Press Itinerary
Spring into Adventure
Explore Canada’s Sunshine Coast
May 29 – June 4, 2017
*Draft itinerary – Subject to change
Tucked into the southwest corner of mainland British Columbia, the Sunshine Coast is a 180 km (110 mile) stretch of paradise. Accessible by air or by BC Ferries service at its north and south ends, the Sunshine Coast is part of the BC mainland, but has all the laid-back charm of island living. Here the mossy rainforest drops from a sculpted shoreline into the Strait of Georgia, and winds itself northward beneath the Coast Mountains from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound. The region offers a wide-range of year-round activities such as sea kayaking, hiking and mountain biking to name a few. The Sunshine Coast also boasts the largest community of artists per capita in Canada. All communities of the Sunshine Coast provide accommodations that range from cozy B&Bs to lakefront cottages or chic oceanfront resorts with fine dining rooms and luxury spas.
Your Sunshine Coast itinerary has been arranged by Destination BC in cooperation with Sunshine Coast Tourism and various industry partners.
Destination British Columbia
12th Floor, 510 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3A8
Contact: Heather McGillivray
Travel Media Relations & Travel Trade Representative
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
Phone: 250-888-5687
Email:
Sunshine Coast Tourism
Media Contact:Andrea Wickham-Foxwell
Director of Communications
Phone: (604) 898-1001
Cell: (778) 861-7486
Email:
Please make every effort to attend all scheduled items, but if you must cancel an appointment or have a scheduling problem please, contact the appropriate tourism office. If after hours, on weekends and/or holidays, please use the contact information provided in your itinerary to notify the hosting member.
Passport: Please remember your passport. Your passport should be valid for the entire duration of the visit to Canada plus one day. For more details about entering Canada, please visit Canadian Border Service’s website at
Credit Cards & Money: All major credit cards are accepted in British Columbia and ATM’s and Currency Exchange Services are widely available. Please note that you will be responsible for incidental room charges, occasional gratuities, parking and meals and alcoholic beverages unless otherwise stated.
Activities: It is your sole responsibility to understand the nature of the activities in which you may choose to participate on this trip, including any risks associated with these activities. Your participation in any such activities is voluntary, and Destination BCor its hosting partners will not be in any way responsible for any resulting injury or loss. The individuals or entities responsible for the activities may require you to sign waivers or other legal documents as a condition of your participation in the activities.
Travel and Other Insurance: It is your sole responsibility to arrange and pay for any insurance that you consider necessary or advisable in connection with your trip, including life, travel, accident, medical, property or other insurance.
Gratuities:Tips for meals, spa treatments, guided tours and activities, ground transportation providers and housekeeping staff are customary and appreciated.
Dress: The weather in British Columbia is mild, changing daily. Bring layered clothing, as well as a swimsuit, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, smart casual evening clothing, and a warm coat or jacket.
Travel Itinerary
Monday, May 29
Welcome to British Columbia!
Arrive Vancouver International Airport and transfer to your hotel
Arrive at your Vancouver hotel and check in for a one-night stay
Dinner
Overnight Vancouver
Tuesday, May 30
7:00 amEnjoy breakfast at your hotel
8:00 amCheck out and settle any incidentals. Depart hotel.
8:30 amArrive at BC Ferries Horseshoe Bay Terminal
Please check in 45-60 minutes prior to scheduled sailing. Note: Failure to check in at least 30 minutes prior will result in reservation being released and sailing on stand-by.
9:25 amSet sail aboard BC Ferries from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) to the Sunshine Coast (Langdale), compliments of BC Ferries.Sailing timeis 40 min.
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
Suite 500 – 1321 Blanshard Street, Victoria,
1-888-BCFERRY (1-888-223-3779) from anywhere in North America
Phone: 604-673-2444
Contact: Rae Acton, Manager, Sales – Travel & Tourism
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., or BC Ferries, is known for safety, spectacular scenery and a proud maritime history. What began in 1960 as a two vessel, two terminal operation has grown into one of the largest, most sophisticated ferry transportation systems in the world, with 35 vessels and up to 47 ports of call.
10:05 amWelcome to the Sunshine Coast!
Transfer to Gibsons
Located at the south end of the Sunshine Coast, Gibsons is a quaint town of artists and fishing boats. Perched on a hillside, it overlooks a harbour and faces nearby islands in Howe Sound. Gibsons has earned international recognition named the "Most Liveable Community under 20,000" (2009) in a world-wide competition by the UN-backed International Awards for Liveable Communities. It is perhaps most famously known as the location for the long time hit Canadian TV show The Beachcombers, which first aired in 1972 and ran until 1990.
Enjoy a tour and tasting at Gibsons Public Market.
Gibsons Public Market
473 Gower Point Rd.
Gibsons, BC V0N 1V0
Phone: (604) 886-8814
Opening in early 2017, the Gibsons Public Market will be a community hub where Sunshine Coast residents and visitors will learn about and enjoy local food, art and entertainment. Situated in the heart of Gibsons Landing overlooking the harbour and marina, the Gibsons Public Market is a located in a heritage building with three levels and will be open year-round, six days a week. Highlights will include a public market with fresh vegetables and fruit, bakery and delicatessen featuring specialty productsfrom the Coast and beyond,including fresh fish from local fishing fleets and organic and grain-fed meat, a restaurant/café with indoor and outdoor seating, both community and commercial kitchens, a florist and other unique vendors. The Gibsons Public Market will also be home to the Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre.
12:30 pmArrive at Sunshine Coast Resort and check-in for a one night stay.
Sunshine Coast Resort
12695 Sunshine Coast Hwy (Hwy. 101)
Madeira Park / Pender Harbour
Phone: 604-800-7862
Sunshine Coast Resort Hotel and Marina offers its guests a unique resort experience, with stunning ocean views from every room and every corner of the property. The resort itself is very intimate with less than 20 accommodations – from luxurious two-bedroom executive cottages to pet-friendly ocean view suites. Naturally, Sunshine Coast Resort is an ideal basecamp for all recreational activities on the Sunshine Coast. From our fleet of professionally maintained Sunshine Coast Boat Rentals or marine tours to world renown Princess Louisa Inlet to local Pender Harbour boat tours and professionally guided fishing or sailing charters.
1:30 pmUpon arrival, enjoy a Sunshine Coast Air flight-seeing tour to Princess Louisa Inlet and Chatterbox Falls with a boxed lunch.
This spectacular tour has you soaring over magnificent coastline and inlets to the beautiful Chatterbox Falls. The scenery is incredible with the waterfall cascading down the rocky cliff, majestic granite-walled gorge, and snow tipped mountains rising sharply from the water's edge to heights of 7,000 ft. Stop for a picnic and get a close up view of the falls. Tour includes; Sechelt Inlet, Porpoise Bay, mouth of Salmon Inlet, mouth of Narrows Inlet, Skookumchuck Rapids, Egmont, Prince of Wales Reach, Princess Royal Reach, Queens Reach.
3:30 pmReturn to the resort and enjoy free time before dinner
Dinner
Overnight Sunshine Coast Resort
Wednesday, May 31
Enjoy breakfast
Check out and settle any incidentals. Depart hotel.
10:30 amVisit an Artist’s Studio
From Howe Sound to Desolation Sound, B.C.'s Sunshine Coast is home to more artists per capita than any other region in Canada. Encouraging visitors to experience the area's artisans, the Sunshine Coast boasts a "Purple Banner Route" - a purple flag hangs outside studios, galleries and even artists' homes that are open to visitors. More than 60 Purple Banner stops dot the Sunshine Coast Highway starting in Langdale and north to Lund creating a self-guided trail for art enthusiasts and leisure visitors alike. Presented by the Coast Cultural Alliance, the group also spearheads the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl held annually in October as well as countless special events and exhibitions throughout the year.
12:00 pmLunch atSkookumchuck Bakery
Serving a wide selection of baked goods made fresh daily, including their famous cinnamon buns which sell out more often than not! They also have delicious soups and sandwiches made with fresh, local and organic ingredients.
1:00 pmArrive atSkookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park
Hike the Skookumchuck Trail to view the rapids, if the tides coincide with the time. The trail is approx. 4 km one-way and about 2 hours round-trip.Mosquito repellent recommended.“Skookumchuck” is a Chinook name meaning turbulent water or rapid torrent. Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park provides trails and viewing areas for visitors who wish to experience the awesome power of incredibly turbulent tidal rapids. On a 3 m tide, 200 billion gallons of water flow through the narrows connecting Sechelt and Jervis Inlet. The difference in water levels between one side of the rapids and the other sometimes exceeds 2 m in height and speeds can exceed 30km/hr. The rapids are famous for their spectacular whirlpools and whitewater. There are opportunities to view tidal rapids, waterfowl and abundant marine life at various tidal levels.
4:15 pmTransfer to BC Ferries Earls Cove Terminal
Please arrive 30-45 minutes prior to scheduled sailing. Note: No reservations available on this route.
4:55 pmSet sail aboard BC Ferries from the Southern Sunshine Coast (Earls Cove) to the Northern Sunshine Coast (Saltery Bay) compliments of BC Ferries.Sailing timeis 50 min.
5:45 pmArrive Saltery Bay and transfer to Powell River. Approx. driving time is 30 min.
6:30 pmArrive at Townsite Brewing for a tour and tasting
Townsite Brewing
5824 Ash Avenue
Powell River, BC
T: 604-483-2111
Contact: Michelle Zutz
Townsite Brewing Inc.is a small, but award-winning craft brewery located on the North end of the Sunshine Coast. With BC’s only Belgian Brewmaster at the helm, they are making things happen on the shores of the Salish Sea. With “Head down, boots on” as their motto, they are proving that the one step at a time plan is worth every sip. Swing in for a visit; take a tour through their brewery, which is housed in the Historic district of Powell River, and above all stay for a visit to taste their beers named for the sites and sounds around Powell River and the Sunshine Coast.
7:00 pmDinner at Coastal Cookery
The Coastal Cookery
4578 Marine Avenue
Powell River, BC
T: 604-485-5568
Contact: Sarah Salome, Owner/Operator
The Coastal Cookery team is committed to excellence through choosing only the best local ingredients, hiring magnetic people, and constantly searching to introduce the community to globally inspired offerings. Enjoy a warm room with repurposed minimalist style. Highlighting the local industry in Powell River with a Redwood Cedar bar, Alder and Fir finishing, and a view of the Strait of Malaspina.
Arrive at Desolation Sound Resort and check in for a two night stay
*Please note:Due to the Chalet accommodation type the group members might be sharing 1-3 chalets among each other.
Desolation Sound Resort
2694 DawsonRoad
Powell River,BC V8A 0G3
Phone: 604-483-3592
Celebrating 20 years in 2017, Desolation Sound Resort opened as the dream ofJosaphine and Bernd Scheifele, and has since seen guests from all over the world who come toenjoy Desolation Sound, a renowned marine park for kayakers and boaters. Enjoy rustic chalets in a picturesque wilderness setting.Each of the unique chalets of varying sizes were constructed by local craftsmen with local wood, creating custom designs with a West coast flair.
Overnight at Desolation Sound Resort
Thursday, June 1
8:30 amMorning transfer to Lund
9:00 amArrive at Nancy’s Bakery for breakfast
Nancy’s Bakery
1451 Hwy 101, Lund, BC
(604) 483-4180
Renowned for their cinnamon buns since 1991 – especially blackberry – Nancy’s serves breakfast and lunch in a casual environment overlooking the Lund Harbour. Nancy’s is located directly below Terracentric Coastal Adventures in the same building.
10:00 amEnjoy a zodiac adventure in Desolation Sound with Terracentric Coastal Adventures with your German-speaking guide, Christine Hollmann
Terracentric Coastal Adventures
1451B Highway 101
Lund, BC
Phone: 604-483-7900
Contact:Christine Hollmann, Operations Manager
A destination for summer sojourns, British Columbia’s Desolation Soundis a world renowned area that has captivated the hearts and minds of many a traveler. Step on board our 21-foot rigid hull inflatable Zodiac Hurricane as we explore the beautiful waters and many marine parks of the Salish Sea. The vessel provides a platform from which our guides can share their knowledge about First Nations culture, European settlement and provide interpretation of our natural history. Do you know what a “Zunga” is? You are about to find out!
11:30 amArrive at Cabana Desolation Eco Resort for a site and lunch
Cabana Desolation Eco Resort
c/o Powell River Sea Kayak
10676 Crowther Rd.
Powell River, BC V8A 4Z3
T: 604-483-2160
Contact: Adam Vallance, Owner/Operator
Newly opened in June 2014, thisexclusive eco resort of only four cabins is located on uninhabited Kinghorn Island in the heart of Desolation Sound Marine Park and modelled after the sustainable resorts of Costa Rica. Accessible only by boat or kayak, the focus is local, creative,healthy and tasteful with an on-site chef and fully stockedkitchen to create daily delicacies in the open-air Cabana Café. Outdoor showers, boardwalks, daily kayaking, the Canadian Signature Experience “Snorkeling with the Stars,” and total relaxation round out the Cabana experience.
1:00 pm -Enjoy an afternoon guided kayaking tour
4:00 pm
Return to the resort and enjoy free time before dinner
Enjoy dinnerat Laughing Oyster Restaurant
Laughing Oyster Restaurant
10052 Malaspina Rd
Powell River, BC
T: 604 483-9775
There are very few places where you can enjoy seafood in a setting as beautiful as at Laughing Oyster Restaurant in Okeover Arm. Located at the verynorthern end of the Sunshine Coast, our establishment provides the very best in relaxed, fine dining with an exquisite menu designed byExecutive Chef, David Bowes. If you’re lucky, you may catch Chef Bowes singing and playing guitar at the end of the evening to entertain guests beyond the plate.
Overnight at Desolation Sound Resort
Friday, June 2
Enjoy breakfast at Desolation Sound Resort
Check out and settle any incidentals. Depart hotel.
Meet Eagle Walz to hike a portion of the Sunshine Coast Trail: Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hiking trail and the only one that’s free!
*Please note: A boxed lunch will be provided.
Originally from Germany, Eagle Walz has been tramping through the wilderness surrounding Powell River for over 20 years. When he became aware in the early 1990s that the last patches of old-growth forest were disappearing around Powell River he conceived the idea of a long-distance hiking trail that would link these remaining stands and other stunning features such as ocean shores, lakes, rivers, creeks and mountain ridges.
Many years in the making, the trail route opened in 1999. Located on the Upper Sunshine Coast in Powell River, the Sunshine Coast Trail stretches 180 km from the Saltery Bay ferry terminal in the south to Sarah Point in the world-famous Desolation Sound Marine Park in the north. Hikers who want the full adventure of spending more than a few days on the trail, can experience free hut-to-hut hiking, and find walk-in campsites, picnic tables, outhouses, benches, even swimming wharfs all along the way.
1:30 pmArrive at Power River Airport
2:25 pmDepart Powell River via Pacific Coastal Airlines
3:00 pmArrive Vancouver – YVR South Terminal
Transfer to downtown Vancouver.
4:00 pmCheck into your Vancouver hotel for a two-night stay
Dinner
Overnight Vancouver
Saturday, June 3
Enjoy the day exploring Vancouver, compliments of Tourism Vancouver
Your Vancouver itinerary has been arranged by Tourism Vancouver in cooperation with various industry partners.
Tourism Vancouver
210-200 Burrard Street
Waterfront Centre
Vancouver, BC V6C 3L6
Phone: 604.682.2222
Contact: Sonu Purhar, Manager Communications
Direct: 604.631.2870
Dinner
Overnight Vancouver
Sunday, June 4
Depart Vancouver for home
THANK YOU FOR VISITING BRITISH COLUMBIA!