Getting Here

The Alders Beach Resort is located in the village of Merville, British Columbia, on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Merville is situated 12km (7.5 miles) north of Courtenay (or 34km (21 miles) south of Campbell River) and is part of the Comox Valley Regional District.

By Vehicle
Courtenay is 107 km (66 miles) north of Nanaimo and 220 km (137 miles) north of Victoria on the new island Highway #19, which bypasses the coastal communities from Parksville to Courtenay. Visitors can also take the "Old Island Highway" - Oceanside Highway #19A, which is much more scenic but takes 45-60 minutes longer, depending on traffic.

If you are on the faster Highway #19 freeway, follow it north to exit 117, signed as "Cumberland Courtenay Comox." At the foot of the exit off ramp bear right onto Comox Valley Parkway. Follow the parkway through the lights at Cumberland road and continue approximately 7 km (4.5 miles) to Courtenay. You'll pass a several gravel pits along the way. Once you reach Courtenay, turn left at the T junction and traffic light onto Cliffe Avenue.

Cliffe is also Highway 19A. You will wind up feeding right onto Cliffe if you choose to take the slower Oceanside Highway 19A route into Courtenay. You'll follow 19A for most of the remainder of your trip to The Alders.

Travel through Courtenay by continuing along Cliffe. On your left hand side you'll pass Driftwood Mall and a number of stores. This is a good place to stop if you're looking for groceries or a sand pail.

Continue to follow the signs for 19A by turning right onto 17th street and crossing the swing bridge over the Puntledge river. Once you're over the bridge turn left, following the signs labelled "Campbell River & Port Hardy." Continue to follow these signs through town, past the large green supermarket, bearing right at the sign for Campbell River. Do not follow the signs for Comox.

Once through Courtenay, climb the short hill out of town, past the small church and continue along the "oceanside route." Continue north to the village of Merville. Merville is approximately 12 km (7.5 miles) north of Courtenay on highway #19A. When you see the Merville Esso station and General Store on the left, continue another 1.6 km (1 mile) along the highway and then take your first right turn onto Williams Beach Road.

The Alders Beach Resort is approximately 6 km (3.7 miles) down Williams Beach Road. The road forks at one point - stay to your left.. and in a few bends and turns of the road you'll be at the oceanside. Welcome to The Alders!

BC Highways
Highways of Southern BC

By Ferry
There is frequent ferry service on BC Ferries from the British Columbia mainland to Victoria or Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Nanaimo is further north than Victoria, and therefore closer to The Alders, but many of our guests choose to spend a day or two in BC's capital city of Victoria before heading up to the resort.

Ferries run from Tsawwassen (south of Vancouver) to both Swartz Bay (Victoria) and Duke Point (Nanaimo), as well as from Horseshoe Bay (north of Vancouver) to Departure Bay (Nanaimo). Crossing time from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay is 1 hour 35 minutes, from Tsawwassen to Duke Point is 2 hours and from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay is 1 hour 35 minutes.

An alternate (and spectacularly beautiful) route is to head north from Vancouver and take a series of short ferries along Highway #101 on the Sunshine Coast from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale, Earls Cove to Saltery Bay and finally Powell River ferry to Comox. Comox is immediately adjacent to Courtenay and you will be able to follow the driving instructions above from Courtenay to The Alders.

BC Ferries
The BC Ferries website has information on routes, rates and reservations
http://www.bcferries.bc.ca
Phone: (+1) 250.386.3431
or 1.888.223.3779 (toll-free in BC)

By Air
Numerous direct flights from the Vancouver International Airport land daily at the Comox Valley Regional Airport (YQQ) in Comox.

Pacific Coastal
http://www.pacific-coastal.com/
Phone:1.800.663.2872

WestJet Airlines flies direct to Comox from Calgary, AB, with connections to other WestJet serviced airports out of Calgary.

WestJet Airlines
http://www.westjet.com/home.html
Phone: 1.888.937.8538 or 1.800.538.5696

Small aircraft and floatplanes can land at the Courtenay Airpark near downtown Courtenay. Call 250.338.8545 for information.

By Boat
The newly expanded Comox Marina has every service nearby, including transient moorage, hot showers, laundry facilities, pubs, restaurants, shopping, marine repair, supplies and service.

Comox Valley Harbour Authority
http://www.comoxfishermanswharf.com/
Phone: (+1) 250.339.6041

Black Fin Marina
Phone: (+1) 250.339.4664

By Bus
Daily coach bus service offers quick and affordable transport from Vancouver and throughout the Island.

Locally there is bus service in the 3 municipalities of Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland. HandyDart buses are available for people with disabilities.

Island Coach Lines (Laidlaw)
Phone: (+1) 250.385.4411
or 1.800.318.0818 (toll-free)

Comox Valley Transit System
Phone: (+1) 250.339.5453

By Train
Courtenay is the northern terminus of the E & N Railway (VIA Rail) with daily service from Victoria.

E & N Railway (VIA Rail)
http://www.viarail.ca
Phone: 1.800.561.8630 (toll-free in Canada),
1.800.561.3949 (toll-free in USA),
or (+1) 506.857.9830 (call collect except in Canada)

From Seattle
If you are coming from the Seattle area, you can choose between driving through the Canada/USA border and taking the ferry from the BC mainland to Vancouver Island as described above, or taking a ferry straight from WA to Victoria or Sidney, Vancouver Island, BC. Once in Victoria or Sidney, you can drive north to Nanaimo on Highway #1, then continue north from Nanaimo to Merville as described above.

Washington State Ferries takes passenger vehicles from Anacortes on Fidalgo Island in the San Juan Islands, WA to Sidney (just north of Victoria), Vancouver Island, BC. Fidalgo Island is located about 80 miles north of Seattle; take the I-5 Freeway north to Skagit Valley, then take exit 230 (Highway 20) and follow the signs to Anacortes, about 15 miles.

Washington State Ferries
Schedule for Anacortes, WA / Sidney, BC (Victoria)
Phone: 206.464.6400 (Seattle area), or 1.888.808.7977

Black Ball Transport operates the M.V. Coho passenger vehicle ferry between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria, BC. The crossing time is 95 minutes. Port Angeles is northwest of Seattle: take Interstate 5 south to the Bremerton Exit (highway 16 North) through Bremerton; past Bremerton take highway 3 to 104 to 101 around Sequim. Port Angeles is 15 miles west of Sequim on highway 101.

Black Ball Transport
http://www.northolympic.com/coho/
Phone: 360.457.4491

Alternatively, there are scheduled flights from Seattle-Tacoma Airport, via Vancouver, and direct flights from Lake Union (Seattle Area) with Kenmore Air.