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Arcadia Lodge is an historic (c 1902) house with magnificent views of one of the most beautiful bays in New Zealand's Bay of Islands. The style of the lodge is simple and uncluttered, the atmosphere relaxed, the breakfasts healthy and made fresh using local ingredients. Choose between 5 Suites & rooms over-looking the Bay. The large front deck looks out onto the bay, perfect for breakfast or a wine at the end of the day. Arcadia Cottage sits adjacent to the lodge for the more independent guests who want a longer stay. Both king and queen bedroom for up to 4 guests, 2 lounges with amazing views, decks, and a fully self contained kitchen or let us cook your breakfast and serve you on the deck.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Qualmark.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Arcadia Lodge Russell emerges as a favored destination for many travelers, praised for its warm service and hosts lauded for their local insights and dedication to guest experiences. The lodge's cleanliness and attention to detail have not gone unnoticed, with guests frequently commending the immaculate rooms. Its charming atmosphere and elegant decor contribute to a homely vibe, complemented by cozy rooms with breathtaking views.
Nestled in a prime location, the hotel offers easy access to Russell's attractions and serene bay views. Guests also cherish the exceptional value, with historical charm and affordable local wine enhancing the experience.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Exceptional
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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What a find! From the moment we arrived we were blown away by the whole experience. The Lodge is just beautiful and we felt like we were staying with dear friends. Greg and Peter were so attentive, kind and nothing was too much trouble. They made fantastic recommendations for where to eat and Peter created the most beautiful breakfasts I have ever seen. Greg met us when we arrived and put us totally at ease and was hilarious! The Lodge is in a great position and there's a lovely walk into Russell. The house was beautifully decorated and there was the most soothing music playing occasionally downstairs. Loved that it was a bit quirky!! Most of all, loved those guys. Will never forget our stay with them. It's the best!
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Date of stay: August 2024
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Trip type: Traveled 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.
Response from arcadia lodge, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded 2 weeks ago
Hi Mary, we loved meeting you and kicking of your NZ experience staying with us Greg's Spotify playlist is ever-changing, his motto being "What would the house like to listen to" Make contact with us if you want him to share our playlist, We hope you keep warm & well and have some lovely travel plans for 2025 Many thanks for sharing your Arcadia experience All the very best Peter & Greg
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We enjoyed a 3 night stay in the Matariki suite which had 2 bedrooms, a shared bathroom and a lovely private sunroom with views over the bay. Arcadia Lodge is a beautiful historic building, lovingly restored and decorated and full of character. Guests enjoy shared use of the lounge, kitchen and deck. Coffee and tea making facilities and delicious home made cookies are available in the kitchen, as is a well stocked bar of local wines which guests can purchase and enjoy at competitive prices.
The Lodge is in a great location, high on a hill with spectacular views over the bay. The hosts Greg and Peter and very welcoming, friendly and accommodating. They have a good knowledge of local history, restaurants and tourist attractions which helped us make the most of our stay in Russell.
Breakfasts at Arcadia Lodge are delight to the senses. Lovingly prepared and presented each morning with a selection of cereals, fruits, yogurt, juices and fresh plunger coffee or tea. A different hot dish is provided each morning, incorporating fresh produce from the garden. All were delicious and just the right portion size. The hosts are happy to cater for different dietary requirements if you let them know in advance.
We loved the quaint town of Russell and everything about our stay at Arcadia Lodge. It was the highlight of our New Zealand holiday!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
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 arcadia l, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded Jan 26, 2020
Hello, Thanks so much for the lovely and detailed review. We think our location is perfect being just a stroll away from the village and yes we have a fantastic view. Greg & i base our service on what we feel works for guests to make the most of their stay to get the best NZ experience possible. We are pleased you had a fantastic time with us Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with other travellers
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Staying at Arcadia Lodge is more of an experience than a place to stay. From the welcome which included an interesting overview of the history of the house to the amenities and personal attention afforded by the hosts Greg and Peter. Thoughtful touches feature such as the self service wine bar, homemade cookies to accompany the complimentary quality coffee and teas, fresh flowers from the garden in each room and the carefully selected music offerings. The breakfasts are fresh and innovative and care is taken to meet guests dietary requirements. We just loved the use of fruit and vegetables from the cottage garden which featured in preserves and garnishes. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for Greg and Peter including sharing local knowledge and bookings for sightseeing and designated tables were available in two of Russell's best restaurants. We followed several of Greg's recommendations for things to do and see and were never disappointed. Swimming at Long beach,dinner at Gables restaurant, lunch at Omata winery and coffee at the French cafe next to Pompellier House. Incidentally the gift shop at Pompellier House has the most interesting keepsakes and gifts at reasonable prices that we saw in our whole time up North. The ambience of the house invokes relaxation from the luxurious furnishings and decor that reflects it's colonial past. Relax in the communal lounge with a drink and a book or while away the time on the deck admiring the wonderful views of Matauwhi Bay and its collections of boats at anchor. Or use Arcadia Lodge as a base for visiting historical Russell, a five minute walk away or two minutes in the car. Not to mention the excellent swimming beaches and at least two vineyards close by. Take the ferry at Opua to explore Paihia, Waitangi , Kerikeri and further afield. But to be honest once you settle into Arcadia Lodge you won't want travel far too from what Russell has to offer. We have travelled extensively throughout the world and have stayed in many types of accommodation. Arcadia lodge would rival any that we have stayed in. The cleanliness, quality linens and attention to detail are first class. Not to mention the service from helpful, friendly but professional hosts, Greg and Peter and their beautiful dog Sophie. The only thing that we would recommend is that guests who may have trouble climbing stairs should book a downstairs room. We will definitely be back and have recommended Arcadia Lodge to all our family and friends. A world class experience in New Zealand without the airfare! Thank you so much Greg, Peter and Sophie.
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Date of stay: January 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â Each room has it's own special features. Takurua has wonderful views of Matauwhi bay and a...
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 arcadia lodge, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded Feb 1, 2021
Wow what an amazing and such detailed review. There is a huge amount of valuable information for travellers looking to come to Russell. We simply try and give guests a great say, we model our standard of hosting sadly what most accommodations fail to provide guests. As we don't live in Arcadia lodge itself we are close enough to assist travellers, but yet they have the freedom to relax, and have a holiday. We agree about the stairs, its something that comes with being a property nearly 120 years old and for 2 of our rooms guests with mobility issues or feel that stairs are difficult please contact us directly so we can give our recommendations. Thanks so very much for sharing your experience that you think we are world class, such feedback is heartwarming. All the best for 2021
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A spur of the moment decision to visit Russell brought us to Arcadia Lodge, which will now become one of our favoured destinations in the North Island. Our hosts were welcoming and knowledgeable of the area and made us feel very much at home. The beds were super comfortable with lovely crisp linen , we woke to the sound of birds and breakfast on the deck with views of the bay. We could have stayed much longer than three days with so much to see in the area. It is a short walk into the village and slightly further to a lovely swimming beach. This is a first class lodge, all the rooms are different and charming, each with its own deck and the house itself oozes history. Top ratings for an all round relaxing visit , comfort and well appointed facilities.
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
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 arcadia lodge, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded Nov 16, 2020
Thanks so much for the Top rating review. I guess our goal is to give guests a great stay and do our part to ensure they have the best time while on holiday in Russell and pleased we met the expectations. Arcadia definitely is a house full of character and purposely set up for guest stays , as we live close on hand to help where required, so guests get the freedom to relax and unwind. Thanks so very much for sharing your experience. Trip Advisor review voted us #7 Accomodation in Australasia in 2020 and we hold the Best of the Best Award 2020 .
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Arcadia is a beautifully maintained old loge in Russell with stunning views, very comfortable spacious accommodation maintained to a high degree. The whole stay, hosted by Peter and Greg was fabulously relaxing; they are charming hosts. Peter’s breakfasts are second to none. It was 5* ++
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â All excellent
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 arcadia l, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded Jan 20, 2020
Thanks so very much. We try to offer slightly more exciting breakfasts from the international norm of bacon & eggs and really pleased you loved our lovely fresh tasty breakfasts. We love our huge lovely old house and pleased you loved your stay with us. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts for other travellers, much appreciated
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We had a lovely two night stay at Arcadia Lodge. We were greeted by the lovely hosts and impressed with the thoughtful touches around the shared spaces. From amazingly curated local wines to home-baked cookies and an interesting selection of books on local history everything was effortless perfect.
Clean and comfy each room makes the most of the space and we loved falling asleep with the fresh air and waves lapping.
With a true chef in the kitchen breakfast is not to be missed and will leave you powered for the day.
Wonderful hosts who master the art of running a boutique lodge
We are looking at booking again already!
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Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Traveled 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.
Response from arcadia lodge, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded Feb 11, 2021
Thanks so very much for taking the time to share your Arcadia experience with other discerning travellers We try and make sure all guests get a great experience in a laid back way, but with maintaining an attention to detail, so often the small things that count. One bonus being guests can completely relax as we don't live in the lodge, but at hand when guests need assistance , and pleased you loved your stay. We would love to have you back, all the best for 2021
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Peter and Greg are warm, welcoming hosts, incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. The Inn is lovely in an understated way, the breakfasts on the meandering veranda are delicious as are the homemade jams. There is a frig for guests and wine by the bottle for purchase at very reasonable prices. There are always cookies, teas and coffee available. And if anything is needed, it is provided. Thank you for a memorable stay.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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.
Response from arcadia l, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded Jan 6, 2020
Thanks Susan we appreciate the really positive feedback. We are spoilt here, we have such a lovely setting right overlooking Matauwhi Bay and just a stroll around the corner to Russell - its such a quant village Being really sub tropical we are lucky to grow all our fruits for our preserves, guava, limes, lemons, feijoa and today i am plum picking & jam making in our kitchen overlooking the bay- We love it here. Happy Travels
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We stayed in Te Punga, which has a bedrom, large bathroom and sitting room with access to an outside deck with great views over pretty Matauwhi Bay. The hosts Peter and Greg are professional and friendly, with helpful suggestions on things to see and where to find the best cofee, cafes and restaurants. The breakfasts at Arcadia are fresh with homemade produce, some picked fresh from the garden. They are truely memorable. Staying at Arcadia is very relaxing. We loook forward to a return visit!
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Date of stay: November 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Acess to outside deck with lovely view on lower floors, but great views on upper floors. All...
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 arcadia lodge, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded Nov 16, 2020
Thanks for coming to stay with us and that you had such a nice time. Russell is really quite a special place being NZ first capital town with Arcadia having nearly 100 years of hosting guests. Hopefully you might get back and see us in time to come. Thanks again for the 5 star review
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Acadia Lodge ticks all the boxes ranging from being in a beautiful location, great hosts in Peter and Greg, an historical house with modern bathrooms, to the most fabulous 3 course breakfast. I just loved everything from the small details like wiping the overnight condensation off the rails beside the outside tables, to the ironing and pressing of the bed linen to the immaculate presentation of a gorgeous loved old inn. I want to call it a home because that's what it feels like when you're visiting - you're staying with great friends. Pete and Greg's hospitality covers homemade cookies in the kitchen, wine and beers available to enjoy on the deck watching the sunset. They are full of recommendations about what to do, where to go and the most delicious restaurants and cafes in the area. The parking is easy and their old dog Sophie is on hand to meet and greet in a restrained but friendly way. They have organized boat trips for walks over islands to be picked om the beach elsewhere. Or you can go sailing with a cateted lunch. They book the best tables in great restaurants and cafes and both contribute to all having a stunning holiday.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
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 arcadia lodge, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded Mar 20, 2022
Chrissy, what a wonderful and detailed review explaining to other travellers exactly what we do, Its wonderful we also think that what makes Arcadia abit special is we don't live in the house, so we are close enough to care, but give our guests the freedom to relax unwiind and have a great time while in Russell. thanks again and have a wondeful 2022, hopefully we will see you again soon. All the best Peter & Greg
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An old whaling captain's house bought by an American, Greg, who was sailing around the world and only got halfway when he decided to settle in New Zealand. The room was comfortable, the bathroom quirkily divided in two (each half with a sink), and the location on a hillside has a common balcony that overlooks Russell's harbor. Greg's partner, Peter, cooks gourmet breakfasts. Perhaps best of all, Greg is a font of excellent advice on places to go and things to do--and an excellent restaurant in town, The Gables, at which he has a perpetual table or two reserved for guests. Every B&B host should be such a resource.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
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 PeterG6436, Owner at Arcadia Lodge Russell
Responded Feb 8, 2020
Thanks for the Great review , We think the pre booked table is awesome as it means guests can get the best table in the house and arrive at 4pm without a restaurant booking. We really appreciate and value support from The Gables as we all attempt to make the best possible experience for all our guests. Thanks for sharing your review of us with other travellers
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Russell, New Zealand6 contributions3 helpful votes
Hi Lindley and Don, just spotted your booking for next summer - welcome back to Russell. Off the top of my head I know the time line back 3 owners ago which is only to the 80s but if you let me know your grandparents' name I can find out more. Going back from us the owners names were Carlsson, before them Heays & Bosanquet, before them Shatwell (his name but not sure if his wife had the same name) but they ran it as a very successful back packers. Lots of people in town would be able to give me the info if I can give the name. Otherwise I need to dig out the title deeds. Cheers, David
There are more places to choose from in the Russell area.
PRICE RANGE
₱11,022 - ₱14,387 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
New ZealandNorth IslandNorthland RegionBay of IslandsRussell
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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