 The
Sunshine Coast
has mild winters (seldom with snow) and warm dry summers. There
are 270 growing days per year (up to 90°F/ 30°C), with the growth
of sub-tropicals (eucalyptus, fig, kiwi and palm,) observed in some
coastal pockets. The backdrop of the Coast Mountains, ocean coast
and "Inland Sea" (Sechelt Inlet) contribute to the scenic
nature of the Sunshine Coast. There are numerous parks including
the newly established Caren Range Provincial Park, home to a 'cloud
forest' containing some of the oldest yellow cedar and western hemlock
in Western Canada, and also the Tetrahedron Provincial
Park located closest to the community of Tuwanek. Wildlife abounds
in the region including deer, eagles, elk, mountain goats, osprey,
otters, sea lions and seals.
The
Town of Sechelt, BC
Sechelt (pop. 8,000) is the geographic centre of the Sunshine Coast.
The Shishalh Indian Band (Coast Salish), from which Sechelt gets
its name, occupied the town-site historically. Today they sponsor
a museum, gift shop and theatre. Sechelt has many services and amenities,
including a hospital, shopping mall and several fine restaurants.
Things to Do on the Coast
The Sunshine Coast of British Columbia offers activities for
everyone. Scuba Dive in the crystal clear waters,
kayak in the
spectacular sheltered coves and bays and explore over 100 miles
of coastline of the Sechelt Inlet, hike in the
old growth forest, bike the trails, golf on
the picturesque courses or go on a Princess Louisa
Tour – the choices are near limitless!
| Sailing
Tours:
Enjoy an evening sunset cruise or try your hand at sailing
with your skipper in the sheltered waters of Sechelt Inlet.
It's a great place to learn the concepts of sailing while
enjoying an afternoon on the water. Sit back, relax and enjoy
the fresh sea air. Cruise down Sechelt Inlet and anchor at
one of the nine Marine Parks and enjoy lunch on the boat.
In the summer, jump off and swim to shore, snorkel at the
marine park or just soak up the rays.
Power
Boat Tours:
You will enjoy your day viewing some of the most breathtaking
and spectacular scenery to be found anywhere in British Columbia.
Sechelt Inlet together with its tributary arms, Salmon and
Narrows Inlet, tends to be a relatively placid, little traveled
backwater where one will find fewer boats than in the open
Gulf of Georgia. Experience a wilderness paradise of picturesque
inlets and fjords, viewing magnificent marine life such as
porpoises, seals, and majestic bald eagles.
Sea
Kayaking:
The Inland Sea is a perfect paddling location for kayakers of
all skill levels. The waters are protected from the open ocean
and are free from severe tidal currents. Kayaking the Inland
Sea, by Sechelt, BC is an experience you'll always remember.
We will help you plan a kayak trip in the Sechelt area that
suits your unique sense of adventure. We work with you to customize
a paddling vacation in calm ocean waters, surrounded by snow-topped
mountains, and full of marine wildlife.
We can provide information for destination
paddling to quiet inlets, marine parks, eco-friendly camps,
sandy beaches and hiking trails. Kayak directly from the docks
at Porpoise Bay in Sechelt, or we can boat you up coast to
begin your trip in one of the inlets, whatever fits with your
plans. It's your holiday and we want it to be everything you've
dreamed of.
Hiking
& Walking:
Old growth forest is protected in British Columbia's
many parks. We are very fortunate on the Sunshine Coast to
have many of our forests as living testimonials to the natural
history of the area. While pictures may provide one with a
sense of these majestic trees, seeing them in their rain forest
environment is truly amazing.
Skookumchuck
Narrows:
Let the highlights begin in historic Pender Harbour and continue
through the Agamemnon Channel. Turn your neck to see rock
walls rise straight up from the sea. Consider Indian Rock
paintings that have survived 200 years. On our trips in this
wilderness channel we often encounter seals and bald eagles.
In the Skookumchuck Narrows we pass the village of Egmont.
Discover
how geography turns the tidal exchange here into the fastest
tidal flow in the world. We pass through here at the same
time on each trip so the amount of tidal movement we see varies.
Check the schedule for strength of the flow on each of our
scheduled days. Dine with the eco-tourism specialists at Tzoonie
Wilderness Camp. Relax at camp for an hour and a half or explore
the beach or forest.
Princess
Louisa Tours:
Spend time ashore in this granite bordered fjord. Like everyone
before you it will dominate your future dreams. It was carved
by the force of glaciers. The steep sides are mirrored in tranquil
waters. Waterfalls are numerous, and change with the passing
of each weather system. Every encounter with this wonderland
is unique.
Don't under rate the travel up Jervis Inlet
to Princess Louisa Inlet. Pacific Wings and the Beaver Float
plane are a pleasure to fly with and the Beaver has long been
noted as the work horse of the back country. Your pilot will
provide a very informed commentary on the area and some of
the high lights during your trip.
The area around Chatterbox Falls was once
the private property of James MacDonald. He donated it to
the Princess Louisa International Society. The intention was
to preserve it for the enjoyment of all. On the way back if
you're lucky we will stop at Camp Malibu for ice cream. This
Young life camp has been in operation for many years and is
host each year to thousands of kids from across north America.
The log buildings were part of a Hollywood Retreat back in
the 1940's and many of the log cottages still stand today.
This tour has scheduled departures almost daily in the summer
months in the morning and again after lunch. Be sure to call
ahead to book this exciting trip.
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Sunshine
Coast Golf:
Three of the most beautiful and challenging courses anywhere:
Sechelt Golf & Country Club, Sunshine Coast Golf &
Country Club and the Pender Harbour Golf & Country Club
Sunshine
Coast Golf & Country Club is a beautiful championship
18 hole golf course. Located just 15 minutes from the Langdale
Ferry Terminal in Roberts Creek, it is one of British Columbia's
crown jewels of golf courses. At a medium length layout of
6165 yards, it provides for all levels of golf ability with
3-4 tee boxes on each hole. There are well-conditioned fairways
and large bentgrass greens overlooking the Georgia Strait.
Sechelt
Golf & Country Club is blended stoically against
the upper-western shores of Porpoise Bay; a place where flavours
of golf's architectural beginnings have met modern concepts.
The opportunity to soil each club in your bag, coupled with
numerous birdie opportunities, make this track an unforgettable
place to play - regardless of handicap, regardless of season.
Through elevated vision, critically acclaimed architect Russ
Olson has fashioned 18 indelible golf holes, each possessing
its own character, but together linking fluidly from first
tee to eighteenth green. 13 lakes sway the sense on 13 different
holes. Numerous bunkers challenge the big-hitter and dare
the pin-point accuracy needed to cover the flag on exquisitely-true
bentgrass greens that range in size from 5700 to 8100 square
feet. Multiple tees on each hole afford latitude for everyone
to enjoy this well-kept secret on BC's Sunshine Coast.
Pender
Harbour Golf & Country Club is spectacular by
nature- at the top of the Sechelt Peninsula nestled in an
idyllic setting of rich forests and mountains, a salmon spawning
creek winding through its lush fairways. One of the finest
9-hole courses in British Columbia, Pender Harbour has long
been a well-kept secret. A lovely day's outing from Vancouver,
Pender Harbour Golf Club is just 60 kms north of Langdale
Ferry Terminal, 5 kms north of the community of Madeira Park.
The Club's patio is an ideal place to celebrate the round
with refreshments and an enjoyable meal, and to arrange your
next warm welcome to spectacularly natural Pender Harbour
Golf Club.
Scuba
Diving:
Welcome to Diving Central! Clear blue waters, abundant marine
life and the hospitality of experienced divers await you. Combine
those ingredients with warm sunlight and a backdrop of west
coast mountains and you've got a diving vacation fit for, well
- you - and a crew of your closest friends.
We've always known that our ocean was special
but you can also ask the National Geographic and the Cousteau
Society because they both came and did extensive stories on
our diving locations.
If you like to dive be sure and check out
the Tuwanek Point Dive in the book 101 Dives by Betty Pratt-Johnson.
If you are diving on the public beach " the spit"
at Tuwanek please be sure to park in the designated areas
and respect the privacy of the local residents. You'll find
most of them are very nice and they don't mind sharing the
beach as long as you clean up after yourselves.
Bird Watching:
Birding is a sport that everyone can enjoy. It is an outdoor
pursuit that is shared by young and old, families and clubs,
wildlife scientists and those who are simply outdoors on a
walk or an adventurous hike.
Snowshoeing
& Winter Activities:
Winter on the West Coast combines the best of both
worlds - the excitement of snow at higher elevations and the
knowledge that at the end of the day you return to snow free
beaches and roads.
Tetrahedron
Provincial Park:
This Provincial Park is located inland on the Sunshine
Coast and is closest to the community of Tuwanek. The park
is a gem filled with spectacular scenery, wilderness is everywhere,
birds singing, leaves rustling and forest smells makes the
region a must visit. Some of the main points of interest is
the extensive hiking, snowshoeing and cross country trail
routes in the Tetrahedron Provincial Park.
Lakes include Bachelor, Margie, Mayne, Gilbert,
Edwards, Chapman and McNair Lakes. The Tetrahedron Provincial
Park offers a wide variety of adventures from cross country
skiing and snow shoeing to hiking in the summer months and
mountain meadow camping.
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