Vancouver Island

A big beautiful rock

on the edge of the Pacific

It has long been called one of the world’s greatest islands, described as equal parts wild and charming.

The wild side is in the deep old-growth rain forests, mountain trails and the awe-inspiring power of the Pacifi c Ocean. An abundance of wildlife is found in the forests, in the skies, in inland waterways and o shore. Challenge yourself with outdoor experiences such as hiking, fi shing, climbing, diving, surfi ng, paddle boarding kayaking or mountain biking.

Enjoy the charming side with barefoot walks along soft sandy beaches or a hike through misty rainforests. Indulge in modern creature comforts and personal pampering. Book a stay in resort lodgings or a warm and welcoming bed and breakfast. Eat in unpretentious, quietly world-class restaurants or try out a hip new restaurant making its début. Tour award-winning wineries, cideries and meaderies, or visit one of the Island’s unique distilleries. Plan for some satisfying retail therapy excursions and experience a world of gracious hospitality.

There’s simply so much to see and do.

Vancouver Island is the traditional territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish First Nations

ADOBE STOCK

Unique rock formation at Sandcut Beach near Sooke, one of the many natural features that will surprise and delight.

■ The Island, averaging 50 miles (80 km) in width and extending for 285 miles (460 km) along a northwest–southeast axis paralleling the mainland, is actually the top of a partially submerged mountain system. It has a heavily wooded, mountainous interior with several peaks of more than 7,000 feet (2,100 metres), flanked on the east and south by a coastal plain and on the west by deeply indented fjords. ■ Vancouver Island is almost the size of the

Netherlands and is the 11th largest island in

Canada with about 32,000 square kilometres of area.

■ Vancouver Island has about 3,400 kilometres of coastline, making it a boater, beachcomber and diver’s dream.

■ The Vancouver Island mountain range runs the length of the entire Island. They have an area of 45,373 square kilometres, with the highest point being the summit of the Golden Hinde at 2,195 metres. The mountains make for some great hiking. ■ Della Falls in Strathcona Park (North Central

Island) is the highest waterfall in North America at 440 metres, or 1,443 feet. ■ Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park is home to some of the world’s largest spruce trees, reaching heights in excess of 95 metres or 310 feet.

■ Some of the world’s tallest trees are found just a short drive from Victoria in the Port Renfrew area. Take the Spirit Loop drive from Victoria through Sooke and Port Renfrew to Lake

Cowichan. It’s sure to please. ■ Hornby Island and Nootka Sound are two of the very few places in the world where divers can encounter the six gilled shark, a primitive cousin of modern day sharks with six gills instead of five and only one dorsal fin near its tail.

■ Bottoms up: From the South Island, through the Cowichan Valley and to Comox Valley, there are 37 licensed wineries. ■ Strong support for all things local: Vancouver

Island has more than 2,800 farms, with nearly 1,000 in the Greater Victoria region, all producing fresh produce and other foods through the year. ■ The Vancouver Island marmot is unique to its namesake and is distinct from other marmot types. They are considered an endangered species, and large conservation programs are working to re-establish their population. ■ More than 7,000 known species inhabit the coastal waters of Vancouver Island. This includes more than 200 species of migratory birds and 33 species of land mammals. ■ Vancouver Island’s rainfall, vegetation, soil cover and topography have resulted in thousands of well-developed caves, including some of Canada’s deepest and longest cave systems. It has the largest concentration of karst caves in North America with more than 10,000 caves making up nearly four per cent of the Island’s terrain. Explore the caves of Horne

Lake, north of Nanaimo, with an experienced guide and discover underground waterfalls, crystal formations and ancient fossils. Or take a tour in the north to explore the series of caves between Port Alice and Port McNeil, including the Devil’s Bath, Canada’s only cenote, or natural sink hole.

■ National Geographic recognizes Vancouver

Island as one of the best cold-water diving destinations on earth and the renowned

Jacques Cousteau Society rates the area second only to the Red Sea for diversity of marine life and water clarity. So suit up, buckle up those tanks and enjoy the diversity under the depths. A few of the gem locations include

Race Rocks, Nanoose Bay, Sidney area and

Dodd Narrows. Check for several sunken wrecks to explore. ■ Dive to see strawberry anemones, soft corals, sea lions, octopuses, wolf eels, king crab, starfish, swimming scallops, rock fish, boot sponges and much more.