My Top Ten Favourites on Vancouver Island....(So Far)
- Tonya Maree
- Feb 29, 2016
- 7 min read
Vancouver Island is definitely a beautiful place, there is no denying it... The first couple of times I visited I got to see lots of the "tourist" things with the guide of my husbands family and friends which I aboslutely enjoyed enough to make the decision to move here! It wasn't until we started living here when things really became amazing and the reality of just how stunning this place is really hit me! The Island is quite small and when your from a big vibrant city like Melbourne, Downtown Victoria can sometimes feel like your walking around in circles passing the same things all the time... Its definitely a popular spot for tourists who want to escape the big city but still enjoy good food and all the amenities of a city on a smaller scale, However if you want to really see the beauty of Vancouver Island all you have to do it get a little bit out of town (nothing is too far to drive here) In the past year of living here we have made it a mission to try and explore a new location every weekend (when possible between, work, family and life commitments) With the reccomendations of the locals and travellers alike. If your keen to visit Vancouver Island but dont want to see the regular spots... Here is my list of my top ten favourite places (so far) on Vancouver Island... Easy to find and a great taste of the beauty this place has to offer!
1. Sooke Potholes
Sooke itself is a beautiful place, its about a 30min winding drive from Downtown Victoria through the beautiful fir trees and forest views, along the way you will see spectacular views of the strait of Juan De Fuca and Sooke itself has many beautiful hidden gems and beaches. Driving to Sooke is peaceful and its always beautiful, rain, hail or shine, Sooke does not disappoint.
If you do get the chance to visit Sooke, do not leave without a stop at the Sook Potholes Provincial Park. In Summer its a beautiful place to swim and has a range of hikes and camping is also available during peak season. Winter turns the potholes into a what resembles wild rapids but its still a stunning place no matter the time of year.
2. The Quarry
"The Quarry" this place is one of those places that you will probably only find out about if you know someone, who knows someone, who knows about "The Quarry" hence how we found out about it. I would say its very well known with locals, and its definitely my favourite summer swim spot! I'm not a huge fan of swimming in lakes, and the ocean here just doesn't compare to the beaches of Australia, so when we were taken to The Quarry I was in love! Its basically a huge pit in the ground and from the stories I've been told, it used to be a Quarry but filled up with water and is now a popular swimming and camping spot (But who really knows the truth of this magical place). Its located around the Shawnigan Lake area and you have to walk a little way to reach it, but with its beautiful clear deep blue water its a great spot to visit with some friends, a couple of ciders and a picnic on a hot summers day. Just make sure you clean up after yourself to keep this place in pristine condition!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Quarry-Shawnigan-Lake/119926668108737
3. Goldstream Railway Trestle
The first couple of times I visited Vancouver Island, we were taken to Goldstream Park which is an amazing spot just at the start of the Malahat drive if your heading up Island. However it wasnt until we moved here that we were told about the Goldstream Trestle! Just across the road from the main entrance of Goldstream Park, hidden away is an old abandoned railway trestle. The bridge crosses the Niagara creek and its a nice heart pumping short hike up to get to it. With beautiful views and not too many people around, you really feel like your in the middle of nowhere even though its only 25mins out of town. Highly recommend a visit to this place if your up for a challenging (but short) hike and some fun thrills of crossing the trestle without having to hold someones hand!.... If your a little scared of heights, this place might not be ideal, you could also visit the safer version (Kinsol Trestle) which has been restored with railings and is much more family friendly with no big hills to climb.... Hell why not just put both on your list on things to do while here?!
Kinsol Trestle
4. Mckenzie Bight
This place is definitely one of my most favourite places! Everytime i have been here it feels like i've entered Jurassic Park... its so mystical and the hike down is just as beautiful, with moss covered tree's, trickling streams and waterfalls to keep it interesting, until you reach "The Beach"... Its amazing! Located in the Gowland Todd Provincial Park, the views from here are truly spectacular. While your there keep exploring, there is over 25km of hiking trails to hike in this Provincial Park. Pack some lunch and spend the day adventuring!
5. Lone Tree Hill
Another favourite spot, located in the Highlands of Victoria is Lone Tree Hill Regional Park, the top summit is 364m and from the top you will see amazingly beautiful views of the Highlands, The Malahat, Downtown Victoria and The Distant Olympic mountains! Ditch the popular Mount Doug and go here instead! The Sunset from here is truly beautiful and its way more quiet. Pack a picnic and go watch the sunset or sunrise (if your into that)... Go, Go, Go...NOW!
6. Qualicum Beach
Qualicum Beach is a small town located further up Island, if you are planning to go here, I would definitely recommend spending a night or two as its about 2.5hrs away from Downtown Victoria and driving back at night over the Malahat can be a pretty daunting experience if you have never done it before. However, if you are keen to see more of what this Island has to offer... I highly reccomend taking the drive to this little sea side town located at the foot of Mt Arrowsmith, along the strait of Georgia on the North East Coast of Vancouver Island. Its super cute, peaceful and friendly, and there are plenty of great spots to stop at along the way. Its a great place to be on a warm summers night and make sure you catch the sunset while your there with some local Fish and Chips for dinner.
7. Sombrio Beach
If you like to surf but dont have time for the 3hr drive to Tofino (We are going there in 2 weeks, stay tuned for that blog) then Sombrio beach may just be your place to visit... It is located along the Juan De Fuca Coastal trail and is a popular spot for camping and surfing. Even if you dont surf *raises hand* I still recommend visiting this part of the Island as the views are beautiful and there are lots of stunning beaches along the way to stop at. A quick view at the website, tells me that if you do plan to surf at this beach, it is highly recommended that full wet suits and booties should be worn all year round to prevent an unnesscary trip to the ER with a case of hypothermia... Other than that, pack a tent, some food and away you go for a super fun weekend of sun and surf.
8. Thetis Lake
If your looking for a taste of nature close to town, with some nice views and hiking trails, Thetis Lake is definitely a spot to visit! It can get quite busy here, especially in the summer months but I still recommend it as its definitely a gem. Its a good place for a picnic, walking the dog and to kayak. You can swim there too (although as I said before I'm not a fan of swimming in lakes) but if thats your thing, then pack your swimmers and a towel and your set. Thetis is located a mere 20mins from Downtown Victoria along the Trans-Canada Hwy, take the exit towards Colwood and turn right on Six Mile Road (The Six Mile Pub is on the corner if your keen for a beer afterwards) which leads right up to the park entrance.
9. Lake Cowichan Tubing
This is definitely only a summer activity, so if your planning to visit Vancouver Island in the summer, grab a group of people, some drinks and head up to Lake Cowichan for a day of tubing down the river. Its one of the best ways to spend a lazy sunday in the sun with friends. Its definitely a great way to see the river, and you can hire tubes with a complimentary shuttle back into town once you reach the end. It takes roughly 2.5-3hrs to make your way down, and the views are definitely worth it. We had so much fun that we did it twice in one day!
(There I am, in the middle, just enjoying the sunshine :D)
10. East Sooke Coastal Trail
And last but definitely not least is the East Sooke Coastal Trail, so i've already discussed how great Sooke is, well East Sooke is also an amazing place, especially for hiking. Just recently on a warm Janaury day (yep we get those in this part of Canada) we took our pup and went for a 5hr round trip hike along the East Sooke Coastal trail and it was AMAZING! The hike along the coast is approx 10km beginning at Aylard Farm. You get to experience some spectacular views of the mountains as well as feeling like you are on an exotic tropical Island in the Caribbean (okay maybe not that far but if you have a good imagination anything is possible) Anyway, if your keen for a fun hike with views of the water, then East Sooke Coastal trail will not disappoint! Its fun and challenging and worth the 30min drive out of town.
So there it is... My Top Ten Favourite places on Vancouver Island (so far)... I definitely have a lot more exploring to do, and this Island has ALOT to offer if you love the outdoors so if your planning a trip here get out of Downtown, hire a car or if you know some locals ask them ever so nicely if they can show you some of the other things this place has to offer besides the obvious... People who live on this Island are extremely proud of it, whether they were born and raised here or moved here for the sheer fact its AMAZING, i'm sure they will only be too happy to show it off to you... If you have any other great spots you would like to share, I'm always up for new adventures! Whats YOUR favourite place on Vancouver Island?
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