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.
Due to the nature of remote travel, 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
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. Please note that in the summer the ferries can get quite congested so we strongly advise all guests to make a reservation in advance.
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 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 Coastal 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.
public Transit
For public transit options from Vancouver, please click the “read more” button below. To follow this option, you must leave the day before your tour begins.
Read MoreFrom 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 Port McNeill (closest to Alder Bay) or Port Hardy. Tickets must be purchased by midnight on the day before travel online
From Port Hardy or Port McNeill, you can take a 45 (PH) or 30 (PM minute taxi ride to Alder Bay with Coastal Rides, Waivin Flags Taxi or Town Taxi. It is suggested that this is coordinated in advance.
+ FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND
BY CAR
The amount of time it will take you to meet us in Alder Bay will depend on where you are coming from on Vancouver Island. Most guests will take the Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 N highway all the way north to the exit marked for Telegraph Cove on Beaver Cove Road. 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 AIR
There are very few direct flights from other airports on Vancouver Island to Port Hardy (YZT) but you can fly with Pacific Coastal Airlines to Port Hardy (YZT) from many different Vancouver Island based Airports with a stop over in Vancouver (YVR). From Port Hardy, you can rent a car to drive the remaining 45 minutes to Alder Bay or take a taxi.
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.
public Transit
For public transit options on Vancouver Island, click the “read more” button below.
Read MoreIslandLink Bus Service provides public transportation across Vancouver Island including service to Port McNeill (closest to Alder Bay) or Port Hardy. We recommend checking their website to find what route works best for you. Please note that all tickets must be purchased by midnight on the day before travel online
From Port Hardy or Port McNeill, you can take a 45 (PH) or 30 (PM minute taxi ride to Alder Bay with Coastal Rides, Waivin Flags Taxi or Town Taxi. It is suggested that this is coordinated in advance.
+ FROM SEATTLE
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 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 Alder Bay. From Port Hardy, you can rent a car or take a 40-minute taxi ride (apx. $100) to Alder Bay.
*Please note that Pacific Coastal 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.
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.
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.
Public transit
For public transit options from Seattle, click the “read more” button bellow.
Read MoreFrom 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 Port McNeill (closest to Alder Bay) or Port Hardy. Tickets must be purchased by midnight on the day before travel online
From Port Hardy or Port McNeill, you can take a 45 (PH) or 30 (PM minute taxi ride to Alder Bay with Coastal Rides, Waivin Flags Taxi or Town Taxi. It is suggested that this is coordinated in advance.
