Ocean River Adventures Plans the Perfect Escape with Discovery Island Tours
Jun 12, 2012
(News Release) VICTORIA — Ocean River Adventures has launched two tours of Discovery Island as part of their new partnership with the soon to reopen Oak Bay Beach Hotel.
Located just 3.7 km (two nautical miles) east of Victoria, BC, Discovery Island Marine Park is a 61-hectare island archipelago where common wildlife sightings include seals, sea lions, otters and eagles. The two new Discovery Island tours from Ocean River Adventures are designed to suit adventurers of all ages and activity levels, and include naturalist-led explorations of the surrounding land and sea.
“In a short, 10-minute boat ride, you’ll arrive at one of the West Coast’s most extraordinary spots,” said Brian Henry, founder and owner of Ocean River Adventures. “On these tours, you could find yourself paddling amongst a pod of curious seals, hundreds of sea birds and hiking through a verdant meadow of colourful wildflowers. Taking the 10 minute ride on our Discovery Shuttle to this incredible marine park will make you feel like you’re a million kilometres away from all hustles of city life.”
Discovery Island takes its name from Captain George Vancouver’s ship, HMS Discovery. The lighthouse (located at Sea Bird Point, the eastern end of the island) marks the junction of Haro and Juan de Fuca Straits (the point that forms the US/Canadian border) and was built in 1886. With a shoreline of grasses and native wildflowers, much of Discovery Island’s inland area is covered by thick forest vegetation.
Ocean River Adventures’ new Discovery Island tours:
Discovery Island Kayak & Hiking Tour — As a six-hour land and sea adventure, the Discovery Island Kayak & Hiking Tour is an eye-opening and intense look at animal and plant life within a West Coast archipelago. After a short boat ride to Discovery Island, guests hop into kayaks for a naturalist-led paddling tour through the island’s coves and waterways (no previous kayaking experience is necessary). Next, a guided hike on the island (and complimentary lunch) rounds out the Discovery Island experience. Available from June 15 through Sept. 15, the tour will depart daily at 9 a.m. from the Oak Bay Shoreline, returning to the same location at 3 p.m. Cost per person is $134.
Discovery Island Boat Tour & Nature Hike — Perfect for those who want to check out the wonders of Discovery Island (but don’t have a full day to do so) is Ocean River Adventures’ three-hour Discovery Island Boat Tour & Nature Hike. Led by expert naturalists, this tour blends easy nature hikes with water-based explorations (from the comfort of a special landing craft), giving guests an intimate look at some of the Pacific Northwest’s most fascinating flora and fauna. Available from June 15th through Sept. 15, the tour will depart daily at 10:30 a.m. from Oak Bay Marina, returning to the same location at 1:30 p.m. Cost per person is $55.