Know the region
The North Island guide
North of Campbell River the Island changes: towns get smaller, forests get bigger, and the wildlife starts outnumbering the people. The North Island — Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Telegraph Cove, Alert Bay, Sointula and the villages between — is the Island as it was, and for travellers chasing whales, bears and truly wild coastline, it's the destination the rest of the Island points toward.
Landmarks & attractions
Telegraph Cove's boardwalk village is the storybook gateway to Johnstone Strait, summer home of the northern resident orcas; the waters near the Robson Bight ecological reserve are among the most reliable places on earth to see them. Whale, bear and wildlife tours run from the cove, Port McNeill and Port Hardy — including trips to watch grizzlies on the nearby mainland inlets. On Cormorant Island, Alert Bay's U'mista Cultural Centre houses a renowned collection of Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw potlatch treasures, and the village claims one of the world's tallest totem poles. Sointula, on Malcolm Island, keeps the character of its Finnish utopian founders. At the Island's very tip, Cape Scott Provincial Park rewards hikers with San Josef Bay's sea stacks and, for the committed, the multi-day North Coast Trail.
Towns & communities
Port Hardy is the north's service centre and the terminal for BC Ferries' Inside Passage sailing to Prince Rupert; Port McNeill is the practical hub for the mid-north; Port Alice sits on its quiet inlet; Woss and Sayward mark the forestry heartland along the highway.
Getting here & getting around
Highway 19 runs Campbell River to Port Hardy in about two and a half hours of near-empty road — watch for elk. Small ferries link Port McNeill with Alert Bay and Sointula; Port Hardy's airport connects south.
Living here
Life up here is for people who mean it: tight communities, real wilderness, and an economy of fishing, forestry, aquaculture and eco-tourism. The verified businesses below are the north's genuine locals — book the tours early, the season is short.
40 locations on the map · businesses without a pin haven’t added a map location yet.
The directory
Local businesses63
100 Percent Cannabis Ltd.
Licensed cannabis retailer in Port McNeill.
460 Realty - North Island Office
Real estate office on Granville Street in Port Hardy serving buyers and sellers throughout the North Island, from Port McNeill and Port Alice to Alert Bay, Sointula, Winter Harbour and Zeballos.
A. Bucci Photography
Whale and sea-otter photography tours from Port McNeill.
Allmac Repair Ltd.
Red Seal auto and diesel repair in Port McNeill.
Cafe Guido & Company
Locally owned espresso bar in downtown Port Hardy pairing artisan coffee, baking and lunch with an in-house bookshop, clothing boutique and curated gift selection.
Calvin Hunt – Copper Maker Studio
Studio and gallery of Kwakwaka'wakw master carver Calvin Hunt in Fort Rupert near Port Hardy, known for totem poles, masks and dance regalia in the traditional Kwagu'l style.
Carson Roofing Ltd
Roofing contractor based in Port McNeill serving North Vancouver Island from Campbell River to Port Hardy and Port Alice.
Cluxewe Resort
First Nations-owned oceanfront campground, RV park and resort near Port McNeill offering waterfront cottages, serviced RV sites and tent camping on 61 acres of northern Vancouver Island.
Coastal Rainforest Safaris
Indigenous-led wildlife and whale-watching tours from Port Hardy.
Coastal Wellness
Multi-disciplinary wellness and massage clinic on Campbell Way in Port McNeill, using evidence-based, whole-person care.
Codfather Charters
Guided salmon and halibut fishing charters with lodging out of Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island.
Cove Apparel
Independent coastal-inspired clothing boutique in Port Hardy with women's, men's and home lines, offering local pickup and online shipping.
Culture Shock
Indigenous-owned cafe, gallery and gift shop in Alert Bay sharing Namgis art, coffee and cultural experiences.
Dalewood Inn
Renovated Port McNeill hotel with cold beer and wine store, centrally located for exploring the North Island.
Devils' Bath Brewing Co.
Family-run harbourside craft brewery and pizza kitchen beside the Port McNeill ferry terminal, pouring house beer and kombucha with ocean views.
G.F. Contracting
General contracting and renovations across the north island.
Glen Lyon Inn & Suites
Waterfront Port Hardy inn on Hardy Bay with a family restaurant, pub and lounge overlooking the harbour.
God's Pocket Resort
Off-grid scuba diving resort near Port Hardy.
Great Bear Nature Tours
Port Hardy company running all-inclusive grizzly bear viewing stays at a remote floating wilderness lodge.
Grier & Esau
Long-established Port Hardy law firm.
Hardy Bay Physical Therapy
Physiotherapy clinic in Port Hardy's North Island Mall.
Hardy Bay Plumbing
Port Hardy plumbing company serving the north Island with installations, repairs, drain cleaning, water heaters and emergency service, with free quotes.
Hardy Builders Supply
Independent building supply and hardware in Port Hardy.
Hidden Cove Lodge
Secluded waterfront lodge near Telegraph Cove offering oceanfront rooms and cabins on Johnstone Strait.
Island Wide Milling
Locally owned cedar and fir sawmill in Sointula.
Janet Etter Folk Art Shack
Industrial folk art studio in Sointula.
Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures
Port McNeill outfitter running fully outfitted multi-day guided sea kayak tours among whales, grizzlies and coastal wildlife.
Kwa'lilas Hotel
Indigenous-owned Port Hardy hotel with the ha'me' restaurant, nax'id' pub and Kwa'lilas Cafe on Granville Street.
Leisure Suit Charters
Guided luxury salmon and halibut fishing charters from Fisherman's Wharf in Port Hardy and Port McNeill.
Macandales
Port Hardy's equipment, workwear and outdoor store since 1978 — chainsaw, marine and small-engine sales and service, safety gear, and tool rentals.
Mackay Whale Watching
Family-owned whale watching company sailing from Port McNeill aboard the Naiad Explorer, with tours led by a family of BC killer whale watching pioneers with over 40 years on these waters.
Mindful Massage & Healing
Therapeutic massage and bodywork in Port Hardy, focused on relaxation, pain relief and mind-body wellbeing.
Nax'id' Pub
Indigenous-owned downtown pub in Port Hardy.
North Island Kayak
Telegraph Cove sea kayaking outfitter running guided day trips, basecamp adventures and multi-day expeditions among the whales and islands of Johnstone Strait since 1991.
North Island Veterinary Hospital
Veterinary hospital with clinics in Port Hardy and Port McNeill, offering preventive care, surgery, dentistry, x-rays and boarding for north Island pets.
North Island Vision
Optometry and full optical dispensary in Port Hardy.
Oli's Fishing Charters
Guided salmon and halibut fishing charters and waterfront cabin rentals based in Winter Harbour.
Port McNeill Chiropractic
Chiropractic clinic led by Dr. Martin Barker with offices in Port McNeill and Port Hardy, offering spinal manipulative therapy, soft tissue work, exercise therapy, and registered massage and acupuncture services.
Port McNeill Medical Collaborative
Full-service family medicine clinic in Port McNeill.
Progressive Diesel
Established 1990, the north Island's largest heavy-duty diesel and marine repair shop — an 11,000 sq ft Port McNeill facility with boat haul-out service.
Quarterdeck Resort
Waterfront hotel, marina, restaurant, and pub in Port Hardy.
Reel Obsession Fishing Lodge & Charters
All-inclusive oceanfront fishing lodge in Zeballos.
Scarlet Ibis Pub
Remote roadside pub and restaurant in tiny Holberg, serving hearty food and cabins near the Cape Scott trailhead.
Sea Wolf Adventures
Indigenous-owned Port McNeill operator offering grizzly bear viewing and whale watching boat tours in the Broughton and Great Bear Rainforest.
Seasmoke Whale Watching
Small-group whale watching tours from Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, exploring Johnstone Strait and Blackfish Sound for orcas, humpbacks and other coastal wildlife since 1986.
Seine Boat Inn
Waterfront inn built over the beach in Alert Bay, steps from the Cormorant Island ferry, shops and restaurants.
Serengeti Fishing Charters
Family-run Port Hardy fishing charter and lodge for salmon, halibut, lingcod and offshore tuna.
ShopRite General Store
General store serving northern Vancouver Island since 1956, with locations in Port McNeill and Alert Bay plus home delivery.
Sointula Art Shed
Artist-run studio and residency space on Malcolm Island, hosting makers and creative workshops in the village of Sointula.
Sporty Bar & Grill
Relaxed downtown Port Hardy pub on Hastings Street serving hearty food with a European flair, repeatedly voted best food in town.
Stryker Marine Electronics
Port Hardy's 6,000 sq ft marine electronics and supply store, open seven days a week, with an in-house service department and shipping across North America.
T'sasala Cultural Group
Kwakwaka'wakw song and dance in Alert Bay.
Telegraph Cove Marina & RV Park
Waterfront marina and RV park in historic Telegraph Cove, a base for boating and wildlife trips on Johnstone Strait.
Telegraph Cove Resort
Historic boardwalk resort at Telegraph Cove with a waterfront restaurant, pub, general store and coffee shops, open through the summer season.
Telegraph Cove Sea Kayaking
Sea kayak tours from Telegraph Cove through Johnstone Strait, Blackfish Sound and the Broughton Archipelago, running since 1982.
Tex Electric Ltd
Locally owned and operated electrical contractor in Port Hardy, fully licensed and bonded, handling residential, commercial, industrial, marine, high-voltage and automation work across North Vancouver Island.
The Wild Lil' Gift Shop
Coast-inspired handmade gifts in Sointula.
Tides & Tales Fishing Charters
Guided salmon and halibut charters from Port Hardy.
Tri-Spark Electric Inc.
Licensed electrical contractor serving north Vancouver Island.
U'mista Cultural Centre
Renowned Kwakwaka'wakw cultural centre and gift shop on Alert Bay's Front Street, selling authentic masks, carvings, prints and jewellery by named local artists.
Walters Cove Resort
First Nations-owned floating fishing lodge in Kyuquot Sound.
Waypoint Insurance
Full-service insurance brokerage in Port Hardy.
Winter Harbour Lodge
Winter Harbour lodge offering guided salmon and halibut fishing charters, waterfront lodging, RV sites and moorage.
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