Victoria and Namaimo on our own

[KauaiKris]

We're going to be on the Mercury sailing the Pacific Northwest in late September. My husband has said he would prefer to just do the ports on our own this year, rather than take any organized tours (we like to go about at our leisure and on our time schedule), but we know very little about these two places and whether that makes sense.

 

In Victoria, he's interested in Butchart Gardens or Craigdarroch Castle, but we have no idea how we might get their on our own? Is it reasonably possible, and if so, how? Or do we really need to go with a tour group?

 

What else might we want to see on our own in Victoria or Nanaimo? All information and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

[SeattleCruiselover]

You would need to have a car or pay a fairly steep taxi fare. Both are a fair ways out of downtown Victoria and the cruise dock. Nanaimo is about 30 or 40 miles from Victoria, as well.

[Urban trekker]

I assume that you are on one of the sailings that the Mercury is doing that will visit Nanaimo - if so you will be tendering into town and will dock right downtown - there is a very well developed broadwalk with shops, pubs etc right where you come ashore - My Norwegian Star repo this spring stopped here and the reception by the local Chamber of commerce was outstanding - the walk along the waterfront will take you into the older, historic part of the city and a couple of shopping malls - if you are into mall shopping the bulk of them are uptown - local bus will take you there - if you are into exercise - Newcastle Island is a five minute boat ride to - trails, lakes and indian culture and the old dancehall and coffee shop will probably be opened if a ship is in town.

Here's a link to the Port authority web site:

 

http://www.npa.ca/en/index.html

 

Here's one for Newcastle island:

 

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/newcastl.htm

 

Here's one more for Newcastle:

 

http://www.newcastleisland.ca/

 

Hope this helps - I will let some of the Victoria posters on these threads provide you with info on that great city.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[KauaiKris]

Thanks, Urban Trekker, that was very helpful.

[hcat]

Hi Kris--hope to see you post again on the roll call for this trip. We are doing nanaimo on our own--keeping it low key. If you change your mind about Victoria we are taking the Gardens & winery tour. We were disappointed to learn that it is in ther aftrenoon so we won't get to see the Craigdorach castle or much else--just a brief trip out in the morning & then the pm tour. The castle, parliament & Hotel all look so interesting but we finally chose the gardens---See you on board! The sailaway group has grown...

[Nanaimo Tour Guide]

Hello Everyone,

 

What to do while you are here? You land in the downtown core, where everything is in walking distance. A short guided walk ($5US) will answer all your questions and provide an overview. I recommend http://www.naturepark.com/heritage as they are homeowners, have lived in different provinces of Canada and are career tourism guides, not just university students. You can pre-book by e-mail or look once you land and find them in the Old City Quarter.

 

Just for the cruisers, a farmers market is hosted, there will be music in the streets and information people in yellow on every corner. You MUST visit the 1853 Hudson Bay Company Bastion (the only original one standing in North America) has FREE entry, and take a stroll on the waterfront promenade. There are 3 shopping districts: waterfront, Commercial St (the original downtown), and the old City Quarter (the second downtown). There are many restaurants and coffee shops of all enthnicities to choose from.

 

2 historic churches are open to poke your nose into and check out the cannon firing near the Bastion at noon. There is a great little museum to visit. It covers the basics of the town's history and has relica petroglyphs,a steam engine and a miners cottage outside. A whopping $2 to get into. About a mile hike via the waterfront walkway is a huge treed park called Bowen Park complete with creek and waterfalls.

 

If you want travel to some of the small islands, there are several to choose from that you can do in a half day, just check your ferry return times and allow time for walking before you go.

Newcastle island is a provincial park www.newcastleislandferry.ca/ferry.htm for either hardcore hikers (7mi perimeter) or gentle strollers. There is a 1930's Dance pavillion, a sandstone quarry and a good example of local coastal Douglas fir forests there that you can explore to your comfort level.

 

For those who just want a ferry ride, take the Protection Island Ferry to the Dinghy Dock pub http://www.dighydockpub.com. Great food, great fun!

 

For a longer ferry trip, try visiting the Gabriola Island. Its about 25 min one way, they run hourly, and you can walk to the museum (check to see if its open first) http://www.island.net/~gm_chin or to the Malaspina sandstone galleries carved by wave and wind and "discovered" 200 years ago by the early Spanish explorer that bears his name. Pack a lunch but there is a outdoor mall there for a coffee stop if you need one. You can rent scooters there to speed your trip.

 

Overall, I recommend stopping at the tourist info tent as you get off the ship to get a map. If you don't see what you are looking for, ask! They have many activities but forget to tell people.

[Phamer55]

I would recommend kayaking around Newcastle island. We thoroughly enjoyed our private kayaking excursion with Jan Kretz (http://www.adventuress.ca/). Jan specializes in kayaking trips for women, but is happy to take any group such as ours (4 adults and kids). We had such a great time kayaking around beautiful Newcastle Island and stopping on a sandy beach for lunch. The total trip took about 4 hours. Jan was great and provided us with lots of information about the local area and the wildlife.

[trixie54]

Has anyone done this, or can tell me about the area? It's a tour offered on our stop on Radiance of the Seas in Sept.

[Marzipan]

Butchart Gardens and the castle are very easy to get to.

If you want to take a tour take a shuttle downtown and catch the double decker infront of the Empress. The tour will take you to both.

 

For public bus lines go to www.bctransit.ca

 

If you rent a car it could not be easier to get to both places.

 

There are wineries all over. Near Butchart Gardens or in the Cowican Valley. To go to the valley you will go through Goldstram Park which I am sure the driver will stop and show you ancient redwoods then up over malahat mountain where you will stop and if you look down over the bay and see a large smoke stack on the pennisula that is butchart garden. The area is very pretty. The wines vary from good to well learning. The cider at Merridale is very good.

 

I cycle the tour once a year.

[brenda56]

Hi KauaiKris,

Welcome (in advance) to Victoria. As another poster has said it is easy to get to either Butchart Gardens or Craigdarroch Castle via tours that leave from sites easily walkable from the pier.

If you decide you'd like to do something else, you might try the Royal BC Museum which is walking distance from the ship and very close to the BC Parliament buildings which are illuminated at night (great pictures). The Empress Hotel is in the same immediate area and offers a world famous afternoon tea experience. (Afternoon tea can also be had at Butchart Gardens). If you'd like to do afternoon tea and are interested in a more intimate, local experience with fabulous food, try the White Heather Tea Room. You would need to take a cab.

Victoria's downtown is compact, within easy walking distance of the ship and has a small but interesting Chinatown and many unique places to shop. Try Fantan Alley in the older part of town.

 

FYI- if you are driving to Nanaimo rather than docking there- it's much more like 60-70 miles than 30-40.

[gratefulguy]

Some other web-sites:

http://www.hellobc.com http://www.hellovictoria.com http://www.winebc.com http://www.victoria.worldweb.com http://www.busonline.ca/regions/vic/schedules/explore

You might also search on Cruise Critic for the 5/21/06 sailing of RCI's Serenade of the Seas (Pac Coastal)--they went to both ports and there were many tips on the areas.

I was on Radiance the same dates, but we didn't go to Nanaimo. I took the bus to Butchart Gardens--it's very easy (and cheap!)

[trixie54]

Love your screen name! What bus did you take to Butchart Gardens, where did you catch it, & how much did it cost? Or a website? Thanks so much - leaving in 28 days!

[MVPinBoynton]

When we were on the Infinity last year we took a ship tour that stopped at Cathedral Grove. Quite a beautiful forest in a lovely area. You can see pics and read the review of our Pacific NW cruise at our website www.thepreismans.com . Nanaimo has a nice group of shops right near the dock that is nice to walk around. Be sure to try one of the treats the area is known for, the Nanaimo Bar.

[walkabout07]

Can anyone help? Where is the place closest to the pier/port/dock to buy a day pass on public bc transit to get to Butchart Gardens, the Castle, back downtown, etc? Is the fare still $6.00 for all day (regardless of how many times I get on and off the bus)? We will be there on Wednesday October 4th.

[Marzipan]

The day pass is $6. You can get the pass from any bus driver but you must have correct change.

 

Butchart Gardens is wonderful but it is not the best gardens in Victoria. It is just the most expensive and best advertised.

 

If you go the Craigdarroch Castle you are a 5 minute walk away from Government house with its wonderful and yes free gardens, Beacon Hill Park is two block away from the Royal BC Museum and the Legislature and is wonderful and yes free. The Abkhazi Gardens http://www.conservancy.bc.ca/content.asp?sectionack=abkhazi are a short bus ride from the Castle and are dazzling and what a romantic history.

 

Do not have tea at the Empress Hotel unless you want to be surronded by other cruisers paying 5 times the price for a proper tea. Go for a walk through the building - it is wonderful.

 

There are so many places to have a nice tea without paying the tourist surcharge.

Victoria is a wonderful city that is missed by most cruisers.

[shipknotshore]

The help everyone gives on these boards is amazing. Thanks everyone for all the great info. for Nanaimo & Victoria. We will be at both these ports next May and really didn't know what to do.We'll also be stopping in Vancouver & need some input on sights and "not to miss" places to go there too. Again, thanks for your input.

[shipknotshore]

Sorry....guess I got ahead of myself asking for info. on Vancouver before I discovered there was another thread for the same thing. Thanks anyway.