Trip 224 - July 15, 2021 (Thursday)

City of Port Alberni Visit

On Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Page 2 of 2

Port Alberni Location: On Central Vancouver Island, along BC Highway 4, approximately 42 kilometers West of Qualicum Beach, and 120 km East of Tofino and Ucluelet.

Liked: Natural views, aboriginal street art, wall murals, banners on light posts, artistic trash cans, wide streets.

Of Note: Very windy by the water. Port Alberni is located in a Tsunami Hazard Zone.

Vancouver Island Backroad Mapbook (9th edition) Port Alberni Coordinates: Page 17 (Port Alberni) B1-B2.

Other Trips in Port Alberni Area: Cold Creek Falls Trail, Jack's Peak Trail.

Other BC Cities, Towns and Locations We Have Visited: Agassiz, Bella Coola, Bralorne, Chilliwack, Fort Nelson, Gold Bridge, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Horseshoe Bay, Merritt, Mission, Nanaimo (Old City Square), Prince George, Prince Rupert, Smithers, Squamish, Telkwa, Tofino, Tumbler Ridge, Vancouver (Seawall), Vancouver (Stanley Park), West Vancouver (Ambleside Park).

Follow @ihikebc Tweet

The City of Port Alberni bills itself as the fishing capital of Canada, and is located on BC Highway 4, between the East Coast of Vancouver Island (42 km away) and the West Coast oceanside communities of Tofino and Ucluelet (about 120 km away). It's a cozy small city, where about 17,000 people currently reside. Today, we visited Victoria Quay, Harbour Quay, and what appeared to be downtown area centered around the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Argyle Street. We found wide streets, few people, fine natural views, and a whole lot of art, from an aboriginal Welcome Figure at Victoria Quay, to very impressive wall murals, to highly enjoyable street light banners, and even several very well-decorated garbage cans.

There is also an assortment of major stores in Port Alberni, including a Wal-Mart, and this city is your last chance to stock up on a whole lot of things not available in much smaller Tofino and Ucluelet further West down BC Highway 4. As Port Alberni is located in a tsunami hazard zone, head to the higher ground in case of an earthquake.

35. One block closer to Harbour Quay, we are on Kingsway Avenue at 3rd Avenue, looking East. There is yet another good wall mural to the left. And, further down the street on the right side, is a former Port Alberni railway station, which looks like it was turned into a museum.

Kingsway Avenue at 3rd Avenue Port Alberni BC Canada

36. Port Alberni railway station. Apparently, once a year railroad enthusiasts do run a train to and from this location.

Port Alberni Railway Station

37. A nearby information board contains a photo of the first train ever to arrive to Port Alberni in 1911.

First Train in Port Alberni BC

38. Inside the Port Alberni railway station (through a window).

Inside Port Alberni Railway Station

39. Now it's time to check our Harbour Quay. It's a less than a ten minute walk from the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Argyle Street. There are several shops and eateries there, a large (and VERY windy) pier, an old ship turned into a bed-and-breakfast, and a cool 15-meter-high tower with panoramic views of the nearby area. Very close by is Maritime Discovery Centre located in a lighthouse-shaped building, as well as Maritime Heritage Gallery. There is also a marina and a short seawall promenade area.

Port Alberni Harbour Quay Entrance

40. Before we go further, yet another impressive banner on a light post.

Light Post Banner Port Alberni BC

41. Here is Port Alberni Harbour Quay main shopping area. Argyle Street (where we came from) is seen straight ahead, the pier is right behind us, and the tower is behind us and more to the right.

Harbour Quay Port Alberni British Columbia

42. Let's check out the tower first. It's about 15 meters high, and the observation platform is at about 10 meters from the ground. Coordinates for the tower observation platform: N 49⁰14.091' W 124⁰48.965'. Elevation: 10 meters.

Port Alberni Harbour Quay Tower

43. The access to the tower.

Access to Port Alberni Harbour Quay Tower

44-49. The views from the tower, left to right.

Harbour Quay Port Alberni

Port Alberni Harbour Quay

Port Alberni BC Harbour Quay

Harbour Quay Port Alberni British Columbia Canada

View from Port Alberni Harbour Quay Tower

Here is our video of the views from the tower.

50. Now we are at Centennial Pier.

Centennial Pier - Harbour Quay - Port Alberni BC

51. Notice to users.

Port Alberni Centennial Pier Notice to Users

52. RCMP boat Lindsay docked at the pier.

RCMP Boat Lindsay in Port Alberni BC

53. Another Port Alberni thing - artistic trash cans. Haven't seen anything this beautiful anywhere in British Columbia, with, perhaps, the only exception being Tofino trash cans.