Route: Victoria Harbour, Victoria, Vancouver Island
Area: British Columbia, Canada
Date of walk: 27th September 2024
Walkers: Andrew, Gilly, James and Anna
Distance: 4.5 miles
Ascent: 200 feet
Weather: Sunshine and blue skies
After a couple of poor weather days, we woke up to blue skies in Vancouver. It was lovely to be joined by Anna, James’s girlfriend, and we all looked forward to spending three days together exploring the island, which is larger than Wales. After taking the early morning ferry from nearby Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island we drove to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. The city sits on the craggy southern end of Vancouver Island and the pathways around Victoria Harbour are perfect for a half day walk. After parking near Chinatown we made our way down to the seafront and walked around the Inner Harbour, passing by the BC Parliament Buildings, home to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Along the route there are numberous opportunities to make a full day of the visit by booking a Whale Watching Trip ‘sightings guaranteed’ or a seaplane tour around the surrounding area. We enjoyed watching the seaplanes take off from and land in the harbour area as we walked along
Beyond the Parliament Buildings we followed the David Foster Way to Fisherman’s Wharf, a fascinating place packed with small restaurants, kiosks and unusual shops. There is also a community of ‘float homes’, brightly coloured wooden houses which move with the winds and tides
As we walked around the wharf we had close sightings of a pair of harbour seals swimming by the quayside. After a fish and chip lunch we retraced our steps for a while and then walked along Government Street, and past Chinatown to end a hugely enjoyable walk
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Blue skies on board the ferry from Vancouver to Vancouver Island
The ferry weaves its way between numerous small islands
After alighting from the ferry at Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island, we drove over to Victoria, capital of British Columbia. James and Anna head for the harbour
Johnson Street Bridge ahead
Looking across Victoria Harbour to Victoria West
Tempting, but we hoped to see whales the day after next - and we did
An airport in the water
We walk towards the British Columbia Parliament Buildings
Reflections in Victoria Harbour
The Parliament Buildings
The Kwakiutl Bear Pole, installed in 1966 to commemorate the centenary of the union of the colonies on Vancouver Island and the mainland as British Columbia
Another landmark, the Lebanese Emigrant Statue, a token of appreciation from the early Lebanese settlers who were welcomed here by Canada
Views across to Victoria West as we continue around Victoria Harbour...
Looking across to Fisherman\'s Wharf and its unique floating homes...
We enter onto the Wharf
It was lunchtime and we were hungry...
Entertainment provided by a pair of harbour seals as we ate our fish and chips...
We stroll along the wharf admiring the well maintained floating homes and their reflections in Victoria Harbour...
We pass by the Knowledge Totem Pole and the British Columbia Parliament Buildings
We retrace our steps past the British Columbia Parliament Buildings...
We pass by Victoria Harbour again before heading into the shopping area of Victoria along pedestrianised Government Street
We make a diversion along Fan Tan Alley in the Chinatown district of Victoria, known for being the narrowest commercial street in North America
Chinatown, Victoria
At the end of the walk, we could not resist popping into to The British Shop...
