6 Great Things to do on Quadra Island
Discover the best things to do on Quadra Island, BC, from exploring the scenic shores of Rebecca Spit to experiencing local Indigenous history at the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre and tasting exceptional island-grown wines.
We are just back from a trip to Quadra Island. It has been about five years since I last stayed over night there. Like our last trip, we camped at the amazing We Wai Kai Campground at Heriot Bay. This time however, we had a waterfront site which I will admit was one of the most stunning campsites I have ever stayed in. Since we were on Quadra Island for a few days, we got to do a bunch of different things and I thought I would give you a list of some of my favourites so you could have an easy list of places to visit the next time you are are over on the island.
If you are not familiar with Quadra Island, it is just a short 10-minute ferry ride from Campbell River. It is part of the Discovery Islands Archipelago. The island is quite large, almost twice the size of Salt Spring Island, but with a population about a quarter the size. When you take the ferry to Quadra Island, you will arrive in the main town centre of Quathiaski Cove. Here you will find many of the main amenities, though there are others across the island depending on what you are looking for. If you decide to stay on Quadra Island for a few days and are looking for some things to do, here is a brief list of some of my favourites though there are likely hundreds more that I haven’t included and you will have to find on your own.
Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park
The first thing that we did, since we were staying at the We Wai Kai Campground on Heriot Bay, was do the short hike out to the end of neighbouring Rebecca Spit. As you leave the campground you enter Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park. The spit is about two kilometres long and so a full round trip hike from the campground is about four kilometres. There is a trail along the whole length and it is very walkable. On the west side you get great views across Heriot Bay. On the east you can look across the water to Read and Cortes Islands. When you get to the tip of the spit there is a rocky beach and if you time it right you can watch the Cortes Island ferry cut just past the point as it heads into the ferry terminal. It is truly a stunning park and well worth spending some time exploring. About half way up is a large picnic ground with tables looking out over the water. You can find out more here: BC Parks - Rebecca Spit Marine Park
Heriot Bay Inn
Just across the water from the end of Rebecca Spit sits the Heriot Bay Inn. This historical inn was built in 1912. The original building was built in 1895, but burnt down, as did a second one. The one that still sits there today is a beautiful two-and-a-half storey lodge style pub and lodging that looks out over the marina and bay. The Inn sits just next to the Cortes Island Ferry Terminal, which makes it a great place to grab something if you missed the boat. The pub and dining areas have some of the best food you can get on Quadra Island and some amazing patio and lawn spaces to eat it on. The Inn provides a number of different accommodation options including RV and tenting spots, though I have never stayed in any of them. If you are staying on Quadra or heading to Cortes, a stop in at the Heriot Bay Inn is a must. The pub is open everyday from 11:30 AM to 9PM for food and later for drinks. There are broader food options available on weekends.
Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre
The We Wai Kai campground where we stayed sits on the lands of the We Wai Kai people. The We Wai Kai First Nation has numerous locations across Quadra Island, the most populous is located at the south west end of the Island is called Yaculta. This is the home of one of the most beautiful places to visit on the coast, the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre. The cultural centre contains numerous beautiful potlatch artifacts of the We Wai Kai and gives you an amazing opportunity to learn more about the land and the people. As this is a cultural centre and not just a museum for visitors, it is important to be respectful that there may be classes or other activities going on and you may not be able to have the same access on each day. The cultural centre is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. If you have never been before, this has to be on your list of places to visit on Quadra Island.
Cape Mudge Lighthouse
Just south of Yaculta is a very small federal property that looks out over the Discovery Passage between Quadra Island and Campbell River sits the Cape Mudge Lighthouse. There is not much too the place beyond a plaque but the setting is beautiful and so is the lighthouse. It is an octagonal shaped lighthouse that looks exactly as a lighthouse should, right down to the red and white paint. There is a beach here that you can explore while you visiting and you can get some pretty cool photos of the lighthouse, especially at sunset. Keep in mind that the lighthouse is completely surrounded by the We Wai Kai lands and so be mindful as you travel through it. The area around the lighthouse is open year round, but you can’t access the lighthouse itself. You can get more information here: Cape Mudge Lighthouse
If you are on Quadra Island, a stop at the lighthouse is definitely worth it, especially when paired with a visit to the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre.
Aroma Cafe
Just up the hill after getting off the ferry is the little shopping district of Quathiaski Cove. In the same building as the community credit union is the wonderful Aroma Cafe. The coffee drinks here are delicious and strong and they have a large assortment of baked goods as well. We stopped here right after our ferry ride to meet up with some family before heading to the campground. My son had one of their home made sodas, a spruce tip flavour and said it was absolutely delicious. There is a ton of space both inside and outside, so I imagine no matter what the weather is like, there will be space to enjoy Aroma Cafe. They have great sandwiches as well if you are wanting to enjoy some lunch. The cafe is open from 9am to 5pm every day. You can find more information about the cafe here: Aroma Specialty Coffee Roasters
SouthEnd Winery
One of my absolute favourite places on Quadra Island takes a little bit of time to get to, but it is well worth it. At the end of a long winding farm road on the southern part of the island (not too far from Cape Mudge) is the SouthEnd Winery. This small family run winery is exactly how you would want a small boutique winery to look. There is a open air tasting room that looks out over the grape vines as they stretch down the hill from the patio. For a small winery, they have quite a few different options, all grown right there on Quadra Island and the wine is also really good. On my recent visit, I sat down with a flight of wine and enjoyed the warm weather and the quiet as I looked out on the farm. It was silent except for the sounds of the wind and the birds around and made for quite a perfect time. Apparently, on weekends local musicians play at the tasting room. I would keep an eye on their website if you are wanting to go when they have an event. During the summer they are open:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Features live music from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
If you are wanting more information on this wonderful little winery, check out their website here: SouthEnd Farm Winery Website
Conclusion
This is just a tiny sample of all the things that you can see on Quadra Island. Whether you are going to spend a week camping there or just popping over for the day, Quadra Island will keep you busy and truly blow you away with its beauty. I know I will be heading back again next year, so if I missed something absolutely amazing in this list, please let me know and I will make sure to check it out when I head back.