Australian Gourmet Traveller - (01)January 2020 (1)

AGOURMETTRAVELLERPROMOTION

SMOOTH SAILING

AnyentryintotheremoteHaidaGwaiiarchipelagoofislandsneeds to

bebyboat,preferablyhandcraftedfromlocalDouglasfir andcedar trees

withpolishedbrassfittings.Sittinggracefullyuponwildlife-filled waters,

theMapleLeaftakesitseightpassengersona journeytosomeof Canada’s

mostscenicbays,estuariesandsecludedbeachesoffthecoastof British

Columbia.Theship’simmersivenine-dayitineraryexploresthe

archipelagofromnorthtosouth,ancienttomodern,including Gwaii

HaanasandtheUNESCOWorldHeritagesiteSGangGwaay village

(Ninstints).Everythingyoucouldpossiblyneedorneedtoknow is

answeredbytheship’screw,whichincludesa naturalistandanon-board

chef.Asdarknessfalls,theshipslipsintosecludedbaysforovernight

anchorageswhiledaysarefilledwithfishing,swimmingandshore trips

toancientFirstNationvillageswitha backgroundcastofbaleen whales,

dolphins,porpoises,blackbearsandbirdlifeappearingwithevery tack

ofthesails.ThisyeartheMapleLeaffleethasalsoexpandedto include

a new 138 footluxurycatamaranforHaidaGwaiiadventures.

mapleleafadventures.com

UP CLOSE

It’shardnottobebothsurprisedandthrilledwhena polarbear looks

inyourwindow,butatSealRiverLodgeinManitoba’sarcticregion

it’sparforthecourse.Deepinpolar

bearterritory,theremotelodge’s

unparalleledaccessmakesfora

privilegedwildlifeexperience.Ofthe

estimated20,000to25,000polarbears

leftinthewild,approximately 60 per

centarelocatedinCanadaandthis

is oneofthemostexcitingplacesto

seethem.Overlookingthespectacular

HudsonBay,thisfamily-owned-and-

operatedlodgeis thegatewaytothe

tundralandscapeanditswild

inhabitants;aninvigoratingand

incrediblypersonalwaytomeet

thelocals.churchillwild.com

WATER’S EDGE

Expectgreatseafoodexperiencesat

TroutPointLodgeinthemaritime-

richprovinceofNovaScotia.Think

salmon,mussels,oystersandlobsters,

aswellasopportunitiestocookthe

localbountyat thelodge’srenowned

cookingschool.Takeadvantageofthis

isolatedretreaton 40 pristinehectares

nexttotheTobeaticWilderness

Areawithactivitiessuchasfly fishing,

kayaking,riversidewood-firedhottubs

anda forestbathingexperience.With

itsnatureborderandlocationat the

convergenceoftworivers,thelodge

guaranteesplentyofwildlifesightings

includingblackbears,flyingsquirrels,

grouse,deer,beaver,owls,loonsand

if you’reinluck moose.troutpoint.com

CLAYOQUOT

WILDERNESS RESORT, BC

Clayoquot Wilderness

Resort is a Relais &

Châteaux all-inclusive

eco-safari luxury resort

located 40 minutes by

boat from Tofino,

Vancouver Island.

MAPLE LEAF

ADVENTURES, BC

All BC expeditions depart

from Masset on Haida Gwaii,

which is serviced by Pacific

Coastal Airlines departing

from Vancouver and inland

Air Charters departing

from Prince Rupert.

SEAL RIVER LODGE,

MANITOBA

Seal River Heritage Lodge is

open from July to November.

Packages include flights

from Winnipeg to Churchill,

air transfers to the lodge

plus meals.

TROUT POINT LODGE,

NOVA SCOTIA

The lodge is a 45-minute

drive from the Yarmouth

Ferry Terminal. The closest

international airport is

Halifax, around three hours’

drive north of the lodge.

TAKE ME THERE

PLAN YOUR

CANADA ESCAPE

EDITOR’S

PICK

PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL POLIZ A COURTESY CHURCHILL WILD; KEVIN SMITH COURTESY MAPLE LEAF ADVENTURES.

CLOCKWISE FROM

FAR LEFT:

Vancouver Island;

Clayoquot

Wilderness Resort;

polar bear at Seal

River Lodge; Maple

Leaf Adventures;

local seafood at

Trout Point Lodge.