JOHNSTONE STRAIT KILLER WHALES & SEA KAYAKING
WILD ORCA SEA KAYAKING ADVENTURE VACATIONS
The travel planning information presented on this page is specific to the Johnstone Strait trips. In addition to this information please visit our Travel Planning to Vancouver Island page for additional information on travel planning to British Columbia.
TRAVEL PLANNING TO VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC
Our Johnstone Strait tours depart from Telegraph Cove, near the village of Port McNeill on the northeastern end of Vancouver Island. Guests must plan to arrive in Port McNeill or Telegraph Cove for the evening prior to the trip departure date.
 If you are travelling to Port McNeill by air and you wish to depart on the evening of your trip’s last day, we advise that you do not make flight departure reservations for any earlier than 6:00 pm. Please be aware that delays (due to weather or other circumstances) of our return to Telegraph Cove could cause you to miss flights. Check with the airline or your travel agent into their missed flights policy.
If you travel to Port McNeill by vehicle, there will be time on the last day of your trip to travel onto other Vancouver Island destinations, or return to Nanaimo to board a late ferry to the mainland.
If you use motor coach service for travelling to Port McNeill you will need to plan on spending the evening in Port McNeill and make the connection the following morning.
GETTING TO VANCOUVER ISLAND & PORT MCNEILL
There are three travel options for getting to Port McNeill; driving, flying, or motor coach service.
DRIVING
If you are driving you will be taking a ferry to Vancouver Island from Vancouver, BC or Seattle, WA. Sailing time from Vancouver to the Island is approximately 1hr. 40 minute to 2 hours, depending on routing. Ferry Information.
The quickest route to Vancouver Island if driving from the USA is from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal (just south of Vancouver) to Duke Point (Nanaimo). On the north side of Vancouver there is ferry service from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay (Nanaimo). A driving guide is included in your pre-trip information package.
VEHICLE RENTALS
If you are flying into Vancouver, BC and planning to rent a vehicle for your visit to Vancouver Island, you may want to consider the Island Link Express Bus service.
Island Link Express Bus offers service between the Vancouver International airport and Nanaimo. Pick-up at the Vancouver airport is 4-times daily at 9:00am, 11:15 am, 1:30pm and 3:45pm. The one-way adult fare is $27.50. Once you are in Nanaimo National Car Rental and Budget BC are your best choices in car rentals.
AIRPORT SHUTTLE SERICE
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO NANAIMO
This option of travel to Vancouver Island is a considerable cost savings over renting a car in Vancouver.
Island Link Express Bus
Toll Free: 1-877-954-3556
If you prefer to rent a vehicle in Vancouver most major car rental companies offer onsite rentals at the Vancouver Airport.
HIGHWAY DISTANCES & DRIVING TIMES
Victoria – Port McNeill: 463 km/287 miles. 6 hours driving time.
Nanaimo – Port McNeill: 352 km/219 miles. 4.0 hours driving time.
Vancouver – Port McNeill: Approximate travel time from Vancouver to Port McNeill by vehicle (including ferry travel time) is 8 hours.
BRITISH COLUMBIA ROAD REPORTS
For current British Columbia road conditions or travel advisories visit the Ministry of Transport website; www.drivebc.ca
AIR SERVICE TO PORT MCNEILL
The quickest way to get to Port McNeill from Vancouver is to fly into Port Hardy, which has the closest commercial airport. The Port Hardy airport is only a 20-minute taxi ride to Port McNeill . There are two airlines offering service between Vancouver airport (YVR) and Port Hardy airport (YZT). It is recommended that you allow at least two hours between connecting flights in Vancouver.
Pacific Coastal Airlines
Pacific Coastal offers an extended summer schedule, featuring many more flights to and from Port Hardy than they do in the off-season. Contact them directly for more information.
Telephone: 1-800-663-2872.
Eagle Air
Telephone: 1-866-949-5151.
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FROM PORT HARDY AIRPORT
The following companies provide taxi service for singles or entire groups from the Port Hardy airport to Port McNeill or Telegraph Cove. It is recommended that you contact them directly for current pricing and to arrange for pick-up.
Port McNeill Taxi & Limo Service (Port McNeill)
Telephone: 250-956-8294
North Island Transportation Ltd (Port Hardy)
Telephone: 250-949-6300
North Island Taxi (Port Hardy)
Telephone:
250-949-8800
AIR SERVICE TO COURTNEY/COMOX
Comox Valley Airport (YQQ)
The Comox Valley Airport is conveniently located mid-Vancouver Island and is within a scenic 3 hour drive to Port McNeill. The full -service airport offers numerous daily flights from Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton with WestJet and Air Canada Jazz.
Pacific Coastal, and Central Mountain Air offer daily service from Vancouver.
SEA PLANE AIR SERVICE
Two sea plane companies offer scheduled service from the Seattle, WA area directly to Port McNeill.
Kenmore Air
Operates scheduled flights from Kenmore, WA (just north of Seattle) to Port McNeill regularly throughout the summer. Departure from Kenmore is at 9am, arriving in Port McNeill at 12:00pm. Departure from Port McNeill is at 12:30pm, arriving in Kenmore around 3:30pm.
Telephone: 800-543-9595
MOTOR COACH SERVICE
Motor coach service is available from Seattle WA, Vancouver BC, and from most locales on Vancouver Island to Port McNeill. Please note that there is only one daily bus to Port McNeill from Victoria or Nanaimo. Motorcoach Information.
ACCOMMODATIONS - PORT MCNEILL & AREA
Telegraph Cove Resort & Campground
Historic waterfront cabins situated along a boardwalk, and a campground. The resort also offers laundry and shower facilities, pub, family dining room, general store, gift shops, and liquor store.
Telephone:
800-200-4665 or (250) 928-3131
Email: tcrltd@island.net
Please note that the Telegraph Cove Resort restaurant does not open in the morning until 10:00am. However breakfast is available at the Seahorse Cafe.
SeaHorse Cafe
The Seahorse serves up the best coffee in Telegraph Cove along with breakfast.
Organic & fair trade, espresso coffee, lattés, cappuccinos & mochas
Breakfast burritos, swedish pancakes & more
Opening Hours:
June 9th - July 15th Daily 8 AM to 6 PM
July 16th - Sept. 3rd Daily 7 AM to 6 PM
Sept 4th - Sept. 30th Daily 8 AM to 6 PM
HOTELS - PORT MCNEILL
Black Bear Resort
The Black Bear Resort is a new accommodation in Port McNeill (opened June 15, 2005). They offer single, double and executive suites. If you mention that you are on a Pacific Northwest Expeditions trip, they will provide you with a 10% room discount. There are no dining facilities, but a continental breakfast is included, served from 6:00 am – 10:00 am.
Telephone: 866-956-4900
Haida-Way Inn
The hotel, offers excellent dining. Services include a pub, and a cold beer & wine store.
Telephone: 800-956-3373
McNeill Inn
On the harbour front; standard rooms to suites; clean, modern, cable TV.
Telephone: 866-888-3466
B&B ACCOMMODATION - PORT MCNEILL
Beach House Bed & Breakfast
Views of the water, and a hot tub on the deck. On the waterfront and a five minute walk into downtown.
Telephone: 877-956-4993 or 250-956-4993
Broughton Beach Manor
On the water and a five minute walk from to downtown.
Telephone:
250-956-4202
At Water's Edge B&B
On the water and a five minute walk to downtown Port McNeill. Ocean and mountain views.
Telephone:
866-956-2912 or 250-956-2912
Seeview B&B
Located in the residential part of town. Some great views, hot tub and sauna.
Telephone:
250-956-4818
WEATHER INFORMATION
Current weather conditions for the western Johnstone Strait area from Environment Canada.
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