There is a version of Vancouver Island that unfolds slowly, away from the well-travelled routes, where the pace softens, and the coastline takes centre stage. This summer, that version is easier to reach than ever. Harbour Air has launched a daily direct seaplane service from Vancouver Harbour to Campbell River, offering a scenic, ferry-free connection to the island’s sheltered east coast. For travellers seeking a getaway that pairs natural beauty with genuine hospitality, Naturally Pacific Resort is a worthy destination at the end of that short flight.
A Setting Built for Slowing Down
Naturally Pacific Resort sits between the foothills of Strathcona Provincial Park and the shores of Discovery Passage, a location that feels wonderfully removed from the everyday while remaining refreshingly accessible. It is a place for travellers who want to reconnect with nature without sacrificing comfort: lazy afternoons by the pool, saltwater fishing, ocean kayaking and long walks along the water are all within easy reach.
The resort has built its summer season around unhurried pleasures. Guests can enjoy frozen treats poolside each afternoon, join weekend yoga classes, borrow cruiser bikes to explore Campbell River at their own pace, or take advantage of the daily shuttle into downtown and to the airport. These small, thoughtful touches speak to a philosophy of hospitality that values ease over excess.
A Retreat Within a Retreat: Immersion Spa + Wellness
At the heart of the resort, Immersion Spa + Wellness offers guests a chance to slow down even further. The 4,000-square-foot spa is built around a soothing mineral pool and Italian-made experience showers that combine chromotherapy, aquatherapy, and aromatherapy, complemented by a full menu of massages, facials, and body treatments using respected wellness brands. With nine treatment rooms, including two designed for couples or shared visits, and a registered massage therapist on staff, Immersion balances therapeutic care with pure relaxation. Guests can extend the experience by unwinding in the relaxation lounge before or after treatments, making it a natural complement to a slower-paced stay in Campbell River.
New This Season: Sunset Terrace Patio + Grill
New for the summer, Sunset Terrace Patio + Grill introduces an outdoor dining experience overlooking the ninth hole of Campbell River Golf Club. The kitchen’s centrepiece is brisket, smoked for fourteen hours in a Cookshack Smoker, joined on the menu by pulled pork, ribs and chicken. Everything arrives with house-made whiskey barbecue sauce, a signature glaze, and house-pickled vegetables, whether guests dine on the patio or take their meal to go for a picnic exploring the surrounding area. On select Fridays throughout the summer, Sunset Sessions bring live music from local bands to the terrace, a fitting way to welcome the weekend.
Rooted in the Land: The Pacific Patch Garden
At the heart of the resort’s approach to sustainability is the Pacific Patch Garden, a 22,500-square-foot growing space that supplies much of the kitchen’s produce. Guided tours, held Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., invite guests to wander through its gardens, orchards, greenhouse, microgreen farm and beehives. Along the way, visitors learn about sustainable growing practices such as Hugelkultur beds and natural climate control systems. The garden is overseen by farmer Alana Broadbent and Executive Chef Ryan Watson, working in close collaboration with the resort’s horticultural team, and its seasonal bounty finds its way directly into the resort’s kitchens.
Sustainability extends beyond the garden as well. Through a partnership with Wilderness International, every guest who opts out of daily housekeeping helps protect one square metre of endangered British Columbia rainforest, turning a simple choice into a meaningful act of conservation.
Getting There, and Getting the Offer
Whether the draw is watching whales glide through Discovery Passage, savouring slow-smoked barbecue on the patio, or wandering the rows of the Pacific Patch Garden, Campbell River offers a quieter, more contemplative side of Vancouver Island, one that is now just a short seaplane flight away. To celebrate the new Harbour Air route, Naturally Pacific Resort is offering new online bookings at 15 percent off its Best Available Rate with the promo code HARBOURAIR.
To plan a getaway, visit naturallypacific.ca.
