Rockwater Secret Cove Resort

I don’t review much on Unilocal but do frequent it so when I get either especially fantastic service or especially sub-​par service I will try to note it here. Unfortunately today at rockwater I had the latter.
My girlfriend and I are taking a week of vacation and decided to relax on the Sunshine Coast. I wanted to treat her to a massage so we booked a couples «bliss» massage for this afternoon after visiting the resort yesterday to check availability. We aren’t staying there so we had to boat into the resort and when we showed up today there was a huge barge taking up all of the dock space so we had to raft up which was no biggie. The barge was doing some work on the dock and had a crane working with chains and small boats and a crew of 3 – 4.
We went to check in and were led to our oceanfront tent where the couples massage took place. Beautiful view and peaceful place. Only issue was the barge and constitution crew were less than 50m away and for the next hour all we could here was guys talking, chains crashing down and boats moving around. I could tell our masseuses noticed as they made a few remarks but not much they could do. As soon as we’d get 30 seconds to start relaxing we would be interrupted by some super loud noise from the construction crew. As luck would have it the crew finished work at the same time as our massages.
I went up to reception to pay and let them know the massage itself was fine but the blissful aspect was anything but. I voiced my displeasure to the 2 staff working the desk and said it would have been nice to know that this noise would be happening if they in fact knew when the crew would be coming in. I got pretty much a blank face stare and «so, that’ll be $ 280 please».
Customer service 101. Anyways, I’m sure the massage would be nice on most days but our relaxation time on holidays was ruined and the staff were anything but apologetic, let alone seeing if there was anything they could do rectify it. Won’t be going back there anytime soon.

The tent houses are SOOO cute! They’re equipped with king beds with a fan above them, a shower, a tub, sink, fireplace, mini fridge, and a washroom all inside. The floors are heated, you can adjust the heat yourself. Every tent house has a set of stairs leading up to it– so so so cute!
The only downfall — there are little cracks in the structure of the tent, spiders and bugs can get in. I woke up one morning to a spider crawling on my husbands pillow (SO NASTY lol) but other than that, it’s ahhhmazing! If there weren’t any bugs, I’d give this place a 5 star (but that’s mostly because I had little critters).
The view is beautiful, especially at night when the skies are clear. the stars look gorgeous!
Be sure to bring some food with you since the restaurants don’t have many options and they close early. Plus you’d have to drive at least 40mins into town to the closest location for food to get anything. When we were there, the chef decided to go home before the lunch menu ended. We all had to order the same thing (fish and chips) since there was no one to cook.

We stayed here for one night as part of our honeymoon and it was heavenly! The bed was so comfortable, the jacuzzi tub was probably the best tub I have ever soaked in… The heated floors and fireplace kept the tent cozy even though it was October. Hearing the rain fall on the roof overnight was so magical!
Food at the restaurant was delicious– we had dinner and breakfast and enjoyed both!
We felt very welcome and were treated well by the staff. We definitely plan to return!

I’m like the previous comment and we actually didn’t stay here but we ate at the restaurant and it was disappointing. We were with a group and I didn’t dare ask anyone else how they felt about their food but mine was disappointing. The plate didn’t look good to the eye and we all eat with our eyes first! The sides of my plate should’ve been wiped because there were crumbs all over it. From the short menu they had I ordered the chicken burger with greens and the chicken breast was overcooked and the greens were not fresh and tasted bad. Some of us ordered coffee so the empty (white) coffee mugs were brought to the table first and then filled but I looked around and they were all coffee stained so they could’ve been bleached or replaced with new ones. The cutlery had water stains and my friend’s water glass had a piece of food stuck to it. I expect things like this in a diner but in a resort?! It may be all my years of restaurant work and/​or the ‘chef’ in me noticing these things but it was unacceptable! The ocean view is what the star is for (and because you need at least one star to post) and I don’t know what the cabins are like but I wouldn’t go back knowing the restaurant is like this. There’s lots of sight seeing resorts in BC. Disappointing is all I can say.

I’m really torn about this review (I wish there was a 3.5 option). The tent suites were amazing! The ultimate glamping experience, you have your own private bathroom and even a full scaled Jacuzzi!
Views were spectacular and I love the heated floors and comfortable bed.
The reason I couldn’t give four stars was the service and the food. The resort is making huge strides in setting itself up to compete with luxury resorts world wide, but in order to succeed at that, you need more than a beautiful room.
Food was very overpriced and honestly, barely edible. We also had a couple of other service issues. One example, I mentioned in my reservation that it was our one year wedding anniversary. Now I know I can’t expect flowers and champagne for that but when we checked it, they said they only had as down for one person! I’ll settle for at least letting my husband stay with me :)
To learn more about my experience and see more photos, check out my full review on my website:

This review is only for the restaurant since I’ve never actually stayed at the resort. But if I was paying what it costs to stay at Rock Water, the quality of the only restaurant on site would be important to my stay.
My first time here was 6 years ago and I had been disappointed and despite the fact that we often stay with family very close by, we were put off returning. This past weekend though, we decided to give it another try, unfortunately the lunch was an even bigger disappointment then the dinner we had 6 years ago.
I had the seafood chowder and for $ 12 I was expecting much better quality. It was a bit better than canned chowder, but I guess they think adding the clam shells in will make it seem more fresh? Flavour could help. Or maybe even a side of bread would make it a bit nicer? I was lucky I also had the kale caesar salad. Which was decent, but now I paid $ 25 for just an ok meal. My partner had a burger which he said was also decent.
They also have a very standard kids menu. My kids had the grilled cheese and it was better than some they’ve had, but a grilled cheese is hard to mess up.
All in all we left with a very disappointing $ 70 bill for lunch. You’d think maybe you are paying for a beautiful room with a view? The view is ok. The room is terrible. Stuck in the 90’s, stuffy, weirdly laid out like they are trying to give privacy but failed terribly.
The only saving grace was our server who was lovely and attentive. And the walk we had down to the beach after lunch.

Many positives from my stay at the resort (my girlfriend and I did the Spring Fling package), but the two I would like to point out most:
The service was warm and endearing. Conversations with both the General manager (Vickram, I believe?) and the Food and Beverage Manager (Levi) were exceptionally welcoming and accommodating.
The food was delicious. I won’t make any recommendations as I am sure you will find something you like there.
If there was one improvement I’d like to see it would be to install a Hot Tub. The pool sits there out of use for 9 months a year; when a hot tub would get use year round.

Only stayed one night in a tenthouse suite. It was very nice. Got take-​out to maximize our time in the tenthouse and enjoy the view. Even had breakfast in bed… my husband got up early and went to starbucks and got me food! it was a great experience! so peaceful and beautiful. great relaxing time — no tv, no wifi (they have it but it didn’t reach the tenthouse we were in), just take it all in!

I really didn’t know what to expect… Booking online sometimes can leave you worried (I will say, their website lacks good photos of the layout of rooms and resort).
But…when we pulled up to Rock Water Resort, we were greeted by amazing staff at the front desk and this friendly vibe followed us through the entire weekend! Front desk staff gave us tons of suggestions on where to go, what to see, where to eat, and more! Waiters and waitresses at the restaurant were friendly, and we had a delicious meal every time.
I had booked a surprise 60min Tandem Bliss Massage which is in one of the Tent House’s…Amazing! It was a rainy day, but the rain drops falling on the tent was more relaxing than any spa music I’ve ever heard. It is expensive, but very romantic, and oh so worth it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t stay in the Tent’s because they were full, so we were staying in an Ocean View Cabin, which was small but just perfect for a weekend getaway for my boyfriend and I.
Thank you so much to everyone at the resort for making this getaway so much better than we could have ever expected! We are already planning our trip back to Rock Water Resort!

Stayed at the Rockwater last weekend and stayed in the tents. It was a fantastic stay, great weekend for R & R, enjoyed the spa services with my husband. The view was amazing from our private deck. Must be able-​bodied to trek through the forest on the boardwalk to the tent suites but it’s worth it. The best part was the food! Good thing the resort restaurant has amazing food because it’s a drive to any other restaurant. I would definitely go back. I gave a 4 star because it seems 90% of the staff are very «green», but at least they seemed hard-​working. This is hands-​down the only way I would ever want to sleep in a tent from now on! The bed is cozy, the fireplace and heated tiles and especially the jet tub are super!

Ivan and Rhian made our wedding go off perfectly. The tent suites (63) had an amazing view. While our room was being prepared we had a massage in the tents overlooking the ocean (careful the mosquitoes get bad though nothing like up north) the ladies tucked us into robes and walked us down to the tent after a warm shower then when we were mush we unloaded our stuff and headed to the tent room. It was beautiful.
Large king sized bed with lots of pillows. Heated floors, gas fireplace, huge jacuzzi tub and large stand up shower big enough for two. The large French doors opened to the private deck and we sipped drinks while lounged on the chairs the night before our wedding.
We slept in and drove to town for breakfast and while I got my hair and makeup done my husband did the last minute arrangements with Rhian for our ceremony location. Rhian claimed she was tight with Mother Nature and that woman was not lying. It stopped raining about an hour before our ceremony and the sun came out for our photos. It was perfect. They set up a table for our few guests (we «eloped») and supplied chairs for those attending the ceremony. My new father in law struggles with mobility and they let us drive right down to pick him up from the ceremony and bring him to the main lodge.
We decorated the table for the dinner and our waiter was fairly attentive (though I kept missing him for another drink). The steak was quite good and the guests had no complaints only compliments on their meal. After we finished our cheesecake (no wedding cake for us) we took some night shots and admired the view as we wandered back to the tent to find our room freshly made up and a heart with our initials in rose petals on the bed. We plan on going here for our anniversary next year. I really hope the owners of rockwater know how wonderful their staff is. The rooms were lovely and the beds comfy but the staff was amazing.

If you’re looking for a unique experience, but away from the city, this is it! Experience how beautiful our province is at this beautiful resort.
Staying in a tenthouse suite is a must. Although pricier ($ 490+/night), it is something you don’t find anywhere else. King bed, jacuzzi tub w/​light therapy, separate shower stall, and even if you get cold, a fireplace right inside the suite! Suites are equiped with free wifi, electical outlets for your techy needs, docking station for your ipad in the clock radio, kettle, iron, etc.
Every tenthouse suite has an amazing view onto the water, so lounge in the patio furniture and soak in the fresh air!
The food also surpassed our expectations. The 5-​course set menu include wine pairings, and every course was great quality. The seafood chowder was so good we ordered it twice during our stay, packed full of scallops, mussels, clams, prawns. Everything we ordered a la carte was also amazing! EVEN breakfast! The maple bacon is a MUST, and was perfectly done, as well as the eggs! The open faced shrimp salad sandwich was another favourite.
The staff was also exceptional, from general manager Mr. «Z» Zabunyun to the serving staff, to the cleaning staff that was able to answer our questions and tell us that the pretty looking bird we just saw was a piliated woodpecker!
Massage in the spa tent, overlooking the water is another relaxing experience. (We both fell asleep it was so relaxing!) Kayaking, personal yoga sessions, horseback riding and hiking are among activities also available.
If you’re looking for a luxurious getaway close to Vancouver, in style, but also close to nature, this is the perfect place.
On your way back to the ferry, be sure to also check out Smitty‘s Oyster and The Shed for fish tacos in Gibsons!

Came here for lunch after a long hike at Smuggler’s Cove. The dining room is small but has a pretty decent view. I would call this place casual fine dining.
We ordered the seafood chowder to start, but instead got the daily special which we think was mushroom. It did have truffle oil and goat cheese on it, so we didn’t really bother with letting our server know it wasn’t what we ordered. (She charged us for daily soup, not the chowder, so that was fine.)
I had the mixed greens with tiger prawns added. The shrimp were huge and plentiful so I was pleased with the $ 6 addition. My friend had the open faced baby shrimp sandwich with citrus mayo. She said it was pretty good. I devoured her fries.
Tea is served in a press. Service is friendly.
I wouldn’t say it’s a great place but we didn’t find other options and it was enjoyable enough.

There’s no experience quite like camping out in the woods surrounded by canvas walls and the sounds and sights of nature all around.
Especially if your «canvas walls» happen to be part of the «tenthouse suites» at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on B.C.‘s Sunshine Coast.
Not only do you have a real bed to sleep in, you also have a fireplace, a Jacuzzi tub, all the other indoor plumbing features you find in any resort, a heated marble floor and room service meals.
Yes, you are still in nature. Standing outside on your tenthouse deck, a chipmunk may scurry up a tree a few fee away. Bald eagles soar overhead in the treetops. An occasional seal pops its head up in the bay down below your viewpoint.
The resort offers a variety of different packages.
The secret romance experience includes a complimentary bottle of champagne and chocolate truffles waiting for you upon your arrival. There is also a package of tub shower products to enhance your experience.
Along the same lines, there is an elopement package and a couples’ package.
The summer adventure package offers a combination of guided kayak and hiking tours, horseback riding and mountain biking options. Paddle across Smugglers and Secret Coves in the evening to watch the sunset and the moonrise. Or take a two-​hour hike on the local rain forest trails guided by a naturalist. Other options include horseback riding or mountain biking.
We’d actually won a romance package in a draw (it did not include meals) but the Divine Ms. K. and I both like adventure, so I did a bit of negotiation and for a reasonable fee, the sunset kayak adventure became part of our experience there. We ate dinner on the beach, kayaked around the bays until the moon came up, then paddled back for dessert on the beach.
If you visit in winter, they also offer an escape package that includes a two-​and-​a-​half hour guided snowshoe adventure or a two-​and-​half hour cross-​country ski outing on groomed trails.
Other packages include girlfriend getaways, spring and fall adventures, and the ultimate getaway adventure which involves floatplane travel, hiking, and coastal boating adventures.
The food is great.
The staff is incredibly helpful, too. While we were there, a big transport truck backed into our Explorer while it was parked out in front of the main lodge, and did quite a bit of damage to the rear hatchback and bumper. The manager took photos, had a statement made up for us, and made sure all the right steps were taken to ensure ICBC wouldn’t have any reason for giving us the runaround.
They also have a cool gift shop.
Okay, so it’s not really camping — more like «glamping,» the new buzz word that describes «glamorous camping.» But if you can dine on gourmet meals, go for a moonlight kayak paddle, then relax with a nice, full-​body massage by the ocean, would you really want to camp any other way?

The Good:
Waves crashing against the shore a mere ten metres from your bed. Such a soothing sound to lull you to sleep.
The view from the restaurant (sit by the windows, request it in your reservations!).
The standard breakfast (eggs, toast, sausage, hashbrowns, coffee, oj).
The Bad:
The $ 5 delivery fee for the room service (uh… isn’t that what the included 15% is for?).
Is it unpatriotic to say that the Canadian flag atop the flagpole in the bay was a bit much?).
The $ 5 extra fee for most breakfasts not included in the $ 10 add-​on to the room. Why do this? I felt bad for the staff who had to explain this every morning, with every guest. Why not have a $ 10, and a $ 15 add-​on option? Or just get rid of this all together. Where the hell else are we supposed to go for breaky?
The Ugly:
The view from cabin 7 (the closest cabin to the water). The silly window faces the pumphouse and a tree. I had to pull down the window screen covering to improve the angled view of the water (it was held onto the cabin exterior with sticks and pinecones).
The verdict:
Next time I would just rent a small house privately (with full kitchen, views, and no extra fees).
I have definitely experienced better. Better food, better views, better service at Bed and Breakfasts!

Stellar getaway only a couple of hours away from Vancouver. It may be a tad on the pricey side, but once you get settled into your tenthouse cabin, you will forget all about it. Sweeping ocean views from the cabin decks are amazing, and the quiet is well worth the price. The restaurant was good but not great, offering a number of fresh seafood options. We will be back!

The walls are plastered with editorial kudos. It’s «glamping,» it’s luxury, it’s breathtaking, this is a destination wedding resort. The accolades go on and on. But as a paying guest in one of the self-​contained, one bedroom oceanside cottages (#7 to be exact), I can’t really say I was impressed by anything other than the view. And for the view, I’ll give a generous three stars.
That’s the short version.
Continue reading if you’re thinking of investing anywhere from $ 99−400/night (The $$ depends on the season and what type of accommodation you choose: cottage, a tent suite or a room in the main building). Rockwater is toted as a romantic getaway. And the view screams romance. The oceanfront cottages’ walls are so thin that the waves sound like they are crashing into your room. Beautiful. Not so beautiful: being able to hear everything else (cars, voices, wedding vows)
–Inside the suite, I couldn’t help wondering — who in the world designed this room? First, our cottage was not a «one bedroom,» like it said on the website, it’s a hotel room. The windows face away from the full view, and take up less than ½ of the wall facing the ocean. The floor is freezing. The TV isn’t mounted, it takes up one of the few counter spots. There’s no table. There’s no bathroom space. The walls between the bathroom and the room are extremely thin — now that’s romantic. The closet – an afterthought, it doesn’t even fit the folding luggage holder. The bed is all kinds of uncomfortable.
All weekend long, as we rearranged the room, we wondered:
1) Why are there two chairs instead of a sofa? Does Rockwater not condone cuddling? 2) What is this huge set of drawers doing in here? Who brings their entire wardrobe here?
–The dining is pretty pricy for what it is (fancy hotel pricing, average food) and there’s not much nearby — it’s 15 – 20 minutes to Sechelt. Steer clear of appetizers like the ravioli, it’s $ 12 for 2 small bites. Better bang for your buck are things like the cornish game hens, which was good! Breakfast: good. The hashbrowns are amazing. The toast is delish. The pork sausage spot on. Do you want to spend every meal here? No, you don’t. And do you want to spend $ 17 for a boxed lunch consisting of a sandwich and chips? I sure didn’t.
–Bring your fivers for the array of surcharges, like $ 5 for room service (plus automatic 15% gratuity). And be ready for some «interesting» math. There is a package that includes breakfast at $ 10 additional a person. Sounds like a deal until you see it costs an extra $ 5 for more than ½ of the items on the breakfast menu. I know I’m nickeling and diming here, but shouldn’t someone?
Blooper reel:
–The wedding table that was left out in the wind and rain for two days, it’s white linen flapping, flailing and finally limping lifelessly like a flag surrendering.
–Watching vows being exchanged just outside our room. Such a personal experience to have strangers watching in their pjs. I wish I had brought popcorn.
–The guy delivering our room service didn’t have a clue where he could put our dinner (no table) I wonder if he thought this was a stupid design too. Here’s an idea: put a table in the room. Or send room service to cottages with a folding table.
–The couple who we overheard complaining about their tent suite and how there was nowhere to sit. They thought the grass was greener in the cottages, while we had thought the grass was greener in the tents. Turns out, the grass is greener somewhere far away from Rockwater.

Rockwater Secret Cove Resort amazing IF you are willing to splurge on a Tenthouse suite; they are top-​notch, and you could literally hide away in one of those little oasis’ for days on end enjoying the soaker tub, comfy bed, and GORGEOUS views. However, we did decide to spend a night in a Cabin and on first look I thought I might have liked it more as I enjoy quaint things, but it was dated beyond belief. It was, however, clean, comfy and also had a great view. I do also know for a fact that Rockwater is undergoing renovations, so hopefully the tired décor of the cabin will be updated soon :)
I would recommend Rockwater to anybody! It’s a bit steep in price, but well worth the serenity!

No air-​conditioning in the rooms (regular rooms, not just the cabins), no ice machine, egregiously over-​priced food and drinks– I could deal with these minor flaws. But the thing that made this «resort» a hellish place to stay was their incompetent staff and sub-​par, occasionally rude and mostly indifferent customer service.
Without mentioning a word of it, they authorized a $ 600 hold on my debit card, causing my account to go into a negative balance. Though they quickly agreed to cancel this unnecessary hold (when I paid the entire rate up front), in the process they ACCIDENTALLY authorized a hold of $ 400 more, making my account balance dip to -$ 500. They really didn’t take the situation seriously at all, offering me nothing more than a free phone call to my bank, which fixed nothing. Their authorization service takes several days to clear, so I’m stuck with access to absolutely no money as I head back to the airport and over the coming weekend.

Review for the restaurant only. Although, paying $ 400/​night for the tenthouse suites, it’s pretty disappointing to have only one dining option in the area.
It’s a very pretty area though — great views from the restaurant of the cove. That’s the only reason it gets 3 stars from me. The food is passable, slightly lower quality than a casual fine dining chain. Went for the Sunday brunch, turns out they only serve eggs up til 10 am so they only had the lunch menu available. Ordered the turkey wrap, it was warmed but tasted more like chicken to me. The chicken burger came with a lot of chipotle mayo and cheese. Terrible bland coffee.
Service was friendly and attentive.