RIGHT ROYAL TOUR

ZIPLINING, WHALE WATCHING AND FORGED AXE THROWING – IT’S ALL PART OF A LUXURY TRIP THROUGH CANADA

If Canada is on your bucket list, and you only have a week or so, this is the way to do it.

The offer of an amazing luxurious trip to Canada flying signature class on Air Canada was simply too good to turn down.

Add to that the fact we were staying at Fairmont Hotels all the way and you could see that it was an easy decision.

The trip started in supreme comfort and followed that theme for the entire sojourn. Spending the night at the Pullman Hotel near Brisbane airport was an ideal way to start this trip of a lifetime.

So, wonderfully rested, our group meandered through duty free shopping before a leisurely breakfast at Air New Zealand lounge – an affiliate of the Air Canada signature class. And turning left (into business class) when we boarded the Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner was the start of a luxury trip. Being waited on hand and foot was easy to get used to.

Vancouver was 14 hours away but who cared, I had my pod, dozens of movies, adjustable seat (lie down, adjust the firmness of the mattress or set to massage). What more did I need? Oh yes, there was the wide selection of wines and the gourmet meals. If I wasn’t in heaven, I was close.

WHISTLER

Arriving in Vancouver nicely rested we were whisked through customs and onto our bus for the trip to Whistler.

Driving through Vancouver it was easy to be impressed by the stunningly green and leafy major city.

Bursts of amazing rhododendrons had me reaching for my camera immediately.

The trip to Whistler is a beautiful scenic drive, with much of it featuring water views. We were being hosted at Fairmont hotels the entire trip and it was no hardship to check in at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

It was mid-May and Whistler was a green paradise and a feast for the eyes. Naturally I came prepared for freezing conditions.

It was 26 degrees and the sun was out. I had one pair of shorts and a T-shirt and a bag full of jumpers and warm gear. Sigh.

I was flagging a bit but a trip to Scandinave Spa was the pick-me-up I needed.

Set in snowy spruce and cedar forest, the 1850sq m outdoor day spa is a Nordic oasis of calm in the heart of nature. A couple of hours of this and I was ready for dinner at Sushi Village and then early bed. It was a big day coming up.

We kicked off with a huge breakfast that set us up for a full day.

First was a visit to the train wreck – a site where a train derailed in the 1950s and rather than wreck the forest, the damaged cars were left in place and are now the palette for graffiti and public artists.

That was followed by forged axe throwing (who thinks of that?).

There were all sorts of axes and it seems a big thing in Whistler. It may come in handy on my next camping trip.

After that we geared up for the highlight of the Whistler stay – ziplining. To say I was just a tiny bit apprehensive might be understating it. Four ziplines go between two mountains.

Zooming along at 90km/h was a huge adrenaline rush. I’m pretty sure I didn’t scream out loud. It’s a must-do.

Somewhat shaken and relieved to be in one piece, I was ready for dinner and gobsmacked by the meal.

The food on the entire trip was amazing. The Fairmont group know what they are doing when they hire chefs. The gin and tomato soup was heavenly – another must do. Bed and off to Victoria in the morning.

VICTORIA

If there is a more spectacular way to enter a city than by floatplane I haven’t found it.

The trip from Whistler via Harbour Air floatplane was stunning – flying over snow-capped mountains to landing on