| Fanny Bay - Buckley Bay - Comox Valley | |||||||
Fanny Bay is centrally located on the East Coast of Vancouver Island, snuggled between the two towns of Qualicum Beach and Courtenay. Within a 2-½ hour scenic drive there is Victoria on the southern tip of the Island and Port Hardy, at the northern tip. Also within the 2-½ hour drive is Tofino and Ucluelet on the West Coast where Pacific Rim Park is located. One can arrive in Fanny Bay by car, floatplane or on the E & N Train leaving from Victoria and passing through magnificent scenery and departing from the Buckley Bay whistle stop. Fanny Bay is a very small community that is the home to the world famous Fanny Bay Oysters and their processing plant which gives pre-arranged tours. Also, the Island Sun Greenhouses are here, the largest distributor of Harkness roses in North America, which are imported from England once a year. One cannot help but to stop at Island Sun and enjoy the beautiful hanging baskets and their numerous annual and perennial selections and they sip a cup of tea while visiting their unique gift shop. If you are looking for a pint of ale, the Fanny Bay Inn (known by the locals as the F.B.I) was voted the most authentic British Pub in British Columbia. Buckley Bay is located directly opposite Denman Island on the east coast of Vancouver Island, 20 km south of Courtenay and 86 km north of Nanaimo. Hike and picnic in beautiful Rosewell Creek Provincial Park (also wheelchair accessible). For the golfer there are several professional golf courses within a 15 to 45 minute drive. Fanny Bay's Ships Point Bird Sanctuary is a birders paradise, hosting many migrating waterfowl and shoreline birds in the spring and fall seasons. Or in July and August be on the look out for pods of killer whales swimming by. The calm Fanny Bay waters are created by the Ships Point Peninsula (rumor has it that it was named by Captain George Vancouver who anchored in the Bay in 1792) which makes the bay wonderful for swimming and is ideal for kayaking and canoeing (prepare to be followed by the inquisitive resident seals). Mount Washington can be seen to the North of the Bay only a 1-hour drive away. Excellent powder snow for downhill skiing and well groomed cross country trails lure the winter visitor and in the summer breathtaking hiking trails leading into the world renowned Strathcona Park. Denman and Hornby Islands (often called the undiscovered Gulf Islands) can be reached from the Buckley Bay Ferry.These islands have several provincial parks; sandy beaches; fossil hunting and excellent opportunities exist for viewing marine wildlife. The communities of Coombs and Cumberland are both within a 20 minute drive of Fanny Bay and the Horne Lake Caves only 45 minutes by car. When planning your trip to the Island allow enough time to explore and enjoy Central Vancouver Island. |
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