Heading north on Highway 19 you will pass fewer and fewer communities and just when you think you’re about to tumble off the tip of the island, you will reach the lovely little settlements of Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill and Port Hardy. Telegraph Cove is a good base from which to explore some First Nations heritage at nearby Alert Bay as well as enjoy some whale watching in the Johnstone Strait. Nearby Port Hardy is where the Inside Passage ferry departs from/arrives in to and there is also a small airport here connecting this remote area to larger towns and cities. Across the water the forested mainland provides the perfect habitat for grizzly bears and, as with Campbell River, this is a good place to go bear spotting. Indeed Great Bear Lodge is nestled amongst the waterways and a stay here is a fantastic experience for those wishing to spend a little more time observing the wildlife.