Hidden deep in the woods of Salt Spring Island, Arbutus View Thermal Spa feels more like a secret than a destination. The drive itself slows you down. You leave the main highway, weave through trees and forest homes, and finally arrive at a cedar-decked retreat surrounded by old-growth forest and birdsong.
“We’re surrounded by acres of undeveloped land,” Simon, one of the owners, told me as we looked out toward the trees. “You can hear the birds, see eagles circling above, and sometimes deer walk right through. It’s very grounding.”
Simon and his wife, Michaela, created Arbutus View after years of travelling to Europe’s great thermal spas. “I love water. I’m a Pisces,” he said, smiling. “When we came here, I thought I’d retire. We started with a small B&B and a hot tub for guests, and I’d spend hours in it thinking how beautiful it would be to share this experience with others. So I convinced Michaela to stop doing the B&B and focus on creating a thermal spa.”
That was less than two years ago, and today, the spa offers two private hydrotherapy circuits, Nordic and Salish. Each includes a sauna, hot tub, cold plunge, and shower. The Salish circuit adds a cozy indoor suite for resting between rounds. All sessions are booked privately, meaning guests have the space entirely to themselves. The spa is dog-friendly and clothing optional, staying true to the owners’ belief in natural comfort and freedom.
Hydrotherapy – a Cornerstone of Modern Wellness
The cold plunge at Arbutus View is something you descend into. Simon, who built the spa with his wife Michaela, swears by it: “I do the cold plunge for three to five minutes every day. It wakes you up, makes you feel twenty years younger.”
Alternating between heat and cold isn’t new. The practice traces back to ancient Roman baths and Nordic saunas, and today it has become a cornerstone of modern wellness. The benefits are both physical and mental. Heat dilates blood vessels while cold constricts them, creating a natural pumping effect that improves circulation and supports heart health. The contrast reduces inflammation, eases tension, and helps muscles recover faster. It also steadies the nervous system, lowers stress hormones, and leaves the mind clear and focused.
Simon practices it daily. His wife uses it even more often. “She has Type 1 diabetes, and when her blood sugar gets high, the cold plunge helps bring it down. It’s been really beneficial.”
When my daughter and I visited, the hot tub and sauna felt dreamy and deeply relaxing, while the cold plunge stirred up a mix of fear and laughter. She hesitated at first, hovering over the water, squealing at the thought of it. I’d done it before, but even for me, those first seconds take your breath away. Then comes the calm. Your focus narrows. You stop thinking about anything else.
We alternated between the heat and the cold, each round a little easier. By the third plunge, we were laughing uncontrollably, half from shock and half from joy. The forest stood still around us while we followed a circuit of melting and shivering. Inside the small outdoor change room, soft towels and a cup of cinnamon tea kept us grounded. The space was simple, rustic, and relaxed.
I found Michaela before we left and gave her a big hug, still giddy from the cold water, feeling euphoric and newly energized.
Natasha Netschay runs a PR and Communications agency in Vancouver and teaches writing courses at SFU. She also writes wellness articles for travel, yoga and mental health media outlets.