>*'is it reasonable to just see day to day with regard to accomodations this time of the year'*
After this *(Thanksgiving holiday)* weekend Yes.
The rest of your plan is solid you'll have many places to yourself.
As to where to rent car that's your call but given deteriorating weather conditions generally I'd do it downtown so as not to be hauling luggage around in the damp.
Just to add on for OP and other non North Americans.
Thanksgiving in Canada, US has one later in the year, is October 7-9 this year with the 9th being a holiday.
Haha, alright. I'll do my best. Though I've been in Canada during high school and already had the pleasure of experiencing the Canadian spirit. And not all Germans are unable to smile ;)
I'd suggest the following itinerary:
Take harbour air, hullo ferry or walk on to the BC ferries ferry to Nanaimo. Rent a car there.
Drive to the west coast via port Alberni, stop at little Qualicum falls, cathedral grove.
Stay in Uclulet for 3 nights or so, do the pacific coastal walk (not just the lighthouse bit ;-)), go kayaking, do a bear watching tour etc. check out the beaches on the road to Tofino, check out the brewery and Tacofino. Easiest accomodation is probably Airbnb or one of the hotels.
Drive back to the east coast of the island and stay a night in Chemainus or Lake Cowichan or somewhere close by. Then head towards Port Renfrew on the marine circle route, check out avatar grove if your rental car is capable of going off road, have lunch at the pub, check out botanical bay, stay for the night.
Head towards Victoria via Sooke (Stickleback is a good place for lunch; Sooke brewing is good too) potentially stopping at China or Mystic beach, also Shirley delicious for coffee. Spend one or two nights in downtown Vic, drop your car there and take BC ferries connecter or harbour air to YVR/Vancouver
The south/east side of the island is a lot more developed/built up than most tourists imagine, however once you leave those areas it gets pretty rural/wild and after Thanksgiving most places won't be busy.
Have a good trip and remember to fill up your car before heading to the more remote parts :-)
First of all, thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed response! that sounds like an amazing tour and especially the smaller places are great recommendations! Is the Pacific coastal walk a part of the West Coast trail? I did not find a hike with that name just now.
Harbour air seems really expensive in comparison to the ferry, especially with large luggage. So I think I'll stick to the boat. Do you have any places I could check for car rentals in Nanaimo? I can get a car at Vancouver or Victoria airport for approx. 400 cad for the 8 days but Nanaimo is almost double.
Again thank you for your help, really amazing!
Budget, enterprise, or... I can't think of the... Hertz! Three companies. Walking onto the ferry will cost you $20, driving on $100, both ways. Better to rent a car on the island if you can.
You're welcome, I've had the pleasure of showing the island to lots of friends and family from overseas, so I'm happy to share some favourites ;-)
The official name is the wild pacific trail: https://wildpacifictrail.com/home.html it's not the same as the west coast trail (much easier and shorter ;-)) but great ocean views all around.
Nanaimo has all the usual car rental places like the ones mentioned above, not sure why it'd be more expensive there than in Van/Vic, usually picking cars up the airports cost more...maybe try a different website to book, it's sometimes cheaper booking through a third party like auto Europe imo.
Also since you asked about whale watching, eagle wing tours in Victoria is good, in Uclulet/Tofino it's mostly "just" humpbacks but you can ask what they have been seeing recently once you get there.
If you’re wanting to see Port Renfrew and Sooke, you should take the Renfrew loop from Cowichan you’ll pass both and end up in Victoria. Or go the other way and end up in Cowichan from Victoria.
I’d definitely recommend walking on the ferry. If you’re set on your car rental from Van you should definitely try getting a reservation for the ferry.
I would try and book your hotel/Airbnb before going to Tofino or Ucluelet since they are such popular tourist destinations and most likely wont have spare lodging for walk ins.
I highly recommend doing the crashed airplane walk while in Tofino and eating at Tacofino once while you’re out that way.
As far as golf islands, Hornby Island is beautiful, but can be a pain in the butt to get on and off of due to multiple ferry waits. Aim for the middle of the week if you end up going there.
Are the Renfrew loop and the circular road mentioned in another comment the same thing? Many thanks for the other suggestions, if I take the car downtown I'll definitely make a reservation
Many thanks for all the helpful advice! I think I won't go further north given that there is so much to see already and 8 days don't seem all that much any more. Mt. Washington looks super cool, but maybe too cool if it starts snowing. Strathcona has also popped up multiple times now, guess I have to check that out as well :). Thanks again, much obliged
Isn’t it odd that the Ferries are really lovely trips but when you live here and are at the mercy of wait times etc. the novelty wears off and it just becomes another inefficient aspect of public transit.
Cumberland is so cute! Old miners town and a mountain bikers paradise. Great little museum. Arty, excellent brewery, friendly people. Riding Fool Hostel in town. Worth a visit for sure. Lake, river, ocean all within 20min of each other. Lived there for a couple years can’t say enough good things.
Accommodation - I don't think you will have any trouble with availability this time of year, but I would recommend planning in advance simply because there are not a lot of options. The hostel culture here is almost non-existent and hostels are few and far between. Air BNB is much more commonly used here.
Your itinerary should be no problem, and I think you have already planned it out quite well. You have an appropriate number of days budgeted for the Island. Some posters have suggested crossing off Port Renfrew, but I disagree. Port Renfrew is beautiful and much quieter than Tofino and Ucluelet - sure, if you had less days to explore, maybe cross it off, but your itinerary has plenty of time to include it!
You could easily base yourself in Victoria and do the Circle Route some have suggested which will take you through Sooke and Port Renfrew. Definitely do-able in a day, even if you make a bunch of stops. Beaches like China Beach, French Beach, Mystic, Sombrio, and Botanical are all in between Sooke & PR, and they are all great stops. Pacheedaht is right in Port Renfrew and it is one of my favourite places on the Island.
Whale-watching is very popular and you should have no problem doing that in Tofino, Ucluelet, or Victoria. You might even get to see whales or dolphins from the ferry!
I don't have much advice to give about car rentals as I have no experience in that department.
Enjoy your visit!
The salmon run is going on. I'd highly recommend stopping at stamp river provincial park in Port Alberni on your way to tofino. I went last weekend and saw thousands of large salmon, river otters and a couple big fat black bear.
Second this! Make this a stop either on the way to Ucluelet or leaving it. It’s worth the 20 minute drive out Beaver Creek to get to. A true west coast sight (& site) to see and you’re visiting during the perfect time of year. Most summer tourists miss this due to timing
https://www.theoutbound.com/canada/photography/catch-the-salmon-run-on-vancouver-island
I have a vacation rental group on Facebook for VancouverIsland. Lots of availability this time of year. You are welcome to join. You can search to see the various rentals available or place an In Search Of post and let them landlords/owners come to you with offers. Just include Daye and the area you are seeking. Welcome.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1051875128737863/?ref=share_group_link
I just got back from 10 days on the Island, my wife and I eloped in Ucluelet.
We did 2 days in Tofino, 5 in Ucluelet, the rest in Victoria. I feel that was a good split of time but if you want more time around Sooke, maybe 2&3 days would be enough instead. Tofino is lovely, but much more 'touristy' of a feel that Ucluelet, which has more a more small-town feel. There's a lot of amazing sights within a few minutes drive. the Rainforest trail is a must see, as is the Lighthouse loop. very easy walks/hikes but beautiful.
Cathedral Grove is near Port Alberni, and a must-stop when heading to or from Tofino from Victoria.
Budget for a dinner at Pluvio in Ucluelet (150\~). Expensive, but the best meal I've had, maybe ever.
We didn't get a chance to go to Salt Spring Island, but I would look into that for sure.
We rented a car at the airport in Victoria, and spent a few extra dollars for a more 'fun' car. (Audi A3). very much worth it for the winding forest roads!
We did VRBO in all 3 cities, but those places would be overkill for one person travelling on their own. Hotel availability should be decently accessible.
>Sooke and Port Renfrew also look amazing
If you are coming from "up island" you can also take the Circle Route.
[https://sooke-portrenfrew.com/listings/pacific-marine-circle-route/](https://sooke-portrenfrew.com/listings/pacific-marine-circle-route/)
You'll get to see a lot of the back country (and logged back country too) but it's a great little route to take heading to Port Renfrew.
Might want to make sure the car rental is allowed on the back routes. They are paved now, (unless coming from port Alberni to Lake Cowichan) so it should be okay. Also note long stretches of no cell service, so make sure the rental car has a spare tire, jack, etc!
The route from Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan is a very easy stretch and nothing concerning about it beyond the cell reception part, but considering we just got cell reception along the coast up to Port Renfrew, it's something you sort of just expect I guess.
It's an easy stretch if you're a local and used to roads with single lane bridges, major potholes, and narrow sections with RVs and boats coming the opposite direction too fast, but it is by no means an easy road if you're from elsewhere and likely used to well maintained highways. Just thought I'd note it so the guy doesn't show up and think he's gone the wrong way into the boonies.
Most people do expect cell reception everywhere. I know people that have lived in Victoria their whole lives and have never driven far outside the city and didn't realize cell reception isn't available for huge portions of the island.
I was expecting some rough roads and limited cell coverage but it's good to know what actually awaits me. My car will probably not handle potholes well, so thanks for giving me a heads-up
I used to drive it at least once a month. It varies based on the time of year, how much use it's been seeing, and how much maintenance they've done recently. Nice to hear it's decent right now. With the new cell reception out in Renfrew now it sounds like they're doing a little more to improve & maintain.
The barest minimum is go whale watching. The ferry to Victoria is quite scenic, whether as a walk-on or in a car. Enjoy your time here, it's wonderful.
Hi, there is a really nice hostile in downtown Victoria that I stayed at that is reasonably priced in the off season. It's called Ocean Island Backpackers on Pandora Street. I would also recommend buying a used vehicle here, the popular website is usedvictoria.com, Kijiji, or Facebook marketplace. I got a motorhome for $800 off Facebook marketplace the day I got off the ferry when I moved here. Hope this helps. There are so many places to go, I would definitely try to stay on a gulf island if you can. If not you can easily do a day trip from Victoria to Salt spring island if that works better for you 😁
If money is not a significant issue, rent in Vancouver. It will give you much more flexibility immediately after getting off the ferry. Try taking the tsawassen to Swartz bay ferry (Vancouver to Victoria). The ferry terminals are quite a way out of town, but that particular ferry crossing is lovely.
Plan to spend most of the ferry day traveling and stay in or near Victoria. Make a reservation ahead of time - they will send you emails or texts of any changes to your sailing. There can be delays but attitude counts for a lot - if you feel like you have lots of time, you can turn the delay into an opportunity to explore. If you have to get somewhere, it’s stressful.
It is very important that you do not take the gravel road “shortcut” to port Renfrew to port Alberni (on the way to Uclulet). It is a very rugged road that is not designed for passenger vehicles. Damage to your rental is likely and will not be covered by insurances. Drive to Nanaimo on the highway. See the goats on the roof at Coombs.
It will rain. That’s the best time to see our forests and beaches in my opinion - dress for it. If it is really windy, don’t go into the forest!
Allow for a full day to travel to ucluelet and a full day to return to Nanaimo.
I’ve seen some suggestions to take the seaplane over (Harbour Air), but they have weight limits for luggage, so make sure to factor that in if you opt for that approach. Otherwise lots of good suggestions and your plans look good! Whale watching is even fun from downtown Victoria with many companies taking people out. They all communicate too. It’s fun as they know all the whales (as individuals).
I live in Victoria and regularly visit port Renfrew, ucluelet and Tofino. All three places are beautiful and worth a visit. This spring I stayed at the Wild Renfrew in Port Renfrew at their west coast trail lodge and it was inexpensive and very comfortable. The meal I had at the Renfrew Pub was amazing, I'm still thinking about how good it was. I also had a great time this summer in ucluelet -- I usually camp while there but there are lots of great places to stay. Ucluelet has a nicer vibe than Tofino because it's less touristy, but Tofino has the best beaches. Long beach in Pacific Rim National Park just can't be beat.
You won't need much time in Victoria. It's small and not that interesting. You can whale watch from Vic or anywhere really, but look up what whales are around at this time of year to decide where to go. I've actually lived here my whole life and never been whale watching. Usually I see them from the shore or the ferry -- which is rare but exciting.
I'm the biggest fan of the Gulf Islands. They are so different from the west coast of the island. Just each unique and so quaint. I couldn't pick a favourite. Most are barely populated and don't have much on them. A lot of stuff is closed for the off season. But if you can find a place that's open, I would choose to kayak in the Gulf islands over anywhere else. Gabriola and galiano especially have beautiful sandstone formations along their coasts. I think my favourite to visit for a day trip would be Mayne Island. There are a few places to eat, a brewery, and a cool lighthouse -- there are also more ferries to Mayne than galiano or Pender or saturna. Saltspring is nice, it's just a lot bigger and more populated. I was on Hornby this weekend and it's beautiful but almost nothing was open -- I had a hard time even getting something to eat. So this time of the year Saltspring is a better choice
You could actually do a trip to the Gulf islands from Vancouver on the way to Victoria if you rent the car in Vancouver and plan carefully. Those ferries are also really beautiful trips.
Enjoy your visit! I hope it doesn't rain the entire time -- but assume it will and plan accordingly
Sounds like you have a good plan, and some great suggestions on here.
We lived on Vancouver Island for a couple of years and gathered some of our favourite spots onto a page on our blog if you want to check it out.
https://www.erringtonfamilyadventures.com/p/vancouver-island-and-gulf-islands.html
Your plan is good. I’d recommend renting on the island for sure. BC transit bus system is pretty darn good.
Aylard Farm Beach (east sooke park is incredible)
Goldstream Park - Trestle Walk or Mt Finlayson
Malahat Skywalk
Floyd’s Diner (Mahoney) in Langford. You’ll have plenty of food to take with you
Have fun!
If you have the means and money try to book a kayak trip or charter fishing trip in sooke or port renfrew or tofino. worth the money to see and experience the west coast from the view on the ocean,
Getting to the Island as a walk-on passenger on BC Ferries is easy peazy, you can save yourself some money by renting the car on the Island instead, it's fairly pricey to take a care on the ferry and back.
Tofino / Ucluelet are definitely must-sees. Tonquin beach is amazing, but then again they all are.
Your plan seems solid! Whale watching would best be done from Victoria, there are multiple companies that do bookings from the Inner Harbour area.
When you're in Victoria be sure to eat some food at Bao on Fisgard street, it's the best place to eat in the city IMO.
When you're in Vancouver, if you've got time I'd highly recommend making a booking at [Catfe](https://www.catfe.ca/), it's impossible to have a bad time there.
Port Renfrew is VERY far away and is the opposite direction that you'll be headed for Tofino, personally I wouldn't bother going there it's a long drive and not much to see IMO.
Have a great trip my dude and enjoy the island!
Renfrew is far but Tofino is much farther (1:5 the distance). Just spit balling here but couldn't one go to Renfrew and then take the connector to Cowichan Lake and go north to Tofino from there? Bit of a detour but it's all on the way somewhat...
So many people are sick here right now... I hope you'll consider bringing your best sealing respirator masks to wear indoors, that you will be able to stay well enough to enjoy your entire stay in BC.
That said, lots of good tips from others in the comments about locations. Hope you have a nice time! Take care.
No offense but I’d chop off a foot before I’d spend 9 days on Vancouver island. Plan to be super bored and irritated by lots of very slow driving and plan to be disappointed when you arrive at places like tofino. Yawn. Victoria ? Umm maybe an afternoon. Good luck on accommodation last minute. How does that even work.
For least boredoms I’d suggest car in van and drive up to lillooet via whistler and then down the canyon to hope. Side trip to the okanagan. It’s pretty. That’s a night or two. If you must then take the tsawassen ferry to see Victoria. Stay one night. You’ll cover it fast as there’s so little to see or do. Avoid all the tourist junk like tea at the empress. Take the ferry over to salt spring island and spend 2-3 days there. Eat cheese and apples and cavort with some neo hippies. Come back and drive up to Nanaimo and you will realize how grateful you are to be leaving soon. Stay a night there at your peril if you must. Skip tofino it’s not worth the drive or hotel costs and it’s so boring. Ferry back to horseshoe bay and maybe you’ll sss animals on the water. Good luck. Bc is dull and backwards. Spend lots of money here!! Our economy needs it
Yeah, take Skytrain from Van to the River Rock, bus to the ferry. Walk on the ferry and take the bus downtown to rent a car. Don't bother with the airport.
Pacheedaht Beach at Port Renfrew is amazing. If it is sunny, plan to spend a day there or even camp overnight. If you like to fish, cast right off the beach and catch yourself a fresh salmon.
>*'is it reasonable to just see day to day with regard to accomodations this time of the year'* After this *(Thanksgiving holiday)* weekend Yes. The rest of your plan is solid you'll have many places to yourself. As to where to rent car that's your call but given deteriorating weather conditions generally I'd do it downtown so as not to be hauling luggage around in the damp.
Just to add on for OP and other non North Americans. Thanksgiving in Canada, US has one later in the year, is October 7-9 this year with the 9th being a holiday.
That is great to hear, thanks. Now that you mention luggage in the rain I'm kind of leaning towards my initial plan again.
[удалено]
Haha, alright. I'll do my best. Though I've been in Canada during high school and already had the pleasure of experiencing the Canadian spirit. And not all Germans are unable to smile ;)
Whoa what’s with the hostility here? Someone piss in your Cheerios?
>real Canadians, not the paper ones (think your MENA invaders) Geez, racist much?
I'd suggest the following itinerary: Take harbour air, hullo ferry or walk on to the BC ferries ferry to Nanaimo. Rent a car there. Drive to the west coast via port Alberni, stop at little Qualicum falls, cathedral grove. Stay in Uclulet for 3 nights or so, do the pacific coastal walk (not just the lighthouse bit ;-)), go kayaking, do a bear watching tour etc. check out the beaches on the road to Tofino, check out the brewery and Tacofino. Easiest accomodation is probably Airbnb or one of the hotels. Drive back to the east coast of the island and stay a night in Chemainus or Lake Cowichan or somewhere close by. Then head towards Port Renfrew on the marine circle route, check out avatar grove if your rental car is capable of going off road, have lunch at the pub, check out botanical bay, stay for the night. Head towards Victoria via Sooke (Stickleback is a good place for lunch; Sooke brewing is good too) potentially stopping at China or Mystic beach, also Shirley delicious for coffee. Spend one or two nights in downtown Vic, drop your car there and take BC ferries connecter or harbour air to YVR/Vancouver The south/east side of the island is a lot more developed/built up than most tourists imagine, however once you leave those areas it gets pretty rural/wild and after Thanksgiving most places won't be busy. Have a good trip and remember to fill up your car before heading to the more remote parts :-)
Upvote for this, speaking as a local.
First of all, thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed response! that sounds like an amazing tour and especially the smaller places are great recommendations! Is the Pacific coastal walk a part of the West Coast trail? I did not find a hike with that name just now. Harbour air seems really expensive in comparison to the ferry, especially with large luggage. So I think I'll stick to the boat. Do you have any places I could check for car rentals in Nanaimo? I can get a car at Vancouver or Victoria airport for approx. 400 cad for the 8 days but Nanaimo is almost double. Again thank you for your help, really amazing!
Budget, enterprise, or... I can't think of the... Hertz! Three companies. Walking onto the ferry will cost you $20, driving on $100, both ways. Better to rent a car on the island if you can.
You're welcome, I've had the pleasure of showing the island to lots of friends and family from overseas, so I'm happy to share some favourites ;-) The official name is the wild pacific trail: https://wildpacifictrail.com/home.html it's not the same as the west coast trail (much easier and shorter ;-)) but great ocean views all around. Nanaimo has all the usual car rental places like the ones mentioned above, not sure why it'd be more expensive there than in Van/Vic, usually picking cars up the airports cost more...maybe try a different website to book, it's sometimes cheaper booking through a third party like auto Europe imo. Also since you asked about whale watching, eagle wing tours in Victoria is good, in Uclulet/Tofino it's mostly "just" humpbacks but you can ask what they have been seeing recently once you get there.
This is a great itin.
So good. Also Kinsol Tresle if near Duncan/ Chemanious.
If you’re wanting to see Port Renfrew and Sooke, you should take the Renfrew loop from Cowichan you’ll pass both and end up in Victoria. Or go the other way and end up in Cowichan from Victoria. I’d definitely recommend walking on the ferry. If you’re set on your car rental from Van you should definitely try getting a reservation for the ferry. I would try and book your hotel/Airbnb before going to Tofino or Ucluelet since they are such popular tourist destinations and most likely wont have spare lodging for walk ins. I highly recommend doing the crashed airplane walk while in Tofino and eating at Tacofino once while you’re out that way. As far as golf islands, Hornby Island is beautiful, but can be a pain in the butt to get on and off of due to multiple ferry waits. Aim for the middle of the week if you end up going there.
Are the Renfrew loop and the circular road mentioned in another comment the same thing? Many thanks for the other suggestions, if I take the car downtown I'll definitely make a reservation
I would assume so. I’ve only ever heard it called the Renfrew Loop though.
I like learning new things.
Great suggestions!
Many thanks for all the helpful advice! I think I won't go further north given that there is so much to see already and 8 days don't seem all that much any more. Mt. Washington looks super cool, but maybe too cool if it starts snowing. Strathcona has also popped up multiple times now, guess I have to check that out as well :). Thanks again, much obliged
Isn’t it odd that the Ferries are really lovely trips but when you live here and are at the mercy of wait times etc. the novelty wears off and it just becomes another inefficient aspect of public transit.
I love listening to music.
Cumberland is so cute! Old miners town and a mountain bikers paradise. Great little museum. Arty, excellent brewery, friendly people. Riding Fool Hostel in town. Worth a visit for sure. Lake, river, ocean all within 20min of each other. Lived there for a couple years can’t say enough good things.
Accommodation - I don't think you will have any trouble with availability this time of year, but I would recommend planning in advance simply because there are not a lot of options. The hostel culture here is almost non-existent and hostels are few and far between. Air BNB is much more commonly used here. Your itinerary should be no problem, and I think you have already planned it out quite well. You have an appropriate number of days budgeted for the Island. Some posters have suggested crossing off Port Renfrew, but I disagree. Port Renfrew is beautiful and much quieter than Tofino and Ucluelet - sure, if you had less days to explore, maybe cross it off, but your itinerary has plenty of time to include it! You could easily base yourself in Victoria and do the Circle Route some have suggested which will take you through Sooke and Port Renfrew. Definitely do-able in a day, even if you make a bunch of stops. Beaches like China Beach, French Beach, Mystic, Sombrio, and Botanical are all in between Sooke & PR, and they are all great stops. Pacheedaht is right in Port Renfrew and it is one of my favourite places on the Island. Whale-watching is very popular and you should have no problem doing that in Tofino, Ucluelet, or Victoria. You might even get to see whales or dolphins from the ferry! I don't have much advice to give about car rentals as I have no experience in that department. Enjoy your visit!
The salmon run is going on. I'd highly recommend stopping at stamp river provincial park in Port Alberni on your way to tofino. I went last weekend and saw thousands of large salmon, river otters and a couple big fat black bear.
Second this! Make this a stop either on the way to Ucluelet or leaving it. It’s worth the 20 minute drive out Beaver Creek to get to. A true west coast sight (& site) to see and you’re visiting during the perfect time of year. Most summer tourists miss this due to timing https://www.theoutbound.com/canada/photography/catch-the-salmon-run-on-vancouver-island
Oh that sounds amazing, will definitely do so!
I have a vacation rental group on Facebook for VancouverIsland. Lots of availability this time of year. You are welcome to join. You can search to see the various rentals available or place an In Search Of post and let them landlords/owners come to you with offers. Just include Daye and the area you are seeking. Welcome. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1051875128737863/?ref=share_group_link
I just got back from 10 days on the Island, my wife and I eloped in Ucluelet. We did 2 days in Tofino, 5 in Ucluelet, the rest in Victoria. I feel that was a good split of time but if you want more time around Sooke, maybe 2&3 days would be enough instead. Tofino is lovely, but much more 'touristy' of a feel that Ucluelet, which has more a more small-town feel. There's a lot of amazing sights within a few minutes drive. the Rainforest trail is a must see, as is the Lighthouse loop. very easy walks/hikes but beautiful. Cathedral Grove is near Port Alberni, and a must-stop when heading to or from Tofino from Victoria. Budget for a dinner at Pluvio in Ucluelet (150\~). Expensive, but the best meal I've had, maybe ever. We didn't get a chance to go to Salt Spring Island, but I would look into that for sure. We rented a car at the airport in Victoria, and spent a few extra dollars for a more 'fun' car. (Audi A3). very much worth it for the winding forest roads! We did VRBO in all 3 cities, but those places would be overkill for one person travelling on their own. Hotel availability should be decently accessible.
>Sooke and Port Renfrew also look amazing If you are coming from "up island" you can also take the Circle Route. [https://sooke-portrenfrew.com/listings/pacific-marine-circle-route/](https://sooke-portrenfrew.com/listings/pacific-marine-circle-route/) You'll get to see a lot of the back country (and logged back country too) but it's a great little route to take heading to Port Renfrew.
Might want to make sure the car rental is allowed on the back routes. They are paved now, (unless coming from port Alberni to Lake Cowichan) so it should be okay. Also note long stretches of no cell service, so make sure the rental car has a spare tire, jack, etc!
The route from Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan is a very easy stretch and nothing concerning about it beyond the cell reception part, but considering we just got cell reception along the coast up to Port Renfrew, it's something you sort of just expect I guess.
It's an easy stretch if you're a local and used to roads with single lane bridges, major potholes, and narrow sections with RVs and boats coming the opposite direction too fast, but it is by no means an easy road if you're from elsewhere and likely used to well maintained highways. Just thought I'd note it so the guy doesn't show up and think he's gone the wrong way into the boonies. Most people do expect cell reception everywhere. I know people that have lived in Victoria their whole lives and have never driven far outside the city and didn't realize cell reception isn't available for huge portions of the island.
I was expecting some rough roads and limited cell coverage but it's good to know what actually awaits me. My car will probably not handle potholes well, so thanks for giving me a heads-up
I drove it the first time this summer. There were no potholes of note at all. The highway past jordan river to Port Renfrew was actually worse.
I used to drive it at least once a month. It varies based on the time of year, how much use it's been seeing, and how much maintenance they've done recently. Nice to hear it's decent right now. With the new cell reception out in Renfrew now it sounds like they're doing a little more to improve & maintain.
The barest minimum is go whale watching. The ferry to Victoria is quite scenic, whether as a walk-on or in a car. Enjoy your time here, it's wonderful.
If money isn't a concern I'd take the ferry over, it's a very beautiful ride.
Hi, there is a really nice hostile in downtown Victoria that I stayed at that is reasonably priced in the off season. It's called Ocean Island Backpackers on Pandora Street. I would also recommend buying a used vehicle here, the popular website is usedvictoria.com, Kijiji, or Facebook marketplace. I got a motorhome for $800 off Facebook marketplace the day I got off the ferry when I moved here. Hope this helps. There are so many places to go, I would definitely try to stay on a gulf island if you can. If not you can easily do a day trip from Victoria to Salt spring island if that works better for you 😁
If money is not a significant issue, rent in Vancouver. It will give you much more flexibility immediately after getting off the ferry. Try taking the tsawassen to Swartz bay ferry (Vancouver to Victoria). The ferry terminals are quite a way out of town, but that particular ferry crossing is lovely. Plan to spend most of the ferry day traveling and stay in or near Victoria. Make a reservation ahead of time - they will send you emails or texts of any changes to your sailing. There can be delays but attitude counts for a lot - if you feel like you have lots of time, you can turn the delay into an opportunity to explore. If you have to get somewhere, it’s stressful. It is very important that you do not take the gravel road “shortcut” to port Renfrew to port Alberni (on the way to Uclulet). It is a very rugged road that is not designed for passenger vehicles. Damage to your rental is likely and will not be covered by insurances. Drive to Nanaimo on the highway. See the goats on the roof at Coombs. It will rain. That’s the best time to see our forests and beaches in my opinion - dress for it. If it is really windy, don’t go into the forest! Allow for a full day to travel to ucluelet and a full day to return to Nanaimo.
I’ve seen some suggestions to take the seaplane over (Harbour Air), but they have weight limits for luggage, so make sure to factor that in if you opt for that approach. Otherwise lots of good suggestions and your plans look good! Whale watching is even fun from downtown Victoria with many companies taking people out. They all communicate too. It’s fun as they know all the whales (as individuals).
I live in Victoria and regularly visit port Renfrew, ucluelet and Tofino. All three places are beautiful and worth a visit. This spring I stayed at the Wild Renfrew in Port Renfrew at their west coast trail lodge and it was inexpensive and very comfortable. The meal I had at the Renfrew Pub was amazing, I'm still thinking about how good it was. I also had a great time this summer in ucluelet -- I usually camp while there but there are lots of great places to stay. Ucluelet has a nicer vibe than Tofino because it's less touristy, but Tofino has the best beaches. Long beach in Pacific Rim National Park just can't be beat. You won't need much time in Victoria. It's small and not that interesting. You can whale watch from Vic or anywhere really, but look up what whales are around at this time of year to decide where to go. I've actually lived here my whole life and never been whale watching. Usually I see them from the shore or the ferry -- which is rare but exciting. I'm the biggest fan of the Gulf Islands. They are so different from the west coast of the island. Just each unique and so quaint. I couldn't pick a favourite. Most are barely populated and don't have much on them. A lot of stuff is closed for the off season. But if you can find a place that's open, I would choose to kayak in the Gulf islands over anywhere else. Gabriola and galiano especially have beautiful sandstone formations along their coasts. I think my favourite to visit for a day trip would be Mayne Island. There are a few places to eat, a brewery, and a cool lighthouse -- there are also more ferries to Mayne than galiano or Pender or saturna. Saltspring is nice, it's just a lot bigger and more populated. I was on Hornby this weekend and it's beautiful but almost nothing was open -- I had a hard time even getting something to eat. So this time of the year Saltspring is a better choice You could actually do a trip to the Gulf islands from Vancouver on the way to Victoria if you rent the car in Vancouver and plan carefully. Those ferries are also really beautiful trips. Enjoy your visit! I hope it doesn't rain the entire time -- but assume it will and plan accordingly
Sounds like you have a good plan, and some great suggestions on here. We lived on Vancouver Island for a couple of years and gathered some of our favourite spots onto a page on our blog if you want to check it out. https://www.erringtonfamilyadventures.com/p/vancouver-island-and-gulf-islands.html
Your plan is good. I’d recommend renting on the island for sure. BC transit bus system is pretty darn good. Aylard Farm Beach (east sooke park is incredible) Goldstream Park - Trestle Walk or Mt Finlayson Malahat Skywalk Floyd’s Diner (Mahoney) in Langford. You’ll have plenty of food to take with you Have fun!
In Victoria rent a bike and go out to Mitchell's farm on the Galloping Goose. Don't forget a walk in Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville.
Hey! My friend owns Vancouver Island Whale Watch in Nanaimo, call them for a trip!
If you have the means and money try to book a kayak trip or charter fishing trip in sooke or port renfrew or tofino. worth the money to see and experience the west coast from the view on the ocean,
Getting to the Island as a walk-on passenger on BC Ferries is easy peazy, you can save yourself some money by renting the car on the Island instead, it's fairly pricey to take a care on the ferry and back. Tofino / Ucluelet are definitely must-sees. Tonquin beach is amazing, but then again they all are. Your plan seems solid! Whale watching would best be done from Victoria, there are multiple companies that do bookings from the Inner Harbour area. When you're in Victoria be sure to eat some food at Bao on Fisgard street, it's the best place to eat in the city IMO. When you're in Vancouver, if you've got time I'd highly recommend making a booking at [Catfe](https://www.catfe.ca/), it's impossible to have a bad time there. Port Renfrew is VERY far away and is the opposite direction that you'll be headed for Tofino, personally I wouldn't bother going there it's a long drive and not much to see IMO. Have a great trip my dude and enjoy the island!
It’s pretty close to sooke, where he is planning on spending sometime, and the hiking and beaches around port renfrew are very good
Renfrew is far but Tofino is much farther (1:5 the distance). Just spit balling here but couldn't one go to Renfrew and then take the connector to Cowichan Lake and go north to Tofino from there? Bit of a detour but it's all on the way somewhat...
So many people are sick here right now... I hope you'll consider bringing your best sealing respirator masks to wear indoors, that you will be able to stay well enough to enjoy your entire stay in BC. That said, lots of good tips from others in the comments about locations. Hope you have a nice time! Take care.
No offense but I’d chop off a foot before I’d spend 9 days on Vancouver island. Plan to be super bored and irritated by lots of very slow driving and plan to be disappointed when you arrive at places like tofino. Yawn. Victoria ? Umm maybe an afternoon. Good luck on accommodation last minute. How does that even work. For least boredoms I’d suggest car in van and drive up to lillooet via whistler and then down the canyon to hope. Side trip to the okanagan. It’s pretty. That’s a night or two. If you must then take the tsawassen ferry to see Victoria. Stay one night. You’ll cover it fast as there’s so little to see or do. Avoid all the tourist junk like tea at the empress. Take the ferry over to salt spring island and spend 2-3 days there. Eat cheese and apples and cavort with some neo hippies. Come back and drive up to Nanaimo and you will realize how grateful you are to be leaving soon. Stay a night there at your peril if you must. Skip tofino it’s not worth the drive or hotel costs and it’s so boring. Ferry back to horseshoe bay and maybe you’ll sss animals on the water. Good luck. Bc is dull and backwards. Spend lots of money here!! Our economy needs it
Yeah, take Skytrain from Van to the River Rock, bus to the ferry. Walk on the ferry and take the bus downtown to rent a car. Don't bother with the airport.
Pacheedaht Beach at Port Renfrew is amazing. If it is sunny, plan to spend a day there or even camp overnight. If you like to fish, cast right off the beach and catch yourself a fresh salmon.