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A Tour of the Buchan Caves in Gippsland Victoria

May 25, 2020 by Jen Lyons Leave a Comment

Some of the best publicly accessible caves in Victoria can be found at Buchan, in the East Gippsland region 350km east of Melbourne.

While the distance from Melbourne is a bit far for a day trip to Buchan, it makes a great weekend getaway or can be included as part of a longer trip in the Gippsland Region.

How Buchan Caves Were Formed

Buchan’s limestone caves began forming back in the Devonian period almost 400 million years ago.

The calcium carbonate which forms the basis of the limestone formations comes from the skeletons of shellfish and coral which were deposited when the sea still covered southern Gippsland.

The subterranean chambers and passages were (and still are) carved out by the rainwater that trickles into the caves, forming spectacular stalactites (shooting down from the ceiling) and stalagmites (shooting up from the ground) which sometimes meet to form impressive pillars, or waterfall-like structures.

What Can You Explore at Buchan Caves

At the Buchan Caves you will find two limestone caves that are accessible to the public through a guided tour, the Fairy Cave and the Royal Cave.

Both caves can get a bit claustrophobic with some tights spots to squeeze and crouch through as you make your way through the cave, however they are both very safe and well lit.

As well as the caves, the reserve around the caves is absolutely stunning, especially in Autumn. Have a picnic or hike one of the trails that lead off from the picnic grounds, just make sure you keep an eye out for wildlife, there is an abundance in the area.

What You Will See in Buchan Caves

Firstly, when you walk into the caves you will notice a sudden temperature change. No matter the time of year and outside temperature, the caves are a constant 17 degrees all year round.

As you move through the caves with your guide, caverns big and small open up and are perfectly lit for you to feel the enormity of these underground cave systems.

The Fairy Cave

In the Fairy Cave see spectacular stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years and dripping with water. These stalactites and stalagmites continue to form everyday so long as their is moisture.

The main features of the Fairy Cave have been names things like King’s Chamber, the Queen Victoria Chamber, the Hall, the Jewel Chamber, the Grotto, the Bridal Chamber and the limestone “Wedding Cake’ which is frosted with what resembles icing sugar.

One of the most interesting features of the Fairy Cave are the bones of kangaroos and a wombat the size of a horse which can be seen on the cave floor.

The Royal Cave

While you will also see some impressive stalactites and stalagmites in the Royal Cave, the highlight in this cave is the calcite-rimmed pools.

Two of the most amazing features in the Royal Cave are what has been names ‘Niagara Falls’ and the ‘Font of the Gods’. These waterfall like features have been formed due to passages of water fulling over ledges above and into the caves.

An interesting fact that I learnt while exploring the Royal Cave in particular was that the red and brown colourations within the caves are caused by the presence of iron oxide and the green shades are caused by copper.

Things to Do in Gippsland Victoria

One Week Gippsland Victoria Itinerary

Two Week Sydney to Melbourne Road Trip Itinerary (The Coastal Route)

The Details

Each cave tour takes approximately 45 minutes to one hour with a guide. Bags, prams and bulky photography gear is not permitted in the cave. You can take a regular hand held camera with you and photography is most welcome while on the tour.

The Fairy Cave has approximately 100 more steps throughout the tour than the Royal Cave and also requires a bit more bending down. If you do get a little claustrophobic then my recommendation would be to explore only the Royal Cave.

As each cave have unique features, it is a great idea to try and visit both during your visit.

Tour Times

Tours are run at approximately the below times each day with the caves closed on Christmas Day only:

Royal Cave – 10am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 3.30pm
Fairy Cave – 11.15am, 1 pm and 2.15pm

There are limited places for each tour so pre-booking online is recommended to avoid travelling all the way there and being disappointed.

Tour Prices

Single Cave Tour: Adult $23.50 | Child $13.80 | Senior $19.50

Double Cave Tour: Adult $35.10 | Child $20.30 | Senior $28.70

Where to Stay in Buchan

There are a small number of places to stay in the Buchan Caves area including campgrounds, cabins and motels. For all accommodation bookings I user and recommend Booking.com. Check their site for availability and the latest pricing for all Buch Caves area accommodation.

Or why not book an Airbnb stay. Use this link to get up to $45AUD off.

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Where in the world have you visited the most impressive caves?

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Hostel Review: HI Prince Rupert Pioneer Guesthouse

October 31, 2017 by Jen Lyons 2 Comments

Tucked away on British Columbia’s northwest coast is the port city of Prince Rupert. Gateway to seemingly untouched wilderness areas and an important port for trade coming in and out of Canada, Prince Rupert is a popular stop on the Inside Passage route and the starting point of the Skeena train east to Prince George and Jasper.

All this means that Prince Rupert is a popular destination for backpacking adventure lovers to visit as they tour around Canada. Of course where there are backpackers, there is the need for plenty of facilities to cater for their needs. Starting with a clean, cheap and friendly place to stay.

If you are thinking of heading to Prince Rupert and looking for exactly that, then you can’t go past the HI Prince Rupert Pioneer Guesthouse. Read on to find out why I think this is the best place to stay for backpackers (and really most budget travellers) in Prince Rupert.

Location Location!

First of all, you want a good location and HI Prince Rupert Pioneer Guesthouse ticks this box.

Located on 3rd Avenue, the guesthouse is just a few minutes walk to both Cow Bay, popular for scenic water views, great places to eat and drink and local artisan stores; and the downtown area where you’ll find all the amenities you could need, from supermarkets and pharmacies to more great places to eat and drink and even a small cinema.

In the Cow Bay area you’ll find Wheelhouse Brewing, a popular local craft brewery that is full of rustic charm. Closer to the waterfront is Cowpuccino’s, the best place in town to grab a coffee and muffin for breakfast. And right on the waterfront is Fukusaku Japanese Restaurant where you can eat delicious local salmon and other delicious Japanese dishes.

Because the hostel is just away from the downtown area, the surrounding streets are quiet with little traffic and few people around, so it feels like you are in your own little hideaway.

If you’re lucky enough to get a room facing southeast, you’ll enjoy a nice view of the houses clinging to the hill behind town.

Homely Atmosphere and Facilities

Pulling up out the front in a taxi, my first impression of HI Prince Rupert was that it is so darn quaint. With a bright blue paint job and hanging flower baskets bursting with colour, it is hard to miss.

Stepping inside, I straight away felt like I was coming home. The warm and inviting setting that is the communal lounge is home to two big comfy couches, bookcases full of books, board games, information boards with details on local things to see and places to eat and a guitar hanging on the wall.

During my three night stay there was always someone in the lounge area to chat with and I even got to enjoy another travellers soulful guitar playing while relaxing after a big walk around town.

Heading through the lounge and to the back of the guesthouse there is a big and bright kitchen and dining area which leads out to a small deck and grassed area with picnic tables.

The kitchen is fully equipped with everything you would find in your kitchen at home. A big oven, stove top, kettle, microwave and ample cooking utensils. You could easily whip up a three-course meal, the kitchen is that great.

The sunny dining room is simple but there is plenty of seating, food storage and colourful flower covered table cloths that make the area feel that bit more homely.

While it was a little too wet and cold during most of my stay to enjoy the outside area, I imagine on a sunny day, especially in summer when days are long, that it would be a great place to enjoy a meal with fellow travellers and swap stories.

Thoughtfully Furnished Rooms

Straightaway when I entered my double private room, I knew that the owners of Pioneer Guesthouse had really thought about both the hard and soft furnishings in the room.

While the room was a little small, the layout and furniture helped to make up for this. Shelving above the desk and an open wardrobe style hanger made use of the space without getting in the way.

A locker at the end of the bed was good for storing valuables and there was just enough room at the foot of the bed for my bag. It was a nice touch having a desk by the window which I enjoyed briefly working at and looking up the hill at the houses.

But the very best part of the room was the bed. After two weeks of some pretty average cheap hotel beds, it was a real treat and an unexpected surprise to have one of the most comfortable mattresses I’ve ever slept on, in a hostel.

Just the right amount of softness with high quality bedding. This included a separate top and bottom sheet (hostel people will know how rare this is!) and a nicely weighted doona which was lovely and cozy for the sudden drop in temperature outside.

My room had shared facilities down the hall with access to three bathrooms. I used them all at some stage during my stay and each looked newly remodeled and immaculately clean. Another anomaly with hostels is bad water pressure but again, Pioneer Guesthouse surprised me with the best pressure I’d experienced so far on this trip.

The Details

My stay at HI Prince Rupert Pioneer Guesthouse was one of the loveliest hostel experiences I have had and I wouldn’t hesitate recommending it to other solo travellers (of all ages) and those travelling as a couple or group. Its quaintness and homey feeling was more than enough to make me not want to leave. The staff was always helpful and friendly and made me feel right at home.

Address: 167 3 Ave E, Prince Rupert

Rooms: 4 and 8 bed dorms perfect for budget minded travellers | triple, twin and double private rooms with shared bathroom perfect for travelling friends and couples | private double en-suite rooms with TV perfect for couples and those who want a little more privacy | a two bedroom apartment perfect for families or small groups.

Rates: Prices range from $25 CAD per night for a bed in a dorm to a two bedroom apartment for $170 CAD per night.

Too book your stay at HI Prince Rupert Pioneer Guesthouse, visit the HI Hostels website.

Disclaimer: Thank you to HI Hostels for hosting me. As always, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Find more accommodation recommendations on my Where to Stay page.

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Quaint, homely and packed full of facilities, HI Prince Rupert Pioneer Guesthouse is the best choice for a place to stay in Prince Rupert - Hostel Review: HI Prince Rupert Pioneer Guesthouse - The Trusted Traveller

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Does HI Prince Rupert sound like the type of place you’d like to stay in Prince Rupert?

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How to Cruise the Inside Passage for Cheap

October 24, 2017 by Jen Lyons 16 Comments

When I begun planning my Western Canada holiday, I made a list of the things I most wanted to see and do. Of course visiting The Rockies, Vancouver Island and Vancouver were all on that list, but the thing I wanted to do most was cruise the Inside Passage.

I did my research and found that the cruises were expensive. Just seven days cruising return to Vancouver up the Inside Passage to Alaska was going to cost me at least a few thousand dollars. This made me worry that I wouldn’t be able to see this place that I’ve been dreaming of visiting for so long. At least not on this trip anyway.

So I dug a little deeper because I thought to myself, there really had to be a cheaper way to cruise the Inside Passage. Backpackers and budget travellers wouldn’t be parting with thousands of dollars just for a short cruise like that, so I knew there had to be a way.

Finally after hours and hours of research I found it! I found a way to cruise the Inside Passage for cheap and without having to spend days on a cruise. And I want to share this experience with you, so you too can save thousands of dollars but still have the cruise of a lifetime through some of the most scenic waters in the world.

BC Ferries Inside Passage Day Cruise

BC Ferries is the biggest ferry company in the Western Canada state of British Columbia. They run passenger and vehicle ferries between the mainland (Vancouver area) to Vancouver Island and around parts of the main island and out to some of the smaller islands too. Most people who have visited or researched this part of Canada would have heard of these ferries.

But the one ferry that you might not know about is the Inside Passage Day Cruise. Running from mid June to mid September each year, this 16 hour cruise travels between Port Hardy, at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, to Prince Rupert, in the northern reaches of the Canadian coast just 50 km (as the crow flies) south of the Alaskan border.

The Inside Passage Day Cruise not only accommodates foot passengers, but like most other BC Ferries, you can take your vehicle on-board as well. This means cars, motorbikes and motorhomes. They even accommodate commercial vehicles!

Cruises leave at 7:30am and arrive into port at 11.30pm. During the height of the summer months, most of the cruising time is in daylight, allowing you to see as much of the Inside Passage as possible. Sailings earlier and later in the session will travel a short time in the dark, but this allows for some pretty spectacular sunset and sunrise viewing from on-board the cruise.

While all of this is excellent, what you really want to know is the price! Now remember that the seven days cruises I talked about earlier cost at least a few thousand dollars.

As a foot passenger on a BC Ferries Inside Passage Day Cruise, you’ll be paying just $206.00CAD per person. If you have a car or motorhome, you’ll pay just $469.00CAD more (less for motorbikes). This is a saving of thousands of dollars and because it is a one day sail, you’ll be saving yourself time to see more of this beautiful country.

For my cruise, I sailed from Port Hardy north to Price Rupert on the last sailing of the season in September. Here is a little about what you can expect on-board the cruise and the scenery you’ll see along the way.

On-board the Vessel

The Northern Expedition is one of the biggest vessels in the BC Ferries fleet. It is over 150 metres long, holds 638 passengers and crew, can have up to 115 vehicles on-board and travels at a maximum speed of 20.5 knots.

Just like any large ferry or cruise, there are plenty of amenities on-board to keep you comfortable for the entire journey.

Seating

A standard foot passenger ticket gets you access to everything on the cruise except for the Aurora Lounge and the Staterooms, where extra fees apply. I opted for the standard ticket as I figured I’d be spending most of my time out on the deck enjoying the view (and I was right!).

Inside there are lots of comfortable seats that either face directly out the windows or angled towards the windows to take in the view. The seats also recline a bit too, making it super comfy for relaxing and taking a little nap from time to time.

On Deck

Where you will spend most of your time (regardless of the weather in my case) is out on the deck. Yes it was raining and cold for a lot of my journey but with incredible views I just chose to rug up in my waterproof gear and make the most of it.

There is ample covered and un-covered seating on deck with the best views to be had from the back of the boat. I also found it to be more protected from the wind at the back.

Food

On-board there are two food choices.

The Canoe Cafe

This casual dining area is similar to a cafeteria where you serve yourself and it is open for the entire duration of the cruise. There are lots of comfortable seats, some by the window, and tables with wooden edges on them for when it gets a little rocky.

At the Canoe Cafe you’ll find self-serve hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, salads, cakes and other snack foods. There is also a hot food bar where you can get things like eggs and bacon for breakfast and burgers, fish and chips and soup from midday into the evening.

I enjoyed a cream cheese bagel for breakfast, a beef burger for lunch and a chicken stir fry for dinner. All were nice and exactly what you would expect from cafeteria dining as well as being reasonably priced.

I really enjoyed the big range of herbal teas they had available too. After spending time on deck in the cold taking in the view, a hot tea was exactly what I needed to warm up!

Vista Restaurant

The second dining option is the Vista Restaurant. This is a buffet restaurant open for lunch and dinner hours.

I unfortunately didn’t get the opportunity to eat at Vista because by the time I arrived at the dining room for dinner, it was booked out for the rest of serving time. I highly recommend you reserve a table at the beginning of meal times to avoid missing out.

Entertainment

If sitting back and enjoying the spectacular scenery isn’t enough for you then there are other things you can enjoy on the cruise as well.

Head to the Raven Lounge to enjoy a movie. There were two movie’s played on my sailing and they show movies that will entertain people of all ages.

If you are travelling with kids, then they will definitely want to check out the Kids Zone. There you will find nautical themed play equipment and wall murals to keep the kids entertained. Plus comfy seats so mum and dad can sit back and enjoy the view while keeping an eye on the little ones.

What You Will See on the Inside Passage

While the cruise ship itself is great, what you really need to know about is what you’ll see on this 16 hour journey. To sum it up, the journey is nothing short of spectacular!

The landscape starts out pretty flat but as the boat maneuvers itself through the passage ways of islands on the left and mainland and islands on the right, the landscape changes. By the halfway point of the cruise there are towering mountains surrounding the passageways with spectacular cascading waterfalls and thick green rainforest clinging to the sides.

There are many points of interest throughout the cruise and the Captain makes a point of announcing each one as you go by. Make sure you pick up the Points of Interest brochure from the Pursers office when you board. It tells you more about the things the Captain announces along the journey.

I had two favourite spots along the cruise. The first was the one and only stop at Bella Bella. This remote fishing and logging community is home to the largest First Nations community on the west coast of Canada. I was fascinated by the massive ferry maneuvering its way into place at the tiny dock and then watching the passengers and commercial vehicles disembark.

Off to the left of the dock, you can straight away see why it is a popular fishing spot. While on deck I saw what must have been hundreds of fish jumping out of the water.

My other favourite spot was the half way point of the cruise, Boat Bluff. This tiny lighthouse is visible for 32 km and is located on the southern end of Sarah Island, marking the entry of the Tolmie Channel.

As we cruised past this spot, the sun made a rare appearance and shone down on the lighthouse. At the same time a pod of porpoise rode a small wave right in front. It was a pretty special moment of the cruise.

The biggest highlight however, was the opportunity to see so many whales. When I say so many, I’d say it was in the dozens for my cruise.

The Captain did his best to announce when there was a whale spotting, but when the boat is travelling at 20 knots in one direction and the whales are swimming in the other direction they disappear pretty quickly. If you want to see whales, the biggest tip I can give you, is to spend as much time out on deck as you can handle.

I saw humpback whales fully breaching out of the water, diving in and out, looking like they were having a blast. It was really something special and a highlight, not just of my Inside Passage Cruise, but of my whole month in Western Canada.

Book Your Own Inside Passage Cruise

If an Inside Passage cruise has been something you’ve always wanted to do but just haven’t been able to justify the cost, then I urge you to check out the BC Ferries Inside Passage Day Cruise. This link will tell you everything you need to know about dates, times, prices and added extras.

Here are a few things I think you should know about:

If you are travelling as a foot passenger, your luggage is checked just like on a plane. Make sure you pack a day bag with everything you will need for the 16 our journey as you won’t have access to your bags again until the ferry docks.
Access to your vehicle is restricted to certain times during the cruise. Ensure you have everything you need packed into a day bag and bring it with you when you leave you vehicle after boarding.
While the majority of the cruise is through calm passageways, there are a few parts of the cruise where it can get a little rocky. If you have experienced sea sickness in the past, I would recommend bringing along something to combat this.
There are lots of spectacular scenery during the cruise and some entertainment to keep you occupied, however, if you are the type to get bored easily, I would recommend bringing some reading material or something else to keep yourself busy. 16 hours (plus pre-boarding time) is a long time to confined to a ferry.
Bring layers of warm clothing. Even in the height of summer, the weather along the Inside Passage and be unpredictable and change multiple times during your cruise. A weather proof jacket at a minimum is recommended.

Disclaimer: Thank you to BC Ferries for hosting me. As always, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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Boat Bluff, the half way point of the BC Ferries Inside Passage Day Cruise - How to Cruise the Inside Passage for Cheap - The Trusted Traveller

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Where in the world have you been on a cruise?

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How to Visit the Best Craft Breweries in Victoria BC

October 17, 2017 by Jen Lyons 2 Comments

Ever since Victoria’s original brewery, Spinnakers Brewpub opened in May 1984, the craft beer scene on Vancouver Island has exploded and there are now around 30 breweries and brewpubs you can visit on your travels around the island.

So it was without a doubt when I was planning my visit to the BC capital of Victoria, on Vancouver Island, that I would be visiting a few breweries.

Travelling solo and without a designated driver to take me on a tasting tour, I found the best option was to book a tour. There are a few breweries that are accessible on foot from downtown Victoria, but I really wanted to be able to visit some on the outskirts too.

Enter West Coast Brewery Tours!

Why West Coast Brewery Tours?

I picked West Coast Brewery Tours to show me around Victoria’s finest breweries because according to the internet, they are the best at what they do.

A massive (and almost unheard of!) 96% of people who reviewed their tours on Trip Advisor gave them five stars making them the number one food and drink tour in Victoria. Who can argue with that!

Going into a tour with almost perfect reviews, my expectations were pretty high. But I am happy to confirm that all those people are 100% correct.

I’ve been on lots of beer, wine and food tours over the years but my experience on West Coast Brewery Tours, The Definitive Craft Brewery Tour, was one of the best.

What I Loved

First things first, I loved the beer. I tasted a few of the best brews I’ve ever had on this tour, but more on that later.

Apart from the ample delicious beer samples at each stop, my favourite part of the tour was spending a few hours with a passionate and knowledgeable guide and tour mates who seemed to love beer as much as I do.

Chris, our guide and driver for the tour, has a real passion for craft beer. He has brewed himself and knows the brewing process well. At each stop and in the van between stops, Chris shared with us the brewing process from start to finish.

He told us about the history of craft beer in Victoria and the history of each brewery we visited. He knew the best beers to taste at each place and shared some great tips on other places we could visit in town after the tour. His passion for the craft beer scene in Victoria really shone through.

Photo provided by West Coast Brewery Tours

The small group was great also. There was just me and two others on the tour making it easy to get to know my fellow tour mates. They were a fun couple from Seattle on a long weekend getaway in Victoria. We shared a love a craft beer, swapped travel stories and had some laughs, even after the tour finished.

Finally, I loved the behind the scenes access that we got because we were with West Coast Brewery Tours. As you’ll read below, at two of the three stops, we got to go behind the scenes to see where the magic happens and even got to taste beer fresh from a brewing tank.

Walk into most breweries around the world and you don’t ever make it past the tasting room. But book yourself a tour and you get an all access pass.

The Breweries

West Coast Brewery Tours don’t just visit the same three breweries each tour. They have a list of about 15 breweries in the Victoria area that they rotate.

Here is a run down on the three breweries, one of which happened to also be a distillery, I visited on my tour.

#1 Phillips Brewing & Malting Company

First stop was Phillips, a legend in Victoria. Despite starting his business on a stack of credit cards, Matt Phillips began brewing beer in a windowless apartment over 15 years ago and the business has gone from strength to strength ever since.

The first three beers Matt produced (an Espresso Stout, a Raspberry Wheat Ale, and a super hoppy IPA) were rather bold for the time, and that bold and creative style is how Phillips Brewery is still known today.

Everything is brewed on site (they even have their own malting facility these days) and the shop and tasting room is out the front. We stood at the tasting bar with a view through the window of the brewing facility behind us, as Chris poured the samples. He shared with us the inspiring Phillips story and the characteristics of beers we were tasting.

We must have had at least 6-8 different samples fresh from the taps including renditions of those three original beers. I must say I enjoyed all but one, the Espresso Stout (I’m not a coffee drinker), with the Hop Circle IPA, Citricity Grapefruit Zest IPA and the Raspberry Wheat Ale being my favourites.

#2 Victoria Caledonia

Feeling happy after so many delicious tastings, we were off to our second stop, Victoria Caledonia. Located out-of-town on the road to the mainland ferry, this distillery started brewing beer to bring in some income while they waited for the spirits to distill.

You see, it takes 10 plus years for a good spirit to be ready to bottle and sell, but a beer is brewed in just a few weeks. So they created the Twa Dogs Beer label.

Greeted by friendly locals in kilts (this is a Scottish establishment) in the shop and tasting room, we were led straight to the back of house where we sat on the brewing floor overlooking to whole production.

Here we learned all about the history of Victoria Caledonia and as each beer came out for tasting, we chatted about the taste and how it each one was made.

We got to taste a few of their signature beers as well as some seasonal ones. The stand out for me was their seasonal red ale with a nice smoky rich flavour. It is one of, if not the best red ale I’ve ever had.

Then for an added bonus, we got a whisky tasting too. I’m not a whisky drinker so my first sip wasn’t so great, but Chris quickly added a few drops of water to dilute it and I must say it was quite enjoyable.

#3 Swans Brewery

By this point, my tour mates and I were feeling pretty happy. We’d learnt so much and drank even more. But we still had one more stop to make, the last stop of our tour, Swans Brewery.

Swans is a brewery and pub in downtown Victoria. Funnily enough, it is located just a few steps from the hostel I was staying at so I had visited the pub the night before.

Before going into the pub for our tastings, we went straight to the back of house operations where they brew their beer. The head brewery, also names Chris, was busy working away while Chris (our guide) took us around and showed us the operation while completing our education on the brewing process and telling us about the history of Swans.

I mentioned to Chris (our guide) that I’d tried Swans beer the night before and how the Lemongrass Whit Beer was probably one of the best beers I’d ever had. He took us over to the brewing tank for this beer and gave us each a sample of it straight from the tank. It doesn’t get fresher than that!

Inside the pub we took a seat and enjoyed a tasting paddle of four Swans signature beers of which I really enjoyed their Raspberry Blonde Ale.

With the tour coming to an end, we chatted about beer, our lives at home and said goodbye to Chris who was off to show another group Victoria’s craft beer scene. My tour mates and I enjoyed a meal together and another cheeky beer, before saying farewell to an awesome day.

The Details

West Coast Brewery Tours offer a few different tour types like a brewery and distillery tour, a beer and food pairing tour and the one I picked, The Definitive Craft Brewery Tour, which focuses 100% on beer.

Most tours depart from the Clipper Ferry Terminal at 254 Bellevue Street which is just a short walk from the centre of town. Walking tours depart from the The Guild at 1250 Wharf Street.

Water is provided in the van and food can be purchased at some of the stops, but it is recommended to have something to eat before the tour as a decent amount of beer will be consumed.

Tours are CAD $75.00 per person for public tours. Private tours for groups of eight or more can also be arranged.

For a list of tour dates and times and to book, check out the West Coast Brewery Tours website.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Elton and Chris of West Coast Brewery Tours for hosting me. As always, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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Where in the world have you experience the best craft beer?

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Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

Tasting My Way Through Vancouver’s Best Food Trucks

October 9, 2017 by Jen Lyons 6 Comments

Food trucks are a culinary phenomenon that have taken off around the world over the last 10 years. But really it isn’t a new concept. People have sold food on the street since ancient times. Living conditions were cramped and most people didn’t have kitchens, so vendors would sell food from small carts or street kitchens to locals.

And really this way of preparing and serving food never went away, continuing throughout the world, especially in urban areas.

These days food trucks are more common all over the world than ever. You can find food trucks in every type of cuisine, from a simple grilled cheese sandwich to tasty Asian fusion bites and even sweets like doughnuts, ice cream and cupcakes.

And you won’t just find them in busy urban centres anymore either. Food trucks are starting to take over the suburbs as well. Festivals and markets dedicated to the humble food truck are also becoming common and I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a music or cultural festival for the last few years without there being at least a few food trucks present.

With my love of food and culinary travel experiences, when I discovered the multitude of food trucks in Vancouver, I knew I had to visit as many as I could during my visit.

There are up to 120 food trucks on the streets of Vancouver at any one time. For someone visiting for just a week, that is an overwhelming number to try to tackle or even whittle down to the best (let alone knowing which are the best!).

So while planning my trip, I went in search of a tour that would take me to visit the best Vancouver food trucks without me having to do too much hard work.

Vancouver Foodie Tours offer just that! I took their World’s Best Food Truck Tour and had a blast.

Here’s a few things you should know about the tour to help persuade you to book yourself a place on your visit to Vancouver.

Knowledgeable and Passionate Guides

Having experienced many tours over my years of travels, what I have come to realise is that my enjoyment on a tour is usually heavily influenced by the guide. If the guide is great, knowledgeable, funny, passionate etc, then I am more likely to have a great time. If they just seem to be going through the motions, then I tend to get bored and have a less enjoyable time.

Well, I am very pleased to say that with my Vancouver food truck tour I was in luck! Lisa greeted me at the meeting point with enthusiasm and straight away I felt like it was going to be a fun few hours.

As the tour went on and Lisa spoke about Vancouver’s food truck scene, her passion and knowledge for it shone through. And it wasn’t just the food trucks that showed this passion, she really seemed proud to be showing visitors around her city.

Walking between the food trucks, Lisa took us to some of her favourite secret spots in the city and she had plenty to say about the city’s present and history too.

Lisa and I got to talking about our love of Japanese food and the Izakaya scene in Vancouver. I really felt like I was spending a few hours with a like-minded friend, and not on a tour with a complete stranger.

The Best Food Trucks in Vancouver

During the two-hour tour we visited four food trucks with the first truck at the starting point and the last truck being the finishing point of the tour. At each truck we were each served about a half-portion serving of a signature dish, so make sure you come with an empty stomach and a bottle of water!

Here’s a run down on what to expect and what I enjoyed about each truck.

JapaDog

Regardless of whether you do a food truck tour or not (but you really should!), you absolutely cannot miss a visit to this Vancouver institution which has become so popular it now has locations in the US too.

You’ll find JapaDog carts in a few places around Vancouver but this particular tour started out in their original location on the corner of Burrard and Smithe Streets, right in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

So what is a JapaDog? Basically it’s a hotdog topped with Japanese flavours. What’s not to like about that!

Our tour taster was of their signature dog call Terimayo, a pork hot dog topped with teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo and a sprinkling of seaweed.

Now I’ve never been much of a hot dog fan, probably because in Australia they are found bobbing around in days old water in a convenience store. But this JapaDog hot dog was nothing like that at all. On first bite I was instantly transported back to Japan. The flavour combo is perfect and after finishing my portion I wish I could have had more. It was my favourite bite of the tour!

Mom’s Grilled Cheese

Our second stop, Mom’s Grilled Cheese, was just a few minutes walk away. This hard to miss food truck has a permanent spot right next to Robson Square on Howe Street. Because of its location, it is a super popular spot for nearby office workers to grab their lunch, especially on a nice day when they can sit in the square and enjoy it.

First up we were served a delicious homemade ginger and mint iced tea. With the unseasonably warm temperatures during my visit, this was a refreshing, tasty and welcome treat.

Then for the main event, the grilled cheese. Served in a red and white checkered cone, we ate grilled cheddar and bacon with a side of complementary pickles and crunchy potato chips.

Easily the best grilled cheese a Mom has ever made me!

Tacofino

After a walk around the block to visit more of Lisa’s secret Vancouver spots, we ended up right back next to Mom’s at the Tacofino food truck.

Really the name says it all, Tacofino serves up some of the city’s best tacos. Our tasting for the day was something I have never tried before, a fish taco. And I’m pleased to say it was delicious!

The fish taco is probably their most popular one and I can absolutely see why. Served on a super soft tortilla, it comes with a piece of light and crispy pacific cod topped with cabbage, chipotle mayo and salsa fresca. It is full of fresh flavours to that counteract perfectly with the mild spiciness .

Tacofino is also where we picked up our dessert, a famous Diablo cookie. We could choose to eat this spicy chocolate cookie right away or save it for after our last stop. I tucked mine away for later.

I Love Chickpea

This vegan food truck has become so popular that they have recently opened a restaurant in Vancouver.

The I Love Chickpea food truck is located at the intersection of Hornby and Cordova Streets just outside the Waterfront Centre and just a few steps away from popular Canada Place. Again it is super popular with people from the surrounding office buildings at lunch time.

Starting out as a vegetarian food truck, I Love Chickpea recently went fully vegan, removing eggs from all of its food. For someone who hasn’t eaten a lot of vegan food in the past, I can honestly say that I couldn’t tell the difference with my delicious serving of falafals, dips and pickles that it contained no egg.

Make sure you get yourself a decent helping of their free sauces too. The basil sauce was my favourite!

Value for Money

When you are on vacation, especially for a few weeks, the price of doing tour after tour can really start to add up. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, tours are overpriced and you can usually do them much cheaper if you planned the itinerary out for yourself.

But I think Vancouver Foodie Tours has really got the value for money factor covered.

The World’s Best Food Truck Tour starts from just $51.99 per person. This includes two hours, four fantastic food trucks, six different tasters that were all very generous in size (way more than I would normally eat for lunch), a guide-book to the other food truck locations around Vancouver and, as I mentioned earlier, a knowledgeable and passionate local guide.

Vancouver isn’t a cheap city. There are some restaurants in the city that if you were to be served an equal amount of food, your bill would be creeping close to (if not more) the price of the tour.

The Details

The World’s Best Food Truck Tour runs from April to October a few times per week. Tours start at 11am and run for two hours with four food truck stops and ample food samples.

As I mentioned earlier, make sure you come with an empty stomach and a bottle of water.

Wear comfortable walking shoes as this is a walking tour. The longest period of walking was about 10 minutes and the pace was kept comfortable for all guests. There was one flight of stairs to walk up at one of Lisa’s secret spots, but this was not mandatory.

Tours run rain or shine so make sure you check the weather forecast before setting out to make sure you have the correct gear. Vancouver’s weather can change rapidly so be ready for all seasons in a day.

Groups are limited to 15 so it is a nice intimate experience. I was one of five people on the tour and I enjoyed chatting to my fellow tour mates about food and our travels. Minimum numbers apply for a tour to go ahead.

For more details and to book, check out the Vancouver Foodie Tours website. They also offer a range of other food based tours that you might like to experience during your visit.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Vancouver Foodie Tours for hosting me. As always, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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From Japanese Hot Dogs to Tacos to oozy grilled cheese, Vancouver's food truck scene has something for everyone - Tasting My Way Through Vancouver's Best Food Trucks - The Trusted Traveller

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