Bending Nature

A Last Airbender Tour of MEtro Vancouver

“Time is a funny thing. The past, the future — it all gets mixed up. There’s only one way to keep it straight. It’s by remembering what really matters.” Avatar Gyatso’s wisdom echoes through British Columbia’s misty forests and rolling farmlands, where Netflix’s adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender came to life. This guide weaves together filming locations with local treasures, creating an adventure worthy of Team Avatar themselves.

Just as Avatar Aang learned to master the elements while respecting their power, visitors to these filming locations have the opportunity to experience movie magic while honoring the natural and cultural significance of these spaces. Each site offers its own lesson in balance – between preservation and progress, between fan enthusiasm and community respect, between capturing memories and living in the moment.

Practical Considerations

Transportation: While public transit reaches some locations, a car allows fuller exploration of these spaces. The Ucluelet portion requires a BC Ferries crossing to Vancouver Island – book ahead during peak season and arrive early to enjoy the scenic journey across the Salish Sea.

Timing: Weekday visits mean smaller crowds. Spring and fall offer dramatic lighting and comfortable temperatures for exploration.

Respect: These locations balance film tourism with working farms, conservation areas, and community spaces. Follow posted guidelines, pack out what you pack in, and remember that many sites require advance booking.

Day 1: Where Spirit Meets Earth – Diverse Terrain across Surrey & Langley

Dawn at the Stronghold

A Rocha BC Centre transforms in the morning light, its 18 acres of conservation land revealing why producers chose this location for Commander Zhao’s Pohuai Stronghold. Morning fog often clings to the ground, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that mirrors the show’s mystical elements. The center’s winding trails invite quiet exploration – listen for the chorus of native birds that begin their songs at daybreak. The onsite Farm Store café, which is open during busy seasons, serves locally sourced breakfast featuring seasonal ingredients from their own gardens. Try their warm, baked goods with fresh berries – it’s the kind of wholesome start Katara would approve of.

Hidden Gem: Along the property, you’ll find several organic gardens where local plants attract butterflies and hummingbirds, providing a peaceful setting to channel your inner airbender as you plan your day ahead.

Local Flavor: After exploring, head to Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club’s West Coast Bistro for lunch. Their patio offers views of mist-covered mountains that could easily be mistaken for the Patola Mountain Range. Their locally-sourced salmon burger pays homage to regional fishing traditions.

Spirit World Wanderings

“We’re never really ready until we have to be,” Katara’s words feel particularly relevant at Panther Paintball, where Episode 5’s Spirit World scenes were filmed. The 57-acre property’s supernatural cabin and apocalyptic dunes create surreal backdrops that perfectly captured the show’s mystical realm. While paintball matches now fill the space with energy, quiet moments between games reveal why its diverse landscape spoke to the creators.

Afternoon in Senlin

The Farm on 264, where the town of Senlin scenes were filmed, sits beside the tranquil Jackman Wetlands. While the set pieces have long since departed, the property’s 24 acres retain a cinematic quality. The wetlands themselves offer excellent bird watching – bring binoculars to spot herons and eagles that would make any Air Nomad proud. Photographers should watch for late afternoon light filtering through the trees, creating the same golden glow seen in Zuko and Iroh’s scenes.

Indigenous Connection: The wetlands sit on traditional Coast Salish territory. Local indigenous communities have long considered these waters sacred, much like the spiritual waters in Avatar’s world. Practice respectful photography and avoid disturbing wildlife.

Dinner tip: End your day at Roots and Wings distillery, where locally distilled spirits meet farm-fresh ingredients. Their tasting room features copper stills that could fit right into a Fire Nation setting.

Evening at the Caves

“If not us, then who?” Teo’s question resonates at MacInnes Farm, where the cave system from Episode 3 creates a dramatic sunset viewing spot. This 100-acre working farm balances film industry needs with agricultural traditions, much like the show’s themes of harmony between progress and nature. Their guided tours from January to June reveal both the impressive Jamestown set and working orchards.

Day 2: A Day aMong the trees – Following the Avatar’s Path to Burnaby & Maple Ridge

Morning Meditation

Robert Burnaby Park, where Aang’s spiritual encounter with Avatar Kyoshi was filmed, feels most magical in morning light. The 48-hectare space in Burnaby offers numerous trails, but the eastern path leads to the exact spot where this pivotal scene was captured. The park’s dense canopy creates a natural cathedral effect, with light filtering through leaves in a way that recalls the show’s spirit world sequences.

Local Breakfast: Grab morning fuel at Hiel Cafe where their fluffy soufflé pancakes are as light as an airbender’s breeze and pair perfectly with freshly brewed coffee.

The Nature House serves as an interpretive center where local naturalists share knowledge about living pond creatures, real specimens, and a beaver-chewed stump, as well as local wildlife. There is also a butterfly garden and viewing tower where you’ll find hummingbirds, native bees, and a birds-eye view of Burnaby Lake.

Burnaby Lake: The Water Tribe’s Serenity

Burnaby Lake Regional Park stretches along 10 kilometres of interconnected trails that mirror the flowing, adaptive nature of waterbending. The lake’s marshy areas and diverse ecosystems demonstrate the power of water to create and sustain life.

The Piper Spit area offers excellent opportunities to observe how water interacts with land, creating a constantly changing shoreline that waterbenders understand intimately. Early morning mist over the lake creates a calm atmosphere for runners and early risers.

Metrotown: The Convergence of Elements

Conclude your extended Burnaby journey at Metrotown, where the towering Crystal Mall and Metropolis at Metrotown create an urban landscape that demonstrates how the four elements can coexist in modern society.

Hidden Gem Discovery: Cafe 106, situated just steps away from Metropolis at Metrotown, offers an intimate local coffee experience that feels like discovering a secret spot. This small corner cafe embodies the kind of unassuming community gathering place where meaningful conversations happen over carefully crafted beverages.

Day 3: A Day aMong the trees – Following the Avatar’s Path to Maple Ridge

Hidden Gem: Before leaving Maple Ridge, visit the charming Gratia café, housed in a converted heritage building. Their house-made pastries and locally roasted coffee create perfect afternoon refreshments.

Afternoon Among the Trees

A 30-minute drive takes you to WildPlay Maple Ridge, which transformed into Jet’s treetop base and now offers visitors their own chance to soar through the canopy. The high ropes courses and ziplines provide unique perspectives on the Pacific wilderness. Listen for the wind through western red cedars – it sounds remarkably similar to the whoosh of airbending in the show.

Ready to start your adventure?