Bamfield, a charming village, is one of the top saltwater fishing destinations on Vancouver Island. Dotted with shops catering to fishermen and tourists, it also boasts accommodations ranging from bed and breakfasts to luxurious resorts. Fishing charters and adventure tours are available and can be easily booked by yourself or through your tour or hotel operator. Barkley Sound also draws kayakers, particularly to the nearby Broken Islands Group at the mouth of the sound. The Broken Islands, part of Pacific Rim National Park, comprise nearly 100 scattered islands, rocks and reefs, home to thousands of sea birds and sea lions.
Scuba divers love the clear ocean waters and the chance to see a number of shipwrecks.
Bamfield is also the northern terminus of the famed West Coast Trail. You can hike the last three miles of the trail at Pachena Bay, or arrange for guided nature walks along the ocean or surrounding forest. Highway 4 is a two-lane, twisting road that should be driven with caution. Port Alberni is 50 kilometers from Parksville. Once in Port Alberni, it's 95 kilometers of active gravel logging road to Bamfield.