NORTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND
Of the thousands of visitors to Vancouver Island, only a handful ever ventures to the North end of the Island. It is approximately a six hour drive from Victoria to Port Hardy. Perhaps that's why so few make the trip, and that is unfortunate. I have written five articles chronicling a journey my wife and I recently took, starting at the northernmost community, Port Hardy, and working our way to Qualicum Beach. As you move north, the country gets a bit more rugged, but remains as beautiful and pristine as anyone could imagine.
Port Hardy was our first stop. The ocean views from this town are as good as it gets. Wildlife is abundant. We saw more eagles in one tree in the middle of town than we saw from Victoria to Port Hardy. We traveled through the waters north of Port Hardy to Hurst Island and the dive resort called “God's Pocket.” Our water taxi surfed through the curl of more than one wave as strong winds pushed us along. From near God's Pocket, we could see the Northern tip of Vancouver Island, a sight few get to see. Check out the Port Hardy article at
and click on “Hardy a Day Goes By”.
Our second adventure took us into Grizzly country. This was a side trip from Telegraph Cove, just 45 minutes south of Port Hardy. Telegraph Cove is an incredible place to visit, just to see a community perched on docks. We went 50 miles into scenic Knight Inlet to experience the incredible Grizzly bear. It's hard to describe in words. Go to the travel magazine and click on “Bear Facts” and read about the chase scene we witnessed.
Then we went to Quadra Island, a jewel just 10 minutes off shore from Campbell River. Some of the best kayaking on the Island is available off the shores of Quadra Island. This is a great place to take in the native culture displayed in the museum at Cape Mudge. The views of Campbell River from the western shores of Quadra Island are spectacular. Rebecca Spit Provincial Park is one of the finest on the Island. Check it out by clicking on “Quadra Island - Jewel of the North” on the travel magazine homepage.
Then we went to Denman Island which is a great place to unwind and relax. It is primarily pastoral with lots of hiking, great beaches, and we were able to look down a cliff right into an Eagles Nest. Check out “Denman is not a Speed Bump”.
Our last stop was Qualicum Beach where we stayed at one of the finest B&B's on Vancouver Island. There are tons of things to do in Qualicum Beach and close by is one of the “best little tourist traps” in the world. Read about a local who was shot at least 10 times! See “Bullets Over Qualicum” on the travel magazine.
These articles will give you a great taste of the Northern part of Vancouver Island's East Coast. Enjoy!
