Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
daily, $16-24). Plan to eat outside on the glassed-in patio and order grilled salmon cakes,
thin-crust pizza, or bouillabaisse.
Information
For the complete rundown on this stretch of the coast, stop in at
Qualicum Beach Visitor
Centre
(2711 Island Hwy. W, 250/752-9532 or 866/887-7106,
www.qualicum.bc.ca
,
8:30am-6:30pm daily late May-early Sept., 9am-4pm Mon.-Fri. early Sept.-late May), on
the promenade as you enter town from the southeast.
Denman Island
Buckley Bay,
35 kilometers (22 miles) northwest of Qualicum Beach, is the departure
point for ferries across Bayne Sound to Denman Island. Like all ferries through the Strait
of Georgia, they are operated by
BC Ferries
(250/335-0323) and require no reservations.
The service runs hourly 7am-11pm and costs adults $9.10, children $4.55, and vehicles
$21.45.TenminutesafterleavingBuckleyBayyou'llbedrivingofftheferryandontothis
rural oasis, similar to the Southern Gulf Islands in appearance, sans the crowds. Fishing,
hiking, biking, bird-watching, and scuba diving are prime draws here, and you'll also find
good beaches, parks, and an artisan community along narrow winding roads.
Within walking distance of the ferry is Denman Village, boasting several early 20th-
century heritage buildings. Across the island, 23-hectare (57-acre)
Fillongley Provincial
Park
features forested trails, a long stretch of beach with views to the snowcapped Coast
Mountains, and 10 campsites for $21. At
Boyle Point Provincial Park
in the south, an
800-meter (0.5-mile) trail (20 minutes one-way) leads to a lofty lookout with views down
to
Chrome Island,
where a classic red-and-white lighthouse stands.
Hornby Island
This small, seldom-visited island has great beaches, especially along crescent-shaped
Tribune Bay, where the longest stretch of sand is protected by 95-hectare (235-acre)
Tribune Bay Provincial Park.
Continue beyond that park and take St. John's Point
Roadto287-hectare(710-acre)
Helliwell Provincial Park,
onarugged,forestedheadland
wheretrailsleadthroughanold-growthforestofDouglasfirandwesternredcedartohigh
bluffs. Allow 90 minutes for the full 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) loop.
Neither of the island's provincial parks have campgrounds. Instead, stay at the beauti-
fully located
Tribune Bay Campsite
(250/335-2359,
www.tribunebay.com
, mid-June to
