Side by side · Fishing Lodges

Newton Cove Resort vs Steep Island Lodge

Two fishing lodges side by side from their own published tariffs: Newton Cove Resort from $6,079, Steep Island Lodge from $545 per person, with seasons, what is and is not in the price, deposit and cancellation terms, and the transfer from the gateway.

How this page is made. Every figure is from the two operators' own published tariffs and booking pages, as recorded in their Ledgers, last read 14 September 2026. The sentences under "Which one" are rules over those figures, not opinion; where an operator publishes nothing, the row says so and the rule stays quiet. Ben has stayed at both.

Newton Cove Resort floating in Esperanza Inlet at sunset

Nootka Sound Newton Cove Resort

The lodge at Steep Island lit from within at dusk, its deck and boardwalk running along the bluff above Discovery Passage

Discovery Islands Steep Island Lodge

The record

Side by side

Fact	Newton Cove Resort	Steep Island Lodge
From, per person	From $6,079 per person for 3 nights (Fully guided), Summer season (July to September), 2026 tariff	From $545 per person per night on a 1-night minimum, 2026 tariff
Per night	about $2,026 per person per night, the Fully guided rate divided by its 3 nights	$545 per person, the printed nightly rate
All in, with tax	about $6,383 per person for the shortest stay, with GST at 5%	about $572 per person for the shortest stay, with GST at 5%
Stays sold	2 packages of 3 or 4 nights	By the night, 1 to 7 nights
Priced for	Double, two to a boat; Quad, four to a boat	Double; Single; Triple; Child, 12 and under
Season	Summer season, July to September	Not published; salmon fishing in Discovery Passage runs roughly May to September
In the price	A private suite for two with a private washroom, two twins or a king, with plush robes, rainfall showers and deluxe linens Hot breakfast, an artisan boxed lunch, fireside appetisers with select beer and wine, a four-course dinner with select beer and wine, and a 24-hour snack bar 30 hours of guided fishing on a 32-foot North River with a certified guide: two half days and two full days on the 3-night package, three full days on the 4-night Gear, tackle, a boxed lunch aboard, and rain gear if the weather turns Provincially regulated fish processing: filleted, vacuum-packed, flash-frozen and boxed for your departure day Daily housekeeping The guide-boat transfer from Moutcha Bay Resort The Anglers Academy, at no extra charge on any guided boat Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, the guest lounge, pool and poker tables	Transport to and from Campbell River: the shuttle from Campbell River Airport and the water taxi to the island A suite in one of the cedar cabins, each with a private ocean view and a wood stove Breakfast, lunch, dinner and appetizers The exercise room, the games room with pool and shuffleboard, and the large-screen TV in the lounge On a fishing day: guide and boat, all fishing gear, rain gear and floater coats, a picnic lunch and snacks, and your catch cleaned and boxed
Not in the price	GST at 5% on everything, and PST at 8% on the accommodation share, which the resort does not break out A tidal waters fishing licence with the salmon conservation stamp, bought before you arrive Gratuities: the resort suggests $70 to $100 per guest per day for the guide and 20% of your stay for the shore staff Drinks beyond the select beer and wine at appetisers and dinner Getting to Moutcha Bay Resort, or a seaplane to the dock (the 2025 sheet bundled Seattle flights for about $2,100 more per person; the 2026 sheet gives the schedule without a price) The albacore tuna surcharge on a guided day, when conditions allow in late August and September The single-occupancy upgrade, available but not priced	Applicable taxes Alcohol Gratuities Fishing: $190 an hour per boat on an 8-hour tide, one to four anglers to a boat Fishing licences Extra fish processing: vacuum sealing, smoking and canning, available on request Diving and eco tours, priced on request; a fuel surcharge may apply to eco tours Getting to Campbell River
Deposit	10% of the booking when you reserve, charged to the card on file	Not published. The lodge books by email and phone and does not print a deposit on its site; ask when you enquire.
If you cancel	More than 90 days before arrival: 10% of the booking; the rest refunded 90 days or fewer before arrival: full payment forfeited	Not published
Getting there	Boat from Gold River (Moutcha Bay Resort, where you park; the resort takes guided guests on by guide boat): an hour by road from Gold River to Moutcha Bay, then a guide boat to Esperanza Inlet, or Air Nootka from Gold River to the dock, in the price. Timing partly our estimate.	Water taxi from Campbell River (Campbell River Airport, or the Discovery Marina dock if you drive): an airport shuttle and a 10-minute boat ride, in the price.
Sleeps	24 guests	22 guests
Region	Nootka Sound, British Columbia	Discovery Islands, British Columbia
Source	2026 tariff, read 14 September 2026	2026 tariff, read 14 September 2026

"From" is the lowest adult double rate in the newest tariff, per person for the shortest stay sold; the all-in line adds the tax the calculator adds. Anything marked "our estimate" is ours, not the operator's.

Which one

What the record says

The two are not priced the same way, Newton Cove Resort is priced as a package (Fully guided, 3 nights) and Steep Island Lodge priced by the night, so the fair comparison is per night: about $545 per person at Steep Island Lodge against about $2,026 at Newton Cove Resort, both before tax.

Newton Cove Resort prints its season, July to September; Steep Island Lodge does not publish its dates, so ask before comparing.

Newton Cove Resort lists more in the price, 9 items to 5; both lists are in the table.

Steep Island Lodge is the quicker to reach: an airport shuttle and a 10-minute boat ride from Campbell River. Newton Cove Resort is an hour by road from Gold River to Moutcha Bay, then a guide boat to Esperanza Inlet, or Air Nootka from Gold River to the dock (the timings are partly our estimate).

Steep Island Lodge is the smaller place, 22 guests to 24.

Which of those matters is yours to weigh; the pages behind each place have the rest, and the calculators price a stay for your own party.

Newton Cove Resort
The record and the Ledger What a trip costs, all in Request availability
Steep Island Lodge
The record and the Ledger What a trip costs, all in Request availability

From the Journal

A story that covers both

From the Journal How to choose a fishing lodge in Canada Read the story

Answered from the record

Which is cheaper, Newton Cove Resort or Steep Island Lodge?

What is included at Newton Cove Resort and at Steep Island Lodge?

Newton Cove Resort lists 9 things in the price, starting with a private suite for two with a private washroom and hot breakfast, an artisan boxed lunch. Steep Island Lodge lists 5, starting with transport to and from Campbell River and a suite in one of the cedar cabins. The full lists, and what each leaves out, are in the table on this page.

How do you get to Newton Cove Resort and to Steep Island Lodge?

Newton Cove Resort: Boat from Gold River (Moutcha Bay Resort, where you park; the resort takes guided guests on by guide boat): an hour by road from Gold River to Moutcha Bay, then a guide boat to Esperanza Inlet, or Air Nootka from Gold River to the dock, in the price. Timing partly our estimate. Steep Island Lodge: Water taxi from Campbell River (Campbell River Airport, or the Discovery Marina dock if you drive): an airport shuttle and a 10-minute boat ride, in the price.