BARKERVILLE SHUTTLE’S MAIDEN VOYAGE BRINGS QUESNEL CLOSER TO THE QUEEN
This May long weekend, visitors to BC’s Gold Rush Town travelling from Quesnel will have a fun new way to experience the 80 km trek along the famed “Cariboo Waggon Road,” thanks to the efforts of Gold Pan City’s newest passenger service provider – West Coast Nature Tours.
West Coast Nature Tours, a successful Lower Mainland transportation company owned and operated by Maike Koch, has recently relocated to the Cariboo and will provide a special Barkerville Shuttle service daily from Quesnel to Barkerville Historic Town and Bowron Lake Provincial Park during the 2011 summer and shoulder seasons. The Barkerville Shuttle service started May 14th and will run until September 25th.
“A dedicated shuttle service from Quesnel to Barkerville is something we’ve been hoping to see for some time now,” said James Douglas, Barkerville’s Manager of Visitor Experiences. “With the price of gas ever rising, and vehicle maintenance to consider, a return trip into the goldfields can feel cost-prohibitive for our local guests, many of whom like to visit more than once a season.”
“With this new Barkerville Shuttle service, travel costs for individuals coming from Quesnel can be considerably lowered,” Douglas said.
The Barkerville Shuttle, which requires a 24-hour reservation in advance of travel, departs daily from four easily accessible Quesnel locations – the Quesnel
Visitor Centre, Safeway, the Quesnel Airport, and the new Barlow Creek Inn on Highway 26. Pick-up begins at 8:00 a.m. for a 9:30 a.m. arrival at Barkerville, and leaves for Quesnel again at 4:30 p.m. for a 6:00 p.m. drop-off. Additional departure times will be offered throughout the summer as needed, and alternate schedules for group bookings will be available.
Special evening “dinner theatre” packages will also be offered on weekends throughout July and August, when the Theatre Royal begins its much anticipated Evening of British Music Hall series for the 2011 season. Updated travel information can always be found at www.barkerville-shuttle.com.
“We brought West Coast Nature Tours to the Cariboo because we love the area we live in and we want to showcase all that it has to offer,” said tour operator Maike Koch. “Our focus is on small groups and we hope to provide our clients with an unforgettable experience.”
“All of our guides are local residents, and are very knowledgeable about the area,” added Koch. “And as an added benefit – most of our guides speak German.”
Speaking German may come in handy on Monday, May 23rd, when Barkerville hosts its 6thannual Victoria Day Royal Tea Party at the world-famous Wake Up Jake Restaurant. “Queen Victoria” and “Prince Albert” who will be in attendance for several sittings during this popular, historically interpretive event, both spoke German fluently.
“For the May long weekend, Saturday to Monday, our Barkerville Shuttle will offer special Royal Tea travel discounts,” said Koch. “So be sure to quote ‘VictoriaDaySpecial’ when booking online or over the phone.”
For more information about this truly adventurous transportation option, visit www.barkerville.ca.
