Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.
Nautilus Resort is setting the standard in luxury accommodation. A tranquil boutique beachfront resort, this 4.5 Star hotel is located on the beach overlooking the heavenly Muri Lagoon. Embracing Polynesian architecture and decor The resorts 17 Are' (villas) are scattered amongst lush tropical gardens, are nestled right on the beachfront, have breath-taking lagoon views or look out onto Rarotonga's dramatic rain-forested cloud capped mountains. The resort premium accommodation plus the Polynesian Spa, opulent waterfront dining and bar Nautilus Restaurant, all ensure the quintessential Rarotonga resort vacation experience. Offering space enough for families and honeymooners alike, Nautilus Resort, Rarotonga will be the premier choice for discerning travellers seeking serenity and tranquillity amid natural tropical beauty who want to discover one of the world's most desired tropical destinations in exclusive style.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Trendy
Luxury
Location
Main Road Ara Tapu, Muri Beach, Muri 2481 Cook Islands
Nautilus Resort
394 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
We were warmly welcomed upon our arrival and given tropical thirst-quenchers while the receptionist went through a brief orientation about the hotel and its amenities. While the area television stations weren't available, who goes to paradise to watch TV? We had a beachfront bungalow, and the plunge pool was a real treat during sunny days (especially if there are children at the main pool). The room itself was spacious, and the bathroom equally luxurious, with a slipper tub and a walk-in shower. An outdoor shower is also part of the suite, great for rinsing sand off. There is a nice view of the beach, yet enough foliage to prevent beach strollers from watching you on your patio. Breakfasts are plentiful, with something for everyone. Staff, from reception to landscapers to cleaning personnel, were always smiling and friendly. There were beautiful blossoms in our room upon our arrival, and daily we were treated to chocolates/cookies. Everything was done to ensure that we had a sumptuous and spectacular stay and we can't recommend Nautilus enough, for a splurge on Rarotonga. The only caveat to staff: take care when booking a couple ... placing us beside a family using the larger suite next door made us carefully time when we used our pool and patio, as their conversation and music sometimes disrupted the peace and quiet we wanted to enjoy. The beach is a little stony, so reef shoes are a must, and after a storm, the water gets churned up; better snorkelling is available if you kayak either out to the little island in front of the resort, or head off to the left to another beach (and try to arrive when the party boat isn't there having a barbecue). Kayaks, snorkelling gear and paddle boards are provided by the hotel (but life jackets are in short supply).
Read more
Date of stay: March 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â A beachfront bungalow is worth the splurge
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
On a cruise and had overnight in Rarotonga and decided to stay at The resort . Food was amazing and service was fantastic. By the pool and beach during the day we ordered some individual dishes and the taste was better than the food on board Staff very very friendly and nothing to much trouble The beach is absolutely perfect , tropical and clean one of the best resorts I have visited on the world cruise I am on at the moment I would thoroughly recommend this resort or even just the restaurant if you visit Rarotonga
Read more
Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had previously stayed at The Edgewater, which we hated, so this holiday, we upgraded to a better resort and we are so happy we did. We booked a 2 bedroom Garden Room as we were travelling with our teenage children and it was perfect. When we arrived at the resort, we were greeted with a delicious juice and a very warm welcome. The receptionist helped us with our luggage and showed us to our room. It was lovely and cool with the fans and air-conditioning.
2 spacious bedrooms, both with their own bathrooms, a lounge, dining room and a kitchen. Outside had a big deck and a private plunge pool. We used the plunge pool a lot as it was so hot. The bed was probably one of the best I've slept on. The only downside to our room was, whatever they mop the bathroom floors in made the shower floor very slippery, I just placed a bathmat down, problem solved.
We had dinner in the restaurant the first night and it was delicious. Good sized servings and fresh, tasty meals. The breakfasts were good the next morning too with a good selection of cereals, fresh fruit, breads, pastries and hot foods. Juice, water, tea, coffee were all available daily.
Stand up paddleboards, Kayaks and use of snorkelling gear were all available, free of charge though, we bought all our own snorkelling gear. It was beautiful snorkelling around the island off the beach.
We had a spa service of a massage and facial. Unfortunately the massage was much too hard for me and even though I asked several times to go lighter, I left with big bruises on my lower back and my back was very tender for the following 3 days. The facial, however, was divine. We also booked a facial for our 2 children (20yr girl and 14yr boy) and they loved it too and were treated by the staff with respect and caring.
All of the staff were extremely friendly and very helpful. No question was a bother and they were great helping us out. The waitresses in the restaurant were absolutely wonderful.
I seriously can't fault the resort or the staff, it made our holiday magnificent and we can't wait to go back!
Read more
Date of stay: April 2022
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Even the Garden Rooms are very close to the water
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is a fantastic location, everything you could wish for except in our case we were in lock down due to Corona virus in NewZealand. Despite the Island completely shutting down to ensure they didn't get the virus and our worries of how and when we would get home, I've got nothing but positives to say about the resort. The owner (who was also stranded), the recently appointed new management team and the staff were absolutely fantastic going way over and above to make our enforced stay a time to remeber not regret. At a time when we felt alone and abandoned Mary-Ann and Ross stepped up and contacted all relevant parties for us to ensure we were looked after. We became part of their family, we will never forget what they did for us and turned a holiday from hell to one to remember. Accommodation was a villa on the beach with wonderful views over the Muri lagoon, snorkelling and kayaking equipment was provided to make the most of the lagoon and its aquatic wonders. When we were initially refused to fly back home, they provided us with an affordable self contained unit at their sister resort, the Muri Beach, which was to remain open. Once we accepted the situation we were able to enjoy the splendour of the Island and its wonderful friendly people, who went out of their way to make us welcome in these troubled times. Highly recommended
Read more
Date of stay: March 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Villas with no sea view are cheaper but still have the same luxury and only a few extra yards to...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wonderful tropical setting in a mostly un-spoilt island. The staff here are super friendly and helpful, each morning Robie would greet us and look after us for breakfast. Our rooms were spacious and luxurious with a private courtyard including plunge pool. The gardens here are well manicured and tended with a variety of lush flowering variety of shrubs making it a pleasure to stroll through. The Nautilus resort opens up onto the protected lagoon beach where the resort provides snorkeling and kayaks and other equipment to take advantage of the warm clear waters. We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary with a magnificent dinner. The waiters, Tex and Woqa, sang us an Anniversary Song duet to top off our evening. The reception staff, Ari and Robby, were welcoming and efficient in organising our room and anything else we needed. Not the cheapest of places to stay but having said that , you only get what you pay for. Highly recommended for a truly relaxing stay.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Hard to change larger denominations of notes so have plenty of smaller change on hand. Not...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Absolutely a great place to stay in Rarotonga! The location right on Muri beach provides amazing views of the Lagoon and its islands, right from your private sun deck (Beachfront Are rooms) Choice of padded or wicker loungers, or your own hammock makes soaking up the sun a pleasent experience. The room was spacious, luxurious and well maintained. Small touches such as fresh flowers, chess board, and charging stations provided some nice surprises. There was also delivery of sweet treats each night to nibble on, and a refreshing welcome drink at check in. I had a massage at their spa, and it was one of the best massages I've ever had! Super relaxing, and even got a sea salt foot & leg scrub before the treatment that I wasnt expecting. The staff are super friendly and helpful, and are always on hand if you need them. They were all so genuinely welcoming, and you could tell they enjoyed providing such greay service. I was worried about not having much privacy, being so close to the beach, but the strategic placement if trees and shrubs provides some privacy from beachwalkers, without obstructing the amazing view.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Having been to Rarotonga 16 times now, I would still say Nautilus Resort is hands down the best resort on Rarotonga, closely followed by sister resort Muri Beach Resort (Nautilus being luxury and MBR more mid range). Muri Beach being the premium location on the island - apart from the stunning lagoon and beach, there's lots of options for dining and many amenities/activites within walking distance.
Also, Spa Nautilus is one of the best I've been to for massage and we have tried a few. The therapists were excellent and the facility itself beautiful and serene. I thought the pricing was also competitive and would definitely say great value for money for such luxury.
The Nautilus Restaurant is superb. Whether you are staying at the Resort or not I would still recommend to anyone visiting Rarotonga to go there for a meal and you will be blown away by the beauty of the resort and it's restaurant, which is just about in the lagoon and the meals are delicious. Lovely for breakfast, lunch or dinner and great cocktails, wonderful for drinks or cocktails with some of their excellent island fries. Nautilus is also serviced by outstanding staff, many who have been there many years which is always a good sign. The gardens at Nautilus and also Muri Beach Resort are a beautiful sight to behold and really enhance your stay. Not to mention you have a fantastic view of the sunrise from the beach right in front of the resort - or I often jump in a kayak and paddle across the lagoon to watch the sun rise from the water. You can snorkel around the small motu directly off the beach in front of the resort and there's always plenty of fish to see. With stunning views to both the lagoon and the mountains of the hinterland, I reckon Nautilus and MBR are paradise found! Can't wait to go back!
Read more
Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I felt blessed to have spent 7 nights at Nautilus. Our Are was great- clean, spacious, well serviced, 2 outside areas with a plunge pool and most importantly- soft fluffy towels (I often judge a place by the quality of the towels). The pool are was a relaxing space. The restaurant food was delicious but the most impressive aspect was the beautiful staff who unobtrusively supported all of our needs. Mary, Rea and Alisi were stand outs for us but ALL other staff were pleasant and attentive. The restaurant team helped me celebrate my birthday with a surprise dessert which was an added bonus. The Cook Islands are an idyllic destination (about 34 kms around the island on one main road) and Nautilus is very well located to cafes, restaurant and places of interest. Motorbikes or hire cars are an easy essential for visiting many beautiful parts of the island. The resort provides airport transfers- another added bonus. A sensational place for a relaxed stay.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Everything we hoped for right here. Huge rooms to relax in, with comfortable beds, and either rooms with a sheltered private garden, or beachfront sites with incredible sea views. We had both sheltered and sun-drenched loungers for personal use outside our room, plus an outdoor table and hammock. So many options! This resort is small enough to have staff get to know you personally (so friendly), and still remain quiet, peaceful and relaxing. But big enough to have a generous restaurant with lovely menu and fabulous sea views, a large salt-water pool (as well as your own private plunge pools) and great equipment to use for snorkelling and kayaking. Management have clearly noted and responded to some previous feedback - as towels are now huge, fluffy and immaculately clean, and rooms and grounds are cleaned to a spotless level every day. Some appreciated extras include: - huge range of reef shoes in all sizes available, plus snorkels, fins, life jackets - variety of kayaks and SUPs free to grab anytime on the beach - bug spray and coils in each room - for the short period around dusk when mossie are about - ample coffee pods for the provided nespresso machine - freshly baked cookies each night
There is a lovely little island in front of the resort - great to snorkel and kayak around, one side was always sheltered from the wind, for great fish views. Turtles spotted by a lucky few. And saw whales breaching in the distance - from the beachfront and restaurant. Magical!
Shout out to the wonderful staff who were so attentive and friendly, esp with my Mum with her mobility issues. Especially Janet, Justin and Ketut - we'll miss your smiles!! Thanks for making our holiday so special. Hope to return one day!!
Read more
Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â If you want privacy- grab a garden villa. If you want to look out to sea, the beachfront villas...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Raul Valero, General Manager at Nautilus Resort
Responded 31 Oct 2024
Kia Orana, Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, spacious rooms, and thoughtful amenities. It’s fantastic to know our team, especially Janet, Justin, and Ketut, made your stay extra special. We hope to welcome you and your family back to our little paradise someday! Warm regards, Raul & The Nautilus Team
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Where to start! We have just returned from our 8 day holiday here. This was the perfect Resort for myself and 2 adult daughters. We stayed in the 2 bedroom beachfront Are’ which had its own pool set on big verandah which was about 20-30 steps to the lagoon. Lovely and spacious with island style decor. The bathrooms were huge including big deep baths. The deck is large and the perfect place to be first thing in the morning to watch the sunrise, just beautiful. Our Are’ had 2 of its own paddle boards but there are more on the beach and also kayaks. Definitely recommend taking your own water shoes, there is quite a bit of coral and sea cucumbers but once you wade through it all, it becomes quite sandy so good for swimming and snorkeling. And there are Turtles at this point too. The breakfasts are really good with lots of choices. Had dinner twice at the restaurant and both times very good. Recommend the cocktails by the pool. The infinity pool was lovely. All the staff were lovely. Each evening we were given a jar of freshly baked cookies which was a nice touch and yummy. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this Resort and would definitely go back (maybe next year).
Read more
Date of stay: June 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Take Beach (water) shoes for coral.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia Orana,
Yes, we have baby sitters available. You may book them in advance by emailing through to our front office or reservations team - I am not able to leave the email address so please contact via our web page . They will advise you of the terms and conditions.
Meitaki,
Auckland, New Zealand66 contributions26 helpful votes
Either or, you will end up paying for a another night. Or just check out leave your bags with reception and enjoy the bar, beach, restaurants until your flight. They will provide the transport transfer to the airport when it time to check into your flight
There are more places to choose from in the Muri area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$666 - AU$993 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Cook IslandsSouthern Cook IslandsRarotongaMuri
NUMBER OF ROOMS
17
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
