The Cowichan Valley is a 30-minute scenic drive from both Victoria in the south and Nanaimo in the north. VIA Rail travels between Victoria and Courtenay. Stops within the Cowichan area include Shawnigan Lake, Cobble Hill, Cowichan Station, Duncan, Chemainus and Ladysmith.

• Over 200 species of birds are attracted to the feeding grounds at the mouth of the Koksilah and Cowichan Rivers.

• At Pier 66, join a Gulf Islands fishing or sightseeing charter.

• The South Cowichan Lawn Tennis Club features one of the oldest lawn tennis courts in the world, second only to Wimbledon.

• The Wooden Boat Society displays hands-on exhibits at the Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre.

• For a spectacular view of the region, hike up Mount Tzouhalem.

• Hecate Park, located on Cowichan Bay Road, serves as a popular picnic and beach area for locals. The park’s boat launch provides an ideal location to launch for day fishing or cruising on pristine Cowichan Bay.

• Fishing and boating charters, as well as sailing tours are available. The Cowichan Bay Regatta, a sailing race on the first weekend in August, is the second largest regatta on Canada's West Coast.

• Spring and fall present remarkable opportunities to view birds as they travel along the Pacific Flyway. Some of the protected areas where they pause and refresh themselves include Hecate Regional Park in Cowichan Bay.

• The spectacular Cowichan River Provincial Park protects significant stretches of the Cowichan River, known as a first class recreational corridor. The park is internationally recognized for its wild salmon and steelhead trout, and for the historic Cowichan River footpath that winds through dense Douglas-fir and Western Hemlock forest. Stroll along the footpath - a sensational 20 km hiking trail following the river to Skutz Falls.

• Discover nature’s treasures by sea kayak - come eye to eye with an array of fascinating marine life. Relax your mind and soul on a leisurely tour over emerald waters among seals, cormorants and kingfishers. For those wishing to immerse themselves in the power and majestic beauty of the West Coast, guides will lead on a multi-day excursion.

• Fish along the Cowichan River, one of the most consistent fishing rivers on the Island; a fishing/hiking path stretches 31 kilometres (19 miles) along the riverbank. Brown, rainbow, and steelhead trout, as well as vigorous salmon runs, make fishing here legendary. Chinook, coho, and steelhead that school in Cowichan Bay enter the river to spawn in November and December. There's also a steelhead run in March.