As the daughter of a man who helped build many of BC Parks’ iconic campgrounds on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Interior of B.C., I’ve spent a lot of time in these beautiful places.
When I was tiny, my family even lived in a few that were under construction. Over the decades I’ve continued to camp whenever possible in these generously spaced, well-treed campgrounds, famously featuring hefty wooden picnic tables. They remain relatively affordable and rustic, even though some now offer mod cons like showers.
But I’m a newcomer to the world of private campgrounds – particularly the high-end, $150-a-night kind – which I experienced in the week leading up to and over the May long weekend near Tofino on the westernmost edge of Vancouver Island. Originally we wanted to camp at Green Point, the sole federal government campground adjacent to spectacular Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. So does everyone else on the planet.
Reservations for it opened on Jan. 19, filled up in about a day and cancellations are rare. Instead, we inflated our budget and booked at privately owned Surf Grove Campground.
From April to June, its rates vary from $70 to $150 a night, increasing slightly on holiday weekends, says general manager Brandon Manzardo. Summer rates range from $129 to $189, depending on the site and what services are needed (power vs. power/water/sewer).
From October to March, sites cost between $40 to $70 a night. When we arrived, we found Surf.