Coxheath is home to this cottage. Marine Atlantic Ferry Terminal and Cineplex Cinemas Sydney are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Membertou Heritage Park and Petersfield Provincial Park. Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design and Sydney Museum are also worth visiting.
Sydney Waterfront Boardwalk - 10 min drive - 11.1 km
Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design - 11 min drive - 11.9 km
Centre 200 - 11 min drive - 11.9 km
Big Fiddle of the Ceilidh - 12 min drive - 12.9 km
Getting around
Sydney, NS (YQY) - 19 min drive
Restaurants
Tim Hortons - 8 min drive
Membertou Market - 8 min drive
Tim Hortons - 5 min drive
Tim Hortons - 8 min drive
Circle K - 6 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Does Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View! have a pool?
Yes, this property has an indoor pool. Pool types include heated pools.
How much does it cost to stay at Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!?
As of 11 November 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View! on 12 November 2026 start from NZ$1,070, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View! pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 3 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.
What time is check-in at Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View!?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Rita’s Retreat Main House ~ Indoor Saltwater Pool ~ with Lake View! located?
Situated in Coxheath, this cottage is within 6 miles (10 km) of Membertou Heritage Park, Bethel Presbyterian Church and Petersfield Provincial Park. Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre and Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
7.6
Good
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We celebrated my parents 70th anniversary at Rita's. We had the entire place. This is a very large property and it was perfect for our event. Very clean and well equipped. Mike the maintenance man stopped by to ensure all was good and said to call at any time if we needed anything. The pool was amazing and was loved by all from my 8 month old great grandson to my 89 year old mom. The young adults loved all the room for lawn games and the fire pit at night. Everyone is already talking about the next time. Im aware that this is an investment property and it was heart breaking to see this grand house needing some updating. I truly hope the owners will invest in this property to maintain what they bought. It would be such a loss to continue to let it slide.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review
6/10 Okay
Stephen M.
16 July 2025
Liked: Location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication
Fun Place to Stay, but Owners Need to Pay More Attention
Bottom line: this is a fun place to stay, and I think you will enjoy yourself if you stay here. House needs (and deserves) some TLC. The house could comfortably accommodate 8 guests, and maybe 2-4 more. We were not really familiar with Rita McNeil prior to our visit, but if you are, this place will be a thrill for you (it's her former home). The indoor pool is a lot of fun, and the backyard is vast and very nice. Its a quick drive to Sydney. The property is large but not isolated. It even has a piano. So I give this place 3 stars instead of 4 because 1: the owners were almost impossible to reach. I sent them 4 separate messages on VRBO and even a direct email to the address on their website just to confirm that they had our booking. I asked for advice on local activities and got a five-word response about kayak rentals. I didn't see the check-in instructions until the day before. 2: The bedrooms and bathrooms are nice, but much of the furniture in the house is dated and in rough shape. A lot of the trim pieces around the pool are missing or damaged. Swing by the waterfront needs to be fixed. 3: The kitchen needs a good cleaning with scratch pads. cabinet handles are gummy. It has plenty of pots and pans and utensils, but most of these were in bad shape. Appliances are dated. Outdoors, we saw cigarette butts between the deck boards and in the yard. I'd say this house could easily be a 5-star destination with a little work and investment.
The house was fine, and clean. However, it could use some TLC in maintenance. We were also surprised to find that the advertised indoor pool was shared with other renters - that wasn't mentioned in the description. All in all it was fine, but the whole property should have been better described.
Poor management and maintenance. Place feels like sleeping in a house that has sold the night before the movers come for the last of the furniture. Communication with host non existant. Dirty, sticky floors throughout. Used chewing gum stuck to pool deck. Many things broken and missing. Really disappointing.