If you've never traveled to Hollyhock before, you've come to the right page! Never fear, it's not that difficult to get there – it just requires some advance planning.
There are a few options available, depending on how much time you have, and how much money you're willing to spend.
Plan to arrive in time for dinner, at 6:30pm, on September 19th. Plan to leave after lunch, which is at 12:30, on the 23rd.
Please select your option below:
From within BC and the Pacific Northwest
You have two primary options: come by land, or come by air. If driving from Vancouver or Seattle, you will need to depart first thing in the morning of September 19th, and if flying, depart Vancouver airport mid-day or mid-afternoon.
Note: There are no flights from Victoria to Campbell River.
From Eastern Canada
Catch an early flight into Vancouver International if you want to take a connecting flight to Campbell River.
If you would like to reduce costs by carpooling from Vancouver, you should fly in the night of September 18th. We can help you find accommodation for that night, as well as a carpool (contact [email protected]).
From Eastern US
The cheapest option is likely to fly into Seattle on the evening of September 18th and then carpool from there.
Another option is to fly into Vancouver early in the day on the 19th, and catch a connecting flight to Campbell River. If you cannot get a flight to into Vancouver that arrives before noon on the 19th, then fly in the night before.
International
Please plan to fly into Vancouver International the night of September 18th. From there you can catch a connecting flight, or drive up with a carpool. Please advise [email protected] if you would like help with accommodations or other logistics.
Air Travel Details
Vancouver to Campbell River
NB: If you fly to Campbell River, you will need to arrange for a connecting water taxi and shuttle to Hollyhock.
Pacific Coastal Airlines flies to Campbell River from Vancouver’s south terminal (which you can connect to from the main terminal via free shuttle bus) 1-800-663-2872
Their 12:45pm flight out of Vancouver will get you to Hollyhock with time to settle in before dinner. The 3:35pm flight will get you there just in time for dinner.
Central Mountain Air flies to Campbell River from Vancouver’s main Terminal. 1-888-865-8585
The 11:45am flight will get you there with lots of time to relax, or 4:10pm flight will get you there just in time for dinner.
Seattle to Campbell River
Kenmore Air offers flights out of the Seattle area. They fly from Lake Washington, north of Seattle, direct to Cortes Island, or into Campbell River. Call them to book at 866-435-9524. Also, be sure to call Hollyhock at least 48 hours before you plan to arrive to arrange shuttle to Hollyhock from the seaplane dock. 1-800-933-6339
San Juan Airlines offers charter flights to Campbell River out of the Seattle area too, so another option may be for 5 people to join together and fly that way.
Seaplane direct to Cortes Island
Fly Corilair Seaplanes from Vancouver to Cortes Island: 888-287-8366 or 250-287-8371, www.corilair.com Please call seaplane to confirm all dates, times and costs, and to make all necessary reservations.
Kenmore Air offers flights out of the Seattle area. They fly from Lake Washington, north of Seattle, direct to Cortes Island, or into Campbell River. Call them to book at 866-435-9524.
Be sure to call Hollyhock at least 48 hours before you plan to arrive to arrange shuttle to Hollyhock from the seaplane dock. 1-800-933-6339
Water Taxi Details
The Discovery Launch Water Taxi offers service from the dock in Campbell River, straight to Cortes Island (30 minute trip). It is faster and easier than taking the ferries, and the cost is comparable when shared among a full boat.
Book a water taxi if you are flying into Campbell River, and consider a water taxi if you are driving also, as you likely won't need your car on Cortes Island.
Please note that you need to reserve your spot on a water taxi in advance of arrival in Campbell River. Call Discovery Launch to book, and to inquire about sharing water taxis to reduce costs (250-287-7577).
Airport Shuttle Details
If you fly into Campbell River, take the Airporter Shuttle to the Discovery Launch water taxi. The Airporter Shuttle (250-286-3000) waits outside the Campbell River airport for every incoming flight. Ask them to take you to the Discovery Launch water taxi – $13.
Hollyhock Shuttle Details
Hollyhock offers shuttle service from the boat dock to the Centre. Call Hollyhock at least 48 hours before you plan to arrive, to arrange shuttle service from the water taxi dock. 1-800-933-6339.
Ground/Ferry Travel Details
From Vancouver or Seattle
To drive to Hollyhock, leave fairly early in the morning (especially from Seattle!), and make advance reservations for the ferries to save time and hassle. http://bcferries.com. You do not need a reservation for the small island ferries – only for the big one from the mainland to Vancouver Island.
From Vancouver, take the ferry to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) from Horseshoe Bay. From Seattle, drive to Tsawwassen and then take the ferry to Duke Point (just south of Nanaimo).
Once off the ferry, take Hwy 19 north to Campbell River. (1 hour and 45 minutes) Turn right at Hwy 19A Exit, at North Campbell River and follow this road for approximately five minutes. Ferry terminal entrance is on your left.
You should decide in advance whether you want to leave your car in Campbell River and take the water taxi, or whether you want to drive all the way to Hollyhock. It's often less hassle to leave the car – you likely won't need it on island.
From Campbell River
- Take the ferry first to Quadra Island (they run every hour and it's a ten minute crossing).
- Then, drive across Quadra Island, following signs to Cortes ferry at Heriot Bay.
- Take the ferry to Cortes island. It's a 45-minute crossing and the ferry arrives in Whaletown.
- You then drive south down the island, following signs to Manson's
Landing (there are also signs for Hollyhock – but watch out for them,
they are kind of small!)
- You go through Manson's (don't blink or you might miss it) – there's a store, a restaurant, a community hall.
- Keep going along that road for another three minutes, and then take a left at the sign pointing you to Hollyhock.
- Total driving time from the ferry is probably 25 minutes.
A Final Note:
Check in after 3:00pm on your arrival day, and plan to travel back home after lunch on the final day.
Programs begin after dinner on the opening date and end at lunchtime on the closing date.
Hollyhock also maintains their own Travel Options page.
