The beauty of the Sunshine Coast

We were over the rainbow. The Sunshine Coast had set aside its blue-sky branding and thrown all types of weather at us: buffeting winds, strafing rain, low ceilings, sun and now below us a rainbow above a rocky peninsula.

A flightseeing tour from Sechelt was a splurge on our three-day escape from the city, but a thrilling and worthwhile overview of this 180-kilometre stretch of wilderness. Just a 40-minute ferry ride from Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay, the Sunshine Coast packs in: mountains, inlets, marine life, surging rapids, and old-growth rainforest with rare birds. Any yet you can choose not to rough it with fine dining, luxe spas and stunningly-beautiful accommodations.

“As we fly up the coastline I would like to point out to you some of the significant sites, ecologically, culturally and spiritually,” said our guide Candace Campo, from the local shíshálh Nation.

The Sunshine Coast Air seaplane soared over narrow inlets and fjords to rival Norway’s. We spied the white dots of mountain goats on vertical mountain walls reaching to 1,200 metres. The wool of these revered creatures, explained Candace was used by the shíshálh Nation to create elaborate ceremonial regalia.