The Sunshine Coast has an abundance of beaches and natural parks as well as many water-based activities on offer, with spectacular mountains that perfectly lend themselves to skiing and hiking trips. Alpine forests lie alongside remote sounds, and a year-round mild climate affords a vast array of activities, from fishing to mountain biking.

Rivers & coastlines

Powell River on the upper Sunshine Coast is perfectly explored with water sports and kayaking on the eight lakes that make up the Powell Forest Canoe Route, and self-drives afford the discovery of provincial parks full of wildlife, waterfalls and forestry. Kayaking on the pristine, fjord-like beauty of Desolation Sound or Sechelt Inlet offer a wonderful way to see the landscapes; serene waterways framed by sloping steely peaks, or there’s even coldwater diving in the likes of Skookumchuck Narrows, where you'll spot eels and octopus. Salmon swarm the waters, so it's unsurprising that seafood is the crowning glory here, with salmon, oysters and prawns being particularly notable. Head to one of the delightful weekend farmers markets for fresh local produce and a charming atmosphere.

The Lower Sunshine Coast has its base in Half Moon Bay on islands such as Thormanby, where pristine white-sand beaches frame dense rainforest, and an abundance of picturesque lakes are ideal for swimming, watersports, boats and whiling away the hours on rocky shores. Despite the mild climate, winter's chill brings snow high up in the mountains, the closest reached with a 20 minute drive, such as Dakota Ridge, affording wonderful alpine or cross-country skiing opportunities. 

Forests and national parks

The forests and trails that make up a large part of Canada's spectacular sunshine coast are perfectly explored with mountain biking through old-growth greenery and coastal rainforest trails, often edged by picturesque waterfalls. It's all just as spectacular with hikes, with the 180km Sunshine Coast Trail being one of the most notable, traversing through craggy coastal shores, serene creeks, old growth forest and rocky mountaintops alongside exploring its glorious biodiversity.