Must See Places On Vancouver Island

A Guide To The Best Places To Visit On Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is one of the best places to travel in Canada for lovers of marine life, trees, sandy beaches, wine, biking, surfing, hiking…. you get the point. The west coast island is absolutely peppered with world class attractions and beautiful places to explore. From pocket beaches, to crystal clear lakes, to jagged peaks and more, Vancouver Island beckons adventure and luxury travelers alike. But with over 700 kilometers in length, the island is bigger than most people imagine, and knowing where to go can be half the challenge. That’s where we come in with our guide to the must see places on Vancouver Island. This guide is in conjunction with our last guide on the best things to do on Vancouver Island.

Must See attractions near Victoria

Mount Doug

One of the best places to see the sunset or sunrise in Victoria is Mount Doug. Mount Doug is a prominent hill slightly Northeast of the downtown area. There is a road to the top and a few parking spaces, but half the fun is in hiking up through the Douglas Fir trees and taking your time to earn the rewarding view from the top. The hike takes roughly forty minutes to complete and at the top you can relax and take in the 360 degree views of Victoria and the Strait of Georgia.

Goldstream Park

Goldstream Park is just north of Victoria in the Malahat Pass. The salmon laden streams, Mt Finlayson and a beautiful waterfall make Goldstream Park one of the must see places on Vancouver Island. There are several old growth cedars in the park, which are accessible from the road. You can park in the main lot, and from there you can walk five minutes (under the highway) to the waterfall, or head out for an hour long hike to the top of Mount Finlayson.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Though Fisherman’s Wharf isn’t a natural attraction by any means, the eclectic floating village is worthy of being on the list of best places to see on Vancouver Island. Right in downtown Victoria, Fisherman’s Wharf is a harbor dock with several unique floating homes, some of which are turned into shops and restaurants. This is a crowded attraction in the high season, so coming early or late is a good idea.

Local Tip: You can take the small Sea Bus ferry from downtown Victoria to get here, rather than walking both ways!

Must see places near Tofino and Ucluelet

Cathedral Grove

Cathedral Grove is one of the most famous things to see on Vancouver Island and a hard one to miss! If you are heading to Tofino, you will drive right through the grove and can stop in either of the pull-outs. From the parking area, you can take a five minute hike through either or both of the two loop trails. We would recommend doing both! Cathedral Grove is one of the best examples of an old growth forest grove on Vancouver Island. There are towering cedars and Douglas Fir trees, some of which are up to 800 years old! There is no doubt that Cathedral Grove is one of the must see attractions on Vancouver Island.

Kennedy Lake

Kennedy Lake is the gorgeous lake you drive past while you are almost at Tofino, though the access area for the lake is not obvious. The water is warm and Kennedy Lake often gets sun while the majority of Tofino and it’s beaches are covered in fog. You can swim from the beach near the parking area, and you can also go paddling on the lake, without being exposed to the same currents as being on the ocean. Kennedy Lake is one of the best lakes on Vancouver Island to explore!

Sproat lake

Sproat Lake is a little further from Tofino, but you drive past it on your way out to the surf town. From the parking area, you can walk five minutes along a trail and see some ancient petroglyphs from a dock. The water in Sproat Lake is the warmest and clearest on the island, which makes it a delight to swim in. More adventurous explorers may find several pocket coves and swimming rocks along the shores of the lake, making it one of the best places to visit on Vancouver Island.

Meares Island Big Tree Trail

Meares Island is right across the harbor from Tofino, and has some incredible gems to be explored. The main attraction of the island, is the Big Tree Trail, which is home to the “Hanging Garden”, the largest and oldest cedar tree on the west coast of Canada. Some of the trees on this trail are over 1000 years old! You can easily complete this Tofino attraction in an hour. To access it, you will need to take a quick water taxi from the Tofino harbor.

Pacific Rim National Park

Pacific Rim National Park is definitely one of the best places to visit on Vancouver Island and home to countless natural attractions, from beaches, to rainforest walks and more! Pacific Rim National Park is huge, stretching from Tofino to Port Renfrew, though the most accessible areas are between Tofino and Ucluelet. This section of the park is road accessible, which means you can easily visit the many natural attractions by car, and even by bike with the new cycling path. Go beach hopping, stopping at Mackenzie Beach, Cox Bay, Long Beach and Wickaninnish Beach, or go for a hike on the Nu Chuh Nulth Trail for a breezy trail through some shore pine bogs and past small beaches. South beach is a hidden attraction near Tofino, and is just a short hike from the visitor center at Wickaninnish beach. Some of the best hiking tours in Canada happen on the West Coast Trail in Pacific Rim National Park!

Must see things near Courtenay/ Comox

Comox Lake

Comox Lake is a lesser known attraction on Vancouver Island, though the crystal clear waters offer the perfect opportunity to go for a paddle. There is a beach on the East end of the lake, which gets some amazing afternoon sun and is a great place for a swim. The lake is only ten minutes from Courtenay’s downtown and makes for a lovely day trip!

Stratchona Park

Strathcona Park should be an entire destination in itself. The numerous hiking trails are world class. The lakes sparkle and there are too many waterfalls to count. You can easily spend an entire week exploring this place and it’s many Vancouver Island attractions. Strathcona Park is an ideal place to visit for experienced hikers, campers and paddlers. You can paddle to waterfalls, hike to alpine lakes, and camp in the backcountry or along the shores of Buttle Lake. Strathcona Park is also one of the best places to see wildlife on Vancouver Island This Vancouver Island travel destination is not one to be missed!

Horne Lake Caves

Horne Lake is a beautiful side stop on the way north to Courtenay and Comox. You can explore the many caves and caverns that are hidden among the rocks here, or just relax on the shores of Horne Lake. Nearby Spyder Lake presents even more opportunities to relax and enjoy some Vancouver Island nature!

Rebecca Spit- Quadra Island

Rebecca Spit is just a short hop, skip and a jump from Campbell River. From Campbell River, hop on a ferry to Quadra Island and after a short drive (or long bike) you can access Rebecca Spit provincial park, which features a beautiful sheltered bay and some great camping. The clear, calm waters and fantastic fishing opportunities make Rebecca Spit one of the must see attractions on Vancouver Island.

Miracle Beach & Saratoga Beach

Just north of Courtenay and Comox, Miracle Beach and Saratgoa beach are some of the best beaches on Vancouver Island. The beaches boast exceptional views over the Georgia Strait and are the perfect places to see the sunrise. You can camp here and spend a full day relaxing in the warm sand of this top Vancouver Island attraction.

Which Vancouver Island Attractions Will You Visit?

With so many amazing natural attractions and places to visit on Vancouver Island it can be hard to fit them all into one trip. Unless you are planning a massive trip, you likely can’t fit them all in, so we recommend breaking the island down into the following sections, unless you join one of our guided Vancouver Island Tours!

Victoria region

The Victoria region is where you will likely arrive and comprises of Victoria, and surrounding areas, like Sooke, Port Renfrew, across to Lake Cowichan and over to Sidney. You can drive around the entire area in a day, but would be well advised to spend a few days exploring the many must see Vancouver Island attractions here.

Tofino & Central Coast

Tofino and the central coast area of Vancouver Island is one of the most popular places to visit on the Island, with Tofino being the number one tourism destination. This is paradise for nature lovers and there are tons of things to do. You could easily spend a whole week in this region, exploring the many beaches, rain forest hikes and trying out the adventure activities, like paddling, wildlife cruises and surfing.

Courtenay, Comox & Campbell River

The northern section of the island around Courtenay and Campbell River are best explored over a few days, or even a week if you plan to include the must see places in Strathcona Park. Campbell River is the perfect place to base yourself for a few days, and from here you have easy access to all the best places the visit in this region of Vancouver Island.

Must See Places On Vancouver Island