Stay at Rondalyn Resort – A Hidden Gem on BC’s Vancouver Island

By Parkbridge Resort

Located minutes from Ladysmith on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island – and just across from Nanaimo Airport – Rondalyn is a year-round resort that caters to those looking for outdoor relaxation and play.

The two-kilometre jaunt off the highway, bordered by majestic fir trees, takes you to a fork in the road. Head right, and you enter Rondalyn, a Parkbridge RV and Camping Resort that shelters you from the sights and sounds of civilization.

“We are constantly called the Hidden Gem, because you just come up this narrow road of trees and you turn in and then all of sudden, you’re looking at a beautiful 9-hole golf course,” says Resort Manager Linda Lofstrom. “People love it — you can get back to nature, without roughing it in the bush. And, you’re two kilometres away from the main highway and access to everything else you would need.”

The campground sits on 35 acres along the banks of Haslam Creek and has two ready-to-camp cabins and four small camping cabins. The resort is big rig friendly and offers full-service 30-amp sites as well as 15-amp power and water sites for tents or small RVs. The most popular sites are Creekside which are right on Haslam Creek.

“In the fall, the fish spawn up the creek. During winter you’ve got the water rushing pretty fast, and then in the summer, you have the tranquil sound of trickling water. We’ve actually had people who have sat in the creek with their chairs to cool off in the summertime, rather than coming up to the pool,” says Lofstrom.

Most of all, Rondalyn is known as a prime launch point for hours-long hikes or dirt bike and quad rides up the logging roads and onto its many offshoot trails.

“Local trails and backroads are just kind of what we’re known for,” says Lofstrom. “We can literally go out our driveway and go – it’s unlimited roads and trails, and very popular in the summer for that reason. Families use Rondalyn as their base camp; they can spend the day out in the bush and come back here and enjoy the campfire.”

Local tourist attractions are also popular. Drive five minutes north and you can go for a swim in the refreshing Nanaimo River or test your nerves bungee jumping and zip-lining at WildPlay Nanaimo. If you need groceries, want to shop at some local stores, or fancy a beer at the local pub, Ladysmith is seven minutes south.

If you plan to relax at the resort, along with the pool and the pitch-and-putt golf course, guests can make use of a hot tub, clubhouse, catch-and-release fish pond, children’s playground, fenced-in natural area where dogs can play off-leash, and walking trails that meander along the creek. A basketball court doubles as a pickleball court, while other areas onsite are suitable for horseshoes or bocce ball.

Doug and Brenda Trider are repeat guests at Rondalyn – they’ve been coming to the resort with their RV for four years to escape harsh winters. They also come for the peace and quiet, the wildlife, and the resort’s proximity to local shops and services.

“We like how it’s set up, it’s neat and tidy all the time, and the staff are awesome,” says Doug. “I guess you’re sort of close to being in nature and you’re also close to ‘civilization’. Some places, you’re pretty close to the highway and that’s all you ever hear is the highway noise. But we don’t hear that.”

A big attraction for first-time guests Peter and Diane Lamb was the state of the RV sites. Cleanliness was important, and a site had to be big enough for their large RV. The couple did a lot of research on the Internet before deciding on Rondalyn.

“This one is by far one of the best-kept, and you don’t feel like you’re crowded one on top of the other – you actually have some space,” he says. “We have a creek behind us, we have trees, we’ve seen animals, we have birds, it’s nice!”

Lofstrom says Rondalyn offers the best of two worlds.

“It’s prime nature, and you’re in a resort with high standards,” she says. “You can golf, swim, hike, quad and get back to nature, without roughing it in the bush.

“You feel like you’re off in backcountry, but you’re two kilometres away from the main highway and access to everything else you would need. It’s why it’s called the Hidden Gem.”

For accommodations on Vancouver Island and elsewhere in British Columbia go to travel-british-columbia.com

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Published: July 15, 2021
Last Updated: July 15, 2021

About the Author

Parkbridge | RV, Camping & Cottage Resorts stunning picturesque locations, our RV, camping & cottage resorts are where people want to play, recharge and make memories. You can relax knowing you can get away from it all, your way. Visit us at http://www.parkbridgeresorts.com.