| Quadra Island Vacation Rental Accommodations - Use your Quadra Island accommodation as a base to explore Quadra Island and Cortes Island. Enjoy panoramic views of Campbell River and Vancouver Island to the west or Discovery Islands and Coastal mountains to the east from these Quadra Island oceanfront vacation rental homes. From the west side of Quadra Island watch the parade of cruise ships travelling through Discovery Passage. |
Desolation Sound is very popular with boaters and the warm and sheltered
waters are ideal for kayaking. Lying at the entrance to Desolation Sound is
the large Cortes Island. Cortes is an outdoor recreation paradise, with
beautiful lakes, lagoons, forests, and white sandy beaches. The island
currently has about 900 full-time residents, and most live on the southern
portion. Cortes is approximately 25 km long and 13 km wide. A ferry from
Heriot Bay on Quadra Island can be taken to reach Cortes' dock at Whaletown.
From there, roads lead to Manson's Landing and Squirrel Cove, a well-known
anchorage that faces Desolation. On the southwestern tip of the island is
Smelt Bay Provincial Park where thousands of smelt come to spawn. Swimming,
fresh and salt water fishing, and nice sandy beaches can be found at Mansons
Landing Provincial Park. Explore the old whaling station near Whaletown and
the area's gardens.
Cortes Island is one of the most beautiful of the Discovery Islands and if you wander down Manzanita Road you will find one of the island's most unique attractions, Wolf Bluff Castle. The CBC television program 'On the Road Again' did a show on the castle six years ago, and it has also been used as a location for school film projects. The castle is open to the public for viewing (admission by donation). The five-storied structure has a dungeon, dining hall, eight bedrooms, and three turrets. Visitors can tour the castle or stay overnight in one of the rustic yet comfortable bedrooms. Cortes also has a thriving arts and crafts industry. Drum makers, potters, painters, carvers, and other artisans live and work on the island. Cortes Craftshop in Squirrel Cove, a co-op of island artists and craftspeople, showcases local work. The Cortes Island Museum, situated on Beasley Road next to the firehall, will feature a display called 'Windows on Whaletown' this summer. The display will provide a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and natural history of Whaletown and the surrounding area. The Cortes Garden Tour, a fundraiser for the Cortes Island Museum, will be held on the last weekend in June. Cortes Day, an annual festival held in Smelt Bay Park, is a fun event for the whole family with a parade, competitions, games, and food booths. Another event to watch out for is the sandcastle competition held in August. Cortes Island Ferry - daily, with crossing time of approximately 45
minutes. Leaves Whaletown at 7:50 am, 9:50 am, 11:50 am, 1:50 pm except
Tuesdays, 3:50 pm and 5:50 pm. Leaves Heriot Bay 9:05 am, 11:05 am daily
except Sundays and Tuesdays, 1:05 pm, 3:05pm, 5:05 pm and 6:45 pm. |
