Island Experience

We travel through the Humpback Whales’ summer/fall sanctuary filled with Orca Whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Dalls Porpoise, Stellar Sealions, Harbour Seals, Bears, Bald Eagles and Marine Birds at every turn. Every trip is different with a vast array of wildlife migrations that follow the cyclical change of each season, and the daily ebb and flood of the tides.

Wild Waterways offers you a chance to get off land and explore the marine ecosystems surrounding the northern gulf islands.

Guest’s of Taku Resort receive 15% off our Tree of Life, Spring Great Bear, Majestic Whales & Into the Wild adventures. Contact Wild Waterways directly to book your experience.

There are endless hikes that will bring you to beautiful rocky shores and through forests of Douglas fir and Hemlock, with some cedar, pine and scattered old growth fir.  Visit the office to pick-up a trail map ($2) and we can help you find the prefect trail you’re looking for whether it’s an easy stroll to the end of Rebecca Spit Provincial Park or a steep hike up to China Mountain.  Our amazing Quadra Island Recreation Society’s Trails Committee sells the trail maps to help fundraise their work.  MAP link: http://www.quadrarec.bc.ca/current-program

Here are our favourites

Fei and Millie dog’s favourite pick: Rebecca Spit Provincial Park – leave from the resort for a 10km round trip or drive to the big parking lot for a short walk. If you’re lucky you can spot some whales.

Liz’s favourite pick: Morte Lake – it’s just a 10minute drive from the resort and is a flat loop perfect for the little kids.

Lynden’s Favourite pick: Heriot Ridge – also just a 10min drive from the resort where you meander past big mossy walls, around old growth trees and up to beautiful vistas.

Please pack out what you pack in. We share these forests with wildlife including deer, cougar & wolves; please keep your dogs under control.  The fire hazard is often high, so please refrain from smoking and making campfires.

There are many reasons why it’s so easy to enjoy kayaking from Taku.  First of all, Taku Marina has a very unique kayak ramp that makes entry and exit from the kayak extremely safe and easy.  Secondly, the water is mostly calm as we’re in a protected part of the island.  Thirdly, there are small islands and bays to discover.  Quadra Island Kayaks operates out of our resort and can rent you a kayak or take all the planning out of it and join one of their tours.  Their Sunset Tour is a 3hr paddle and is their most popular trip.

You’ll find Quadra Island Kayak owners Kassy and Chris setting people up on the water.  You’ll know it’s them if you see their sweet little boys toddling along. They have all the knowledge to help you get on the ocean or on the beautiful lakes.  www.quadraislandkayaks.com

Although you can get all the food you need at the grocery store nearby to cook a tasty meal in your suite there are also some very tasty options around the island.

Coffee

Java Bay Café has tasty lattes and baked goods. It’s only a short walk away beside Tru-Value grocery store and we suggest trying Heidi’s scones.
If you like to brew your own coffee, at the grocery store pick-up a bag of local roasters Aroma Specialty Coffee. Helene’s rostery is focused on Fairtrade beans from a cooperation that supports only female growers.
Aroma Café is the creation of Marie and Dave, located on the west side of the island beside the gas station.  This is the coffee hub of the island community and serves tasty baked goods and breakfast. https://www.cafearomaquadra.ca

Winery

SouthEnd Farm, Winery is a micro-winery, distillery and farm run by Jill and Ben.  In the summer season their farm is open for wine tastings and picnic lunches. You can find their wines at the local grocery store or go online and order delivery to the resort.  https://www.southend.ca

Restaurants

The Clove, “We deal in pizza, good food and drink with a friendly atmosphere and relaxed vibe. Hangout & Take-out” and they mean it!  The pizza is delicious, we can’t recommend it enough. https://www.facebook.com/TheCloveInTheCove/

Herons Restaurant is part of the Heriot Bay Inn.  It has the nicest patio on the island and is only a 10min walk away.  www.heriotbayinn.com/seaside_dining_heron_restaurant.html

Heriot Bay Inn Pub, this is the hub for the community on the Heriot Bay side of the island.  After one drink here you’ll get the real flavour of the Quadra Island locals.  They have refreshing local beers (Vancouver Island) on tap.  Check their calendar to see if your stay coincides with live music, trivia or karaoke.  Located in the Heriot Bay Inn, a short stroll down the road from Taku.  www.heriotbayinn.com/seaside_dining_pub_live_music.html

Island Farm to Table Mary has recently opened this amazingly delicious restaurant.  Delicious, Fresh Baked Goods and local organic grocery.  https://www.facebook.com/quadraislandfarmhouse/

Gowlland Harbour Resort Chef Joe Volk and his wife Carmen provide a fine dining experience on Quadra Island.  Gowlland Harbour Restaurant is tucked away in a small harbour with a beautiful view and is a wonderful place to take in the sunset.  https://www.gowllandharbour.com

Kameleon Food & Drink Kameleon is about good food. Using fresh ingredients, cooking from scratch, keeping it simple, interesting, and delicious.  Located at the south end of the Quathiaski Cove shops.  https://www.facebook.com/KameleonFoodandDrink/

Coveside Seafood Eatery They have some of the best fish and chips on the island.  You can do take-away or eat on their patio.   https://www.facebook.com/covesideseafood/

Terry’s Take-Out If you’re craving a burger this is the place to go!  We always suggest the Chelsea, you may get to meet her as she works at Taku.  It’s about a 15 min walk from the resort.  https://www.facebook.com/teresastakeout/

The Trout and Trivet Elias and Mary keep locals fed with an array of tasty food from around the world.  Their menu varies daily but you can be assured that it will be delicious.  The food truck is typically located at the grocery store up the road.  https://www.facebook.com/troutandtrivet/

Smoked Campfire Grill  The number one hot dog spot on the island.  Fast, delicious hot food waiting for you at Quathiaski Cove. Our sausage and hot dogs are steamed, boiled, grilled or smoked before being nested into a steamed or toasted bun. Finished with your choice of hot & cold condiments. (Gluten-free options)  You can find them at the Saturday farmers market or beside the pharmacy.  https://www.facebook.com/Smoked-Campfire-Grill-215398629043986/

Pack a picnic and drive 40 minutes north to Village Bay lakes as a day trip and enjoy a dip in the lake.  It’s a nice swim or for the more adventurous you could cliff jump.  If you’d like to explore the chain of lakes you can rent a canoe or a paddle board from Quadra Island Kayaks.  They’ve got the gear to properly strap it on to your roof.

Perhaps you’d like to try an overnight canoe trip?  There are a few sites on the lakes that are first come first serve.  Quadra Island Kayaks can rent you all the necessary gear and help map out your trip.

There are no services up here except for outhouses.  Please pack out what you pack in to keep this area as pristine as you found it.
http://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/main_lk/

Quadra Island is home to over 100 trails all maintained by local serious biking enthusiasts.  They’re always happy to show folks the trails, even the local legends Sam Whittingham and Andrea Blasekie creators of Naked Bicycles. https://www.nakedbicycles.com  Every Saturday at 9:30am you are welcome to join their Church of Dirt ride.  These are some fantastic trails and many pro riders from across America agree.  If you want to be inspired, watch this video. https://www.pinkbike.com/news/tracing-dirt-discovery-islands-quadra-video-2015.html

Come by the front desk to purchase a trail map which will give you all the finer trail details.

Total trail distance: 117km
Total descent: 4806m
Total Vertical: 551m
Highest trailhead: 553m
https://www.trailforks.com/region/quadra-island-10401

Island Cycles located at the resort has bike rentals from e-bikes to tour the island to fat tires to explore the beaches to downhill bikes to explore the trails.  http://www.quadraislandcycle.com

There are almost 250 developed routes on around 25 separate crags concentrated in the Chinese Mountains & Morte Lake area. The quality of the rock is very high. It’s a solid, coarse Andesite, a type of volcanic basalt which has great friction and interesting texture with amazing and sometimes challenging holds, all in spectacular west coast surroundings. There are mountain and ocean views in every direction.The Quadra Crags are a user-friendly climbing area with grades mostly between 5.6 and 5.10 with a few 11’s and 12s. Almost all the routes are bolt-protected sport climbs with only a handful of trad and mixed-pro routes.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/quadraclimbers/

Unfortunately there are no businesses that offer climbing gear rentals.

There are a couple of lasers and small sailboats that can be rented from the front desk.  There are many spots to explore on the water though the wind can be a little unpredictable at times.

We do have WiFi and it is the fastest service possible in the area, however, it probably does not meet the speed that you are accustomed to.  You can connect for emails but streaming is not possible.  At the front desk we do have a phone you can use for local numbers.