a number of reasons:

It's just 5 mins from the airport, so you can be settled in soon after arriving on the plane and in the water or sitting at the bar in no time.

Although so close to the airport (which is great for watching the odd huge plane come in on final), The Edgewater Resort is still located in its own space. What I mean is it's not sitting in the middle of town or surrounded by other resorts all sharing the same beach. That's one of the absolute BEST things about it, because while The Edgewater has its own beautiful stretch of beach and sort of feels like it's on its own island, there ARE a number of resorts within easy walking distance. This gives you the variety of being able to walk down the road or beach to another nearby resort for their cocktail happy hour and taste other dishes.

Aside from nearby resorts to visit, some of the best restaurants are also within easy walking distance (I'm talking 2-5min walk) along with a convenience store to stock up on supplies.

Another huge positive for The Edgewater's location, is how the sun sets directly in front. While other parts of the island are dark by the time happy hour rolls round, you are able to grab some cocktails/food, get a table or recliner on the beach, and watch the sun slowly go down. And the sun sets are truly one of the most beautiful things you will ever see.

This trip, we saw 3 different weddings at The Edgewater and watched the bride/groom having photos done on the beach in front of the setting sun, and I just don't know how you could do better than that!

Still on location, for some reason the humpback whales choose to stop and play just outside the reef in front of The Edgewater. They swim round the island all day and come back at sunset to play. It's one of the ways you can tell who has just arrived at the resort, from the open amazement people show.

You can often watch the whales playing, while eating breakfast at the restaurant, which brings me to my next point of 'food'!

I really enjoyed the free daily breakfast. As well as eating as much toast/cereal as you like, they had fresh coconut/pawpaw/banana etc. Lots of fresh juice flavours. The restaurant/bar has lovely food too, as well as some delicious cocktail flavours. The resort also owns ‘The Spaghetti House’ restaurant, located on the road side entrance to the resort. Of our 9 nights there, we ate there twice and got take-aways on another night. It’s the only restaurant we have been to on all three trips to Raro.

Now, some people complain that Rarotonga is expensive for food/cocktails etc. But the thing is, while my large pizza cost me $20, it was so huge that I could only get halfway through it, so that was lunch sorted for the next day. And though the normal price for a cocktail was $18, they were $10 during happy hour (4-6pm). In New Zealand I normally pay $15-$20 for a cocktail and that’s not on a remote tropical Island. Anyway, the food was fantastic and I felt well priced, especially considering you are on a tropical Island in the middle of the ocean.

The final thing I would mention about location is the lagoon. For comparison, over the 3 trips, I have visited every spot on the Island considered to be great for snorkelling. I have also dived just about every dive spot outside the reef (refer to the new review I will do shortly for ‘The Dive Centre). Some spots are good, but have strong currents through parts of them. Others are good for swimming because of the lack of coral, but the fish live in and around the coral. So you need good coral areas, if you want to see lots of different fish.

I found out on our last trip that the lagoon at The Edgewater had been made an official marine reserve. So now the fish population and variety is amazing. The best part on the whole Island I have found for snorkelling, is just to the right of the bar area at The Edgewater, if you are in the water and facing the shore. The water is a bit deeper and while there is heaps of coral and therefore HEAPS of fish, there are nice wide paths for navigating through the coral. It was like being in an underwater city.

While The Edgewater has a variety of room types, this time we travelled with friends and so chose to stay in one of the 3 bedroom beach front villas. The place was spotless and the bathrooms were very modern with glass bench tops, glass shelves, etc. The lounge had a large flatscreen TV, and the place had a full kitchen. And being on the second storey, the view was incredible as you were looking right over the beach. What a life, just sitting on the deck (the place had 2 decks so you could have sun or shade) with drink in hand, looking out over the ocean.

Like 99.9% of the people in Rarotonga, The Edgewater staff are wonderful. I have had the odd experience in the past where the service didn’t feel so warm, but I chose to try extra hard to be friendly and get to know the staff member a bit and it makes ALL the difference.

There was one girl in particular who remembered us from last year and you just could not fake her natural smile. She was genuinely happy to see us and couldn’t make us feel more welcome.

The little old lady working in the gift store inside the resort called me ‘sweetheart’ and smiled naturally, and again you just can’t fake that.

The Edgewater has a ‘Budget Rentals’ right next to reception, and they now even do ‘on-site’ practical tests for your scooter license, which is extremely handy.

After walking everywhere for most of the trip, we got a nice Suzuki Swift for a few days, to visit and snorkel other parts of the Island.

The Edgewater has heaps of activities like ‘Crab Racing’ and is also close to the golf course.

Overall, The Edgewater is a fantastic place to stay in Rarotonga and I can’t wait to be back there a third time 

Jacob

Room Tip: The beach front rooms and the 3 bedroom villas are perfect!!!

• Stayed September 2011, travelled with friends

TripAdvisor October 3, 2011

ANOTHER WONDERFUL HOLIDAY
We stayed for 12 days in Sept 2011, this was my 4th holiday at the Edgewater, my husband has actually stayed there 10 times. The resort offers a wide range of accommodation to suit every budget. We booked one of the Beachfront Deluxe rooms which has a wonderful view of the lagoon. The staff were once again very friendly and welcoming. The revamped Spaghetti House restaurant was particularly good, and we again enjoyed the Island Night dinner and cultural show. The continental breakfast didn't disappoint - lots of fresh pawpaw, water melon along with other fruit, cereals and freshly baked bread, muffins. The main restaurant meals were also very good. The lagoon was alive with fish when we went snorkelling, and it was wonderful to see the whales just outside the reef. We can’t wait for our next visit. Thanks again to all the staff at the Edgewater, who once again helped make our trip so memorable. Jo and John, Lake Hood, NZ

Room Tip: We highly recommend the beachfront deluxe, and the villas also look very nice if you have a larger group. It is well worth spending the extra money for these rooms, they have wonderful views, and are nice and roomy.

• Stayed September 2011

TripAdvisor September 16, 2011

I DON’T CARE WHAT OTHER REVIEWERS SAID. I ENJOYED MY STAY
I found the staff to be very friendly and if you took the time to talk to them, their input improved my holiday. I note some other reviewers seem to be complaining too much.

Perhaps if they took the time to really relax and not look for faults everywhere, they may have enjoyed their stay more. Everything that you could possibly require was provided and if the TV was too small - why bother to leave home if you only wanted to watch telly?

I could go on, but why bother? The point is, I feel that a holiday is what you make it.

• Stayed September 2011

TripAdvisor September 15, 2011

GREAT ATMOSPHERE, HAPPY HOLIDAYING
We had a great holiday, the atmosphere at the edgewater is great especially for families. The staff are all very friendly. We dined at both the restaurants and found the food very good, nothing flash but it all tasted good, we only had one incident where we had to wait over 1/2 an hour to get served, but we just went to the bar and told someone and were served straight away no big deal. People are right some of the rooms need some TLC but they were very clean and tidy, I was happy with our room and lets face it you don’t spend that much time in your room its really only a place to shower and sleep. Island Night was awesome, food was fantastic. We found all the facilities good. Our daughter loved the Kids Club and the Crab Racing. I would describe the resort as having that relaxed beach atmosphere to it. Just relax people and have fun. Also for those of you who have a sense of humour you must do Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruises.

• Stayed September 2011

TripAdvisor September 6, 2011

ALWAYS A GOOD HOLIDAY!
I have stayed at the Edgewater 3 times and am staying again next week. The Edgewater is an all-rounder hotel and suits all types of people. They have the most amazing 3 bedroom villas either garden view or beachfront view. The villas have 2 bathrooms, lounge, full kitchen, and dining room, front patio and back patio, washing machine also. There Beachfront DLX rooms are my fav rooms and they are huge with massive bathrooms. They also have garden rooms which i have not stayed in before.

If you’re looking for an affordable good holiday you can’t go past the Edgewater as it has everything you could need for a beach holiday. Budget car hire onsite and the public bus comes in also to pick up people.

Good food and awesome happy hour try a fish bowel if you ever go there :)

• Stayed March 2011

TripAdvisor September 5, 2011

FANTASTIC LOVED STAYING AT THE EDGEWATER!
Just came back from a great 7 day stay. Stayed in a garden room. We will be coming back. The rooms were kept clean thanks to the good house keeping. Next time we come we will try one of the lovely Beach front Deluxe rooms. Can see us sitting there when the sun goes down Sipping on a nice glass of wine or two.

We had a lovely night at the Island Night. The entertainment was first class. As was the food.

Had a lovely dinner for Father’s Day also. The hotel is so handy to restaurants.

Probably the only small complaint is that we had the bottom unit so we could hear everything that goes on upstairs. People using the toilet etc. Still that is something that you just have to put up with. No big deal. Other than that it was lovely and quiet. The gardens are kept nice and was a pleasure to walk around the grounds.

Look forward to being there again soon.

• Stayed September 2011

TripAdvisor September 3, 2011

FAMILY HOLIDAY MUCH ENJOYED BY ALL WE WILL BE BACK!
Our family which includes a 6 & 8 year old thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Edgewater.

We found the coconut kids club amazing the kids wanted to go all the time they had many options available such as drawing, trampoline, coconut painting, crab hunts, crab races, making raro watches, weaving, computer games, movie night was a hit for all as we could go for dinner and relax and they had a great night in......

The activities hut had many options such as: crab hunts/races, tennis, sarong making & tying, fish feeding, coconut show, snorkel gear & tour....

Breakfast was included with choices such as toast, cereals, muffins, fruits, yoghurt, juices, tea, coffee great to keep you going.

With regards to lunch/dinner meal costs we did think the quality could have been a little higher.

It's a great location walking distance to many nice restaurants, dairy, petrol station, handy to get to main town if required, bus goes right from the door, parking on site, in room safes, on site bookings for cars & tours etc....

Loved cocktail hour midori splice was the favourite, you could sit back relax and watch the whales go past.

All the staff from kids club, activities hut, reception, breakfast, cleaners, security were all friendly, efficient and helpful.

This hotel has many rooms & pricing options available to suit all budgets, the light on our patio was out the next day maintenance repaired it no problems, room is clean & tidy was quite adequate for our stay.

We can't wait to return and would definitely stay again.

• Stayed August 2011

TripAdvisor August 25, 2011

FABULOUS AND LOVE IT - WE WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR!
We love it!! Had to the best time and the 2 kids enjoyed themselves so very much. Excellent place to relax and enjoy our time. We attended both island nights and enjoyed them tremendously. We will surely be back again next year and can't wait.
Room Tip: We had a party of 6 including 2 children and the Villas were a great option plenty of space for them

• Stayed in August 2011

TripAdvisor August 21, 2011

FANTASTIC WEDDING VENUE!
We had our wedding there this month. The staff were great and organized everything. So easy and relaxing! Good value and everyone had a fabulous time. The spa staff were great too
• Stayed in August 2011

TripAdvisor August 20, 2011

PARADISE - WE WILL BE BACK FOR A 3rd TIME!
The staff we very friendly and helpful. A big thank you to John, Janice and Sweetheart! These staff are an asset to the Edgewater team. They were very friendly, professional and the two girls did an amazing job looking after the children. I hope you are still playing Maui and the taniwha! All the best and thank you for making our holiday a wonderful one.
• Stayed in August 2011

TripAdvisor August 15, 2011

WE HAD A GREAT TIME – WE’LL BE BACK!
I would recommend the edgewater resort and spa, for families, we had a great time, we went over for a wedding, which was a great location, we had Lagoon view room, which was great the outlook was the pool and ocean, we were in room 207, which was close to everything we needed in the resort, kids club, pool, restaurant, beach (but I do recommend having reef shoes, there is a lot of coral) but it was still great.
We found the best way to get around was to hire scooters, fun for us as well for our daughter aged 4, you could park up easily around the island, which we went to other beaches for a swim as well.
I would also recommend Captain Tama’s cruise, they take you out snorkelling, supplied lunch was great and entertainment was very funny. Cost was well worth the money.
Everyone was very friendly in and out of the resort.
Would go there again
• Stayed August 2011, travelled with family

TripAdvisor August 14, 2011

JUST AWESOME!
We have just returned from another awesome stay at the Edgewater Resort & Spa. We stayed in the 400 block lagoon view rooms room 404. The 400 block is almost right on the beach, against the left boundary of the resort. The rooms are so private and quiet, we fall asleep each night to the sound of coconut palms swaying in the breeze and the waves breaking on the reef.
Our room was immaculately clean, comfortable and maintained each day by housekeeping to a high standard.
Staff are very helpful, a huge compliment to the reception staff, although they were at times under pressure, maintained a positive and helpful approach. It was lovely to see Sabrina again, we met her three years ago.
We can't speak more highly of the Edgewater, they are everything a person would want/need on holiday, we are already planning our next visit in 2012.
Thank you Edgewater for another fantastic holiday, cya in 2012
• Stayed August 2011, travelled as a couple

TripAdvisor August 6, 2011

BETTER THAN EXPECTED!
had not that higher hopes after reading reviews but we needed self-catering accommodation so had little choice in where we stayed. turned out better than we thought with great room-studio apartment- lovely staff-sweetheart, janet, tiki, jonnie and valna and fun activities-snorkelling, fish feeding, coconut show, lei making, walks. Our two children aged 7 and 9 had a ball and were able to swim in the lagoon safely on their own as its not very deep. good variety or fish etc… to see. Lovely sunsets and good amount of sun all day- otherside of island sun goes quick. Resort is a little tired looking and could do with a re-vamp though. Staff good with gluten free for our daughter-well informed.
• Stayed July 2011, travelled with family

TripAdvisor August 3, 2011

BEST STAY EVER!!!!
We went to the resort in 2009 as a family of four. We arrived at raro at 4:00 in the morning still hot! Then as we were getting on to the bus a women greeted us and gave us flowers to hang around our necks. We got to the resort and our room. Beds were hard but we didn't care we were so tired! Woke up the next morning had some BRILLIANT breakfast then spent our day exploring the resort. We loved the beach it was lovely we went snookering but the lunches got a bit boring after a while! Had a lovely stay and did u know it only takes one hour to drive around the island.....
• Stayed September 2010

TripAdvisor July 31, 2011

A MAGICAL PLACE
Friendly helpful staff and a beautiful clean resort. Even though it was school holidays nowhere was crowded. Some days the activities hut ran out of snorkels and fins but if these are returned after 2 hours by everyone this should not happen. I noticed a lot of gear not being used but not being returned either. For serious snorkelers, take your own gear. The bar area could probably do with more staff or better organisation as this was very slow, we walked away on more than 1 occasion. The food was great, very fresh and well presented. I will return.
• Stayed July 2011, travelled as a couple

TripAdvisor July 28, 2011

WE LOVED THE PEOPLE & THE COUNTRY
Had a wonderful time the weather was great. I would recommend this holiday to all who would listen
• Stayed July 2011, travelled with friends

TripAdvisor July 28, 2011

RELAXATION IN TROPICAL PARADISE
My wife and I had a wonderful relaxing time at Edgewater. The staff were all very accommodating and were all endeavouring to make each guest feel welcomed and at home. Great tropical breakfast buffets each morning (cooked also available). The rooms were very clean and well appointed. Located right on the shore of a marine reserve lagoon and facing west for beautiful sunsets. Staff were on site to advise and make bookings for local tours and activities. Friends of guests were also welcomed to visit during the day and evenings. Great selection of foods from the a la carte menu at the resort restaurant.
Highly recommended for a great holiday break.
• Stayed July 2011, travelled as a couple

TripAdvisor July 28, 2011

15th TIME & STILL RETURNING!
We returned for our annual winter break to Rarotonga and in particular, The Edgewater Resort and Spa - and as I've reviewed before, we will be back again! This was trip number 15 and we were no less excited by this holiday than we were on our first. Friends often say 'try somewhere different', but if you strike paradise first time around, why change?'
I love reading other reviews and felt one in particular titled "People Maketh the Place" was so accurate, I could have written it. Definitely the people are the most friendly, happy, willing to please folk I know. The weather is usually to die for and if it rains, so what - it is still warm and usually brief. When we first started going to Raro, we stayed in the Garden Rooms, then moved up to the Beach Front Deluxe Suites and this time we stayed in the Beach Front Villa, as there were 7 of us - what fabulous accommodation! So quiet, spacious, just lovely.
It is great to find a place where loyalty still counts!! We are treated so wonderfully and really appreciate the way the staff go way and beyond to thank us for our custom. Sadly there are not many places in the world where loyalty is still rewarded. So keep going back folks - you will develop long lasting friendships with the local people.
I would like to touch on some of the negative comments that have been made in other reports, while fully realising "different strokes for different folks" applies... it must be extremely hard to keep everybody happy -
1) you provide night-time entertainment - complaint: - if not = too boring - if so = too noisy
2) older accommodation - complaint: outdated, needs repairing and modernising;
they try to fix it - complaint: noise from hammers and tools - too noisy..
3) ants or lizards - for goodness sake you chose an island holiday in the tropics!
4) sea is too rough; weather is not fine enough; I have yet to meet someone who can
control these aspects.
5) stealing - this happens everywhere in the world - they provide safes in your rooms.
6) staff not always smiling - with some of the comments made by some of the tourists - can anyone blame them!! they are human too....
One year we saw a tourist pack a terrible tantrum because she didn't get an 'umbrella on her cocktail'!! yes - this is true. In their typical island humoured style, my one came out next with 3 umbrellas on it and in full view of her!! I loved it but imagine putting up with this day in, day out. They are truly lovely, lovely people and I think, amazing.
I have noticed the prices in general creeping up around this island and totally agree with the comments made on the price of airport transfers to and from The Edgewater - whether by bus or taxi - they are getting very expensive for a very short journey. I believe that Rarotonga is becoming the island of choice within the Pacific now and the prices should be kept at a minimum for things like transfers so visitors have money to spend in other areas such as entertainment and dining etc.
To sum up:- great people; great weather; great snorkelling; great food; great accommodation; great value - why not choose The Edgewater, Rarotonga!!!!
• Stayed June 2011, travelled with family

TripAdvisor July 28, 2011

OUR HONEYMOON WAS VERY SPECIAL
Thank you for such a special time at your lovely resort. We are thinking of renewing our vows again next year on our 20th anniversary at Edgewater resort and bringing our friends with us. It took 19 years to have a honeymoon but it was worth it. We thoroughly enjoyed the accommodation, food and such caring staff that were all very friendly. Can see why Rarotonga is known as the friendly islands. Have already convinced fellow workmates to book now. Thank you again and see you next year.
Room Tip: Garden rooms are clean, comfortable and ocean view rooms are exceptional.
See more room tips
• Stayed July 2011, travelled as a couple

TripAdvisor July 27, 2011

ONE OF OUR BEST EVER HOLIDAYS

This was our first trip to the Pacific Islands and we had one of our best ever holidays. The holiday didn't get off to the best of starts due to Pacific Blue cancelling our flight after checking in so we arrived at Edgewater a day late and our villa, due to the flight problems, wasn't available. However, Edgewater were fantastic. They put us in an ocean view room for one night (our first venture onto the balcony was rewarded by a display by two whales just past the reef, coming out of the water, tails up, what a view), gave us a very generous credit to spend in the resort and upgraded our breakfasts each day. The villa we stayed in was good; spacious, clean and new looking kitchen and bathroom fittings and decent TV. It was away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurant/pool area so very peaceful. The cockerel will wake you if you enjoy a good lie in though. I thought it added to the Cook Islands experience and acted as a good alarm call. I agree with many other visitors' comments concerning the staff. They are helpful and cheerful, apart from one lady behind the bar making cocktails who was rather grumpy at 'happy hour' but she just made us laugh. The resort, despite its large size, was ideal for us. It had a good choice of food, great snorkelling, awesome views, convenient bus pick up, tour/vehicle hire booking office on site and plenty of daily activities. We hired scooters from the on-site office and had a brill time buzzing around the island. A must do.
• Stayed July 2011, travelled with family

TripAdvisor July 26, 2011

RELAXATION & FAMILY FRIENDLY PLUS!
I went for my brother’s wedding with a broad range of ages of family members and a 5 year old in tow! Accommodation in the standard garden room is minimal however there is not much time to see the inside of this anyhow. The resort is fantastic for families of all ages providing activities on site all day, tennis courts, snorkelling gear straight to the lagoon, happy hour, restaurant onsite and included for tropical breakfast to satiate the appetite, budget rental car on site and bus service for island stops here! By the 3rd day on first name basis with staff and fully assimilated into island life! The wedding was beautiful and we met some great other guests as well! I am definitely rebooking ... Hopefully for another week in a month! Bring water in your checked in luggage in bulk sizes ... As tap water is not potable and resort charges a little bit higher than usual for bottled water! Otherwise enjoy!! And relax ...
• Stayed July 2011

TripAdvisor July 24, 2011

AN AWESOME HOLIDAY
Both my husband and I enjoyed our first time trip to Rarotonga and we found the Edgewater Resort to be fabulous. We couldn't understand some of the negative comments we had read our we couldn't fault our time there beside it was to short. Our flight was supposed to arrive at 10pm and instead it was 5am the next day and the resort staff were there with smiling faces and ensuring everyone was happy and settled. All staff were helpful and catered to all of our needs and explained the does and don't of the Island well and all of the tours they recommended we do were wonderful. We would recommend it to anyone and will stay again!!!! Thank you for a fabulous time and trip. Kevin & Sharon Shaw from Taumarunui.
• Stayed July 2011, travelled with friends

TripAdvisor July 19, 2011

WE LOVED IT AND WILL BE BACK!
Our first trip to Rarotonga and it was fantastic. We couldn't fault anything. The staff were really friendly and helpful, just lovely people. The food was great, loved all the fresh fruit at breakfast. The meals we had were all yum. Our beach front room was all we could want comfortable, clean and what a view. The beach and the snorkelling were fantastic. We were told of other places to snorkel and tried them out, but they were not as good as what we saw in the lagoon at Edgewater, we just loved the whole experience. A huge Thank you to all the fantastic friendly people that made our trip so Great. RELAX AND ENJOY Barb and Leanne
• Stayed June 2011, travelled as a couple

Tripadvisor July 19, 2011

PEOPLE MAKETH THE PLACE!
Edgewater is more about the people who run and manage the facilities than the facilities themselves. Any reader of TripAdvisor would have picked up that the resort is perhaps a little tired in places but it would seem that there is an on-going maintenance plan to sort that plus new buildings are evident.
Our Garden Superior room was fine and exactly what I expected after reading TripAdvisor prior to the holiday. Everything we needed and daily servicing.
The key to this pace would be the staff and the way they look after guests. .
In my case with my son on holiday for ten days there we found the team to be first class and friendly. Reception in the early hours of the morning or outbound in the evening (on the weird flight schedules in Rarotonga) with Putara and Dallas was quick and efficient - particularly when one just wants to get to bed, or depart and get to the airport.
A cut on the coral the first day saw immediate first aid assistance and a tube of ointment thrown in for good measure (Sweetheart). The folk at the Activities Hut (Tiki and Bob) made all comers welcome, were well briefed on amenities and ensured they received towels and snorkelling gear when requested. The hospitality and catering team were also very friendly despite the multitudes of guests in the resort during our stay. It is the largest resort on Rarotonga.
I never cease to be amazed by how demanding some guests can be over some issues but the restaurant staff always seemed to remain friendly and obliging (Vili)
Curious how some writers talk about the ants. We had some but they are difficult to beat in the tropics and we simply dosed them with Raid. That sorted it out.
A great Island Night on Tuesday which introduced us to the songs, dances and mood of the Cook Islands. We had been to Tonga the previous year and seen something similar but this entertainment was uniquely Cook Island and entertaining.
A wedding reception on the Thursday night had me ready to ask for a nights refund as I said to the resort Reception Staff Ï hadn't paid to be part of someone’s wedding reception for the night'' - but to their credit, the music ceased dead on 11:00 pm.
No doubt that if you want to see and explore the island then best to get a scooter or, as in our case, a superb little Nissan March Hatchback - what fun in the fresh tropical air. All bookings conducted on site.
The Cook Islands were having a major media campaign about 'theft’ in Rarotonga and the damage to tourism and the islands reputation. Security at Edgewater was tight, and well briefed on arrival. It seems, like any other place in the world - you just have to be prudent and practical about security, and also use the in room safe plus keep an eye on your gear when out and about.
One disappointment was making a booking with the on site travel and activity agents for Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruise for a Friday only to turn up ready to go and find that we hadn't been booked for that day. A bit of a peeve given the planning one does for each day, quickly rebooked for the next and got in on that.
If I was the GM of the place I would get the airport transfer company to reduce the exorbitant fee of $30 per person one way. For us that was $120 for two people to get to and from the airport which is five kilometers away!
So the positives; the people, the service, the tidiness, the access to activities, the security, the on site entertainment.
Yes, we would go back there and recommend it.
• Stayed July 2011, travelled with family

TripAdvisor July 12, 2011

KIA ORANA TO OUR EDGEWATER FAMILY – we miss you already!
Our 7 night stay at the Edgewater was fantastic. Our first trip to Rarotonga was made special by the super friendly staff of the Edgewater who were always ready to help and provide top quality service despite at times being rushed of there feet. All staff, especially the wait staff and activities hut boys would always greet you with a smile and joke and deserved a medal on some occasions as there was some pretty rude and impatient people staying there!! OK - It took us a few days to get into, but one thing you have to understand is Island Time - things may not be exactly on time, you may wait a bit longer for your drink or meal but is it really the end of the world people???? You are there on holiday - enjoy the sun, the sand, the water, the music, the people - relish the experience.
Food was awesome - especially on Sunday Buffet and Island Night. Our childrens free meals were great as was the complementary breakfast. Having read a few reviews I am flabagastered - did they stay at the same place???? Anywhere you go in the world there will be a mix of people - families, singles, couples and groups. We all have a different idea of what "fun" is and are at different stages in our life. If you don't want to mingle with others you will have a very miserable time anywhere you go!!!! My last stay was at the Sheraton in London and I would take Edgewater over it anyday!!!! Our favourite thing was the crab hunting and crab racing - I have never seen anything so hilarious in my whole life. Using the kids as hurdles - all the kids screaming as crabs ran towards them - it was soooooo funny I nearly feel of my chair. My son also won $22 in that race so result. Thanks so much for a holiday that we will hold very dear. Already talking about how we can get back there. Kia Orana my Friends - till we meet again. The Jones Family RM 1003
• Stayed July 2011, traveled with family

TripAdvisor July 10, 2011

BEST HOLIDAY EVER!
First trip to Rarotonga could not have been better. Arrived in small hours of the morning to a smiling welcoming face, and this was consistent throughout our stay. The staff made my stay at Edgewater memorable. Meitaki maata!
The room (garden room) did need a bit of an upgrade but serviced daily :)
The island tour nite (pub crawl) was memorable, a lot of laughs and fun, made in particular memorable by Tiki and Johnny and Bob!!
Island night was amazing, and happy hour great! Loved hiring a scooter at the resort and doing a quick test to get a one day license!!
Managed on my last day to cut my leg badly out snorkelling and was given awesome first aid treatment by the awesome Johnny haha - many talents huh!
Would highly recommend to others and can't wait to return soon
Meitaki Maata
• Stayed June 2011, traveled with family 

TripAdvisor July 6, 2011

GREAT RELAXING HOLIDAY
My wife and I are retired. We wanted a relaxing holiday, but with some interesting things to do. We spent 8 days at Edgewater, which we felt was just right. Don't miss Raro Safaris, and Captain Tama's Lagoon Cruizes. The Island Night had great food, and very enthusiastic and energetic dancing and drumming. Great to be part of, but a bit noisy for anyone trying to sleep. Will return.
Room Tip: Is right on the beach, so not much difference between rooms.
• Stayed June 2011, traveled as a couple

TripAdvisor July 2, 2011

WE HAD THE MOST WONDERFUL STAY AT EDGEWATER AND CAN”T WAIT TO GO BACK!
Well all I can say is I am so glad we chose the Edgewater. We arrived on June the 17th at 3am very tired and wary of what we might find,(after reading differing reviews on tripadvisor) we were pleasantly surprised to find we had been upgraded to a Deluxe Beachfront Room, what a view it was absolutely beautiful. The room was large with a Queen bed and single bed for our 13 year old son, the bathroom was lovely with a spa bath and huge walk in shower. The room was cleaned, beds made and towels changed daily.
I can't praise the staff enough from the cleaners to the gardeners to the great restaurant staff supervised by Tai a big thank you for making our holiday so enjoyable, I mustn't forget Johny and Tiki from the activities hut who were ready with a smile and a joke every morning.
We enjoyed everything about the Edgewater and would reccommend it to anyone wanting a fun relaxing holiday.
We got home a couple of hours ago and I just had to get on here to put the record straight. If you want a relaxed holiday amongst the lovely people of Rarotonga stay at the Edgewater I'm sure you will not be dissapointed. We are already talking about our next trip to the Edgewater Resort and Spa.
• Stayed June 2011, traveled with family

TripAdvsior July 1, 2011

WE WILL DEFINITELY BE RETURNING!
My husband & I had such a wonderful time, the staff were helpful & so very friendly. A perfect place to just sit back & relax. Having the activities daily were a good way to learn more about how sarongs & Ei are made as well as alot of other things. We certainly felt like royalty & will be planning our next holiday back there with family & friends
Room Tip: Lagoon view was the best
• Stayed June 2011, traveled as a couple

TripAdvisor June 28, 2011

OUR BEST FAMILY HOLIDAY YET!
Hopefully I can offer an honest opinion as I know how helpful these reviews can be. We are a family of six so to get a relaxing holiday is very unusual for us but having just got home I am already missing happy hour and the feel of the sand between my toes. I think you have to be clear with the reviews for the rooms in that you get what you pay for. We went with the very basic package as all we need a room for is to sleep and wash ourselves, the less time we spend in the room the more we spend in the beautiful lagoon and surrounding areas...my wife had a look at the beachfront villas and was really impressed. Saying that our room was clean and comfortable and the maid was forever making sure we had clean towels etc. Our children's ages range from 12-7 and they loved the kids club mainly due to the fantastic ladies who looked after them at the Coconut club. The other entertainment staff were also excellent as we have all learnt new skills ranging from splitting coconuts, creating raw fish dishes, how to tie a sarong and being able to make hats and plates from flax....one of the holiday highlights was the "crab race" which was pure genius. All the staff were ever so friendly and we had smiles on our faces all holiday long. Our flights were cancelled by Pacific Blue..this meant an extra couple of days at the resort really not knowing when/how we would get home or how we would manage as we hadn't budgeted for this inconvenience....The Edgewater management immediately offered us help with food and soft drinks and guaranteed that we would have a room for as long as we needed. If we ever go back to Raratonga then there will be one place where we will be staying and that is the Edgewater....
• Stayed June 2011, traveled with family

TripAdvisor June 28, 2011

REALLY LOVED IT!
Well, seeing some of the negative reviews posted I wasn't sure what to expect, but I've got to say I'm really surprised at what people were complaining about!
It almost seems like we were at at two different resorts. We have nothing but praise for the Edgewater!
Checking in at 12.30-1.00am isn't easy at any hotel, but there was no drama with us at all. Travelling with a little one sometimes can be draining, especially with different time zones to contend with, but the night concierge was lovely to us.
We were checking in without about 10 other people at the same time, from different parts of the world, and he was lovely and patient to all of them. We received an upgrade from a garden superior room to a beachfront view room. Delightful and totally unexpected!!
The room had a Queen size bed and a single bed, perfect for our very tired 4 year old!With a hair drier in the bathroom (I didn't need to bring my own) tea and coffee making facilities and a fridge, wonderful cold water, air conditioning, TV, telephone were just the things we needed to relax and unpack before falling into bed.
Breakfast the next morning was a Continental one, with 6 or 7 different types of cereal & muesli, yoghurts, beautiful fresh fruit (love the coconut and local bananas!), 4 different types of bread, great for a little one who loves multigrain - not just white bread, muffins and little cakes Master 4 saved for later.
Eating breakfast outside near the pool with a fantastic view of the lagoon and sun shining, what better way to start the day? We then went and fed the fish, with lots of laughter from Master 4, who wanted to go fishing seeing as how 'the fish were right there waiting for us!'
Tiki, the events manager, told us how to get around on the buses and what times they run, He also told us where to go in town for snacks and drinks for our little one, alcohol for the big ones, where to go to the weekly markets and some other tours to take. He also told us about the activities the Edgewater had, the Kids Club - huge hit for our little one (and us big ones when we wanted to go snorkelling), making flower leis and making my own sarong.
Master 4 loved the Kids Club He painted his own coconut, got to 'bury it so it'll grow big', got his face painted and explored the resort with his own 'girls', then spent days running around saying 'maya maki mama' - his version of Meiataki Maata or thank you.
When we ate lunch or dinner by the pool, the kids meals and our meals were really nice. I especially liked the smoked salmon fettucine, while we all pigged out at Island Night and got stuck into the Edgewater special, Bomb Alaska. YUM!
My husband and I liked seafood night with the local fish being barbequed and all the salads and desserts at the buffet. I had never tried Iki Mata until then and it was really delicious. We learnt how to make it from the guys at the pool one afternoon.
We've been to tropical islands before, so a few geckos don't bother us and Master 4 thought they were funny watching him eat at night and trying to make sure they didn't take his chips!
We had a fantastic time, swimming, snorkelling, travelling around the island and shopping at the markets. All the staff were friendly and funny, laughing with Master 4 and making sure he had a good time, just like we did.
I'd recommend the Edgewater any time. We're planning to go back when Master 4 is a little older, there's more to see and do in the Cook Islands than we managed in a week.
We loved the Edgewater and would stay here any time and will when we return.
• Stayed March 2011, traveled with family

TripAdvisor June 26, 2011

RELAXING & FRIENDLY!
This was my first trip out of NZ and we stayed at the Edgewater Resort. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. The room we had was very well maintained and serviced every day. Air conditioning if needed and a small area to sit outside each room.
The island night is a must to see and the theme nights are excellent.
Happy hour at Mal's bar is a great way to meet people and try a variety of cocktails.
• Stayed June 2011, traveled as a couple

TripAdvisor June 22, 2011

GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY – WOULD HESITATE TO RETURN!
We recently returned from a six night family holiday at the Edgewater and couldn't understand at all the negative opinions we had read or heard from others. We were extremely pleased, in fact pleasantly surprised, by the resort. We found staff to be friendly and helpful - didn't come across anybody unpleasant at reception. The only error we encountered was when we were mistakenly charged for 7 nights rather than for 6 nights with a late check-out as requested, but this was quickly amended. The room service lady came around to our room promptly every morning to service it and replace towels. The Garden room was spacious and adequate enough for a family of four to share and we had no complaints given the special deal price that we paid, which we thought was extremely good value. Sure there were a few small ants and geckos around but that's to be expected on a tropical island. The only complaint about the
Garden room was that it was maybe a bit old and tired with a bit of mould on the interconnecting dividing doors, but still great value for money. Breakfast was more than adequate with a good choice of cereals and toast spreads. The pool was big enough and was never over-crowded and the lagoon/beach area next to the outdoor seating area and pool was really beautiful. The children were never short of entertaintment with plenty going on and we enjoyed the music and singing in the evenings. Food at the Spaghetti House was nice and reasonably priced and we found the prices of food on the Children's Menu and the "lighter choices" menu at the Brassiere Restaurant fairly economical as well. Restaurant and bar staff were always polite and friendly despite being often rushed off their feet. We saw plenty of fish in the lagoon, although it did get a bit rough and tidal towards the end of our stay, probably reflecting a bad weather system out at sea. All in all we wouldn't hesitate to go back if similar prices are on offer next year.
My only other complaint would be that if you are wanting a place to stay that is quiet every night then this would not be for you. The music on the Island Theme Nights and during wedding parties is quite loud and can be heard word for word in most rooms until about 11pm. This could present a problem for those with young children needing an early night or for those exhausted from coming in on late night/early morning flights.
Room Tip: If you want a microwave or spa bath then upgrade
• Stayed June 2011, traveled with family

TripAdvisor June 17, 2011

 RELAXING!
We had a awsome time at the edgewater resort. We stayed at the edgewater for 7 nights and it was so relaxing. The entertainment was awsome and all the staff are very friendly.
I would recomend this place to all my friends and family. My hat goes off to all the staff at the edgewater resort
• Stayed June 2011, traveled as a couple

WEDDING REVIEWS