Langdale
Ferry Terminal, Sunshine Coast |
See
it all when you embark upon a coastal circle tour of Vancouver
Island and the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. The
Sunshine Coast lives up to its name. With a total average
of between 1,400 and 2,400 hours of sunshine per annum
- that's an average of 4 to 6 hours per day, depending
on where the measurements are taken.
The Sunshine Coast is split into two portions on either
side of Jervis Inlet. The coastline is deeply indented
by the Pacific Ocean at Howe Sound, Jervis Inlet and Desolation
Sound.
Jervis and Desolation are of such fjordic proportions
that they attract a steady stream of marine traffic throughout
the summer months, when brilliant sun shines on the countless
cataracts that cascade down the sheer-sided slopes.
The
Sunshine Coast is accessible from the Lower mainland only
by boat or plane. Travellers board a BC Ferry at Horseshoe
Bay, north of Vancouver, for the 45-minute ride
to Langdale on the Sechelt Peninsula.
Dozens of parks with biking, hiking and ski trails; canoe
and kayak routes; beaches; and coastal viewpoints are
easily accessed from Highway 101 as you follow it northwards.
Another ferry from Earls Cove crosses Jervis Inlet
to Saltery Bay for the second leg of the journey
up Highway 101 to Powell River, where you can board
a ferry at Powell River that will take you across
the waters of the Strait of Georgia to Comox, on
Vancouver Island. A scenic highway flanks the east coast
of the island, taking you through charming beachside communities,
farmlands and mountainous ranges.
The
Vancouver Island communities of Parksville, Nanoose
Bay and Qualicum Beach are charming seaside
playgrounds offering every kind of recreation option
at a very relaxed pace. Fancy a game of golf on an award-winning
fairway? Sea kayaking, salmon or flyfishing? Or just
a quiet walk through some of the most spectacular scenery
in the world. There is nothing like staring up at the
snow-capped peaks of Mt. Arrowsmith, while ankle deep
in the warm water of Rathtrevor
Beach Provincial Park at Parksville.
Saltery
Bay Ferry Terminal, Sunshine Coast |
Driving
south to Nanaimo you may board another ferry
and cross Howe Sound back to Horseshoe Bay on the mainland,
having completed one 'circle tour'. If you still want
more of Vancouver Island, you can continue south to
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia at
the southern tip of the Island.
Organized tours of the city, conducted in conveyances
of all kinds, from double-decker buses to bicycles,
mopeds and horse-drawn carriages.
From
Victoria, you can drive out to the scenic Saanich
Peninsula, past lakes and cottages and the picturesque
town of Sidney, to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.
From here you can return to the mainland at Tsawwassen,
or board a smaller vessel for an Island
Hopping adventure to one of the Southern Gulf Islands.
This scenery surpasses any in the world for its raw
beauty and unspoiled vistas. Keep a look out for Orca
whale pods and happy groups of Dall's porpoises that
look much like miniature Killer Whales.
Start your CirclePac trip on Vancouver Island or the
Sunshine Coast, or in Vancouver. You can circle in either
direction, as long as you travel on all four routes:
Horseshoe Bay - Langdale, Earls Cove - Saltery Bay,
Powell River - Comox, and Vancouver Island - Mainland
(your choice of Nanaimo - Horseshoe Bay, Nanaimo - Tsawwassen,
or Swartz Bay - Tsawwassen).
Circle Tours are a specialty of the Island, offering
15% savings on selected travel with BC Ferries' Sunshine
Coast CirclePac. The CirclePac gives you a chance to
discover large stretches of sheltered BC coastline,
from its forested inlets to its many peaks. CirclePac
is valid on all sailings, so you can travel when you
like, enjoying the midday sun on one crossing and a
dusky horizon on another.
Purchase your Sunshine Coast CirclePac at the ticket
booth when you begin your trip. CirclePac is sold at
the Horseshoe Bay, Saltery Bay, Powell River, Comox,
Nanaimo, Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen terminals. Simply
pay the total package price at the ticket booth at your
first departure point. You will receive a receipt and
tickets for each leg of the trip.
Sunshine
Coast Circle Tours
Explore the magic of coastal towns and the charm of
the British Columbia seaside lifestyle. Experience the
most stunning scenery in coastal BC while enjoying four
delightful cruises aboard BC Ferries. Be our guest for
3 days and 2 nights, while exploring the rich beauty
of Coastal British Columbia.
Towns on or near this Route - Click on a town
name to learn more about that town.
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