Having previously stayed in the Vaima'anga district, we were curious to experience Muri Beach, with its wider range of day and night dining options. Moana Sands Lagoon Resort turned out to be a good choice — though it may not suit everyone.
• It’s an adults-only resort, and during our stay, most guests were older (in age, not spirit!). Just shy of 50 ourselves, we were surprised not to see more younger travellers — it would make a great honeymoon spot.
• Some reviews mention a lack of atmosphere, and we’d agree, to a point. There’s only music when the restaurant/bar is open, and even then, it doesn’t reach the full pool area — which made it feel more tranquil than necessary. A better sound system with wider coverage could help lift the afternoon vibe. That said, noise from passing party boats still carries in — so some light background music wouldn’t go amiss.
• The beach is rocky, so reef shoes are a must.
• Taking the kayaks out requires a bit of effort. It took about 30 minutes to paddle a 2-person kayak around Taakoka Island. If we’d brought something to secure the kayak, a quick swim would’ve been great — though the island itself is rocky, not sandy.
• We only saw two kayaks available, so it seems it’s not a popular activity among guests.
• The included breakfast is adequate but basic: three fruit options (orange, pawpaw, coconut), two cereals, bread with spreads (jam, Vegemite, peanut butter). Adding croissants or muffins — like other resorts in the area — would be a welcome upgrade.
Despite those points, the rooms are spacious and cleaned meticulously each day. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort and worked reliably during our stay. The gardens are well maintained. I was concerned about mosquitoes, but daily use of repellent (especially since dengue mosquitoes bite during the day) worked well. Mosquito coils and spray are also provided in-room.
One of the standout features of the resort is the spectacular sunrise views. All rooms face towards the beach, so you can literally watch the sunrise from bed. It’s far better to step just outside your doors and soak it in - a quiet, peaceful way to start the day.
Maintenance staff are up early each morning, watering the grounds and preparing the common areas for guests. Foot baths placed throughout help keep sand out of the pool and rooms. There's also a generous supply of clean snorkelling gear and reef shoes available if needed.
However, for the best snorkelling, you’ll need to head further afield — Black Rock and the Rarotongan Beach Resort are top spots. Hiring a car is a must if you want the flexibility to explore. It makes getting to snorkelling beaches, picking up groceries or bakery items, and dining at local favourites like Takitumu Tapas much easier.
Being close to Muri, the night markets are a short walk away. We skipped them this time, as we were quite impressed with the on-site Laguna Restaurant. Like OTB, they offer a $69 three-course menu. Having dined at both restaurants on this trip, we found Laguna offered more variety — the lamb was excellent, and we shared a fabulous pavlova dessert.
For something a little more special, we highly recommend dining at Nautilus Restaurant, just a 12-minute walk away. Take care walking along the road after dark!
Breakfast starts at 8am, but for early flights, they’ll prepare a takeaway tray. We had a 9:10am flight to Sydney and needed to be at the airport for 7:00am — just ask the restaurant the day before.
Special mention must go to the team at Laguna Restaurant — Va and ‘Ma’ brought warmth and personality to the resort. The housekeeping and maintenance teams keep the resort spotless, and their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed — but they’re largely behind the scenes. Surprisingly, reception staff weren’t very visible either.
If ew ever return to Rarotonga, we would definitely consider staying again.
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