Top 10 Things to Do on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is nearly the size of Taiwan but feels like its own country — a long, weather-beaten spine of mountains fringed by rainforest, surf breaks, and fishing villages. Most travellers fly into Victoria and never go further than the inner harbour. That's a mistake. Here are the ten experiences you shouldn't miss.

1. Stroll Victoria's Inner Harbour Watch floatplanes come and go, visit the Royal BC Museum, and take high tea at the Empress — a fussy, wonderful rite of passage.

2. Walk The Butchart Gardens A hundred-year-old limestone quarry turned into 22 hectares of themed gardens. Go at night in summer for the fireworks display.

3. Whale watch from Victoria or Telegraph Cove Orcas, humpbacks, and minke whales ply the waters off the southern and northern island. Three-hour Zodiac tours run May through October.

4. Surf Tofino Long Beach and Cox Bay are Canada's surf capital. Beginners can book a lesson at Chesterman Beach; pros chase winter swells that reach six metres.

5. Hike the Wild Pacific Trail A nine-kilometre clifftop path near Ucluelet that serves up wave-crashed rocks, ocean spray, and old-growth Sitka spruce in easy one-kilometre loops.

6. Explore Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Walk the rainforest trails, scan for grey whales from the shore, and learn the Nuu-chah-nulth history that long predates the park.

7. Soak in the hot springs at Hot Springs Cove A boat or floatplane ride from Tofino, then a boardwalk hike through the rainforest to geothermal pools steaming at the ocean's edge.

8. Drive the Pacific Marine Circle Route A 255-km loop from Victoria through Cowichan Valley wineries, old-growth forests, and Port Renfrew's tide pools.

9. Sip wine in the Cowichan Valley Vancouver Island's wine region specialises in cool-climate Pinot Gris and Ortega. Pair tastings with farm-gate cheese.

10. Ride the Malahat for the view The inland highway north of Victoria climbs to a lookout over the Saanich Peninsula — worth the detour at golden hour.

How long to stay A long weekend gives you Victoria plus a taste of the coast. To do the island justice — Tofino, the north, and the interior — give it a week and rent a car.