The best times to visit Victoria and Vancouver Island are March to May and September to November. The region sees some of the country's mildest weather and the driest summers, so while you might experience a light drizzle here and there, plan on comfortable temperatures in the spring and fall.
You don't need a car in either Vancouver or Victoria proper, but once you want to get out of town, you will.
While it's obvious that it's much smaller than Great Britain, Tasmania, and Ireland, it helps to think of Vancouver Island in that same sort of scale. Vancouver Island is not only big, it is surprisingly diverse.
Ferry times from Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) To Departure Bay (Nanaimo) depart approximately every 2 hours. Review the complete BC ferry schedules and get ready to sail away into island time. The sailing time from the Mainland to Vancouver Island are between 1 and 1/2 and 2 hours depending on the route you choose.
From tip to tip, the drive from Victoria to Port Hardy takes approximately 5.5 hours and offers smooth roads and endless opportunities for exploration. The Old Island Highway, also known as the Oceanside Route, runs parallel to the Island's shores and features fantastic views of the Salish Sea.
1849 – Vancouver Island becomes a Crown Colony of Great Britain and is leased to the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) for seven shillings a year under the condition that it encourage colonization. Richard Blanshard is named as the colony's first governor.
Sure it's worth it, if only for the ferry ride & Victoria has a good transit system + it also means 1 less day stuck in Vancouver. Vancouver Island is 300 miles long and 50 wide-you won't have time to see much. other parts of the island are fabulous. but, there ferry ride over is really beautiful.
A single ticket cost is $5.50 on weekdays before 6h30 pm and $2.75 at all other times. A ferry walk on passenger will pay $16.25. The ferry ride is 1.5 hours. At Swartz Bay, catch the BC Transit bus #70 Downtown/Airport bus.
The Island is 600 miles long, you can't just drive around it in a day or two. With only two weeks, you need to decide if you are going to see the Rockies (10 hour drive from Vancouver) or concentrate on Vancouver and Vancouver Island. You could easily spend the two weeks on the Island.
Gulf Islands are a cluster of 225 islands and islets in the Str of GEORGIA E of VANCOUVER I. SALTSPRING is the largest and most populated, and is linked with GALIANO, N and S Pender, MAYNE and Saturna islands by car ferry.
However, because of its many deep inlets and complicated island shorelines—and 40,000 islands of varying sizes, including Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii —the total length of the British Columbia Coast is over 25,725 kilometres (15,985 mi), making up about 10% of the Canadian coastline at 243,042 kilometres (151,019
The Gulf
Islands are the
islands in the Strait of Georgia (also known as the Salish Sea or the Gulf of Georgia), between
Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada.
Geography.
| Island | Salt Spring |
|---|
| Population | 10,557 |
|---|
| Area (km2) | 182.7 |
|---|
| Area (mi2) | 70.5 |
|---|
| Density (per km2) | 57.8 |
|---|
Further south is a string of islands and islets called the Gulf Islands. Known for their abundant sunshine and quiet beaches, the Gulf Islands are one of B.C.'s most popular island destinations.
Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands
- Southern Gulf Islands. The Southern Gulf Islands sit in the Salish Sea, between the mainland and the eastern side of Vancouver Island.
- Victoria & South Vancouver Island.
- Cowichan Valley.
- Central Vancouver Island.
- North Central Vancouver Island.
- North Vancouver Island.
- Pacific Rim.
How many islands are in the Salish Sea?
Blakely Island
Canoe Island
Barnes Island
Brown Island
Battleship Island
Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia, is located on the island, but the larger city of Vancouver is not – it is on the North American
mainland, across the Strait of Georgia from Nanaimo.
Vancouver Island.
| Geography |
|---|
| Highest point | Golden Hinde |
| Administration |
| Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island, island lying off of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. With an area of 12,079 square miles (31,285 square km), it is the largest island on the Pacific coast of North America.
The distance between Vancouver and Vancouver Island is 174 km.
BREAKING: NDP Approves Vehicle Bridge to Mainland. VICTORIA — After decades of studies, the NDP has green-lit a vehicle bridge that will connect downtown Vancouver with Gabriola Island. The 43-km steel span bridge will connect both sides directly in protected parkland.
This beautiful inland sea is 220 km (135 miles) long and at its narrowest point, about 25 km (15 miles) wide. The mean depth of these waters is 156 metres (512 ft), with a maximum depth of 447 metres (1,467 ft). Its surface area is approximately 6,800 square kilometres (2,600 sq mi). Did you know?
Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge
It is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia, and it is famous for its lakes, waterfalls, and mountains with glaciers. Vancouver Island is a beautiful place to visit and live.
Vancouver Island Hotels and Places to Stay
- Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn. View Hotel.
- Coast Bastion Hotel. View Hotel.
- Tigh-Na-Mara Resort. View Hotel.
- Painter's Lodge. View Hotel.
- Shady Shores Beach Resort. View Hotel.
- Pacific Shores Resort and Spa. View Hotel.
- Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay.
- Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn.
Vancouver Island is well known for having some of the warmest and most temperate weather in Canada. As a result, most coastal Vancouver Island communities experience warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters with infrequent freezing temperatures.
Vancouver Island supports black bears, cougars, wolves, elk, deer and many other mammal and bird species, both abundant and threatened in numbers.
Average temperature per month
| Temperature |
|---|
| Months | Normal | Coldest |
|---|
| April | 7.2°C | 1.8°C |
| May | 10.8°C | 5.0°C |
| June | 14.2°C | 8.3°C |
Yes, Victoria is a City on the Canadian island of Vancouver and you will arrive in Canada. A Passport is necessary AND essential for getting BACK into the USA.
Maquinna is an active submarine mud volcano on the Coast of British Columbia, Canada, located 16-18 kilometers west of Vancouver Island.
Yes, Victoria is a City on the Canadian island of Vancouver and you will arrive in Canada. A Passport is necessary AND essential for getting BACK into the USA.
