Amenities and Activities

First Class Services, Amenities and Shopping Galore!

Paradise Cove Oceanfront Estates is ten minutes from a general store which carries hardware, deli products, liquor and video rentals. Another ten minutes up the road and you arrive at Powell River, “The Pearl of the Sunshine Coast”. Malaspina Strait, Desolation Sound, Okeover Arm and, Powell River boast sweeping ocean views and spectacular sunsets. With a population of 22,000, this friendly seaside town offers ‘big city’ amenities and luxury services without the ‘big city’ parking and traffic hassles.

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You will have at your disposal a full-service hospital, medical, dental, chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage therapy clinics, health and beauty spas, a newly renovated recreation complex, full banking facilities, marine services, outdoor guides and outfitters, plus a wide range of retail outlets, art galleries, gift shops and
fine dining.

Other recreational facilities include a lawn bowling green, curling rink, 16-lane bowling alley, tennis courts and an all weather 400 metre track, as well as numerous baseball and soccer fields.

Maps, guides, directories and any information you might require regarding services and recreation in the Powell River region are available by calling or visiting the Powell River Visitor’s Centre.

Powell River’s innovative and award-winning Brooks High School is located in the townsite. The city also offers a French Immersion school and a Catholic school, as well as Malaspina University College which offers both credit and continuing education courses.

Boater's Delight

Protected by Vancouver Island to the West, the Strait of Georgia is a boater's gateway to the most dramatic coastal scenery in the world. Due to the mild temperatures and warm pacific currents of the Strait of Georgia, boating is a year-round activity on the Sunshine Coast. Discover Savary Island, laced with long white sand beaches and the gorgeous deserted bays of Hernando, Redonda and Cortes Island in the calm, warm waters of Desolation Sound.

Experience the Sunshine Coast’s world class resorts and moorages offering everything from fine dining and health and beauty spas, to bicycle and car rentals, art galleries, gift shops and bookstores.

Sailboat and power boat charters and rentals are easy to arrange. Beach Gardens Marina operates bareboat charters, while Westview Marina offers charter operators from its North Harbour. In addition to featuring its own deep water moorage, Paradise Cove Estates is located next door to Hummingbird Marina and Saltery Bay Marina and boat launch.

Protected waters make the Upper Sunshine coast a prime destination for ocean kayaking and canoeing. Popular spots include Jervis Inlet, Chatterbox Falls, Hardy, Nelson, Savary and Cortes Island, the Copeland Islands Marine Park and the numerous islets and quiet bays of Desolation Sound. Eco-tours, kayak and canoe rentals for day trips as well as fully outfitted, guided expeditions can be booked locally.

Enjoy easy road access to the many lakes and rivers. The Paradise Cove area boasts more than 50 fresh water lakes surrounded by thousands of hectares of pristine coastal forests. Inland Lake is known for its level, 14 km trail which can accommodate wheelchairs and strollers. You may prefer a day of paddling the calm, clear waters of a peaceful lake, or, you can take on the challenge of a 35 miles (57 kilometre) canoe route which includes 8 lakes and five portages. Dinner is fresh and never far away as the region's lakes teem with trout and at certain times of the year, steelhead salmon!

International Dive Destination

Known internationally as the "Dive Capital of Canada" the Upper Sunshine Coast was rated by Rodales Dive Magazine as the #1 Best Overall Dive Destination in the World" for 2006. A predator-free dive habitat, the coastal waters boast a visibility range of up to 98 feet (30 metres). Especially clear waters during the winter months make for excellent viewing of the area’s wolf eel and giant octopus. One of the area’s leading diving attractions is located next door to Paradise Cove in the waters in front of Saltery Bay Provincial Park. The Emerald Princess, an eight foot (2.5 metre) bronze statue of a mermaid located in 59 feet (18 metres) attracts dive enthusiasts from around the world. Other dive sites include several wrecks, the Okeover Caves and numerous coastal boat dives which highlight the diverse and colorful underwater world of the B.C. coast.

Catch of the Day

The Sunshine Coast is truly a fishing mecca. Fish for cod or salmon from your doorstep; grill your catch on the barbecue that evening. Whether you are reeling in a salmon or jigging for cod, fly fishing for cutthroat, rainbow trout and Steelhead salmon or trolling for Kokanee in one of the region’s spectacular lakes, you will not be disappointed! This pristine ocean waterfront sanctuary offers up prawns a mere 300 feet off shore. Crab, clams mussels and oysters are also abundant in the area. If you would prefer a guided fishing experience, the Powell River Visitor's Centre can provide names and contacts for local companies offering fishing charters and eco-tours.

Hike, Bike and Climb

The Sunshine Coast's thousands of hectares of untouched forest and coastal mountains make for unbeatable mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing. Thousands of kilometres of off-road access and trail networks facilitate easy day trips to scenic view points, lakes, rivers, streams and surrounding mountains.

The 106 miles (170 kilometre) Sunshine Coast Trail accommodates everyone from day hikers to ultra-marathoners. Easy to get to with more than twenty access points along the way, hikers are rewarded with abundant wildlife, gorgeous lookout points and stunning westerly views of the Strait of Georgia and its emerald islands. The trail is extremely well maintained and hikers can take advantage of camping facilities and lodging located along the route.

During the spring and summer months take advantage of guided hikes, or let the local hiking club introduce you to some of the region’s most popular wilderness trails. Maps and detailed information regarding hiking routes and activities are available 20 minutes away at the Powell River Visitor Centre.

There are numerous biking routes well suited to beginner, intermediate and advanced off-road riders. Once again, the Visitor’s Centre is the place to go for detailed maps and trail descriptions.

Golf Year Round

For those who love to golf year round, the Sunshine Coast is the place to be. The 18-hole, par 72 Myrtle Point Golf Course and Clubhouse is just a 15 minute drive north of Paradise Cove Estates. Located in the foothills of the Coast Mountains, this Les Furber-designed course offers four sets of tees for all levels of ability. A fully stocked pro-shop, driving range, putting green and Canadian Professional Golfers' Association pros ensure a first class golfing experience. Golf cart rentals are available, plus shower-equipped locker rooms. After the game, enjoy a meal at the Orca Bar and Grill. Additionally, there are two a nine-hole courses, Nootka Dunes, and just north of Powell River, Glenrosa.

Magnificent by Water, Land and Air

Exploring the coast should include visits to nearby Palm Beach and Donkersley Beach, Texada and Savary Island, the historic town of Lund and Okeover Arm. All locations are in close proximity to Paradise Cove Estates and offer glorious sunsets and white sand beaches, hiking and cycling, restaurants and art galleries. While visiting Lund, be sure to enjoy superb home-baking and latt's at Nancy's Bakery. Visit the charming Tug-Guhm Gallery, then stroll over to the marina and hop aboard the Lund Water Taxi for a 15 minute trip to the exquisite white sandy beaches and dunes of Savary Island; explore on foot, or by bicycle or taxi.

Make your way to Okeover Arm Provincial Park where summer ocean temperatures could almost be described as tropical. Then sit back and marvel at an Okeover sunset while you dine on the catch-of-the-day at one of the region's finest restaurants, The Laughing Oyster.

Drive, walk or cycle onto a B.C. ferry at Westview terminal and arrive 20 minutes later at Blubber Bay on Texada Island. The island offers spectacular beaches, fine dining, a superb arts and crafts gallery located just around the corner from the ferry terminal, and hours of swimming delight in the crystal clear aquamarine waters of the abandoned limestone quarries. Load the car up with kayaks and bikes, or simply walk onto the ferry and meet up with a taxi at Blubber Bay. Head for the beaches and trails at Shelter Point Provincial Park and don’t’ miss a walk on Gillies Bay, famous for its Sandcastle Festival in early August. This is a day trip you won’t want to miss. Looking for a bird’s-eye-view? Float plane charters or helicopter tours are another way to island hop and take in the endless beauty of coastal B.C.

Transportation and Logistics

Whether private or chartered, aircraft, boats and floatplanes can deliver you right to your front door. Powell River’s Municipal Airport is a 30 minute drive from Paradise Cove Estates, and can accommodate corporate jets. Daily commercial flights from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal to Powell River offer 30 minutes of ocean vistas that will take your breath away. Paradise Cove will accommodate a helicopter landing pad and will have deep water moorage. Full and part time moorage is available at Hummingbird Cove Marina and the government dock at Saltery Bay. Both just minutes from Paradise Cove.

Public docking and moorage facilities are available next to Paradise Cove Waterfront Estates at Saltery Bay Marina, and close by Saltery Bay Provincial Park features a public boat launch. Beach Garden Marina and Westview’s south harbour, just 19 miles (30 kilometres) or a 20 minute drive north of Paradise Cove, also offer docking and moorage. Car rentals, shuttle services and taxis are available at the airport, taxi and shuttle at marinas and ferry terminals.

If you choose to make your way along the spectacular Sunshine Coast by car, it is a five hour trip from downtown to the Upper Sunshine Coast. The picturesque coastal highway drive is punctuated by two scenic ferry trips across Howe Sound and Jervis Inlet culminating at Saltery Bay ferry terminal and government dock, a 3 minute drive from Paradise Cove Estates. A 90 minute ferry ride across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver Island’s Little River ferry terminal culminates at Powell River’s Westview ferry terminal twenty minutes north of Paradise Cove.

Arts and Culture Aplenty!

Named the Cultural Capital of Canada in 2004, Powell River is home to many artists, performers, musicians and writers. Every two years, choirs from around the world arrive in Powell River to participate in Choral Kathaumixw, a four day extravaganza of performances by youth and adult choirs. The Powell River Academy of Music, founded in 1990, has spawned no less than six local choirs, several of which perform and tour internationally. In addition to founding Kathaumixw, the Academy operates the Symphony and Opera Academy of the Pacific, two weeks of master classes and performances which offer aspiring professional musicians an opportunity to train with internationally renowned conductors and musicians.

Festivals and Markets April through October

Powell River’s Open Air Market operates May through October and features locally grown produce and many other delectable local food items such as freshly milled organic flour, baked goods, B.C. cheeses, flowers and a wide array of crafts. Locals and visitors chat over coffee and tea while enjoying home baked goods and other hot-off-the griddle home cooking at the food tent while listening to local musicians performing on the outdoor stage.

April through September cultural and outdoor events include: Festival of Writers; Men’s and Ladies’ Malaspina Open Golf Tournaments; Algerine Passage Sailing Race; Choral Kathaumixw; Symphony and Opera Academy of the Pacific; Sunshine Music Folk Festival at Palm Beach; Blackberry Festival; art studio and garden tours; Willingdon Beach Sea Fair and the Fall Fair – all within minutes of Paradise Cove. During the month of August Texada Island plays hosts to tourists who come to enjoy the Sandcastle Weekend and the annual jazz festival, Jazz on the Rocks.

Christmas is a special time with dozens of local craft fairs and world class performers joining local choirs for festive choral concerts. At Paradise Cove, celebration, relaxation, rejuvenation and inspiration are simply a way of life year round.