Vancouver Island Trip

My wife and I are planning a trip to Vancouver Island in a couple of weeks (July 22-29). Does anyone have any suggestions for good wildlife viewing or must see/shoot scenic views on the Island? We will be driving up to Port Hardy, over to Gold River, and over to Tofino, so should be covering a lot of ground. Thanks for you help.

Thanks for your suggestions and information to help make connections in BC. Loved the trip, Fisgard, Fort Rood Hill, Butchart Gardens, all the little ports, Strathcona Provincial Park, Tofino and Browning Pass. All fantastic. Thanks

The area around Tofino is spectacular. Years ago I visited there and did a short aerial tour with Tofino Air and got some very nice photos of the sound, islands and mountains. I also found a very nice sunset location on a trail just south of Green Point Campground at Pacific Rim National Park (between Tofino and Ucluelet).

Sounds like a great trip!
My main experiences, ages ago, was a visit to Buchart Gardens in Victoria. If you're at all interested in formal gardens it's a must see, even if you've been there many times!
http://www.vancouverisland.travel/regions/map-of-vancouver-island/
Is the URL for nice maps and info on places of interest for all of Vancouver Is. Hope that helps.
If you'd like to, and have the time, we'd sure appreciate hearing about your trip and what places you enjoyed the most.
Wishing you safe travels, fair weather and great photo ops!

Thank you so much Greg and Catherine. Butchart Gardens is an absolute, or my wife would never let me off of Vancouver Island. I have heard from several people now that Tofino is worth the trip too.

Ed, if you're heading to Victoria, be sure to check out The Empress Hotel and surrounding government buildings, very nice.

Also near Victoria, Fisgard Lighthouse and Fort Rodd Hill are must see.

http://www.fisgardlighthouse.com
http://www.fortroddhill.com

Enjoy your trip.