Quadra Island, part of the remote Discovery Islands, is a peaceful getaway just east of Campbell River on Vancouver Island.
Unlike the more popular Gulf Islands, Quadra feels quieter and has less tourists.
While it may not have the vibrant food and art scene of some other islands, it shines with its friendly locals, unique activities, and rugged wilderness.
We set off in our Delica campervan for a laidback camping trip with friends, exploring forest roads, enjoying quaint eateries, playing mini golf and unwinding in a sauna.
Here are 8 fun things to do on Quadra Island - our favourite experiences from the trip.
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8 Unique Things to Do in Quadra Island
1. Play mini golf at an enchanted woods-themed course
Recently, a brand new 18-hole mini golf course opened at the Quadra Island Golf Course. Its fantasy theme, complete with whimsical driftwood creatures crafted by a local artist, is a visual treat in itself.
A round of mini golf costs $12 per adult. It ended up being one of our favourite activities on the island.
The golf course also has an onsite restaurant called The Q. After your game, have a pint or a bite to eat on the patio. They serve comfort food at it's finest.
2. Explore the backcountry roads and find a serene spot to camp
Car camping in the rugged north end of the island
As the largest of the Discovery Islands, Quadra Island offers excellent wilderness camping. Because of its forest service roads, it's easy to reach offbeat areas of the island.
As you head north of Heriot Bay, the landscape becomes increasingly rugged and remote with dense forests, lakes and rocky shorelines.
We recommend bringing a 4x4 vehicle for exploring. We found a nice oceanside spot for camping one night and another spot partly up a mountain with sweeping views.
We were lucky to see a pod of 18 killer whales cruise past our campsite! They even breached in front of us Free Willy style.
🗺️ Select satellite mode on Google Maps so you can see the forest service roads - they won't show up in default mode.
✔️ Top Tip: pay special attention to roads that go up in elevation, this is how you can find nice spots to camp with views. Logging roads that lead to lakes or near the ocean can also have good places to camp.
Prefer not to camp? Although Quadra has limited hotels, it does offer some quirky stays. Stay in a rustic oceanfront suite at Jade Resort or in a charming guest cottage with forest views.3. Sauna on Heriot Bay
Soak in the heat with a private 2-hour session with Embrace Sauna. Their handmade cedar barrel sauna is parked at Heriot Bay Inn with access to the water.
It gets properly hot with its wood-fired stove and a water bucket is provided to pour water onto the rocks to create steam.
The 2-hour private session rate is $159 and the sauna can fit 4 people comfortably.
4. Walk along a 2km sandspit on the ocean
Rebecca Spit Marine Provincial Park is a narrow sandspit extending out into the ocean with beaches on both sides.
Enjoy views of the ocean, mountains and surrounding islands as you walk along the shoreline.
5. Dine with harbour views at Coveside Seafood Eatery
Grab a seat along the harbourfront at Coveside Seafood Eatery and enjoy their delicious seafood specialties. All their sauces are made in-house.
The mussels (caught that day) were excellent, and we also loved the coconut shrimp, fish & chips, fish tacos, and the signature Coveside Poutine - topped with crab bisque, pico de gallo, and cheese curds.
There’s only outdoor seating, so go on a nice day and soak up the views - or grab your meal to go.
6. Enjoy a tasting at SouthEnd Farm Winery & Distillery
SouthEnd Farm Winery & Distillery
Drive up the farm road to SouthEnd Farm, a family winery and distillery offering wine tastings and cocktail flights.
We loved the vintage glassware they used to serve drinks. If you can only pick one tasting, we recommend the cocktail flight.
Pick a spot on their sunny patio overlooking the vineyard and enjoy the sun. They also offer some picnic snacks, like cheese, crackers, salmon pâté and charcuterie.
7. Eat delectable cronuts from Island Farm and Table
Pop into Island Farm and Table and treat yourself to their cronuts - deep fried croissant pieces covered in cinnamon sugar. Mmm!
8. Enjoy outside drinks at the HBI Pub
Grab a pint at the pub at Heriot Bay Inn and enjoy the marine views. It's a local favourite. The inn was first established in 1895 and rebuilt in 1912 after a fire.
The pub has a covered patio as well as picnic table seating on the grass in the front.
It also hosts music events on some weekends - check out their event calendar to see what's on.
We hope you enjoyed these 8 fun things to do on Quadra Island!
Get started on planning your trip to Quadra Island
- 🛏️ Book your accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- 🚗 Car rental: see Rentalcars.com to compare car rental prices across different companies.
Combine Quadra Island with a road trip through Vancouver Island. See our Vancouver Island itinerary.
Want to explore the Gulf Islands? Check out our other island travel guides:
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