Arcadia
Cafes · Palm Beach · $$
★ 4.5 from 593 Google reviews
Arcadia is at the western end of Palm Beach, on Palm Road, a thirty-second walk from the sand.
- Brunch
- Dog-friendly
- Gluten-free options
- Kid-friendly
About Waiheke Island Resort
You come up the driveway off Bay Road and Palm Beach, Mawhitipana Bay and the Hauraki Gulf open out below you, so you can tell straight away this is a hillside place, not a beachfront one. There are more than 50 studios and villas spread down the slope, so you get your own deck, a comfortable bed and a view worth climbing back up for, and the walk down to Palm Beach takes only a few minutes.
On site you've got a restaurant and bar pouring Waiheke wines alongside fresh local food, a pool with a view plus spa pools and an infrared sauna, an 18-hole mini golf course, a tennis court and e-bikes you can hire for half or full days. It works just as well for a couple's weekend as for a wedding or conference, with event spaces for up to 150 and a restaurant that seats 100, and the bus stop at the gate makes getting around easy if you're not bringing a car.
For all that, the paths between the units are genuinely steep, with steps in places, so pack light or ask at reception for a hand with your bags.
What diners say
Written from 476 Google reviews, every one we could get, on 12 November 2026. Rated 4.2 from 473 Google reviews.
Overall verdict
It's a lovely spot with knockout views, a good pool and comfortable rooms, so you'll likely come away happy, though the resort label promises more than you actually get. The hilltop setting above Palm Beach is hard to beat, but the restaurant and bar aren't always open.
Dishes people recommend
Breakfast is the surest bet, with the cooked plate and the eggs benedict both getting a good run, and the coffee alongside is consistently good. Cocktails by the pool are worth planning an afternoon around, and the evening menu holds up when the restaurant is running.
Service
The staff are friendly and responsive and often go out of their way to sort a problem, whether it's a booking date mix-up or a bag up the hill. Wedding and conference groups get the same care from the events team, who handle transfers, ferry tickets and dietary needs.
Atmosphere and setting
The units are built up a hillside above Palm Beach, so sea and bush views open up from almost every deck, and those views are the main reason to stay. The pool deck is where everyone hangs out, with spa pools, a bar and loungers, and it gets lively when families are in.
Value for money
You get a lot for your money outside peak season, when room rates drop and the winter packages are genuinely good value. The pool, spa pools, mini golf and views come with the room, though summer rates and the minibar can add up.
Best for
It's built for weddings and work conferences, with the Palm Room and its deck, space for up to 150 and a team that handles transfers and dietary needs. Groups of friends and extended families book out whole villas, while couples use it as a quiet base for the pool and beach.
Common complaints
The hill is the big one, with the units built down a steep slope and plenty of steps, so anyone with mobility issues or heavy bags will find the walk hard work. The restaurant and bar close more often than you'd expect, so check ahead if eating in matters. Parking is first come first served, and the walls are thin enough to hear the neighbours.
How we checked this
Every fact on this page was checked on 8 November 2026 against Google, Waiheke Island Resort's own website and 476 of its Google reviews. The photo is from the eatout library, not taken here, and no venue pays to be listed or ranked. Something out of date? Tell us
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