The wonders of nature are ever-present on Vancouver Island. At Butterfly World, witness the entire life cycle of butterflies as well as learn about exotic plant and bird species. While gardens are everywhere in Victoria, those of the Pacific Undersea Gardens are thrillingly underwater. The marine-focused exhibits at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney also showcase colourful aquatic creatures.
No visit to the island is complete without a stroll through the temperate rainforest. The Douglas-firs and western redcedars at Cathedral Grove, some of the oldest and largest on Vancouver Island, are breathtaking. For those interested in the forestry industry, guided tours are available in active logging areas. Winter is no less exciting here; storm watching is a favourite pastime in the Pacific Rim region, where visitors can watch the tempests of the Pacific unfurl from the comfort of cozy cabins and lodges.
Cathedral Grove
Walking through the immense, ancient trees of Cathedral Grove is a singular, awe-inspiring experience. The dense canopy creates a magical, dappled green light, matched by a profound quiet broken only by the occasional birdcall.
One giant Douglas-fir on the south side of the highway measures more than 9m/29.5ft in circumference. On the north side, western redcedars dominate the landscape by nearby Cameron Lake.
Cathedral Grove is located in MacMillan Provincial Park, a 20-minute drive west from Qualicum Beach via Highway 4.
> MacMillan Park website.
Pacific Undersea Gardens
At Pacific Undersea Gardens, visitors descend 5m/15ft below the surface of the Inner Harbour to see thousands of marine animals and plants in a natural but protected environment.
Live dive shows in the underwater theatre are narrated by both tour guides and divers, who use underwater communications equipment to interact with visitors during the show.
Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
Fans of marine life will impressed by Sidney's new Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, an aquarium and environmental centre that showcases the wonders of the ocean surrounding the Gulf Islands. Spy on wolf eels, jellies, rockfish, the octopus and hundreds more colourful creatures swimming in massive aquarium habitats. Or delicately dip a finger into touch pools to feel bumpy sea stars and spiny urchins. Even the elevator has special effects to create the sensation of descending to the sea floor.
Storm Watching in the Pacific Rim
An exhilarating way to blast away the winter blues, storm watching in the Pacific Rim region has become very popular as a spectator sport. Torrential rains, gale-force winds, and tremendous waves — This is Mother Nature at her theatrical best and it is absolutely awe-inspiring! Beaches, swept smooth and clean from repeated thrashings, are deserted and the coastal forests loom like dark shadows in the misty sky.
Catch these raging storms through the windows of a fireplace-warmed inn, or don rain gear and feel the power of the wind and water from a designated-safe, outdoor viewing area. Many of the accommodation properties in the Pacific Rim region offer storm watching packages and are happy to lend rain gear to those who choose to venture outdoors during the storm. Storm watching season starts in late October and lasts until early spring.
Forestry Tours
Ever wondered how trees are turned into paper or lumber that is shipped all around the world? Find out how trees are planted, grown, protected from disease, thinned, harvested, processed, and shipped - on a variety of forestry tours in the Vancouver Island region.
Options include guided tours of active logging areas, pulp and paper mills, and lumber mills. Tours are available in Crofton, Port Alberni, Lake Cowichan, and Port McNeill.