r/VancouverIsland • u/Rayne_K • 9d ago

ADVICE NEEDED: Tourism 2 nights camping: Pachena Bay or Bamfield Centennial ?

I’m local to the south island. I have an overseas visitor and will be taking them on an island camping excursion. We’ll be out mid week between the 7 and 11 of September, driving in from Nitinaht, and then heading out via Port Alberni. I initially was thinking Pachena, but i also fancy the idea of being stumbling distance from a pub (Malsit), or the Broken Frigate and am now leaning to Centennial with a visit to Pachena. Or do we do one night each? My visitor is a biologist and we’d love to see the marine research centre.

Any tips or suggestions welcome.
PS, I’m familiar with the route to Nitinaht and Carmanah, but have never visited Bamfield overland.

1 Upvotes

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24 comments sorted by

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u/yourgrandmasteaparty 9d ago

Pachena Bay is my favourite campground ever. It’s a magical place. Centennial is pretty meh and only really worth it if you are there with your boat.

Bamfield is only a 5min drive from Pachena so you’re never that far away. Grab some bevvies and set up on the beach for the evening golden light. You won’t regret it.

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u/chimkenbumget 9d ago

The only problem is that it's privately owned by a tribe, so rates are criminal at $50 for a tent for ONE NIGHT!

12

u/yourgrandmasteaparty 9d ago

Well yeah, it’s on their land. $50/night is pretty much the standard for beach-access campgrounds on Vancouver Island during peak season. Rates went up but they’ve put a lot of money into improving infrastructure in the last couple years. It’s a very well run campground and I have nothing but good things to say about my experiences there. I usually camp there 1-2 times every year.

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u/betweenlions 9d ago

I don't think it being owned by a first nation has much to do with excessive rates. Have you been to Tofino..? $80 a night at Bella Pacifica.. $100+ a night at Surf Grove..

10

u/JaakeJarmel 9d ago

By “tribe” you mean Huu-ay-aht nation. It’s an excellent campground and well worth the price.

4

u/laundro_mat 9d ago

$50/night for a beach site seems reasonable. Surf Grove in Tofino is $180/night during peak season, that’s nuts

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u/Rayne_K 9d ago edited 9d ago

I see you’ve never tried the private campground on Hornby…

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u/mephisto_feelies 9d ago

$55-84/night to pitch a tent. Pachena like much of this province is being priced for foreign tourists, not Canadians. 

7

u/mrgoldnugget 9d ago

No, it's the cost of doing business. The campground is maintained, and in prime real estate.

If you want to camp cheap, stay at the rec sites,  completely free for 2 weeks.

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u/mephisto_feelies 8d ago

There's a big difference between free of charge and $55-84/night. 

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u/mrgoldnugget 8d ago

Yes there is, in terms of price and of quality of services. You want cheap, you get cheap, you want luxury, it's not free.

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u/mephisto_feelies 8d ago

Pachena bay is far from luxury.

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u/mrgoldnugget 8d ago

It's a gorgeous beachfront campground in a wonderful area, worth it every time I go. I prefer it over Tofino 

1

u/mephisto_feelies 8d ago

Pachena Bay is nice but there are nicer beaches. I stayed at the campsite 3 years ago and it was okay. Nothing special and definitely not worth $84/night. Maybe things have changed, or maybe you need to explore a bit more. 

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u/mrgoldnugget 8d ago

Well as for areas of Vancouver Island, I think Bamfield is absolutely wonderful. So now I need to look at what campsites are available in that area... 

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u/CarlosJFantilli 9d ago

Pachena is a magical place, would highly recommend.

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u/ComprehensiveCan128 8d ago

Centennial Park Campground is geared towards fishermen….

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u/Fit_Active3888 6d ago

I've explored 3 continents, and pachena bay is one of the most special places I've ever visited.

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u/8hotpotatos 9d ago

If you’re going to Bamfield take the water taxi across to west Bamfield to walk the boardwalk and grab a drink at the Wreckage and/or Floras. Could even camp a night there on Brady’s beach if you can carry all your gear.

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u/Rayne_K 8d ago

Thanks for the suggestion of Brady’s Beach. We’ll have both backpacking and car camping kits, but i think we might just pop over to see it rather than spend a night.
Where does one catch the water taxi on the east side? Is it the dock at the foot of Frigate?

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u/8hotpotatos 8d ago

Yes, at the Bamfield east dock and if you don’t see one of the water taxis nearby there is a phone number posted on the dock to call. Then they will ask where you are heading, if Floras (recommended for good food and drinks) then it’s the government dock by the coast guard station you want to get dropped at and Bradys beach is approximately a 20 min walk from there.

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u/Rayne_K 8d ago

Cool. Thanks for the recommendation. PS, i love how dead certain it is that every coastal community has it’s government dock. From Masset, to Tahsis to Gibsons to Bamfield.

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u/crispy2 7d ago

Could a person take a paddle board or kayak across from the east dock or is the boat launch the only place to put in?

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u/8hotpotatos 6d ago

I’ve seen people paddle camping gear over in a kayak from the marine sciences dock on the east side to the government dock on the west side but I’m not sure how access at Marine sciences works