Quadra Island is one of the Discovery Islands –
a sea kayak paradise in a rainforest island wilderness archipelago between Vancouver Island and the mountainous British Columbia mainland about 150 km north of Vancouver BC Canada.
It is easy to get here! If you would like help figuring out the best method of transportation, please feel free to contact us.

• Coast Mountain kayak tours depart from Quadra Island, near the small city of Campbell River on Vancouver Island.
• Most multi-day kayak tours begin with a Coast Mountain Expeditions boat ride from Heriot Bay, Quadra Island to Coast Mountain Lodge on Read Island.
• Some multi day kayak tours as well as our marine park kayak day trips and kayak rentals and B&B hostel accommodation are all available from Discovery Islands Lodge at the end of Surge Narrows Road on Quadra Island.

You can come to the Discovery Islands by air or land & water:

DRIVING OR BUS:

Take a ferry to arrive Vancouver Island at Victoria or Nanaimo. Ferries come to Vancouver Island from Vancouver BC and from Seattle and Port Angeles, WA.

Drive Highway 19 to Campbell River; enjoy the 10 minute ferry to Quadra Island.

Bus service connections from Seattle, WA and from Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo, BC.

Ferry time: from Vancouver BC 1. 5 - 2 hours (depending on route)
Driving time (average): from Seattle WA-Vancouver BC 3 hours.
On Vancouver Island: from Victoria-Campbell River 4 hours; from Nanaimo -Campbell River 2 hours.

AIRPLANE:
Fly to Campbell River BC or Comox BC on Vancouver Island. Flights depart from from Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Seattle. Take airporter van & ferry to Quadra Island.

SEAPLANE:
From Vancouver & Victoria (Canada) to Campbell River; or from Seattle (USA) direct to Quadra Island BC.

Notes for Flying:
Our closest airport is at Campbell River BC. Comox Airport, 35km away, has scheduled WestJet service. There is good airporter-bus service from both airports to the Quadra Island Ferry terminal in Campbell River.

Notes for Driving:
• Campbell River is located 153 km (95 miles) north of Nanaimo, and 265 Km (166 miles) north of Victoria on Highway 19 or 19A Oceanside Route.

• We recommend the scenic Oceanside Route Highway 19A from Nanaimo to Campbell River. Please note that the new Inland Route (Highway 19) is faster.

• If you are driving via the Inland Highway 19, take the Jubilee Exit just before Campbell River, and drive down until you reach 19A at the ocean. Turn left, and take the Oceanside route to City Centre, watch for sign (right turn at the lights) to the Quadra Ferry.

• Line-ups at ferries and border crossing are unpredictable! It is possible to make reservations on some BC Ferries.

Notes for Quadra Ferry:
The Campbell River to Quadra Island BC Ferry runs approximately every hour between 6:40 am and 10:30 pm, with 11:30 pm
sailings Friday & Saturday. The crossing takes approximately 10 minutes.

Round trip fare is $17.25 Cdn for car and driver, and $5.25 Cdn for passengers.

Coast Mountain on Quadra Island:

• Heriot Bay public wharf is the starting place for some Coast Mountain kayak tours: Octopus Islands, Desolation Sound and Fjordlands Expeditions all begin with a boat ride to Coast Mountain Lodge on Read Island.
• Discovery Islands Lodge is the starting place for some Coast Mountain kayak tours: Discovery Islands Tour, Marine Park & Outer Islands Tour, Xwemahlkwu Bears Expedition depart from our Quadra Island lodge.
• Discovery Islands Lodge is also Coast Mountain’s location for marine park kayak daytrips, B&B hostel accommodation and sea kayak rentals.

How to Get to Discovery Islands Lodge on Quadra Island

Getting here is part of your vacation adventure! From Campbell River on Vancouver Island, take the 10-minute BC Ferry to Quadra Island. You can drive or take the island taxi to Discovery Islands Lodge. If you are arriving for a multi day kayak tour and do not have a vehicle, we can try to arrange a ride share.

From the Quathiaski Cove ferry landing follow signs to Heriot Bay. (Turn right at the stop sign/gas station corner, then next left turn just past the school at the police station, then straight ahead to HB). At Heriot Bay fire hall, turn left onto Cramer Road and then stay on this road all the way 22 km to Discovery Islands Lodge. The road name changes - from Cramer to Hyacinthe Bay to Village Bay Lakes and finally becomes Surge Narrows Road for the last 5 km or so.

You’ll enjoy a beautiful drive through classic Vancouver Island wilderness and Quadra Island’s Main Lakes Provincial Park.
This winding road will take you through Quadra Island’s temperate rainforest, ending near Discovery Islands Lodge, our B&B kayak hostel.

At the end of the road you will see our sign and parking area, and driveway down to the lodge and kayaking dock.

Please be careful driving the Surge Narrows Road! It is a wonderfully scenic British Columbia route through mature Douglas fir forest, but the road is narrow, some places single lane, and there are corners with poor visibility. The road is well maintained and fine for 2-wheel vehicles. Just drive slowly and watch for on-coming traffic!

Travel Information & Useful Links

Airlines

Pacific Coastal (Vancouver to Campbell River) 800-663-2872
www.pacific-coastal.com

Helijet (Direct flights from Seattle to Campbell River BC) www.helijet.com

Air Canada (Vancouver or Seattle to Campbell River) 888-247-2262 www.aircanada.ca

Westjet (western Canada to Comox) 800-538-5696
www.westjet.com

Central mountain Air (Flights from Vancouver to Campbell River BC) www.flycma.com

Seaplane Services to Quadra Island

Northwest Seaplanes (from Vancouver BC & Renton
WA ) 888-287-8366 www.air-rainbow.com

Kenmore Air (from Seattle area) 800-543-9595
www.kenmoreair.com

Soundflight (from Renton WA & Sea-tac Airport)
800-825-0722 www.soundflight.com

Ferries

BC Ferries From Vancouver to Vancouver Island -- Tsawwassen & Horseshoe Bay routes; also Campbell River to Quadra Is. 888-223-3779
www.bcferries.com

Black Ball Transport (Port Angeles WA to Victoria BC)
360-457-4991 (WA) - 250-386-2202 (BC)
www.northolympic.com/coho

Victoria Clipper (Seattle to Victoria - Passenger Only) 800-888-2535 www.victoriaclipper.com

www.ferrytraveller.com The complete how to get to Vancouver Island and smaller islands, using the ferries

Buses

Vancouver Island Coachlines /Laidlaw (Bus schedule from Vancouver or Victoria or Nanaimo to Campbell River) 888-223-3779 www.victoriatours.com

Vancouver City Buses (How to get around Vancouver using inexpensive city transit systems to & from airport, ferry, bus depot etc.). www.translink.bc.ca (very helpful website)

Airporter services Campbell River Airporter (250) 286-3000 Meets all incoming flights at Campbell River and provides transport to downtown CR and the Quadra Ferry.

Forest Bus Tours Airport Service 888-248-4525 Meets incoming flights at Comox and provides transport ($25) to Campbell River and Quadra Ferry.