Head out on the many hiking trails and you will find waterfalls, colourful wildflowers and 600 year old Douglas fir trees. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. It has a green color that is so deep and vibrant its hard to believe that youre not standing on a tropical island. However, there are ropes in those locations to help you out in those specific spots. This small town is located in the northern region of Vancouver Island. This is ideal for those who are looking to do lots of hiking, camping, canoeing, or spending lots of time outdoors in general. Oh yes! A neat thing we saw was a nurse log, which is a fallen tree that provides nutrients to other seedlings as it decomposes. This trip includes stops in Victoria, Sooke, Port Renfrew, Lake Cowichan and Duncan. It depends on your preferences but you will need around 3500 - 6200 CAD for a couple for two weeks (not including attractions). Tofinos landscapes sure are pretty, but its culinary scene will also blow you out of the water. We recommend using RentalCars.com to rent cars around the world because they allow you to compare prices and reviews across all the available companies at locations worldwide. The Empress and the Parliament are conveniently located around the perimeter of the downtown harbour and Craigdarroch Castle is just a leisurely walk or short drive away. Drive all the way to the south end of Ucluelet to the trailhead for the Wild Pacific Trail, which was the highlight of Ucluelet for us. We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get! Here's how my Vancouver Island road trip panned out. Grab your rental car at the airport, and make the short drive to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to catch the ferry to Salt Spring Island. WITHOUT ME ASKING. It offers several scenic coastal trails to choose from with the most famous one being the East Sooke Coast Trail. If you have 7 days or more for your Vancouver Island road trip, then you can get up into the most remote and less visited areas of the North Island around Port Hardy, Port McNeill and Telegraph Cove. Thanks for joining and hope you stick around. Sure, it does feature everything from artisan food items like donuts and ice creams to international restaurants, home products, and artworks. Its only 16 km away from downtown Victoria and is surrounded by temperate rainforest. If you are willing to try a road trip in a campervan you might save even more money. One of the places you have to see in the area is the beautiful Fairmont Empress, one of the oldest hotels in Canada. Vancouver Island is not connected to the mainland by any bridges, so you can either take the seaplane or the ferry. 5 to 7 Days / 500 km (311 mi) Relax and rejuvenate along this coastal road trip from Victoria to Port Hardy. Nanaimo and Tofino are a three-hour drive away from each other. Another cool place to check out is Cape Scott Provincial Park, which offers excellent camping opportunities. Its a little ways off the highway, and Alysha loved it. Long Beach Lodge(Cox Bay) This lovely resort is no doubt on the pricier side, but it does have all the luxury amenities. Its recommended to make reservations for your ferry trip on this route. If you have children who love looking at bugs, insects, and arachnids, head to the Victoria Bug Zoo. If you are traveling during the peak season from June to September, I highly recommend reserving your ferry spots in advance at BCFerries.com. Overview. Can You Drive All Around Vancouver Island? And Greenrock Liquor was one of my favorite liquor stores on the trip, with a huge selection of cider, wine, and beer (though I cant drink that). Either way. There are two major ferry terminals in Vancouver from where the ferries leave: Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen. While I think the other seasons here have their own beauty and charm, I would recommend visiting the island in the summer if this is your first time here. Originated in Nanaimo (hence the name) is a layered treat with a smooth chocolate layer on top, butter and custard powder mixed in the middle, and crushed graham crackers and nuts mixed with chocolate at the bottom. At the Shoreline Tofino, youll find Instagram-ready A-frame cabins tucked away from the hustle and bustle (not that there is much to begin with) of Tofino. Vancouver-Calgary Road Trip Route 3: The Middle Way. Banff has it all, and then some. Its surrounded by trees, right on the ocean with direct access to gorgeous MacKenzie Beach. Since most people do not normally get that much time off from work or school, I feel like this 8 day itinerary is perfect! Its totally walkable to downtown. Be there an hour early. Fringed by the Pacific Ocean and backed by the coastal mountains, Vancouver is one of the world's most livable cities with some of North America's best cuisine, rich indigenous heritage, and opportunities for outdoor activities. Abundant with natural wonders, bustling cities and quirky roadside towns, Vancouver Island offers a diverse range of road trips guaranteed to tick items off your bucket-list while creating memories that will last a lifetime. Taking the ferry with a vehicle is costly and requires a reservation. Fan Tan Alleys location is in Chinatown. Follow the route below, which includes optional . Dont miss our other Canada posts to help you plan the perfect Canadian adventure. Coastal rainforests. Thats exactly what we did, and I think this is the easiest route. The water of the Taylor River here is stunning! Day 2: Mount Cook - hike Sealy Tarns or Hooker Valley Track. This may sound dumb, but in order to do this road trip, youre going to need a car. Enjoy ten days exploring the diverse landscape and culture of beautiful Vancouver Island. Cox Bay Beach Resort is in an excellent location in Tofino. I highly recommend doing the 2 km main loop if it is your first time here. Now, let's get into the meat of the article! There are lots of cars renting agencies in Victoria, as well as Nanaimo. If youre looking for something a bit more upscale, make a reservation for Wolf in the Fog, or head to SoBo (AND ORDER THE CHOWDER). Regard has some of the best coffee on Vancouver Island and is worth the stop for coffee lovers. You have to climb steel ladders, wade through mud, cross raging rivers on hand-carts, and endure the unpredictable west coast weather. Its a pretty cool experience that will leave an impression. There are many hot spots, including Chinatown, Parliament Building, The Empress Hotel and Fishermans Wharf. The Botanical Beach and Botany Bay Loop. Take a stroll around the 200-acre Victorian Beacon Hill Park near the edge of Victoria. To get from Van couver to Victoria, you head down to Delta and take the Tsawwassen Ferry to Swartz Bay. Do some stargazing. My favourite treat was the Root Beer ice cream! Surfing, seafood, wildlife viewing tours, hiking and more is all at your fingertips! This charming cluster of floating houses is a must-visit for anyone looking to fully experience Victoria. If you have 10 days on Vancouver Island, Id add a day in Victoria, a day in Sooke, and a day in Port Renfrew. Some of my favorite moments in Tofino took place on the shores of Tofinos beaches, whether it was to surf, play beach volleyball, have a picnic, or watch the stunning sunset. Also to mention temperatures during those months are more moderate and comfortable. Here are some great choices in Victoria that caught my eye. Its also the perfect spot for families. With lush rainforests all around and epic mountain ranges in the backdrop, Port Hardy is breathtakingly beautiful. Anyway, they have a tasting room up in Saanichton (open 11am-4pm) where you can enjoy a flight of their craft ciders in a tasting room overlooking their apple orchard. Conclusion: 7-Day Vancouver Island Road Trip Itinerary. Highly recommend it you get to walk around the orchard at sunset after everyone else has gone home, and we saw a bear! The trail is quite easy and should only take you an hour or so. Many thanks for taking the time to post your itinerary. Next, head to the Sooke Potholes along the Sooke River to cool off in its cold water. Theres a small path on the left that leads to Eden Grove Falls, which also features a very pretty and secluded swimming hole. Starting off your trip on Salt Spring Island is a treat! Most visitors spend anywhere from 3 to 7 days exploring the island. For lunch, head to Salt Spring Island Wild Cider and get a flight of their incredible dry ciders alongside some farm-style tapas (the whole menu was gluten free when we were there). It is truly a sight to behold. It was once a shortcut to the citys waterline; however, now its a fantastic small waterfall for tourists to experience. Savouring the calm, natural beauty of this picturesque park was the perfect way to end our memorable 7 day Vancouver Island road trip. Drink cider at Salt Spring Island Wild Cider. For more travel tips, check out all my Canada travel guides: 17 Epic Things to do in Nova Scotia. Its not my favorite city in the world, which is why Ive only given it a day on this itinerary. Its a stunning walk full of green the moss hanging from the tree branches, the ferns sprouting between trees, and the trees themselves, which youll have to crane your neck to see. Another rest stop along the way is Port Alberni. If youre not planning on doing any exploring in Vancouver, this is the best option, and is exactly what we did coming from San Francisco. Book your stay at Best Western Northgate here! It helped that Vancouver Island is such a romantic and relaxing place to be. Its short, but its straight up. So if you only have a week on this beautiful island, where should you go and what should you do? Adventure Tours. Cathedral Grove is most definitely a special place. While you have hit many of the islands highlights, there are so many other amazing places that arent on this road trip itinerary. This spectacle was the most unique firework show we have ever seen! Go on a whale watching, hot spring or bear spotting tour if you can! Here is the overview of this road trip (dont worry, PLENTY of details below): Day 1: Arrive in Victoria and head to Salt Spring IslandDay 2: Road trip to TofinoDay 3: Exploring the Tofino highlightsDay 4: Day trip to beautiful UclueletDay 5: More Tofino, featuring wildlife, water taxis, and hikesDay 6: Tofino to Victoria road tripDay 7: Victoria and tears at the airport. This is arguably the most beautiful beach in the area, and its hidden from most visitors too! In this post, I have put together an epic 8 day Vancouver Island road trip itinerary to inspire you. It was quite something not ideal hiking weather, to say the least. If youve got a few more days, its worth looking into adding some time up there. Required fields are marked *. The Great Canadian Bucket List already features snorkelling with salmon, spending the night in a 70's themed hotel, surfing the endless beaches of Tofino, the lovely Butchart Gardens, and diving sunken battleships off the coast of Nanaimo. Now, sadly, its time to head to the airport and catch your flight home, bringing your trip to Vancouver Island to an end. If you can, catch the 7am ferry to get a nice early start, otherwise the 11am will do. Measuring at 44 m high and 187, the Kinsol Trestle is one of the largest wooden railway crossing structures in the entire world. And well finish our stay here with a nice dinner at one of their many amazing restaurants too! Explore The Pacific Marine Circle Route . It was a cool experience, and they offer tours in the early morning and late afternoon, which are the best time to catch the bears close to the water. For even more surfing opportunities, picnic spots, and rainforest trails, consider stopping at Sombrio Beach. We spent the past two years traveling, which included 18 national parks here in the United States, and an extended trip to Europe. In this section, I will share two more sample itineraries to inspire you. Check out my detailed guide on what to pack for a day hike here. Youll be starting your road trip from Victoria more specifically, Salt Spring Island, which is a short ferry ride from Victoria. Ask yourself, how much time do you want to devote to your Vancouver Island road trip? You can find the same listing here: Oceanview Downtown Condo! We spent a lot of our time on The Island (as us Western Canadians call it) since it has a little bit of everything- great beaches, whimsical towns, gorgeous provincial parks, and romantic gardens. If you need the perfect little Vancouver itinerary for one week or 7 days, then this guide is for you! For your first stop, head right to the pretty downtown area of Victoria and visit the Inner Habour. Read More 16 of the Best Airbnbs on Vancouver IslandContinue, Hi, Rocky peaks. Day 1: Arrive in Vancouver Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver. This is the perfect base for those who are looking for epic outdoor adventures. Alyshas favorite thing to do in the whole wide world is visit lavender farms and frolic amongst the beautiful purple blooms. However, I would not recommend biking around Vancouver Island unless you are prepared and qualified for a long bike ride. Discover what all the fuss is about while road tripping to some of Vancouver Islands wildest destinations. Vancouver, BC to Tofino: 5.5-hour drive, 283 kilometers (including a ferry ride) If you go through the fenced area, there are a handful of more stores to look at too. Even if you do not plan to spend a night, I would still recommend coming inside for a peek, or even making a reservation for its tea time. You can find the same listing here: Old Town Loft. The riverside trails and observation platforms allow great opportunities to view this phenomenon. Trail A starts across the road from the parking lot, Trail B starts from the parking lot. Student from Canada who has gone to Victoria and is another way of getting around downtown.. 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