GETTING TO ALDER BAY
Located on the northern end of Vancouver Island, Alder Bay is the starting location for four of our tours, the Whales and Wilderness Glamping, Johnstone Strait Ultimate, Whales and Wilderness Expedition and Ultimate Family Adventure tours.
Click here for a Google Maps link to Alder Bay.
Unfortunately, there are no public transit options that will take you directly to Alder Bay, but you can find information on flights, taxis, rental cars, and carpooling below.
Travel Details to Alder Bay
+ FROM VANCOUVER
TRAVEL TIME BY CAR/FERRY: 6.5 HOURS
TRAVEL TIME BY AIR: 2 HOURS
BY AIR
To get as close as possible to Alder Bay, fly from Vancouver to Port Hardy (YZT), a scenic one hour flight with Pacific Coastal Airlines. From Port Hardy, you can rent a car or take a 40-minute taxi ride (approx. CA$100) to Alder Bay.
Alternatively, if you have time for exploring, you can also fly into Victoria (YYJ), Nanaimo (YCD), Comox (YQQ), or Campbell River (YBL) and drive from there. Car rentals are available in all of these airports.
*Please note that Pacific Coast Airlines flies from the South Terminal at Vancouver Airport (YVR).
TAXI
For destinations in and around Port Hardy including Alder Bay, Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill, and area. We recommend contacting the taxi in advance to reserve your transfer.
BY CAR
Drive from your location to the ferry terminal to cross over to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island (If you are travelling from south of Vancouver take the Tsawwassen– Duke Point/Nanaimo route which is closest to Vancouver airport and US border. If you are coming through Vancouver take the Horseshoe Bay–Departure Bay/Nanaimo route, See BC Ferries for rates and schedules). The ferry crossing takes approximately 2 hours. If you are travelling by car, please note that the ferries can get quite congested during the summer months, so we advise you to get an early start or make a reservation.
Once you get to Nanaimo take highway 19 North. It will be marked for Parksville, Campbell River & Port Hardy. Follow highway 19 all the way north to the exit marked for Telegraph Cove on Beaver Cove Road (approximately 4 hours drive). Follow this road for approximately 4 km. Turn left onto Alder Bay Road and drive for 1 km until you reach Alder Bay Resort and Marina.
CAR RENTALS
Both companies offer convenient pickup desks inside the Port Hardy airport and at a variety of other locations on Vancouver Island.
CARPOOLING
For guests looking to carpool with others on their tour, we provide a carpooling sign-up platform that can be used by guests to arrange shared rides amongst themselves. Upon registering for your tour you will gain access to the carpooling platform.
*Carpool availability depends on other guests signing up to be drivers. Therefore, carpool options may not be available for your tour dates. Please keep this in mind when making travel plans.
public Transit
For public transit options please click the “read more” button bellow.
Read MoreBY TRANSIT: 8+ HOURS
From the airport, take the Canada Line skytrain from YVR towards Waterfront Station. Exit the train at Vancouver City Center Station (approx 22 minutes).
Go to the bus stop on West Georgia St at Granville St (in front of the Hudson’s Bay store) to catch Translink Bus #257 Express to Horseshoe Bay. Travel time approx 40 minutes. Exit the bus at the Horseshoe Bay terminus.
Plan to arrive in Horseshoe Bay at least 20-30 minutes before your ferry is scheduled to depart. You can buy your walk-on ferry ticket for the Nanaimo (Vancouver Island) boat when you arrive or you can book ahead online here. Please note that even when booking ahead, you must arrive 20-30 minutes prior to the ferry’s departure. Sailing time approx 1hr 35 min
Once you dock in Nanaimo, go to IslandLink Bus Services (located directly outside the terminal entrance in the bus lane) to travel to Campbell River. Tickets must be purchased by midnight on the day before travel online. When booking, select your final stop as “Bus Stop at CRCC, 401 11th Ave @ Cedar”. This will be the closest stop to 1235 Shoppers Row, your pickup point for the next bus.
Waivin Flags Taxi then offers a bus service between Campbell River and Port Hardy. The shuttle departure location is at the Campbell River Visitors Center at 1235 Shoppers Row (a 5 minute walk from your IslandLink dropoff location). NOTE: This shuttle must be booked in advance by phone, text, or email and only operates tuesday, thursday and saturday.
From Port Hardy, you can take a 30 minute taxi ride to Alder Bay with Waivin Flags Taxi. It is suggested that this is coordinated in advance.
+ FROM VICTORIA
TRAVEL TIME BY CAR: 6 HOURS
TRAVEL TIME BY AIR: 3 HOURS (with a stop in Vancouver)
BY AIR
Pacific Coastal Airlines offers flights from Victoria (YYJ) to Port Hardy (YZT) with a stopover in Vancouver. Approximate 3 hours. From Port Hardy which is the closest airport to Alder Bay, you can rent a car or take a 40-minute taxi ride (apx. $100) to Telegraph Cove.
BY CAR
If you are travelling by car, it takes about 6 hours to reach Alder Bay. Take the Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N highway all the way north to the exit marked for Telegraph Cove on Beaver Cove Road (approximately 5 – 5.5 hours drive). Follow this road for approximately 4 km. Turn left onto Alder Bay Road and drive for 1 km until you reach Alder Bay Resort and Marina.
CARPOOLING
For guests looking to carpool with others on their tour, we provide a carpooling sign-up platform that can be used by guests to arrange shared rides amongst themselves. Upon registering for your tour you will gain access to the carpooling platform.
*Carpool availability depends on other guests signing up to be drivers. Therefore, carpool options may not be available for your tour dates. Please keep this in mind when making travel plans.
public Transit
For public transit options from Victoria, click the “read more” button bellow.
Read MoreBY TRANSIT: 8+ HOURS
Please note these directions will be different on Saturdays and unavailable on Sundays. These buses will also change depending on time of day. To find out the proper schedule for your route and day, use Google Maps for directions from Victoria Airport to Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and then from Departure Bay Ferry Terminal to Port Hardy.
Once you arrive, go to IslandLink Bus Services (located directly outside the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal entrance in the bus lane) to travel to Campbell River. Tickets must be purchased by midnight on the day before travel online. When booking, select your final stop as “Bus Stop at CRCC, 401 11th Ave @ Cedar”. This will be the closest stop to 1235 Shoppers Row, your pickup point for the next bus.
Waivin Flags Taxi then offers a bus service between Campbell River and Port Hardy. The shuttle departure location is at the Campbell River Visitors Center at 1235 Shoppers Row (a 5 minute walk from your IslandLink dropoff location). NOTE: This shuttle must be booked in advance by phone, text, or email and only operates tuesday, thursday and saturday.
From Port Hardy, you can take a 30 minute taxi ride to Alder Bay with Waivin Flags Taxi. It is suggested that this is coordinated in advance.
+ FROM SEATTLE
TRAVEL TIME BY CAR/FERRY: 9 HOURS
TRAVEL TIME BY AIR: 3 + HOURS
BY AIR
You can fly Seattle to Vancouver with many major airlines and from there take a flight with Pacific Coastal Airlines to Port Hardy which is the closest airport to Telegraph Cove. From Port Hardy, you can rent a car or take a 40-minute taxi ride (apx. $100) to Alder Bay. *Please note that Pacific Coast Airlines flies from the South Terminal at Vancouver Airport (YVR)
If you are travelling with a group, it may be possible to charter your own floatplane directly to our remote camps or the surrounding communities. Please insure the floatplane operator is aware we do not have a dock for landing. If you are interested in exploring this option further, please let us know and we can help determine if this is a possibility for your specific tour.
San Juan Airlines offers floatplane flights from Seattle and surrounding areas and flies to a variety of destinations on Vancouver Island.
Kenmore Air offers floatplane flights from Seattle to several locations on Vancouver Island.
Northwest Seaplanes offers floatplane flights from Renton, Washington near Seattle to several locations on Vancouver Island.
BY CAR
If you are driving from Seattle, allow the full day to get to our area. If you are travelling from south of Vancouver take the Tsawwassen–Nanaimo route (closest to Vancouver airport). If you are coming through Vancouver take the Horseshoe Bay–Nanaimo route. The ferry crossing takes approximately 2 hrs. See BC Ferries for rates and schedules. If you are travelling by car, please note that the ferries can get quite congested during the summer months, so we advise you to get an early start or make a reservation.
Travellers from the USA can also take ferries from Anacortes, Port Angeles, and the Seattle area to Victoria on the south end of the island.
Once you get to Nanaimo take highway 19 North. It will be marked for Parksville, Campbell River & Port Hardy. Follow highway 19 all the way north to the exit marked for Telegraph Cove on Beaver Cove Road (approximately 4 hours drive). Follow this road for approximately 4 km. Turn left onto Alder Bay Road and drive for 1 km until you reach Alder Bay Resort and Marina.
CARPOOLING
For guests looking to carpool with others on their tour, we provide a carpooling sign-up platform that can be used by guests to arrange shared rides amongst themselves. Upon registering for your tour you will gain access to the carpooling platform.
*Carpool availability depends on other guests signing up to be drivers. Therefore, carpool options may not be available for your tour dates. Please keep this in mind when making travel plans.
BY BUS
Buses will help you connect to either flights or rental cars, but there are currently no options to get all the way to Alder Bay by bus.
Bolt Bus offers quick and efficient service between downtown Seattle and downtown Vancouver (main bus terminal only). Free Wi-Fi onboard.
Quick Shuttle Service offers transportation between various locations in Seattle and Bellingham and various points in Vancouver, including airports and city centres.
Bellingham Airporter Service offers service between Seattle Airport and Anacortes Ferry (to Victoria).
Public transit
For public transit options from Seattle, click the “read more” button bellow.
Read MoreBY TRANSIT: 10+ HOURS
From King Street Station, you can take the Amtrak Cascades train to Pacific Central Station (4hrs) or the Flix Bus from “6th Ave S & S Lane St” to Pacific Central Station (4.5hrs).
From Pacific Central Station, walk 3 minutes to the Main Street-Science World Skytrain Station. Ride the Expo Line towards Waterfront station for 2 stops (3 mins) to Granville Station.
Go to the Westbound West Georgia St at Seymour St bus stop to catch Translink Bus #257 Express to Horseshoe Bay. Travel time approx 40 minutes. Exit the bus at the Horseshoe Bay terminus.
Plan to arrive in Horseshoe Bay at least 20-30 minutes before your ferry is scheduled to depart. You can buy your walk-on ferry ticket for the Nanaimo (Vancouver Island) boat when you arrive or you can book ahead online here. Please note that even when booking ahead, you must arrive 20-30 minutes prior to the ferry’s departure. Sailing time approx 1hr 35 min
Once you dock in Nanaimo, go to IslandLink Bus Services (located directly outside the terminal entrance in the bus lane) to travel to Campbell River. Tickets must be purchased by midnight on the day before travel online. When booking, select your final stop as “Bus Stop at CRCC, 401 11th Ave @ Cedar”. This will be the closest stop to 1235 Shoppers Row, your pickup point for the next bus.
Waivin Flags Taxi then offers a bus service between Campbell River and Port Hardy. The shuttle departure location is at the Campbell River Visitors Center at 1235 Shoppers Row (a 5 minute walk from your IslandLink dropoff location). NOTE: This shuttle must be booked in advance by phone, text, or email and only operates tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays.
From Port Hardy, you can take a 30 minute taxi ride to Alder Bay with Waivin Flags Taxi. It is suggested that this is coordinated in advance.
