This summer Tourism Nova Scotia, through our partnership with Google Canada, was granted use of one of two Google Trekker backpacks available in Canada. Operating similarly to the Google car, the backpack allows users to capture places that the Google car can’t such as hiking trails, beaches, vineyards, etc.
With the help of our two staff trekkers – Caitlin from the Amherst Visitor Information Centre and Aonghus from the Peggy’s Cove Visitor Information Centre – the 50lb trekker backpack made its way around Nova Scotia and captured amazing footage. From walking all 18 holes at Highlands Links Golf Course in Ingonish Beach and riding the Halifax Metro ferry between Halifax and Dartmouth to walking along The Hawk Beach in Cape Sable Island and tackling all 235 steps (twice!) at Balancing Rock, we successfully trekked over 60 sites across the province. Weather played a factor in our treks as the trekker required full sunshine for optimal results.
Once Google has received the data captured by the trekker backpack, they will begin working on piecing together the footage from each trek and within 6 – 12 months, we will see the treks appear on Google Street View.
Parks Canada has been busy trekking as well and most National Parks and National Historic Sites across Canada can already be viewed on Google Street View map. In Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site you can virtually trek the many wooded trails while at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site you can virtually walk the paths and roadways within the walls of the fortress.
It is an amazing technology and a wonderful way in which visitors can explore our beautiful province before, during and after their Nova Scotia travels.