Quality. Value. Trusted.
Let us take the stress out of planning your next coastal BC getaway. Save when you bundle your ferry travel with hand-picked hotels and activities.
Travel advisory:
Highway 17 Closures - Keating Cross Road Overpass Project - July 25, 29 and August 7, 2024
View
×
Posted on: Friday, July 19, 2024
Highway 17 Closures
Keating Cross Road Overpass Project
Victoria to Swartz Bay
July 25, 29 and August 7, 2024
Patricia Bay Highway (Hwy 17) between Victoria and Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island will be temporarily closed from Tanner Road to Island View Road due to the Keating Cross Road Overpass Project during the noted times on the following dates:
Scheduled Highway Closures
|
Thursday, |
Monday, |
Wednesday, |
|
10:00 pm – 6:00 am |
8:00 pm – 6:00 am |
10:00 pm – 6:00 am |
Customers looking to travel to or from Swartz Bay terminal during closure times will be impacted and should plan their travel accordingly. A detour will be in effect via Central Saanich Road. Customers should be prepared for a 15-20 minute delay as a result.
Those using transit to Swartz Bay are strongly advised to take earlier bus departures because of the detour. Additional information is available online at: https://alerts.bctransit.com/RouteAlertsDetail/45/70/724.
For more information, please check the Keating Cross Overpass Project website here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/other-transportation-projects/highway-17-keating-cross-overpass.
For up-to-date sailing and departure information, check Current Conditions, follow @BCFerries on X, or phone 1-888-223-3779 for further assistance.
OVERVIEW
Treat yourself to a scenic ferry ride to Vancouver Island and stay a while to discover all that this region has to offer. Enjoy countless parks and forests, pebbled and sandy beaches, mountains, sunken ocean treasures, craft beers on the BC Ale Trail, delicious wines, farm-fresh food and more.
In the summer, you can embark on almost any type of outdoor adventure, including, kayaking, diving, fishing, biking, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, ziplining and swimming. And you can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and storm watching in the winter. Plus, don’t forget about the wildlife, including black bears, herons, eagles, seals and migrating whales.
Top things to do
Sightsee
Visit BC’s capital city of Victoria to sample local food, taste fresh craft beer at Phillips, Hoyne or Vancouver Island Brewery, go sight-seeing at the parliament buildings, explore the Malahat Skywalk, or check out the beautiful famous Butchart Gardens—in bloom all year.
Credit: Destination BC / Ben Giesbrecht
Explore caves
Go caving nearby to discover stalagmites (upward-growing formations) and stalactites (icicle-shaped formations), sinkholes and underground rivers.
Credit: Victor Wong
Learn to surf
Learn to surf in the laid-back surfer town of Tofino, try stand-up paddleboarding or simply relax on one of the local beaches across the Island.
Credit: Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism
Play a round of golf
Golf at your choice of local golf courses, including championship courses designed by Les Furber, or test your skills at one of the mini-golf courses in Parksville.
Credit: Tourism Victoria / Jordan Dyck
Visit historic sites
Visit historic sites and museums to learn about Indigenous culture and BC's past.
Explore cities
Victoria
Visit the lush and beautiful oceanfront city of Victoria. The city is rich in British heritage, has the oldest Chinatown in Canada, and is home to the historic BC Parliament Buildings. You can enjoy lots of water and land activities, and taste a variety of craft beers and fresh seafood.
Known as the Garden City, Victoria is always in bloom and has one of the mildest climates in Canada—perfect for a trip any time of the year.
Tofino
Explore Tofino and the majestic beauty of Clayoquot Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The village of Tofino has a laid-back surfers vibe, with a wide selection of restaurants and lots of wildlife watching and storm watching opportunities. The surrounding area is made up of lush, old-growth forests and expansive white sandy beaches. This incredible area is the perfect starting point for exhilarating activities, like coldwater surf lessons or kayaking, or relaxing getaways.
Nanaimo
Take the ferry from Vancouver to visit Nanaimo—the second-largest city on Vancouver Island, with plenty of outdoor activities and adventures for everyone, situated along one of the most beautiful waterfronts in Canada.
Port Hardy
Travel to the north of Vancouver Island to the active community of Port Hardy—providing lots of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors all year long, or somewhere to simply relax before boarding the ferry to travel to northern British Columbia.
{media1}
