British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast is an undiscovered jewel on Canada’s west coast, with rugged coastlines and incredible wildlife; here is a glimpse into my week discovering this beautiful region, along with Vancouver Island and Victoria.
I flew into the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver with my fellow travellers where we collected a minivan and took a scenic drive through Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal. We boarded our ferry and took a smooth 40 minute journey to the stunning Sunshine Coast.
On arrival we drove through spectacular Gibsons Landing, a beautiful coastal community surrounded by mountains with Howe Sound creating the perfect back-drop. Our first stop was the Persephone Brewing Company where we enjoyed a short tour and tasted their craft beer. Next we took a scenic drive to Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, our hotel for the night. Our rooms were nicely decorated overlooking the pool and featured a fireplace, balcony and a Jacuzzi tub with rain forest shower was a nice touch. That evening we enjoyed a lovely meal in the hotel’s restaurant.
The next morning we took a guided hike to Smuggler Cove; a small picturesque anchorage on the south side of Sechelt Peninsula. Afterwards we got back in our minivan and travelled north to Madeira Park. We were told that it was a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ kind of town and it really is! We took a delightful harbour tour and witnessed some of the most beautiful scenery on the Sunshine Coast.
Our next stop was Painted Boat Resort Spa & Marina, nestled within 5 acres of trees. We settled into our spacious 2 bedroom villa which featured a kitchen and living room area and a wraparound balcony overlooking the harbour. That evening we all tucked into a barbecue with the beautiful Sunshine Coast as our back drop.
The next morning we took to the open waters and enjoyed a marine sightseeing tour to the Princess Louise Inlet and the famous Chatterbox Falls. When we arrived at the inlet it was like a different world. We enjoyed a picnic surrounded by the most beautiful mountain views. Next we headed to the West Coast Wilderness Lodge, our home for the night. This luxurious lodge was simply stunning; we enjoyed a lovely meal in their restaurant whilst we took in the spectacular views over the ocean.
It was an early start the next morning as we caught the ferry to Saltry Bay and then headed up the Coast towards Powell River. We took a short tour around the town’s brewery and sampled a few beers. Our next stop was Parksville on Vancouver Island; a 90 minute ferry ride away. We arrived at the Tigh Na Mara Resort for our overnight stay. The property was a real ‘home away from home’ with spectacular views.
The next morning we visited Merridale Ciderworks, Bistro & Orchard Spa nestled in the heart of Cowichan Valley. We enjoyed a stroll around the grounds and orchard before we took a look at the cellar & distillery. The famous Butchart Gardens in Victoria was next on our list. We took a guided walk around the 53 hectares of manicured gardens and learnt about the history. We then headed to downtown Victoria, full of historic architecture and British heritage. We checked into the Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites and then enjoyed a delicious dinner at The Oswego Hotel. We decided to take an evening stroll along the Inner Harbour; The Fairmont Empress & the Parliament Building look great lit up at night.
The next morning we boarded a covered boat and went in search of whales. Our expert guide gave us an informative commentary throughout and kept a close eye out for wildlife. Afterwards we visited the Fairmont Empress for Afternoon Tea; a tradition not to be missed in Victoria. That evening we enjoyed a fantastic meal at the Bard & Banker; the perfect way to finish off a fantastic week.
The Sunshine Coast is a place where you can truly get away from it all amongst some of the most amazing scenery in British Columbia. If you want to experience a similar tour take a look at our Sunshine and Pacific Coast self-drive.
