Road trip, advice needed :)
Nov 29th 2017, 3:48 pm
#46
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
The last time we caught a ferry from Horseshoe Bay, it was a 6 hour wait!
Nov 29th 2017, 8:42 pm
#47
"In cruce vincam"
Joined: May 2010
Location: Mill Bay, Vancouver Island
Posts: 3,232
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
Plus the hour or more wait at the ferry terminal each way. From Vancouver (via Horseshoe Bay) to Tofino, it is about 5.75 hours travel plus waiting time. Min 7 - 8 hour journey time, as one also has to get to Horseshoe Bay from the Downtown.
The last time we caught a ferry from Horseshoe Bay, it was a 6 hour wait!
The last time we caught a ferry from Horseshoe Bay, it was a 6 hour wait!
Nov 29th 2017, 8:52 pm
#48
Stand-up Philosopher
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Regina Saskatchewan
Posts: 16,344
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
Chowder and a beer at Troll's, add an hour.
Nov 30th 2017, 1:03 am
#50
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
I believe Orca still fly from Vancouver to Tofino.
Nov 30th 2017, 6:50 am
#51
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 191
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
Tofino is well worth it and not nearly as far as others are making you believe it is. From Nanaimo on Vancouver Island's eastern coast, you can drive there in 3 hours. You can stop at Goats on the Roof market (silly touristy market but nice nonetheless) along the way or Cathedral Grove (ancient Douglas firs, some of the biggest in BC) as a break, which will add a bit of time, but not much. The ferry journey to Nanaimo from West Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay takes 2 hours. That's a pleasant, leisurely boat ride, a part of the journey. Once in Tofino, you'll want at the very minimum three nights there. It's very romantic and enchanting. Consider staying somewhere like Ocean Village Resort, Long Beach Lodge Resort, or Ucluelet's Blackrock Resort. Eat at Tacofino and Wolf in the Fog. Grab a pint at Tofino Brewing Co. Pacific Rim National Park is a place I can easily spend a week in.
Nov 30th 2017, 3:04 pm
#53
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 1,371
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
Troll's is a place where screaming tots and their parents sit elbow-to-elbow eating fish & chips served by teenagers working their first jobs. It's too bad the Boathouse across the street closed.
Nov 30th 2017, 3:45 pm
#54
Stand-up Philosopher
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Regina Saskatchewan
Posts: 16,344
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
It was nice when I was there in '83. 
Nov 30th 2017, 8:30 pm
#55
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
Tofino is well worth it and not nearly as far as others are making you believe it is. From Nanaimo on Vancouver Island's eastern coast, you can drive there in 3 hours. You can stop at Goats on the Roof market (silly touristy market but nice nonetheless) along the way or Cathedral Grove (ancient Douglas firs, some of the biggest in BC) as a break, which will add a bit of time, but not much. The ferry journey to Nanaimo from West Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay takes 2 hours. That's a pleasant, leisurely boat ride, a part of the journey. Once in Tofino, you'll want at the very minimum three nights there. It's very romantic and enchanting. Consider staying somewhere like Ocean Village Resort, Long Beach Lodge Resort, or Ucluelet's Blackrock Resort. Eat at Tacofino and Wolf in the Fog. Grab a pint at Tofino Brewing Co. Pacific Rim National Park is a place I can easily spend a week in.
Yep, 3 hours ........ as long as you do NOT stop to do any of the touristy things such as "Goats on the Roof" (officially called the Old Country Market in Coombs) which is now on a side road so you have to divert from the main road, Cathedral Grove, stopping by one of the lakes or rivers, slow traffic, etc etc.
Ferry schedule between Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) June 23 2018 - Sept 3 2018 ...........
First ferry at 6:30 am, arrives Departure Bay 1 hour 40 minutes later at 8:10 am (if on time)
Last ferry leaves Departure Bay 10:10 pm
You have to work your timing out very carefully ............... and include at least 7 hours driving time to and from Tofino (allowing time for photo stops, walk, snack).
In other words, a VERY long day trip from Vancouver, and one which will not let yo spend much time in Tofino.
Nov 30th 2017, 10:30 pm
#56
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 1,371
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
It is definitely not a day trip.
Dec 1st 2017, 4:53 pm
#57
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2016
Location: Gold Coast QLD
Posts: 61
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
We did a 3 week trip around Vancouver, Whistler (Garibaldi Lake I think is a must), Kamloops, Sun Peaks, Jasper, Banff, Kelowna then back to Vancouver in September, cost us total of £3500 for everything incl hire car, flights, food, hotels and day trips.
We went whale watching in Vancouver and would do it again in a heartbeat even if it was the most expensive! We didn't make it to VI, I wanted to go whale watching from kayaks and only available there. But the thought of going all the way over there for a day was painful so left it for when we have longer than a couple of days.
Sun peaks after Whistler was a bit of a downer as we just missed the end of summer season so couldn't bike and obviously winter hadn't started yet.
We went whale watching in Vancouver and would do it again in a heartbeat even if it was the most expensive! We didn't make it to VI, I wanted to go whale watching from kayaks and only available there. But the thought of going all the way over there for a day was painful so left it for when we have longer than a couple of days.
Sun peaks after Whistler was a bit of a downer as we just missed the end of summer season so couldn't bike and obviously winter hadn't started yet.
Dec 1st 2017, 7:47 pm
#58
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 191
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
We did a 3 week trip around Vancouver, Whistler (Garibaldi Lake I think is a must), Kamloops, Sun Peaks, Jasper, Banff, Kelowna then back to Vancouver in September, cost us total of £3500 for everything incl hire car, flights, food, hotels and day trips.
We went whale watching in Vancouver and would do it again in a heartbeat even if it was the most expensive! We didn't make it to VI, I wanted to go whale watching from kayaks and only available there. But the thought of going all the way over there for a day was painful so left it for when we have longer than a couple of days.
Sun peaks after Whistler was a bit of a downer as we just missed the end of summer season so couldn't bike and obviously winter hadn't started yet.
We went whale watching in Vancouver and would do it again in a heartbeat even if it was the most expensive! We didn't make it to VI, I wanted to go whale watching from kayaks and only available there. But the thought of going all the way over there for a day was painful so left it for when we have longer than a couple of days.
Sun peaks after Whistler was a bit of a downer as we just missed the end of summer season so couldn't bike and obviously winter hadn't started yet.
We are definitely doing Whistler and Whale watching! Sounds like you had a great trip, with much more time to fit things in! We'll do a nice big road trip, might be a little easier next year due to possibility of actually being in Canada on an OWP
Last edited by hh619; Dec 1st 2017 at 8:21 pm.
Dec 2nd 2017, 2:44 pm
#59
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Road trip, advice needed :)
That's much less likely once you have jobs in Canada. Do it first.
