For the longest time, booking a luxury getaway on Vancouver Island meant making a choice: did you want the manicured, high-tea elegance of Victoria or the rugged, surf-soaked drama of Tofino? But head up the east coast to Campbell River and the conversation is quietly changing. No longer just a launch point for fishing charters and wilderness adventures, the city is emerging as a destination in its own right thanks to the arrival of Naturally Pacific Resort.
And the travel world is taking note. Earning a spot on Travel + Leisure’s 2025 It List and recognition from the MICHELIN Guide is an impressive feat for a property that only opened its doors in spring 2024.
The moment you pull up, you realize this isn’t another interpretation of the traditional West Coast lodge. Instead, the architecture embraces a lighter, more contemporary aesthetic. Massive panes of glass, warm blonde woods, and thoughtfully designed open spaces create a seamless connection to the surrounding landscape without feeling overly themed.
The guest rooms follow suit. Flooded with natural light and outfitted with Molton Brown amenities, Nespresso machines, premium bedding, and the kind of plush robes that practically encourage you to cancel your afternoon plans, they’re designed for slowing down. Sitting on the private balcony with a morning coffee while the fog rolls off the mountains feels like the entire point of the trip.
Even for the non-golfer, the adjacent Campbell River Golf Club is a major part of the property’s appeal. The course wraps around the resort, creating expansive green views from almost every vantage point. For players, having an 18-hole course steps from your room is a major draw, while for the rest of us, it simply adds to the sense of space and serenity. Watching the early morning light move across the fairways with the mountains beyond is surprisingly beautiful, even if you have no intention of picking up a club.
The true heart of the property is its wellness area. While the spa offers an extensive menu of massages, facials, and body treatments, the standout is the self-guided hydrotherapy experience. Guests are encouraged to move between the Experience Showers and mineral pool for a restorative ritual. The Italian-made showers combine aromatherapy, chromotherapy, water therapy, and sound to create an immersive sensory reset that feels far more memorable than an ordinary shower.
From there, stroll over to the mineral pool, where naturally sourced magnesium, sodium, and potassium work to soothe muscles and ease away stress. Perfect as a post-treatment indulgence or a standalone wellness experience, the warm, mineral-rich water encourages you to linger a little longer. The combination leaves you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and entirely unhurried.
Then there’s Carver, the resort’s signature restaurant, which has already become a favourite with both guests and locals. The kitchen balances elevated comfort food with Pacific Northwest ingredients. The Octopus Niçoise is fresh and vibrant, tossed with crisp green beans, tender potatoes, Farmer Ben’s eggs, and a bright oregano vinaigrette. For an entrée, the wild salmon is beautifully prepared and paired with cauliflower purée, local asparagus, herbed gnocchi, and sauce vierge.
The steak program is where Carver really flexes. From a classic 20-ounce ribeye to a dramatic 50-ounce tomahawk designed for sharing, the selection feels both ambitious and approachable. Add butter-and-herb glazed prawns, a seared scallop, or a side of chimichurri, and it’s easy to understand why the dining room stays busy.
Breakfast the next morning proves the kitchen is just as serious about the first meal of the day. The Classic delivers everything you want before heading out to explore, featuring perfectly cooked eggs, crispy smoked bacon, smashed potatoes with a satisfying crunch, roasted tomato, and sourdough toast. The vegetarian Eggs Benedict, layered with avocado, spinach, and tomato beneath perfectly poached eggs on buttered English muffins, is equally satisfying.
While it would be easy to spend an entire weekend cocooned at the resort, Campbell River rewards exploration. The city remains refreshingly uncrowded compared to much of southern Vancouver Island and serves as a gateway to whale watching, wildlife encounters, oceanfront trails, and some of the most spectacular scenery on the coast.
When you venture downtown, skip the chain stores and head for the city’s collection of independent businesses. Gourmet Essentials is a must-visit for anyone who loves cookware, kitchen gadgets, and entertaining. Nearby, Quest Shoes and Clothing offers a thoughtfully curated selection of fashion and accessories, while Standing Spruce Farm & Apothecary showcases small-batch botanical products, herbal teas, and handcrafted body care inspired by Vancouver Island’s natural abundance.
And then there are the bakeries. Freyja Croissant Bakery is producing beautifully laminated pastries that would be right at home in Vancouver’s most celebrated pastry shops, while Meera Bakery Café is the perfect place to settle in with a flat white and a sweet treat before hitting the road.
What makes Naturally Pacific feel so compelling right now is that it offers something increasingly rare: a polished luxury experience in a destination that still feels genuinely undiscovered. It doesn’t feel manufactured or overdeveloped. It simply feels like Campbell River has finally found the hotel it deserves.
My only regret was not booking another night. —Cassandra Anderton, Good Life Vancouver
share:
Be the first to comment