Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre
Built onto the bluff above the Salish Sea, bordering the majestic Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, and surrounded by the towering trees of the rainforest, Tigh-Na-Mara Resort spans 22 acres and boasts 3 kms of sandy beach. Located in Parksville, on central Vancouver Island, guests are immersed in the natural surroundings, promoting reconnection to self, to others, and to nature.
Tigh-Na-Mara started as a single cabin in the woods in 1946. Its name is Gaelic for “House by the Sea”, and it has evolved into one of the premier all-season destination resorts on Vancouver Island. Today it includes 192 handcrafted log guest rooms including over 80 Oceanview rooms, the award-winning Grotto Spa, Cedars Restaurant and Lounge, Pines Gift Shop, fitness facilities, an indoor pool, 11 event rooms, an extensive recreation program, and 10,000 sq ft of flexible event space. Known as a family resort, couples’ getaway, corporate retreat, wedding destination, or spa goers’ fantasy, it is the perfect place to create lifelong memories.
Guests wander the walkways, forest bathing in the Douglas, Cedar, and Arbutus trees, breathing in the sea air and disconnecting from their busy lives. A dedicated rooftop area is waiting for self-guided yoga practice, a mindful game of giant chess or a quiet space to lounge, a spot to relax and be present with the blue sky above. A stroll to the beach allows one to walk for miles and explore the tide pools, paddle board or swim in the warmest, ocean swimming waters in Canada. Light up the night with a bonfire under the stars, listening to the waves or take a mind clearing walk into Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park. Parksville also offers fantastic golf, hiking, caving, cycling, kayaking, skiing, shopping, and whale watching nearby.
A leisurely stroll leads to the award-winning Grotto Spa. Immediately guests are transported to a place of calm, and greeted with beautiful west coast décor, the soothing sound of a waterfall wall, and the scents of the natural products used in every treatment. In the spa’s 20,000 square feet, access to the Spa begins with an opportunity to connect in nature’s elements on a 2-hour journey through The Grotto, which features the Mineral Pool, invigorating cool-splash waterfall and relaxing whirlpool, a sauna garden patio with 4 cedar barrel saunas, cozy seating and stone fire tables, outdoor showers and drink and food service. To enhance your visit, add on your favourite spa treatment or discover the Treetop Tapas & Grill, the only experience of its kind in Canada. Dine on a tasting menu that takes you on a seamless journey through the flavours of the Pacific Northwest while wearing a spa robe and sandals. Guests will be sure to leave feeling transformed from head to toe.Join us at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort, where no two stays are the same.
Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre1155 Resort Drive
Parksville, British Columbia V9P 2E3
Canada
Amenities
- Beachfront
- Catering On Site
- Family Friendly
- Outside Catering Allowed
- Groups Welcome
- Open Year-Round
- Pet Friendly
- Reservations Recommended
- Wifi Available
Accessibility Info
General
Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre is a strata-operated resort comprising 192 units in a variety of log buildings. While it is a strata operation, all units are committed to the hotel operation and owners are not permitted to make any “personal touches”. Over the past few years Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre has embarked on an extensive renovation program ($20M+) focused on their main oceanfront buildings Texada, Ballenas and Gabriola. The next phase of renovations will be for the Rustic Cottages.
All the public areas (restaurants, conference center, gift shop) are fully accessible with external power-operated door buttons. On the first and main floors of the conference centre there is an accessible washroom at one end and the mens/ladies washrooms at the opposite end have accessible stalls. The third level which has 3 boardrooms is not accessible by wheelchair.
The Pool House and Fitness Center building is accessible but does not have a power-operated door. There is no lift for disabled access into the pool or hot tub. The Beach Access pathway is quite steep and not conducive to wheelchair use. The beach itself starts off with a stretch of soft sand which a wheelchair cannot cross. The Grotto Spa building is fully accessible with an elevator reaching all three floors, however the Mineral Pool is not accessible.
Roadways are a mix of paved road and fine crushed gravel.
Accommodations
Texada, Ballenas and Gabriola are the three main ocean-view buildings and all have been recently renovated with the project completed in 2023. For all buildings, the second level (rooms 210-240) are the only accessible units with the 1st and 3rd levels reached only by stairs. The entry doors have a functional width of 30” (76cm) with the interior doors having a width of 26” (66cm). The bedroom/living areas of all viewed units were spacious enough for maneuvering a wheelchair.
The bathrooms can be a bit tight for a wheelchair, but all have grab bars installed. The units have been fit with a rather unique shower/soaker-tub configuration where the shower space is in front of the tub rather than inside the tub. The shower has a hand-wand on a pole with adjustable height. The shower doors of the Deluxe Oceanview Studio units (“C” category) in the Ballenas building are only 16” (40cm) wide which make entry very difficult. Those shower units will be renovated in the future.
The Jedediah Lodge lower level units (Rooms 100-105) are accessible and the external doors are quite wide. The bathroom is not wheelchair friendly as, once entered, the door cannot be closed behind. The viewed unit had a deep tub with standard shower head.
Rustic Cottages and Spa Bungalows offer a wide variety of configurations and options within these two room categories. There are a wide variety of configurations and options within these two room categories. Exterior access ranges from road level to going up 3 steps for entry. T-N-M has ramps available on request to overcome the step barrier, however by summer of 2025, the majority of the 2-bedroom rustic cottages will have built in accessibility ramps.
The entry doors are 34” (86cm) wide and the interior doors have a width of 30” (76cm). The bedroom/living areas of all viewed units were spacious enough for maneuvering a wheelchair. The Rustic Cottages (41 units) have deep soaker tubs with a regular showerhead. The Spa Bungalows (50 units) have a walk-in shower with a regular shower head as well as a separate jetted tub.
Meeting Spaces
Combo Rooms
- Occupancy: 90 - 440
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Banquet Style | 312 |
| Board/Class | 120 |
| Theatre Style | 440 |
Large Rooms
- Occupancy: 40 - 154
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Banquet Style | 125 |
| Board/Class | 60 |
| Theatre Style | 154 |
Medium Rooms
- Occupancy: 24 - 70
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Banquet Style | 48 |
| Board/Class | 30 |
| Theatre Style | 70 |
Small Rooms
- Occupancy: 2 - 25
| Configuration | Occupancy |
|---|---|
| Theatre Style | 25 |