This is the Pacific Northwest’s wilderness in all its epic, widescreen, panoramic glory. This is cold water surfing and fishing off Vancouver Island where you are more likely to see wildlife on the shore than other surfers in the water.
Located in the heart of Vancouver Island’s Nootka Sound, Nootka Wilderness Lodge is a spectacular floating lodge with 12 comfortable guest rooms (all with ensuite). It is known as one of the finest sports fishing resorts in British Columbia, but there’s more to the picture! The Nootka Island surf experience is something every core surfer needs to experience as well.
The fishing is phenomenal both in the calm waters of the Nootka Sound where trophy Chinook and Coho Salmon await, as well as out in the Pacific, where Ling Cod, Halibut and Red Snapper are the prize. British Columbia fishing is justifiably famous as some of the best in the world.
Surf-wise, we’re talking expeditions to fun-filled beachbreak peaks on tree-lined beaches, as well as the odd reef shelf for the more experienced tube-hunter. Cold water surfing has never been so fun or adventurous!
Getting There
International flights touch down at Vancouver International Airport.
Guests then take a 40-minute flight from Vancouver Airport to Campbell River.
On arrival in Campbell River, guests board a float plane and take a 30-minute flight over some of the most beautiful landscape on Vancouver Island, and land in historic Nootka Sound where Nootka Wilderness Lodge awaits and adventure begins…
Location
The Lodge is tucked away in Nootka Sound – where the Pacific Ocean narrows itself into a waterway separating Vancouver Island from Nootka Island in British Columbia, Canada.
This is true North-West Pacific wilderness.
Lodge Overview
This spectacular floating lodge has 12 guest rooms (all with ensuite).
The main lodge features a dining room, sprawling lounge and deck area, where tales of the days’ fishing and surfing and adventure are shared, as sounds of stoke and laughter carry over the water.
This is a comfortable, cosy and character-filled lodge that feels like home from the moment you step onto the deck.
All good lodges have a natural focal point, a place where people gravitate together, where new friendships are made and old bonds are strengthened. At Nootka, the floating outdoor deck is the epicenter of good times. Whether it’s relaxing in the sun or gathering on dusk for a drink and a debrief of the day, this is where talk and laughter flow freely.
Whether you’re a cold water surfing fanatic, fishing fanatic, or looking for a family vacation location with a difference, Nootka Wilderness Lodge provides the perfect platform for your BC adventure!
Accommodation
The rooms at Nootka are simple, comfortable and private.
Each room has its own private bathroom and shower, and is serviced daily.
8 private air-conditioned bungalows; 1 king + 2 day beds in each
En-suite bathrooms and A/C in all rooms
Full-service bar
24/7 Satellite WiFi, TV in main lodge; Satellite phone available for guest use
2x daily housekeeping; Complimentary laundry service
Dining
Their gourmet food is a cornerstone of Nootka Wilderness Lodge’s reputation.
Whether you prefer to share your meals in the dining room with other guests, or prefer a table for two out on our floating deck, they can guarantee your meals will be memorable.
They create fresh West Coast cuisine, featuring local seafood (naturally) as well as many other delightful dishes.
And let’s not get started on Dessert.
Activities and Guest Services
Whale Watching
Few things in life are more awe-inspiring than getting up close and personal with the world’s largest living creature, and the crew at Nootka Wilderness Lodge never tire of sharing the experience with our guests.
As summer begins, Humpback whales head north to their Alaskan feeding grounds to fill themselves to the gills with krill. As a result theye’re perfectly positioned to view them as they head on up. (And also as they head back south as the seasons change).
The migratory Humpback isn’t the only species you might catch sight of, there’s Grey Whales, Minke Whales and two species of Orcas.
If its gigantic and breathes through a hole in the top of its head, chances are it’s not a stranger to these waters.
River Salmon Fishing
River Salmon fishing is a British Columbia institution, and at Nootka Wilderness Lodge they’ve got all the gear you need to land the salmon of your dreams.
Guides
Fishing, surfing or exploring, when it comes to guiding, there’s no substitute for experience, and NWL’s guides – British Columbia locals – know their home waters like the back of their hand.
With safety-first protocols front and centre, their guides possess the perfect blend of contagious enthusiasm and total professionalism.
History
Nootka Sound is part of the traditional territory of the indigenous Nuu-chah-nulth people, a collection of formidable tribes sustained by whaling and fishing.
Europeans arrived in the late 1700s. The Spanish Navy called by in 1774 and Captain Cook landed in 1778, recording the native name as ‘Nutka’ but in typical colonialist fashion, christened the inlet ‘King George’s Sound’.
What’s remarkable about Nootka Wilderness Lodge all these years later, is that you’re surrounded by exactly the same natural, unspoilt vistas identical to those viewed by both Cook and the Nuu-chah-nulth people.