Travel to the Lodge
We’re proud to offer both drive-in, boat-in and fly-in options for our guests visiting the lodge. Please read below for more information on how to best suit you and your group getting to Port Eliza.
Driving Directions to Zeballos B.C.
Drive Through Campbell River on Vancouver Island:
Vancouver Island can be reached via Ferry from Port Angeles, Seattle, Tsawwassen, Horeshoe Bay, Powell River and Prince Rupert.
Most often guests take BC ferries from either Tsawwassen or Horsehoe Bay to Nanaimo (Tsawassen - Duke Point or Horsehoe Bay - Departure Bay). You can access schedule and fare information at the BC Ferries website.
During the summer the ferries can be busy, to avoid waits reservations on sailings can be made on the BC ferries site for a fee
Once on Vancouver Island, follow the Island Highway (Hwy. 19) to Campbell River.
From Campbell River you continue on Hwy 19 towards Zeballos.
Zeballos: Pick up at the Government Dock in Zeballos B.C.:
The 342 km (213 mile) trip from Nanaimo to Zeballos should take about 4.5 hours.
At Campbell River, continue north on Highway 19 toward Sayward and Port Hardy.
Continue on Highway 19 North past Sayward towards Woss. Go past the Woss exit to the signs for Zeballos. The exit will be on your left, just past mile marker 320 on the highway, about 150km from Campbell River.
The road to Zeballos is a gravel road for 42 km. be sure to stay on your left and follow the signs to Zeballos at the junction that goes to Fair Harbour. You do not want to head to Fair Harbour. Driving time is approximately 1 hour on the gravel road. Be aware to take it easy on the gravel section, particularly if driving in a car.
Continue in to the village of Zeballos. You will need to purchase a parking permit at the town hall as you enter town, and use the town parking lot. Pickup will be at the Government dock (where the parking lot is at the end of town) for your 35 minute boat trip to Port Eliza Lodge.
Bring your own boat by road (by way of Gold River).
The road to Gold River is paved all the way so guests with larger boats or wanting to avoid gravel roads may want this option:
Proceed to the B.C. ferry terminal at Tsawwassen or Horsehoe Bay, where you can catch a ferry to Nanaimo. The ferry ride to Nanaimo is two hours. From Nanaimo, take the Inland Island Highway #19 North.
Continue north to Campbell River. The 242 Km (150-mile) trip from Nanaimo to Gold River should take about 3 hours. Turn into the Village of Gold River.
Drive through and continue to the end of the road, where you will find the boat launch within about 50 feet of Air Nootka on the left-hand side. You will find paid overnight parking supplied by the local native reserve next to the boat launch, or you can park free along the side of the road if there is space.
Note: There are gas stations and stores in Gold River, so if you need any last minute supplies be sure to pick them up here.
After launching your boat, head north up Muchalat Inlet into Nootka Sound. Go to the east of Bligh Island and then head north up Tahsis Inlet. Turn west into Tahsis Narrows and into Esperanza Inlet. Heading west to Port Eliza Inlet which is the last inlet before the Pacific Ocean. Go north up Port Eliza Inlet.
Port Eliza Lodge is about one-half mile into the Inlet on the East side just past Eliza Island. The GPS coordinates for Port Eliza Lodge are: N 49.53.040 and W 127.00.571
Note: Navigate safely. Use your charts and GPS to identify potential hazards. There are rocks and a reef very near the lodge location. Also, there is active logging in this area, so be careful to look for wood in the water, especially deadheads.
Bring your own boat by road (by way of Tahsis or Zeballos).
Guests who are comfortable on gravel roads may want to consider this option:
Tahsis: Follow the directions above to Gold River, continue through town and follow the signs to Tahsis. It is a 62km journey along a mostly gravel road. There are some paved sections. There are 3 large hills with steep grades.
Zeballos: Follow the directions above. The drive to Zeballos is an easier drive than that to Tahsis. Hwy 19 is straighter than highway 28, which has some very curvy sections. There is less gravel road travel to Zeballos by 20km, and the road is usually smoother. Importantly for boat trailers it does not have the steep hills the Tahsis road has.
For those going to Tahsis continue through Tahsis to the Government wharf where there is paid parking and a good boat launch, but launching can be difficult at low tide. After launching your boat, proceed south about three miles to Tahsis Narrows which will be on the right side of the inlet when you are heading south. The Tahsis Narrows will take you into Esperanza Inlet. Continue past the Esperanza Fuel Dock and there will be some fish farms on your left. After passing the last fish farm, turn left which will be West, and head toward the Pacific Ocean. Continue heading west to Port Eliza Inlet which will be on the right side of Esperanza Inlet and is the last inlet before the Pacific Ocean. Turn to the right and go north up Port Eliza Inlet.
For those launching in Zeballos, the boat launch is by the parking lot. It is a good launch but again can be difficult at low tide. After launching your boat proceed South out of the inlet. Keep to the right hand side of the Zeballos inlet and turn right (west) into Esperanza inlet. Continue heading west to Port Eliza Inlet which will be on the right side of Esperanza Inlet and is the last inlet before the Pacific Ocean. Turn to the right and go north up Port Eliza Inlet.
Port Eliza Lodge is about one half mile into the Inlet on the right (East) side just past Eliza Island. The GPS coordinates for Port Eliza Lodge are: N 49.53.040 and W 127.00.571
Note: Be very watchful because there are rocks and a reef very near the resort location. Also, there is active logging in this area, so be careful to look for wood in the water, especially deadheads.
Fly-in options to the lodge.
From Seattle with Northwest Seaplanes:
Northwest Seaplanes flies to the lodge from their Renton WA base. Their website is https://www.nwseaplanes.com, and their phone is 1-800-690-0086
Flights are on Sundays and Thursdays. These are regularly scheduled flights not charters so can book up. Please check flight availability on their booking tool. The current fare for 2023 is on their web site. This amount will be in addition to the drive in trip cost.
We can make the arrangements or you can book directly with NW seaplanes if you prefer. Just let us know your flight details if you have booked it yourself.
Flights depart at 10 AM, and passengers are required to check-in one hour prior, at 9 AM. Northwest Seaplanes is located at 860 W Perimeter Road – Renton, WA 98057
Parking is included with the flight if you are driving, Northwest Seaplanes provides a shuttle to Sea-Tac when you return from the lodge if you are flying home.
If you plan to fly to Seattle on the same day as your flight to Port Eliza Lodge you would need to arrive in Sea-Tac by 7:30AM. We recommend that you fly to Seattle the night before. The Red Lion Renton is close to the NW Seaplanes terminal. When booking, tell them you are flying with NW Seaplanes for a reduced room rate.
For your return flight from our Lodge, NW Seaplanes will depart our lodge at approximately 1:30 PM and arrive back at their terminal about 4:15 PM. We recommend not booking travel out of Sea-Tac before 7:30 PM to allow time for customs clearance, unloading aircraft, and fish packaging.
NW Seaplanes will transport your fish in bags and upon your arrival at their terminal in Seattle they will box your catch in airline-approved wet lock boxes with adequate gel ice for your return trip home. The cost of this service is included in your package price. All travelers flying with NW Seaplanes will need a passport.
Weather delays: Our lodge is located in an area with variable weather, although uncommon, visibility may prevent the planes from flying. Port Eliza is not responsible for any weather related delays.
From Vancouver via Campbell River with Pacific Coastal Airlines and other seaplane services:
We can arrange transportation to the lodge from Vancouver International Airport (South Terminal).
Regularly scheduled flights from Vancouver International Airport to Campbell River Regional Airport are available on Pacific Coastal Airlines: https://www.pacificcoastal.com
From Campbell River: You will take a seaplane to the lodge with one of our seaplane partners:
Vancouver Island Air: (VIA) http://www.vancouverislandair.com
Corilair: http://www.corilair.com
Air Nootka: https://www.airnootka.com
Please contact us for pricing and availability.