Nanaimo: Cathedral Grove, Waterfalls and Animal Sanctuary
Overview
Available languages
7 hours
Mobile ticket
Join us for a hike to see two of Vancouver Island's most amazing Waterfalls. These 2 very different and wild falls are part of salmon-bearing rivers and are not only impressive, but also a crucial part of our ecosystem.
While in the Mid Island, you wouldn't want to miss the Island's most popular sight; Cathedral Grove. Your guide will lead you through the Old Growth giant trees and share their knowledge of our local ancient Rainforest.
Finish off the day with an amazing and fun underground 1h30 caving tour at Horne Lake Caves. These are wild and natural caves, meaning no boardwalk, handrails or overhead lights. You will be equipped with a headlamp to explore the underground caverns following professional caving guides and marvelling at the beautiful karst formation featuring calcite stalactites and waterfalls.
This tour is suitable for all ages, but be aware of your physical limitations as we will be outdoors, active and caving over variable terrain.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
You will need closed toe shoes (no adventure sandals) and layers for the caving activity.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Cathedral Grove
Get lost in nature, headphones on, and wander through the path following the interactive map provided with the audio tour. Stop for as long as you want at as many stops as you want while listening to over 20 facts recited to you as you go, at your own pace. Cathedral Grove is an amazing stand of Old Growth Douglas-fir with lots of history and a wild display of rainforest biodiversity.
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park
An amazing Waterfall tumbling into a canyon of bright turquoise water and winding through lush rainforest.
What‘s Included
Pick up and Drop off at your accomodation
Snacks
Lunch
Air-conditioned vehicle
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
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Nanaimo: Cathedral Grove, Waterfalls and Animal Sanctuary
Pickup included
Reviews
5 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Unforgettable day :)
E9906KCjh,,Sep 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Noemie is a cheery and knowledgeable guide. We explored spectacular beaches, a canyon waterfall and old growth forest. A truly memorable day. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Wonderful day, well worth the money
FarAway34003044562,,Jul 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a rich and wonderful day. Noemie is highly knowledgeable and she runs a very professional operation. I enjoyed every minute as we journeyed to Hornby Caves, Cathedral Grove, and lovely Provincial Parks and waterfalls along the way. We stopped in Qualicum Beach to pick up a delicious lunch (included in the price) and our small group (Noemie + 3 of us) ate it as a picnic by Cameron Lake. If you want to pack in a world of eco-adventure into one day, this is the trip for you! Noemie is friendly and helpful, and she is strongly informed about local ecology and geology. I also think this tour is helpful for giving visitors a taste of the local natural highlights, so they get a sense of the lay of the land and what they might want to return to if they have more time. Just a quick word of advice: fully closed shoes are a must (no hiking sandals) since the folks managing the Hornby Caves are very strict (no bags, no backpacks, no bulky pockets) and absolutely rigid about footwear in order to protect the precious resource.
Excellent Experience!
Alexander C,,Jun 2, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Noemie is a natural tour guide - friendly, fun and very informative! She really throws herself into giving you the best possible nature tour and can answer any question you ask. She clearly has a profound knowledge of the area and its wildlife. It was an absolute joy to join her for the day - she clearly loves what she does and is quick to cater to the individual style of the group, which allows for an even better and personalized experience!
Such a wonderful experience!
kaylagP7922SC,,Nov 14, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such a wonderful tour! We only had 1 full day on the island and this was the perfect tour. Noemi took us to see some amazing caves, waterfalls and Rainforests. She was very knowledgeable and made the experience very personal and comfortable! 100% recommend!
Hidden gems with an expert local guide - the only way to see the island!
albertbU9303AK,,Oct 14, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had the best time with my complete North Island tour with Noemie! We explored hidden gems like the 'emerald' pools in Oyster River and Huson Caves, which were absolute highlights. Noemie's knowledge of local flora (and tasting berries along the way) was an such a delight! Also, she’s just super to hang-out with and loves to have a chat while we were on tour. I highly recommend the tour for anyone looking to properly explore Vancouver island 😀
From CA$1,600.00
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Operated by Island Trails Ecotours