If you have access to a car and want to explore further afield than Victoria, here’s some suggestions of where to visit around Vancouver Island!

You’ll find some trips listed in both sections because a day trip can easily be extended if you’re having too much fun to go back right away!

DAY TRIPS – Places close enough to get there and check things out – then get back the same day!

ADVENTURE AT THE MALAHAT SKYWALK

The Malahat Skywalk The Malahat Skywalk is one of Vancouver Island’s newest attractions, located about 30 minutes from downtown Victoria near the summit of the Malahat Drive. The Malahat Skywalk Spiral Tower Is

  • Giant Trees at Avatar Grove

AVATAR GROVE – PORT RENFREW

Avatar Grove and "Canada's Gnarliest Tree" Avatar Grove is one of the highlights of a visit to the Port Renfrew area and well worth a visit whether you decide to make the 2 hour drive

  • Port Renfrew, BC

THE PACIFIC MARINE CIRCLE ROUTE

The Pacific Marine Circle Route or South Island Spirit Loop The Pacific Marine Circle Route, also now known as the South Island Spirit Loop, follows the coastline from Victoria through Sooke and out to Port

  • Old Tractor on Mayne Island

ADVENTURES ON MAYNE ISLAND

Exploring Mayne Island - What to see, What to do. If you have traveled to Vancouver Island on the BC Ferries, you will have passed Mayne Island on your way through the spectacularly scenic Active

  • Duncan, BC Visitor in Victoria

DUNCAN, BC – CITY OF TOTEMS

If you're looking for a great day-trip while visiting Victoria, BC, consider a drive up the beautiful Malahat Drive to the city of Duncan, BC. The city is about 50 kilometres from both Victoria to

  • Cowichan Bay, BC

COWICHAN BAY

Cowichan Bay, BC is a small sea-side community about an hour north of Victoria, BC. For many thousands of years Cowichan Bay was home to First Nations people who harvested the wealth of salmon and

  • Whippletree Junction, Duncan, BC Visitor in Victoria

WHIPPLETREE JUNCTION

About 45 - 50 minutes or so north of Victoria right along Hwy #1 is the quaint and unique Whippletree Junction. It's a funky collection of businesses, restaurants and art and craft galleries that's always

  • Chemainus, BC Visitor in Victoria

CHEMAINUS – CITY OF MURALS

Chemainus is a small town of approximately 3900 and is located about 80 kilometers north of Victoria, BC. The drive itself up to the town is on the breathtaking Malahat Drive which passes through some

  • McLean Mill Visitor in Victoria

THE MCLEAN MILL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

A Trip Back in Time at the McLean Mill National Historic Site, Port Alberni, BC. A 2 1/2 hour drive will take you to one of Vancouver Island most interesting historical sites, the McLean Mill. 

  • Coombs Country Market, Coombs, BC Visitor in Victoria

COOMBS COUNTRY MARKET

I first happened upon this place over 20 years ago when it was just a ‘country market’ with the added appeal of having goats grazing on it’s turf roof.  It was a great place to

  • Kinsol Trestle

HISTORIC KINSOL TRESTLE

For a unique biking or walking experience, I suggest you drive up to see the amazing century old Kinsol Trestle which is now part of the Trans Canada Trail.  It's about an hour's drive up

  • Botanical Beach, Port Renfrew, BC

JUAN DE FUCA PROVINCIAL PARK – BOTANICAL BEACH

When visiting Victoria, a really nice day trip is out to Port Renfrew - there you'll find a wonderful place to explore, particularly at low tide - Botanical Beach. The drive to Botanical Beach is

  • BC Ferry Terminal at Lyall Harbour, Saturna Island, BC

SATURNA ISLAND

A SATURNA ISLAND DAY TRIP While you're in Victoria, you should definitely think about exploring some of the Gulf Islands.  If you want a quiet, outdoorsy get away, Saturna Island is probably your choice.  With

VINEYARDS

Vancouver Island is fast becoming one of the premier wine growing areas in BC - second only to the Okanagan Unsworth Vineyards, Mill Bay, BC Within the Greater Victoria area here are some

  • bus service

BUS SERVICE OUT-OF-TOWN

Bus Transportation from Victoria to other Vancouver Island Destinations If you're looking for easy, convenient and less expensive ways to get around Vanvouver Island, there are some very good bus services running on the island

SIDNEY SPIT NATIONAL PARK RESERVE

Sidney Spit National Park Reserve is located on Sidney Island, just east of the town of Sidney, BC Sidney Spit is accessible by kayak, canoe or boat. There are 21 mooring buoys, and dock space

  • Alberni Pacific Railway to Mclean Mill

ALBERNI PACIFIC STEAM TRAIN, PORT ALBERNI, BC

Welcome to the Alberni Pacific "Steam" Railway! Come ride the rails with the Albenie Pacific Steam Railway!  Over the past 20 years the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society has restored a number of pieces

  • Horne Lake Caves

HORNE LAKE CAVES PROVINCIAL PARK

Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park is located about 2.5 hours north of Victoria. (See map and directions at bottom of post) What to do at Horne Lake Caves… Cave Theatre & Museum Come visit the

  • Port Renfrew

PORT RENFREW

Port Renfrew is a Beautiful Drive and an Easy Day Trip Port Renfrew is situated near the entrance to the Juan de Fuca Strait and as such allows you to experience full exposure of the

  • bc ferry

THE GULF ISLANDS, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Just a short ferry ride from Victoria is a series of small islands called the 'Canadian Gulf Islands'. For something very different and memorable, take a ferry ride to one of the many Gulf Islands.

  • malahat view

DUNCAN AND CHEMAINUS, VANCOUVER ISLAND

A Driving Tour from Victoria To Duncan and Chemainus, BC If you're looking for other things to do within a day's drive from Victoria, consider driving up the famous 'Malahat' (Highway #1 North) with it's

LONGER TRIPS – These are far enough away that you might want to spend the night (or nights!) and return the next day (or week!).

  • Port Renfrew, BC

THE PACIFIC MARINE CIRCLE ROUTE

The Pacific Marine Circle Route or South Island Spirit Loop The Pacific Marine Circle Route, also now known as the South Island Spirit Loop, follows the coastline from Victoria through Sooke and out to Port

  • Old Tractor on Mayne Island

ADVENTURES ON MAYNE ISLAND

Exploring Mayne Island - What to see, What to do. If you have traveled to Vancouver Island on the BC Ferries, you will have passed Mayne Island on your way through the spectacularly scenic Active

  • Campbell River Harbour

A VISIT TO CAMPBELL RIVER

Outdoor Enthusiasts will Love Campbell River, BC Campbell River is the third largest city on Vancouver Island and is literally surrounded by nature. It sits on the 5oth parallel about a 3 hour drive north

  • West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island, BC

WEST COAST TRAIL

One of the best hikes on Vancouver Island is the West Coast Trail. This is not a trail to be taken lightly - it's not a Sunday afternoon type of hike.  This is a major

  • BC Ferry Terminal at Lyall Harbour, Saturna Island, BC

SATURNA ISLAND

A SATURNA ISLAND DAY TRIP While you're in Victoria, you should definitely think about exploring some of the Gulf Islands.  If you want a quiet, outdoorsy get away, Saturna Island is probably your choice.  With

  • bus service

BUS SERVICE OUT-OF-TOWN

Bus Transportation from Victoria to other Vancouver Island Destinations If you're looking for easy, convenient and less expensive ways to get around Vanvouver Island, there are some very good bus services running on the island

  • Telegraph Cove

Telegraph Cove, Vancouver Island

Telegraph Cove is named for a coastal telegraph station built a century ago. Kayaking into Telegraph Cove This renowned whale watching outpost retains it's original character as one of the West Coast's last

  • Port Renfrew

PORT RENFREW

Port Renfrew is a Beautiful Drive and an Easy Day Trip Port Renfrew is situated near the entrance to the Juan de Fuca Strait and as such allows you to experience full exposure of the

  • long beach

LONG BEACh, TOFINO, VANCOUVER ISLAND

SIGHTSEEING/PADDLING/WHALE WATCHING/SURFING Vancouver Island Because Vancouver Island is fairly small (about 460 km - or 290 mi x 80 km - or 50 mi) it's easy to get anywhere in a day. But