Highway 19A is a wonderfully picturesque drive all the way along. It provides a much more interesting road-tripping experience than flat, forested Highway 19.

But if you don't have the time to explore the entire route (2 hours 30 minutes without stops), then I would recommend choosing a couple of sections instead.

The drive from Buckley Bay to Courtenay is relatively short and well-connected to Highway 19, so you won’t need to make a major detour.

The first part of the journey offers stunning, unobstructed ocean views across to Denman Island and Jáji7em (Sandy Island). If you'd like to take in the scenery up close, there’s a pull-out at the Union Bay boat launch for a better view.