Directions

Getting to Quadra Island is easy and can be a fast trip or a fun day of touring in itself. Visit the Vancouver Island Visitor's Guide for ideas on enjoying the trip out and see this brochure for a great map and lots of places to visit and things to do. When driving home, once in Campbell river, you may want to drive down the coast out of the town. It is a lovely drive and not much longer than the inland highway.

Book a ferry now! They fill up fast in the summer.

You dont need to book the Quadra island ferry because it runs hourly.

From the USA:

If you are driving up from the USA then you will need a passport or a passport card to cross the border into Canada. Kids under 16 need a birth certificate or a passport. (No guns, not more than two bottles of alchohol.)

You can drive up I5 to Olympia and then on to Port Angeles. From Port Angeles take the ferry to Victoria. The drive can be slower if you are behind a truck or RV but it is very scenic. You wander in and out of ocean bays, forrests and small towns and will drive below snow covered mountains. Leaving the town on the ferry is quite the picture oportunity both as you leave Port Angeles and as you arrive in Victoria. There is no decent food on the ferry so eat in Port Angeles or in Victoria. You dock right in downtown Victoria. I really like this ferry trip. Be warned though that the ferries do not run as often. Make sure you reserve one now! Depending on what time you are driving, this route can save you from the horrid traffic that occurs for several cities on either side of Seattle. There are places to stay overnight near the ferry in Port Angeles and the ferry terminal is right downtown with a few resurants and shops to visit. It is a small town and you can walk just about everywhere. Once in Victoria, it is about a one and a half hour drive to Nanaimo.

Alternatly, you could brave the Seattle mayhem (Not to bad as long as it is not around rush hour or raining) and keep on I5 through Seattle and cross into Canada at the Peace Arch border. Just stay on I5 till you go through the border (listen to AM 1130 to hear border wait times every 10 minutes). This route has the advantage of ferries that run more frequently but the Seattle traffic is completely unpredictable and the border can be busy depending on what time of day it is.

When I take the Seattle route, I like to leave Portland later in the afternoon thereby travelling in the evening and missing most of the bad traffic. I aim for the 10pm ferry but if I miss it or get tired, I sleep on the road at one of the last two rest stops on I5 or at the ferry terminal (in the car) and then catch the first ferry in the morning.

Once through the Peace arch border keep on I5 which becomes highway 99 in Canada.
Keep on this highway untill you see a sign for an exit on the right, exit 28 (River Rd, 17 South, Victoria, Nanaimo with a picture of a ferry).
The exit is a HOV lane which becomes an exit.
Once you take the exit you need to keep your wits about you. Keep to the very left all the time until you are on highway 17. It is confusing and the signage is not very good.
At the end of the exit you will take a left at the traffic light.
It looks like taking a left is the wrong thing to do (like you are about to drive up the wrong side of the highway!) and the signs make you wonder if you should go straight. Go left! If you don't you end up back on 99 and it is a while before you can turn around. (Don't ask how I know this...)
If you manage to take the left then within 100m (yards) you will see a sign for highway 17 straight and 99 South to the right. At the traffic light proceed straight ahead on highway 17.
Stay on this road through several traffic lights. It is mostly a long straight road. At the end it turns into this 4 lane road with ocean on both sides of the road. Keep going staraight ahead until you enter the ferry terminal. Follow signs to Nanaimo. Pay for your ticket (Make sure it is to "Duke Point, Nanaimo"). They only take credit cards or cash. Debit cards are not accepted. They are not accepted on the ferry either. The food on the ferry is fairly good. A tip for the not so hungry; a kids meal is cheap and just the right amount of food.

To get to Nanaimo:

If traveling from mainland BC, you will take the ferry from either Horseshoe Bay (to Nanaimo) or Tsawwassen (to Duke point, Nanaimo or Victoria). It takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive from Victoria to Nanaimo.

Getting to the house in Nanaimo;
From the Duke point ferry keep on the highway till you see the exit to BC1-N/BC19 to Nanaimo/Campbell river, take it. Stay to the left. Almost immediatly you will take the next exit to BC19-N to Parksville/Campbell river (This puts you onto the Island highway). Keep on this highway. Go through the first lights (Vancouver Island University is on the right up on the hill). At the next lights you take a left onto Jingle pot road. Keep an eye out for deer, there are hundreds just waiting to jump into your cars radiator. Go up Jingle pot, past a gass station on your left and then take the second major road to the left called Ashlee rd. (It is at a 45 degree angle). Keep on this road for about a mile. It will start to go uphill. Just before you get to the top, take Panorama view dr to the left. Take the first right onto Mountain view cresent and then another right onto Timberview drive. Drive to the end. The house is number ninety six It has big rocks in front it.

If you want to drive directly to Quadra island, then keep going through Nanaimo, the drive from Nanaimo to Campbell River is 150 km on a 4-lane divided highway that travels through a beautiful stretch of the island.

Once in Campbell River, you can take a 10-minute ferry to Quadra Island. Ferries leave hourly or better. For ferry times, please visit BC Ferries. If you get hungry walk down to the water to to Dicks floating resturant for a quick fish and chips style meal.

From Quadra ferry terminal to the lakehouses:

From the ferry drive down Quathiaski rd and follow signs to to the Cortez ferry.
Take th 1st left onto Rudder road.
Turn left onto Green rd.
Take first right (this may be Herriot Bay rd).
Slight right at Anderson road, to follow Herriot Bay rd.
Left onto W Rd.
Left onto Hyacinth bay rd.
This becomes Village Bay rd.
When you reach Village bay lake, cross the bridge and turn right onto Bold Point rd.
The Lakehouse is the second driveway on the right.
Look for a red polka dot ribbon & green metal gate.
If you start to climb a hill, you have gone too far.

Google directions:

Portland to house in Nanaimo via Port Angeles.
Portland to house in Nanaimo via Seattle and Tsawwassen ferry.
Nanaimo to Campbell river ferry.
Duke point ferry to house in Nanaimo.
Quadra ferry to the Lakehouses. (Google does not go all the way!)

By Boat:
Either personal boat or boat rented from Campbell River. Those staying at Bold Bay Lakehouse can tie up at the property's private dock on Crescent Channel (also known as Bold Bay). The Lakehouse is a 10-minute walk away.

By Airline:
Pacific Coastal and Air Canada fly to the Campbell River airport several times a day. The airport is located only 10 minutes from the ferry terminal by car. An airport shuttle service is available and will bring you directly to the ferry. Westjet flies directly to Comox from Calgary. The travel time from Comox airport to the Campbell River ferry terminal is about 30 minutes by car.

By Floatplane:
Vancouver Island Air and Sea, West Coast Air, and Harbour Air Seaplanes offer charter float plane service and can deliver you to a public dock or directly to the Bold Bay Lakehouse dock. Please contact the float plane companies for further information.

Directions Getting to Quadra Island is easy and can be a fast trip or a fun day of touring in itself. Visit the Vancouver Island Visitor's Guide for ideas on enjoying the trip out and see this brochure for a great map and lots of places to visit and things to do. When driving home, once in Campbell river, you may want to drive down the coast out of the town. It is a lovely drive and not much longer than the inland highway. Book a ferry now! They fill up fast in the summer. You dont need to book the Quadra island ferry because it runs hourly. From the USA: If you are driving up from the USA then you will need a passport or a passport card to cross the border into Canada. Kids under 16 need a birth certificate or a passport. (No guns, not more than two bottles of alchohol.) You can drive up I5 to Olympia and then on to Port Angeles. From Port Angeles take the ferry to Victoria. The drive can be slower if you are behind a truck or RV but it is very scenic. You wander in and out of ocean bays, forrests and small towns and will drive below snow covered mountains. Leaving the town on the ferry is quite the picture oportunity both as you leave Port Angeles and as you arrive in Victoria. There is no decent food on the ferry so eat in Port Angeles or in Victoria. You dock right in downtown Victoria. I really like this ferry trip. Be warned though that the ferries do not run as often. Make sure you reserve one now! Depending on what time you are driving, this route can save you from the horrid traffic that occurs for several cities on either side of Seattle. There are places to stay overnight near the ferry in Port Angeles and the ferry terminal is right downtown with a few resurants and shops to visit. It is a small town and you can walk just about everywhere. Once in Victoria, it is about a one and a half hour drive to Nanaimo. Alternatly, you could brave the Seattle mayhem (Not to bad as long as it is not around rush hour or raining) and keep on I5 through Seattle and cross into Canada at the Peace Arch border. Just stay on I5 till you go through the border (listen to AM 1130 to hear border wait times every 10 minutes). This route has the advantage of ferries that run more frequently but the Seattle traffic is completely unpredictable and the border can be busy depending on what time of day it is. When I take the Seattle route, I like to leave Portland later in the afternoon thereby travelling in the evening and missing most of the bad traffic. I aim for the 10pm ferry but if I miss it or get tired, I sleep on the road at one of the last two rest stops on I5 or at the ferry terminal (in the car) and then catch the first ferry in the morning. Once through the Peace arch border keep on I5 which becomes highway 99 in Canada. Keep on this highway untill you see a sign for an exit on the right, exit 28 (River Rd, 17 South, Victoria, Nanaimo with a picture of a ferry). The exit is a HOV lane which becomes an exit. Once you take the exit you need to keep your wits about you. Keep to the very left all the time until you are on highway 17. It is confusing and the signage is not very good. At the end of the exit you will take a left at the traffic light. It looks like taking a left is the wrong thing to do (like you are about to drive up the wrong side of the highway!) and the signs make you wonder if you should go straight. Go left! If you don't you end up back on 99 and it is a while before you can turn around. (Don't ask how I know this...) If you manage to take the left then within 100m (yards) you will see a sign for highway 17 straight and 99 South to the right. At the traffic light proceed straight ahead on highway 17. Stay on this road through several traffic lights. It is mostly a long straight road. At the end it turns into this 4 lane road with ocean on both sides of the road. Keep going staraight ahead until you enter the ferry terminal. Follow signs to Nanaimo. Pay for your ticket (Make sure it is to "Duke Point, Nanaimo"). They only take credit cards or cash. Debit cards are not accepted. They are not accepted on the ferry either. The food on the ferry is fairly good. A tip for the not so hungry; a kids meal is cheap and just the right amount of food. To get to Nanaimo: If traveling from mainland BC, you will take the ferry from either Horseshoe Bay (to Nanaimo) or Tsawwassen (to Duke point, Nanaimo or Victoria). It takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive from Victoria to Nanaimo. Getting to the house in Nanaimo; From the Duke point ferry keep on the highway till you see the exit to BC1-N/BC19 to Nanaimo/Campbell river, take it. Stay to the left. Almost immediatly you will take the next exit to BC19-N to Parksville/Campbell river (This puts you onto the Island highway). Keep on this highway. Go through the first lights (Vancouver Island University is on the right up on the hill). At the next lights you take a left onto Jingle pot road. Keep an eye out for deer, there are hundreds just waiting to jump into your cars radiator. Go up Jingle pot, past a gass station on your left and then take the second major road to the left called Ashlee rd. (It is at a 45 degree angle). Keep on this road for about a mile. It will start to go uphill. Just before you get to the top, take Panorama view dr to the left. Take the first right onto Mountain view cresent and then another right onto Timberview drive. Drive to the end. The house is number ninety six It has big rocks in front it. If you want to drive directly to Quadra island, then keep going through Nanaimo, the drive from Nanaimo to Campbell River is 150 km on a 4-lane divided highway that travels through a beautiful stretch of the island. Once in Campbell River, you can take a 10-minute ferry to Quadra Island. Ferries leave hourly or better. For ferry times, please visit BC Ferries. If you get hungry walk down to the water to to Dicks floating resturant for a quick fish and chips style meal. From Quadra ferry terminal to the lakehouses: From the ferry drive down Quathiaski rd and follow signs to to the Cortez ferry. Take th 1st left onto Rudder road. Turn left onto Green rd. Take first right (this may be Herriot Bay rd). Slight right at Anderson road, to follow Herriot Bay rd. Left onto W Rd. Left onto Hyacinth bay rd. This becomes Village Bay rd. When you reach Village bay lake, cross the bridge and turn right onto Bold Point rd. The Lakehouse is the second driveway on the right. Look for a red polka dot ribbon & green metal gate. If you start to climb a hill, you have gone too far. Google directions: Portland to house in Nanaimo via Port Angeles. Portland to house in Nanaimo via Seattle and Tsawwassen ferry. Nanaimo to Campbell river ferry. Duke point ferry to house in Nanaimo. Quadra ferry to the Lakehouses. (Google does not go all the way!) By Boat: Either personal boat or boat rented from Campbell River. Those staying at Bold Bay Lakehouse can tie up at the property's private dock on Crescent Channel (also known as Bold Bay). The Lakehouse is a 10-minute walk away. By Airline: Pacific Coastal and Air Canada fly to the Campbell River airport several times a day. The airport is located only 10 minutes from the ferry terminal by car. An airport shuttle service is available and will bring you directly to the ferry. Westjet flies directly to Comox from Calgary. The travel time from Comox airport to the Campbell River ferry terminal is about 30 minutes by car. By Floatplane: Vancouver Island Air and Sea, West Coast Air, and Harbour Air Seaplanes offer charter float plane service and can deliver you to a public dock or directly to the Bold Bay Lakehouse dock. Please contact the float plane companies for further information. <<<