PlanetSKI Hits the Road in British Columbia
26th September 2026 | James Cove, Sunshine Coast, Canada.
Our autumn Canada tour continues as we leave of Vancouver and head to the nearby Sunshine Coast. Then its into the Canadian Rockies to Whistler and to a heli-ski lodge well beyond. NEW
All good road trips should include a ferry trip and this section started with one as we left Horseshoe Bay just to the north of Vancouver.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
We were crossing to the ferry port of Langdale across the inlet:
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Wow.
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The Sunshine Coast is technically on the mainland but it can only be reached by ferry, boat or seaplane.
It’s 110 mile stretch of coast along the Sawlish Sea to the east of Vancouver Island.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
The ferry port of Langdade the access point and is just 10 miles from the city of Vancouver as the crow flies.
It could have been a million miles.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Yes, that is a glacier in the distance.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
See our earlier report from Vancouver, a must visit on any ski trip to Whistler in our opinion:
First stop in the Sunshine Coast is the wonderful village of Gibsons Landing.
It is a mixture of quaint shops, splendid local restaurants, art galleries and chilled vibes.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
For many Canadians it is instantly recognisable, as it was the setting for one of their most popular TV programmes: CBC’s Beachcomber.
It ran for 387 episodes between 1972 and 1990 and is part of Canadian popular culture.
Central to the programme was Molly’s Reach.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
A stroll along the seafront is a must and there remains plenty on offer.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Then it was on to Sechelt, that sits in the centre of the Sunshine Coast, complete with totem poles overseeing its beach area.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
The town sits on a sand bar between the Sawlish Sea and the Sechelt Inlet which is fabulous for kayaking – more of that later.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Sechelt is named after the first nation tribe in whose territory Sechelt now sits – The Shishalh Nation.
It was our base for three days before we head to Whistler and the mountains.
We went hiking, kayaking and soaking in some fabulous sunsets from a table at the newly opened Vin & Mer restaurant on the seashore.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
First up was a hike to Smugglers Cove.
Access starts in a wetland area in the Smugglers Cove Marine Park – with a helpful boardwalk to access the forest.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Smugglers Cove is so named as it has a history of smuggling liquor during prohibition and being used as a landing point for illegal Chinese immigrants heading to the USA.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
There’s an abundance of wildlife including deer and beavers on land, otters in the sea and geese overhead.
The scenery and silence across the Sawlish Sea are simply stunning.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
And here’s the view we’re looking at:
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And close up:
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No journey to this part of the Sunshine Coast is complete without a visit to Horseshoe Bay and its General Store.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Inside:
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Outside:
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Then for us to was back to Vin & Mer for some more sunsets and sundowners.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
It is laid-back, relaxed and a place where time just slips slowly by.
No more so than out on water in the Sechlet Inlet in a kayak, as mentioned earlier.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
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It is connected to the sea as its name suggests, but we stuck to the inlet.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
There are some grand houses on a handful of the small islands on the inlet:
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
And more basic but beautiful others on its shoreline:
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
We hired our kayaks from Pedals and Paddles, and the man who runs it, Kyle, is a skier, and used to go too Whistler which is several hours away.
Not any more.
“Ever since Vail Resorts took over Whistler, the price of a day pass has shot up and is now out the reach of many,” he told me as we chatted on the shoreline.
“It is so sad as young people are not able to ski like they used to and Whistler has become the preserve of the wealthy.
“Instead we go to some of the smaller hills where passes are cheap though the skiing is limited.
“What is good though is that all the people there are genuine keen skiers and the hills have an real and authentic feel to them.”
“You should come back in the winter and ski some of them.”
Now there’s a thought…
After our visit to the Sunshine Coast, we passed by Whistler and will be popping in later to see what the summer season has to offer.
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Before that we’re heading deep into the Rockies, about four hours past Whistler, to the Tyax Lodge.
It’s access is described as ‘rugged’.
It is.
Heading to Tyax, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
In the winter Tyax is a heliski lodge, so we’ll be checking out what it offers once the snow falls, and simply enjoying its autumn attractions
- More hiking
- More kayaking
- More chilling out
Tyax Lodge, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Just near the lodge we had PlanetSKI’s first encounter in the wild with grizzly bears.
Tyax Lodge, British Columbia, Canada. Image © PlanetSKI
Bears video to follow.
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