Activities in Sooke. Salmon and Halibut Fishing, Ocean Shore Fishing, Hiking and Biking, Surfing, Kayaking/Sailing/Boating.

Fishing in Sooke is Always an adventure. Depending on the tide weather and guests, We fish from Secretary island, west all the way to Sheringham point. One of the local favourites is Otter point, but it often turns into a parking lot for boats in the busy summer months. Our favourite spot is right near the Sooke basin between secretary island and possession point.

Ocean Shore Fishing

There are many beautiful local fishing spots where you can try to land a salmon right off the rocks. One such spot is Otter Point, a local and visitor favourite. The tides of Juan De Fuca Strait draw migrating salmon in close to the beach where shore fishers can reach them with weighted casting lures.

When heading out to fish at Otter point, you will need a good casting rod and reel fully loaded with 12 to 15 pound test line, a good landing net, a selection of lead casting lures and a tidal water fishing licence. Rain gear and life jackets are both great to have. Rain can come suddenly in our climate, and the rocks can be very slippery. Move carefully and be cautious when fishing.

Hiking and Biking

The Galloping Goose Trail is an old, now out-of-use railroad line that at one time was used to transport timber and lumber between Sooke and Victoria. Today the trail provides a scenic route for hikers and bikers between Victoria and Leechtown.

While making your way along the trail, you can step off the beaten path and visit one of our beautiful parks along way: there is Roche Cove Regional Park, Matheson Lake Regional Park and the Sooke Potholes Provincial Park. Roche Cove is a beautiful coastal beach, Matheson Lake is perfect for dip, and the Potholes are an absolute local favourite for hiking and swimming areas

Another outdoor attraction that's not to be missed is East Sooke Park. At this park, take a day hike along a rugged and scenic coastal trail and visit some of the prettiest, quietest beaches in Sooke.

If you are interested in seeing more local beaches, you are thinking of coming to the right place. Some more of the local famous ones include Weirs Beach, French Beach, Sandcut Beach, China Beach, Sombrio Beach, Mystic Beach and Botanical Beach, especially known for its incredible low tide tidal pools. The Juan de Fuca Trail connects most of these beaches as it cuts its way through 47 km of coastal rainforest.

The parks listed above are all accessible by car, a convenient way to see more if you are pressed for time.

Finally, for really serious hikers, you can visit Vancouver Island and take a hike along the West Coast Trail. Limited numbers of hikers are allowed on the trail at one time and must pay a fee. Please make a reservation if this is something that you would like to do. The trip takes 5 days.

Surfing

These beaches are wonderful to watch from the shore, but many of them are also known for their waves.

Summer months make perfect conditions for local windsurfing, and winter months are the best for surfing off the south-west coast of our island. Local favourites for surfing include Sombrio Beach and Jordon River. If you'd like to take a surfing trip for a couple of days, think about driving up to Tofino, a surfing paradise located about half way up Vancouver Island on the west side. Remember, the waters off of our island are chilly - winter or summer - so be prepared to dawn a wetsuit of you'd like to part in these exciting west coast experiences.

Kayaking/Sailing/Boating

The picturesque scenery of Vancouver Island and the surrounding Gulf Islands draws boaters of all sorts to our corner of the world. Island hopping is a favourite pass time of local kayakers, where the calm waters between little islands act as a peaceful pathway from one beach to the next.

If sailing is your passion, Victoria hosts the largest offshore yacht racing event held in the Pacific Northwest: the Swiftsure International Yacht Race first occurred in 1930 when 4 boats entered the first race. Today the race draws up to 450 vessels from all over the world to this weekend event, which usually occurs in the very early summer.

Whale Watching

Whale watching is one of the most common tourist activities in the Victoria/Sooke area. Our island is home to 3 pods of southern resident killer whales (orca whales). The pods together make up just fewer than 90 whales, including a few babies in any given year.

Some more visitors to the island include smaller pods of transient killer whales, grey whales, a few humpback and minke whales.

The local killer whales (those which belong to the pods names 'J,' 'K,' and 'L,') are most sought after by whale watchers. They are also the most common to see while out on our fishing trips - so keep your eyes open!

Scuba Diving

All of this beautiful scenery talk is wonderful, but perhaps your passion lies below the surface. Vancouver Island boasts year-round world class scuba diving! Some underwater attractions include an abundance of beautiful sea life, breakwaters filled with cracks and crevices for creatures to hide in, and sunken wrecks that have been adopted as artificial reefs for exploration.

Goldstream Park

A little more inland is this amazing provincial park. Goldstream Park is located just outside downtown Victoria and every year from mid-October until the end of November salmon in the tens of thousands leave the ocean and return to the Goldstream estuary head up river and spawn. This incredible local act of nature is one of the most well known by Island residents. During those fall months, the park becomes the perfect getaway for the bird watchers eager to get a look at one of the many bald eagles, or for the artist looking for colourful inspiration, or for the student, eager to learn about the incredible occurrence of Salmon spawning.

At the end of the bending river trail lays a small cabin converted into a wonderful nature centre. This educational delight offers extra activities and a wide variety of books and souvenirs. There are also exhibits about Goldstream Park as well as a live underwater web-cam that focuses on the salmon as they make their difficult journey upstream.

Golfing

Golfing on Vancouver Island is almost as popular as fishing! Our island has many world class courses that are open year-round to the public. Local courses include Victoria Golf Club, Royal Colwood Golf Club, Uplands Golf Club, Gorge Vale Golf Club, Olympic View Golf Club, Cordova Bay Golf Course and the newly opened Nicholas-designed Bear Mountain Golf Club, to name a few.

Camping

There are endless opportunities for camping here on Vancouver Island. No matter what kind of camper you are - rugged, sleep under the stars camper, or comfortable, RV camper, there's a spot that you'll find that you'll soon call a second home. There are both provincial and private campsites along lakesides, rivers, and coastlines everywhere on Vancouver Island and all over British Columbia.

Dining

Vancouver Island is proud of the selection of fresh food we produce here: local produce, herbs, farm raised meats, and the freshest and most flavourful seafoods that you will fined. Vancouver Island (and all of British Columbia) is dotted with exceptional wineries, which provide the perfect pairing to go with our fresh and delightful cuisine. The selection of restaurants is endless. Here are a few of our favourites to get you started:

First and foremost, the Sooke Harbour House Hotel. This restaurants focus is always fresh, natural, and very local. Ingredients include: meats, such as organic rabbit and veal.poultry, including organically raised chickens and local duck. seafoods such as Pacific salmon, rockfish, and halibut. shellfish, including oysters, crab, and scallops. The restaurant at Sooke Harbour House is renowned both locally and internationally, and is remembered with pleasure by visitors from around the world.

Shopping

The shopping district of Victoria is located on a 45 minute drive from Sooke. The friendly and inviting atmosphere of the downtown core will inspire you to spend the day relaxing as you browse through the variety of stores. Find local artists scattered around the streets are various markets, or have a look in a Northwest Coast Native Art store. Listen to and laugh with street performers of every type. Finally, be sure to also visit our little China Town, one of the smallest but oldest in all of North America, and include a walk down Fantan Alley.

Tourist Attractions

Many things to do in and around Sooke from Salmon and Halibut Fishing to Ocean Shore Fishing, from Hiking and Biking to Surfing and Kayaking. Sooke also offers Sailing, Boating, Camping, Golfing, and Dining.

Activities in Sooke and Victoria

Salmon and Halibut Fishing Charter