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The Retreat
Barefoot dining, a 180-degree view, and a bar where the phones stay in the bungalow.
Papatura has been built with the natural environment in mind, using local bush materials. We're very conscious of the environment and have taken great care with the planning and set-out of the retreat.
We've linked up the bungalows, toilets, restaurant and bar with raised timber walkways — and we're proud to say we're wheelchair friendly. The entire retreat has a 180-degree view across the turquoise waters of the bay to the coconut groves and the Isabel mountain range, which makes for some amazing sunsets.
Three meals a day, included
Grown in the village, landed that morning
Our produce is grown in the local villages and delivered fresh to the island, plus we do have some imported goodies. Fresh fish and seafood are a specialty of this area, with fruits, vegetables and root crops like sweet potato all prepared in traditional and home-style cooking.
Your menu may include salads, rice, pasta, pizza and a variety of meats. Our cook, with the help of local women, will make sure you get tasty meals while exposing you to new tastes.
Tea and coffee are available 24/7, and our water is sourced from a spring at the top of the hill — always fresh, and piped direct to the retreat.
The deck bar
Informal, barefoot, and usually the best part of the day
The Deck Bar and Restaurant is a great place to chill out with a good book in the day bed, browse through our library upstairs, or have a few cold drinks with other guests at the bar.
The bar is stocked with icy cold SolBrew beer, basic spirits, Australian white and red wines, bubbles and a full range of soft drinks.
Built above the bar is our library, lounge and chill zone. We run a take one, leave one on all novels, alongside a huge selection of non-fiction cultural, WW2 and Solomon Islands books that stay at the retreat. It's a great place to practise yoga, play a board game or cards, or simply chill out over the house reef and the bay.
The one rule
The art of conversation
We're so isolated that Papatura's link to the world is via satellite. All guests get free WiFi — and we still encourage a no-phone zone at the bar and restaurant.
Papatura is a special place where guests are encouraged to detox from technology and enjoy a crowd-less experience. Come mingle, enjoy happy hour, and engage with other like-minded travellers.
Good to know
What's on the island
Included with your stay
- Three meals a day, plus tea and coffee 24/7
- Free unlimited WiFi via satellite
- Surfboards, SUPs, kayaks, paddle boards and body boards
- Snorkelling gear and basic fishing gear
- Beach volleyball, table tennis, darts, board games
- Full library, and local cultural crafts for kids
- Your fish cleaned, and your clothes washed and folded
Worth bringing
- Your own toiletries — bath towels are supplied, toiletries aren't
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest
- Your own lures if you're a serious fisho
- Spearfishing gear — available to hire
- An educational or sporting gift for the village school
- A book to leave behind for the library
Come and be part of the Papatura family
That's genuinely how it works here. Tell us when you'd like to come.