Whale Watching Vancouver Island

Local Tours

Parksville Qualicum Beach's central location makes it the perfect base for whale watching in Vancouver Island.

The northern reaches of the Salish Sea that surround Parksville Qualicum Beach are teeming with whales and wildlife.

This prolific marine ecosystem supports one of the largest Pacific herring spawning grounds on the British Columbia coast. The Pacific herring is one of the keystone species of the Salish Sea that provides essential nutrients to whales, seals, sea lions, wolves, bears, and sea birds, to name a few. Ocean EcoVentures Whale & Wildlife Adventures offers tours based from the French Creek Marina located half way between Parksville and Qualicum Beach.

While Nanoose Bay's Haida Gold Ocean Adventures (based from Schooner Cove Marina) doesn't specialize in whale watching, it isn't out of the ordinary for guests to see whales as part of one of their fishing, sunset, and picnic cruises.

Campbell River

The waters off Campbell River are framed by scenic small islands and shaped by powerful tidal currents, creating a nutrient-rich environment that attracts abundant marine life. These calm, sheltered channels provide ideal conditions for observing wildlife in its natural habitat.

On a Campbell River Whale Watching tour, you may spot killer whales, humpback whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and other marine wildlife. Bear viewing tours provide world-class grizzly bear observations in Bute Inlet and Toba Inlet during the salmon run.

Just over an hour from Parksville Qualicum Beach, Campbell River is also a sea kayaking paradise, offering a unique way to explore the stunning coastline. Whether by boat or kayak, a wildlife tour here is an experience you won’t forget!

Whale Watching in Tofino & Ucluelet

In a couple of hours, you can see Gray and Humpback whales in Tofino and Ucluelet. Ucluelet and Tofino whale watching tours explore both the sheltered waters of Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds as well as the open ocean with Jamie's Whaling Station & Adventure Centres.

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Bird Watching

Bird watching tours, bird list, and events for Parksville Qualicum Beach.

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Best Places to View Salmon Spawning

Every year visitors in Parksville Qualicum Beach marvel as salmon return to the area for spawning. Discover where to spot the salmon runs, what months each species can be found, and other…

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Herring Spawn in Parksville Qualicum Beach

The herring spawn (aka herring run) in March is one of our area's most exciting - and unfortunately, short-lived - spectacles.

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Sea Lion & Seal Viewing on Vancouver Island

Spot these majestic marine creatures traversing through the waters around this part of Vancouver Island.

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Parksville Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area Bird Trail

This Bird Trail has been designed for people to enjoy and learn about birds found along the coastal Parksville Qualicum Beach Wildlife Management Area and nearby inland areas on Eastern Vancouver Island.

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Brant Wildlife Festival

Join us from April 4 to 7 for special events, activities, and exhibitions as Parksville Qualicum Beach celebrates nature and welcomes thousands of migrating Brant geese to our shores.

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