From Comox & Nanaimo ~ Ferry Terminals & Airports

By Land: Once you are on Vancouver Island, the Buckley Bay ferry terminal that connects to Denman Island is a 30-minute drive south of Comox, one-hour drive north of Nanaimo or a 2.5-hour drive north from Victoria. From Nanaimo, travel on Highway 19 (the Inland Highway) or take the scenic Oceanside Route that goes through the seaside communities of Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Bowser, Deep Bay and Fanny Bay before reaching Buckley Bay. From northern Vancouver Island, Buckley Bay is a 3.5-hour drive south of Port Hardy on Highway 19.

Ferries to Vancouver Island: Several ferry services link the British Columbia mainland and Washington State to Vancouver Island. BC Ferry terminals on Vancouver Island are in Victoria (Swartz Bay) and Nanaimo (Departure Bay or Duke Point) with routes to/from the Vancouver area; Comox, to/from Powell River on the Sunshine Coast; and Port Hardy, from Prince Rupert via the Inside Passage. 
​► BC Ferries at www.bcferries.com | call 1-888-223-3779 for route information/reservations.

By Air: The closest airport is the Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) where you can also book a rental car for your stay. It offers daily flights with Air Canada, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines and WestJet. The drive from the airport to the Buckley Bay Ferry Terminal to reach Denman Island is about 30 minutes.  
Nanaimo Airport (YCD) is another feasible option as it's just over an hour's drive to Buckley Bay. ​

By Bus: Island Link Bus provides an express bus service between Buckley Bay and other arrival/departure destinations on Vancouver Island. Make a reservation to guarantee a seat.  ► https://www.islandlinkbus.com/​

By Float Plane: Gulf Island Seaplanes are proud to introduce their newest scheduled route: Roundtrip from Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (downtown Vancouver), to the dock at the Thatch Pub on Hornby Island which is beside the ferry terminal for Denman Island. This is the most convenient and exciting choice for passengers to travel here! It’s also an affordable option, as the only added cost is a $9.50 round-trip BC Ferries ticket for foot passengers between Hornby and Denman. We will pick you up on this side for the four-minute drive to Manna House.
In contrast to getting to Denman Island from Vancouver via the ferry, which can take the better part of a day, this way will take a couple of hours (or less). Click here for the latest flight schedule.

On Foot: If you prefer not to bring or hire a car, we're here to help. Planning a trip to a remote island can seem a bit daunting, so let us do the heavy lifting...

Getting Here on Foot, with our help... ► Shuttle Service ► Ferry Ride

Stage 1: We will arrange for Ambassador Transport (subject to availability, or we will book a local taxi) to pick you up at Comox Airport, the Comox ferry terminal for the ferry to/from Powell River, or the float plane terminal in Comox Marina. For up to 6 people, it's CAD$60 for the first person, plus $10 per person after that, to bring you to the Buckley Bay Ferry Terminal.  [If you fly or sail into Nanaimo please ask us for a quote.]

Ambassador Shuttle Service

​ Stage 2: The "Baynes Sound Connector" is the world's longest cable ferry, and you get to ride on it! You'll need to buy your ticket at the booth and board as a foot passenger (for $9.30); the two-mile crossing takes 10 minutes.                            ​Find out more about the ferry to Denman Island  ►

Stage 3 - Option 1: The Denman Island Bus Summer Service (DIBS) operates Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10am-6pm, July 1st - Sept. 5th, providing a 16-passenger shuttle from BC Ferries' Denman West Terminal to Gravelly Bay Terminal approximately every 45 minutes, connecting foot and bicycle passengers to and from Hornby Island. There are no "bus stops", the driver will pull over wherever you ask, which would be at our driveway. We will advise if this will work for you in terms of timing, and if not there's Option 2...   
​(Find out more about DIBS ►)

Stage 3 - Option 2: Someone will pick you up on the Denman side and whisk you off to Manna House, a mere seven minutes drive! This is (currently) complimentary.

NB: This is a service to guests that is subject to availability. Please email us at admin@mannahouse.ca with your request, including exactly where and when you will need to be picked up, and we'll get back to you within 48 hours.

Denman Island Community Dock

If you have your own boat, you may moor at the Denman Island Community Dock for two consecutive nights. It's on the west side, next to the Denman West ferry terminal. Moorage is free for the first six hours, then $1/foot/day. A payment box is at the top of the dock ramp, with rates & regulations (or go to the Community Dock information on the Denman Residents Association website).
​
​Text us on arrival and someone will pick you up.

Purple Martin Nesting Boxes, Denman Island Community Dock
"The Western Purple Martin is a Blue-listed species in British Columbia that is entirely dependent on artificial nest boxes.
The population reached an all-time low of 5 breeding pairs in BC in the mid 1980’s as a result of habitat loss and competition from introduced species, the House Sparrow and European Starling. Stewardship programs on Vancouver Island and the lower mainland began an extensive nest box program in order to save the species from extirpation in BC. Their numbers have since rebounded to approximately 585 nesting pairs in 2010 and then doubling to approximately 1200 pairs in 2018. The population is still limited by lack of suitable nesting habitat, competition from introduced species, and inclement weather conditions."
(Squamish Purple Martin Nest Boxes – Squamish Environment Society)

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