Contact information
Arcadia Lodge
Address:
10 Florence Avenue
Russell
Bay of Islands, NEW ZEALAND
Phone/Fax number:
Email address:
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Contact us
Arcadia Lodge offers
- Main Attractions / Activities
- Russell Activities
- Te Punga Suite
- Tautoru
- Matariki Suite
- Takurua
- Ranginui
- Your Hosts
There is nowhere quite like Arcadia Lodge Russell located in the Bay of Islands landmark sitting in a magnificent position looking out over Russell’s tranquil Matauwhi Bay. This historic house built in circa 1902 has been operating as Arcadia Lodge since mid 1920’s and is a boutique B&B style accommodation. For many of our guests one of their greatest pleasures is to sit on the deck and drink in the 180 degree views of water, bush & yachts. We are just a stroll around the corner to NZ’s first historic capital town Russell.
Accommodation comprises of three downstairs suites with private decks and amazing views. Matariki suite with two bedrooms catering for up-to four guests. Upstairs is a charming queen room with water views, or a super-king bed with loft style ensuite. Arcadia Cottage sits beside the lodge with a relaxed feel providing a more self-contained accommodation for up to four guests who want a longer vacation with optional breakfast by request.
The lodge is a large house furnished in a relaxed blend of traditional and contemporary furniture and features 100-year-old, honey-coloured kauri floorboards. A mixture of western, Pasifika and Maori artworks—including a range of historical photos and wonderful snapshots from around New Zealand—adorn the lodge, creating a relaxing space in which to unwind and relax, and being a very large house has ample room for everyone.
Your hosts, Peter and Greg, live in a house on the property , so Arcadia feels very much like your home rather than the owners house. We are close enough to be on hand yet we also give our guests space to relax. On arrival, we can help to orientate you to Russell and we can book any trips and excursions based on your interests. For the most part, you don’t need to pre-book excursions prior to your arrival as we will help you have a great kiwi experience.
We highly recommend you begin your day on the deck with our generous, healthy breakfast of northland fruit, compotes with homemade muesli & yoghurt. We serve a chef inspired Café style special each day with lovely fresh ingredients. We use locally produced breads, coffee, teas and pride ourselves by making delicious jams & preserves with fruit from our orchard. Then head out to explore Russell’s charming heritage village and the amazing Bay of Islands beyond.
The pace in Russell is gentle and unhurried (rushing is illegal in Russell) and we look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful corner of the world as it is truly a special place
Things to do
We are just minutes stroll from sailing, cruising, dolphin watching and swimming, kayaking, hiking and bush walking in the Russell Peninsula Kiwi Conservation Zone.
The bay is every bit as beautiful as they say it is, the colour of the water is often an unbelievable turquoise-blue and it’s well worth taking a trip out there. Equally beautiful are the coastal countryside and forests of the Russell and Rawhiti Peninsulas which you can drive to yourself or, better still, let someone else do the driving while you enjoy the view.
The area is also rich in history and Maori culture both pre-European and colonial; Waitangi is the site of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi of 1840, regarded as the founding document of modern New Zealand.
The village’s history trails, great little museum, galleries, restaurants and cafes are just along the road. We can advise you on restaurants and make reservations for you.
Useful links to other sites
- Russell village
- Destination Northland
- Bay of Islands Travel Guide
- Historic Places Trust
- Department of Conservation
- Tai Tokerau Northland Maori travel guide
Things to do on (and under) the water
We find for the most part we are better to do your bookings based on local knowledge and the weather at the time of your stay. This service does not cost you anymore. There are various options for water trips ranging from large cruisers to dolphin watch and diving
ALL YEAR WALKS IN RUSSELL : In the Russell village area Kororareka Reserve and Flagstaff Hill Oneroa/Long Beach and Donkey Bay Oneroa-Flagstaff loop and Waihihi Bay Tapeka Point – and there are many more.. we can help with advice
Historic and Cultural Northland and the Bay of Islands can claim many firsts in New Zealand history. The very first Polynesian travellers were believed to have made landfall here; the first extended contact between Pakeha (Europeans) and Maori was here; the first permanent European village was at Kororareka (now Russell); the first missionaries, protestant and catholic, set up in competition on either side of the bay; the country’s first churches were in the Bay and the oldest remaining church, Christ Church, still stands in the centre of the village; New Zealand’s first capital was briefly just near where the car ferry now lands at Okiato; our founding Treaty was famously signed at Waitangi; and the first of the battles between Maori and the European settlers, known as the New Zealand Wars, began here with the felling of the flagstaff by Hone Heke. and much much more
The Old Russell Road, Rawhiti Peninsula and Ngaiotonga Forest This was the land access route before the car ferry went in at Opua. Beautiful bays and access to good hikes. Coming from Whangarei, look for Russell Road, signposted to Oakura,… again, so much more we can assist with
Waitangi Golf Course Just across the bay next to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, about half an hour’s drive from Russell. It offers panoramic sea and island views. Excellent facilities and great value considering the amazing location. also KeriKeri, and Kauri Cliffs
Russell Beaches
Russell has four excellent swimming beaches and any number of secluded coves.
- The village beach offers safe, deep water swimming right in town. Take a swim between courses at lunch.
- Oneroa/Long Beach is the beautiful long, sand and surf beach facing out to Motuarohia (Roberton) Island and the ocean. It’s just a 20 minute walk from the lodge or a two minute drive. At the north end of the beach you can rock hop round to Donkey Bay/Waitaha which is also a naturist beach.
- Tapeka Point has a gorgeous sandy beach facing west to catch the sunset.
- Waihihi (Brick Bay) is a lovely little cove facing across to Waitangi and is accessed via a delightful bush track which starts on Titore Way near Flagstaff Hill.
The Russell peninsula is a special place because it is home to two of New Zealand’s rarest birds – the North Island Brown kiwi and the North Island weka. Both kiwi and weka are in the bush around our bay – you will certainly hear them, especially the bumptious weka, but kiwi are night birds and shy – and so rarely seen. At night Russell is also one of the few places on the mainland North Island where you can hear the calls of all of NZ’s nocturnal birds: ruru (native owl) and pukeko (swamp hen) as well as kiwi and weka and sometimes spur winged plover.
There is a guided nightwalk in a private kiwi conservation area where you might get to see or hear kiwi and ruru. They also offer an excellent daytime forest ecology walk. Contact Russell Nature Walks www.russellnaturewalks.co.nz
Other birds you could see or hear are:
• tui (parson bird)
• piwakwaka (fantail)
• tauhou (white eye)
• kukupa (wood pigeon)
• riroriro (grey warbler)
• kotare (kingfisher)
• welcome swallow
• mynah
• kahu (NZ harrier)
• spur winged plover
• ring necked pheasant
• putangitangi (paradise shelduck)
• california quail
• miromiro (tom-tit)
• chaffinch
• goldfinch
• yellowhammer
• eastern rosella, if you’re quick,
• shining cuckoo, if you’re eagle eyed, you hear them all day in spring
In the wetlands:
• matata (fern bird)
• matuku (bittern)
• possibly pateke (the very rare NZ brown teal)
In the bay and islands:
• NZ Dotterel (endangered)
• torea (oyster catcher)
• tara (caspian and white fronted terns )
• white faced heron
• poaka (pied stilt)
• karoro (black backed gull)
• tarapunga (red billed gull)
• takapu (gannet)
• kawau (black shag)
• karuhiruhi (pied shag)
• pakaha & kuaka (petrels)
• titi (shearwaters)
• royal spoonbill (uncommon)
• and the tiny, little korora, the little blue penguin, from which comes Russell’s maori name– Kororareka – sweet little penguin.
The Te Punga suite is an elegant three room suite comprising a stylish queen bedroom, a large en-suite bathroom and a sunny sitting room (with desk). All rooms have water views plus you have your own private deck also with 180 degree bay views.
- Feather pillows (or anti-allergenic if you prefer, just let us know when you book)
- Cotton quilts or feather and down duvets according to season
- An eclectic mix of contemporary and antique furnishings
- In the bathrooms, we use a either Linden Leaves or Eco-store shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Hairdryers are provided and towels will be changed daily if you wish or just let us know what you would like.
- We value your privacy, we normally ask if you would like your room serviced while your away. Please feel free to let us know what works for you .
The Tautoru suite has a different feel from the rest of the house, more beachy with a casual contemporary style in soft, restful colours. It’s a large studio with its own private entrance, king size bed, en-suite bathroom, small sitting room and sunny, private deck with sweeping views of water and bush.
- Feather pillows (or anti-allergenic if you prefer, just let us know when you book)
- Cotton quilts or feather and down duvets according to season
- An eclectic mix of contemporary and antique furnishings
- In the bathrooms, we use a either Linden Leaves or Eco-store shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Hairdryers are provided and towels will be changed daily if you wish or just let us know what you would like.
- We value your privacy, we normally ask if you would like your room serviced while your away. Please feel free to let us know what works for you .
A room just for two, or by arrangement, up to four. Rates vary according to the number of people and bedrooms used. Matariki is a large, elegant suite with en-suite bathroom, sitting room with beautiful bay views and your own deck area where you can sit, read, relax and enjoy the afternoon and evening sun. It’s suitable for a couple as a double but as it has two bedrooms it’s works as a twin or for three or four people travelling together who are happy to share a bathroom. One bedroom is a king and one a queen with the en-suite bathroom off the queen so whoever is in the king bedroom has to go through the queen room to get to the bathroom. This works well for people who are family or good friends comfortable with each other.
- Feather pillows (or anti-allergenic if you prefer, just let us know when you book)
- Cotton quilts or feather and down duvets according to season
- An eclectic mix of contemporary and antique furnishings
- In the bathrooms, we use a either Linden Leaves or Eco-store shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Hairdryers are provided and towels will be changed daily if you wish or just let us know what you would like.
- We value your privacy, we normally ask if you would like your room serviced while your away. Please feel free to let us know what works for you .
Takurua is one of our upstairs rooms: fresh and light-filled it enjoys a magnificent view out over the bay. It has a queen bed, ceiling fan and a private, sunny, newly renovated bathroom across the hall (so not en-suite) but which is for your exclusive use. As with all views on our website the views shown here are real.
- Feather pillows (or anti-allergenic if you prefer, just let us know when you book)
- Cotton quilts or feather and down duvets according to season
- An eclectic mix of contemporary and antique furnishings
- In the bathrooms, we use a either Linden Leaves or Eco-store shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Hairdryers are provided and towels will be changed daily if you wish or just let us know what you would like.
- We value your privacy, we normally ask if you would like your room serviced while your away. Please feel free to let us know what works for you .
Ranginui is the largest of our upstairs rooms, a restful, airy room that gets floods of afternoon and evening sun. It has a super-king bed and a cosey en-suite bathroom cleverly tucked into the attic spaces This is the only room which has no view of the bay.
- Feather pillows (or anti-allergenic if you prefer, just let us know when you book)
- Cotton quilts or feather and down duvets according to season
- An eclectic mix of contemporary and antique furnishings
- In the bathrooms, we use a either Linden Leaves or Eco-store shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Hairdryers are provided and towels will be changed daily if you wish or just let us know what you would like.
- We value your privacy, we normally ask if you would like your room serviced while your away. Please feel free to let us know what works for you .
Arcadia Lodge has been owned by us, your hosts Greg Hoover and Peter Gillan since April 2017. We both take the role of “host” very seriously and believe our Arcadia is much more than your average B&B. Every aspect of our role is to cater to our guests needs, making sure our part of your New Zealand experience is the best it can be.
Arcadia Lodge has been hosting guests for nearly 100 years and reflects the same character and charm it had when it was built over 120 years ago.
Greg is from Dallas Texas and worked in both hospitality and then media for some 18 years before he decided to sell up and sail around the world. He fell in love with New Zealand’s beauty and now calls New Zealand home.
Peter is a kiwi, worked as a chef for 20+ years in his own business and then opted like Greg for a change and went nursing for 12 years. Together we found Arcadia, packed the house and headed north to Russell and the Bay of Islands.
Between us we make a great team, our approach is laid back and helpful. Simply put, we just want you to have a great time with us as we share Arcadia, The Bay of Islands and Russell with you.
We are very proud of Arcadia’s continued success as one New Zealands Top Rated B&Bs and can’t wait to share our historic village with you.
When you arrive, push the door bell, we’ll show you around, orientate you to Arcadia, Russell and the Bay of Islands .