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The faint sound of waves crashing on the reef, the whisper of palms swaying in the breeze, the sparkle of the water in the lagoon style pool …. KIA ORANA and welcome to just a few of the joys of staying at Arcadia Retreat, Rarotonga. Our small piece of paradise embodies the definition of Arcadia “an unspoiled wilderness of simple, quiet pleasure“. We invite you to join us on the picturesque sunset side of Rarotonga in one of our 3 stylishly appointed holiday homes set in large tropical gardens with a spectacular shared pool and breathtaking Arorangi beach just minutes away. Book your own private villa now or all three for that large family holiday, Rarotonga wedding or group getaway.
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
Quaint
Hidden Gem
Languages Spoken
English
Location
02 Aretuna Road, Arorangi Cook Islands
Arcadia Retreat
49 reviews
Getting there
Car recommended
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Peter and Jolene are awesome hosts and made us really welcome. They make a specialty of catering for those who want peace and quiet and something different from the big resorts. If you prefer boutique accommodation rather than crowded resorts, with only three units on the property this is the place for you.
The location at Arorangi is superb - easy walking distance to the beach and Beluga Cafe (one of the most popular cafes on the island). Also, by being a few metres off the main ring road we heard no traffic, the gardens and pool are exceptionally well maintained, and our villa was equipped with everything we could need to make our stay wonderful.
Top quality and highly recommended.
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Date of stay: July 2021
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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 Peter Heays, Owner at Arcadia Retreat
Responded 20 Jul 2021
Thankyou very much for your comments. Now you are even MORE welcome to come back and enjoy Arcadia Retreat again., Hoping to see you soon. All the best Peter amd Jolene
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We had a wonderful and very relaxing 12 days at Arcadia Retreat which has a beautiful pool and gardens. The home we stayed in was beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean with 2 bedrooms, well equipped kitchen and access to a barbecue in the gazebo near the pool. Arcadia Retreat has stunning views to the hills on Rarotonga and just across the road from the beach. Our house had very comfortable beds, good shower, a big balcony and lots of different areas to lounge, read and relax. There are only 3 homes available to stay in, so numbers of other guests are kept to a minimum. I would highly recommend this as a great option to staying in a busy resort. We hired a car for our stay so we were able to trip around the island and enjoy lunches at some lovely restaurants and sunset drinks at Shipwreck Hut which is just a ten minute beautiful beach walk away. Arcadia Retreat is also very close to Pacific Fish and Chip outlet which serves delicious fresh fish grilled or fried. Book often and book early so as not to miss out on a great accommodation option in Raro.
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Date of stay: December 2022
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Room Tip: We stayed in Ta’i which had a great balcony with views looking out to the hills.
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 Retreat, Owner at Arcadia Retreat
Responded 5 Feb 2023
It was lovely to share our little piece of paradise with you and your family. Thanks for your kind review of Villa TAI and we look forward to seeing you here again soon. Ka kite.
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We decided to book at Arcadia Retreat as we wanted something a bit different to the usual large and sometimes impersonal resorts and hotels. And we are so glad we did. We had a lovely spacious 2 bedroom unit with a separate lounge, and full kitchen/dining area. Not that we cooked that much, as we had a fantastic choice of excellent restaurants within walking distance. But it was nice to have the option to cook at home some nights, and to have the option to self cater breakfast and lunch was great and quite a cost saving. Arcadia is just across the road from the beach, and most evenings we would either sit on the beach to watch the sun go down, or go to one of the local bars/restaurants on the beach for sunset drinks. There is a beautiful pool surrounding by tropical gardens for the days we just wanted to laze about and read books by the pool. It was so tranquil, as there are only 4 other apartments, and often we had the whole pool to ourselves. Other days we explored the island (31 kms around) in our rental car that was provided as part of our stay. We stayed for just over two weeks, and enjoyed every minute of it. Peter and Jolene where excellent hosts, with great local knowledge and tips. We were very sad to leave what felt like our second home, and can't wait to go back.
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Date of stay: August 2021
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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 spent 10 enjoyable days staying at Arcadia Retreat. For us it was perfect; no crowds, well appointed units, a great pool set in beautifully landscaped grounds and located in a very quiet area. The beach was close by and if you like fish and chips then a 5 minute walk had you at one of the best! True!
We found the hosts to be exceedingly helpful and very knowledgeable about the Pacific Islands.
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Date of stay: March 2020
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Room Tip:Â Depends on your preference. The upstairs unit has bush views.
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 Peter Heays, Owner at Arcadia Retreat
Responded 18 Mar 2020
Kia Orana and thank you for your comments. Our little oasis is set up for people just like you and we love to please!. We hope to see you back here as soon as possible - thanks again. Peter and Jolene .
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Arcardia Retreat is a fantastic destination, if you’re unsure whether to book, don’t even hesitate! From arrival Neil and Maxine were incredibly helpful - helping with logistics of bookings and even dropping us off to get bikes. We stayed in toru rooms and it was gorgeous. Spacious and light and with an incredible outdoor shower. Big kitchen to cook in but we ended up just eating out for lunch/dinner meals as it seemed cheaper than factoring in all the groceries. The pool was amazing and beautifully clean. We can’t fault a thing about Arcadia Retreat. 100% will be back and will be recommending to family and friends.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled 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 Retreat, Owner at Arcadia Retreat
Responded 15 May 2022
Meitaki maata (thanks very much) Amber, we are so pleased you enjoyed your stay. We look forward see you and your friends here again soon. Cheers, Maxine & Neil.
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We are returning guests to Arcadia Retreat as it is the best place we have found after a few visits to Rarotonga. Both visits we have stayed in Villa Rua. We have viewed Villa Ta'i and Villa Toru as well and they are equally amazing. This beautiful retreat is not beachside, which makes it much more private, serene and quiet from so many other properties on Rarotonga. The BBQ/pool area is huge for only three Villas so again privacy and serenity is not compromised. Our Villa had two queen bed bedrooms, full kitchen (with dishwasher), dining room, separate lounge, bathroom, laundry facilities and two balconies which catch sun and shade at differing times of the day for the perfect choice of outside private seating and/or eating. Neil and Maxine are incredible hosts and have a wealth of local knowledge to assist you with all of your holiday plans. They are readily available but never intrude on your privacy. The property is beautifully kept and we could not fault anything. Your holiday at Arcadia Retreat is assured to be second to none.
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Date of stay: November 2022
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Room Tip:Â With only three Villas all are exceptional. Personal choice from viewing photographs is the best...
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 Retreat, Owner at Arcadia Retreat
Responded 5 Dec 2022
Meitaki Robyn for your return visit and the 5 "bubble" review. Your description of Arcadia Retreat as a private and serene holiday property is exactly what we pride ourselves on delivering. It was lovely having Shirley & yourself to stay and we look forward to seeing you again in 2023.
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Neill was amazing. Greeted us on arrival despite us arriving later in evening. Very friendly and seemed genuine. Genuinely wanted to help and often went out of his way to always offer tips and tricks and suggestions on what to do and where to eat etc. The villas are tidy and have everything you need. Clean and comfortable. No air conditioning but plenty of windows and fans above beds kept us cool enough. Plenty of kitchen and glass wear so we never found ourselves running short on anything. Loved the pool area and sun lounges. Spent plenty of time here. Although the retreat isn’t beachfront the location was very handy. It felt to be half way between the main town centre and half way between popular towns and swimming areas such as Muri. Plenty of great eateries, bars and shops within walking distance of the accommodation. Not down size is the noisy roosters early each morning but that’s no easy fix so no blame there! All part of the experience. I plan on returning next year and Neill and his retreat will definitely be my Plan A. Thanks for the friendly and more importantly genuine service Neill.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled 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.
We spent 6 days in Rarotonga and Arcadia was exactly what we needed. The relaxed atmosphere and great location meant we were close to the beach but had the luxury of not being in a busy resort. We stayed in Ta'i and had everything we needed for our stay. The onsite team were also very helpful - would absolutely go back!
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Date of stay: August 2022
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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 thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Arcadia Retreat. Neil was the most gracious host and gave us excellent recommendations for restaurants and shopping. The villa was very spacious—the kitchen was well-fitted out; the living room sofa was extremely comfortable and both bedrooms had king-sized beds. In addition, the villa was walking distance from a great cafe (Beluga), a fish & chips restaurant and a falafel stand. The petrol/mini-mart was a little further but definitely walkable. We absolutely loved our stay and would go back in a heartbeat!
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Date of stay: May 2024
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Trip type: Travelled 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.
The Arcadia was a great stay for me and family. The host was an extremely helpful. The accommodation villa was very comfortable and had everything necessary. The Arcadia grounds are very good outdoor facilities including the swimming pool and BBQ. The Arcadia is kept to low volume of residence in three villas. I enjoy resorts that have small boutique facilities. Despite not having lagoon access the Arcadia is a good island location to reach the entire island and everything Rarotonga has to offer. Overall, excellent stay and I would return.
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Date of stay: May 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Enjoy what the Arcadia provides.
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.
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.
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