Marine Ecology — Scenic Coastline Tour

Attractions and activities on land and water are combined in this itinerary of destinations along Victoria's coastline. This route is ideal for motorcoaches and individual vehicles alike.

Royal British Columbia Museum
This world-renowned museum at Victoria's Inner Harbour includes the Open Ocean exhibit, which examines the underwater world through films, special effects and displays.

Maritime Museum of British Columbia
Housed in an 1889 heritage building, formerly the Court House, this museum features more than 5,000 artifacts, including the largest model ship collection in Canada. New exhibits include the Vice Admiralty's Courtroom and the Passenger Travel Gallery.

Whale Watching
Many tour companies offer whale- and wildlife-watching tours. A variety of boats are available, from high-speed zodiac tours to cruises aboard yachts and sailboats.

Fishing Charter
Several charter operators are based out of Victoria's Inner Harbour as well as other marinas in and near Victoria.

Harbour Tour
Take a tour of Victoria's Inner Harbour and the Gorge Waterway. Stops along the way include Fisherman's Wharf and other key points on a circle route.

Beacon Hill Park and Mile Zero
Victoria's oldest municipal park offers spectacular ocean views, wooded pathways, gardens, duck ponds, and a petting zoo. The Ogden Point breakwater is nearby. Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway is located at the corner of Douglas Street and Dallas Road.

Beach Drive Scenic Route
Dallas Road becomes Beach Drive and leads past the district of Oak Bay (which has a bevy of tantalizing restaurants and pubs), the Oak Bay Marina (which has several restaurants and offers boat charters), Willows Beach (with easy public access and parking) and the stately homes of the Uplands residential district.

Mount Douglas Park
A lookout point with paved-road access grants views of the US and of the Gulf Islands. Easy to moderate hiking trails wind throughout the park.

Sidney Marine Mammal Museum
This excellent marine mammal museum is located in Sidney. Follow Highway #17 to Sidney or take scenic Lochside Drive from the Mt. Newton X-Road turnoff.

Sidney Spit Provincial Park
A sandy island park offers hiking, bird watching and beaches. The park is accessible only by boat,  so a passenger ferry service from Sidney is available from May 15 to mid-October.

Sidney Harbour Cruise
Tours of the local waterways from Port Sidney Marina include stops along the way, sometimes even a local pub.