Maps and Directions

Merridale Ciderworks is located on the southeast coast of Vancouver Island, about 50 minutes north of Victoria, and 1 hour and 20 minutes south of Nanaimo.

Getting to southern Vancouver Island by ferry

Both Nanaimo and Victoria are served year round by BC Ferries from mainland British Columbia (there’s both car and foot passenger service), and these routes are the major conduits for mainland-island traffic. A travel advisory: expect formidable traffic on these routes during the peak holiday-making times of the summer’s Friday and Sunday evenings and the beginning and end of summer holiday weekends. Consider making a reservation if you need ferry service during these times, otherwise steel yourself for a multiple ferry sailing wait.

You can also reach southern Vancouver Island from the San Juan Islands on the Washington State Ferries (car and foot passenger service, spring through fall). And if on the Olympic Peninsula, Black Ball Transport has year-round service from Port Angeles to Victoria for both cars and foot passengers.

There is lastly a year round, downtown to downtown, Seattle-Victoria ferry (foot passengers only). This is a very fast catamaran-style ferry, and together with a local car rental you can make a fine day trip around Victoria and with the most modest of drives, to Merridale.

A local driving map

To print this map, together with the local driving directions below, simply use your browser’s regular print function.

Local directions

From Highway 1

  • Coming from the south — from Victoria
    • Go over the Malahat and through Mill Bay. As you approach Mill Bay you will see an A&W and a Shell gas station on your left, and a shopping mall on your right. Just after that intersection you will see a wine route sign on the right side of the road, one which features Merridale Ciderworks. Get into the left hand lane so you can turn left at the next light, Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road.
    • Coming from the north — from Duncan or Nanaimo
    • As you’re travelling south on Highway 1, once you’ve gone past Shawnigan Lake Road, Fisher Road and then Cobble Hill Road, prepare to and make a right at Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road.
    • Then, for both routes
    • Travel 2.3km on Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road, past Kerry Park Arena on the right.
    • Once you’ve crested the top of a prominent hill, look out for Cameron-Taggart Road.
    • Turn right on Cameron-Taggart Road and drive 1.6km, during which time you’ll see another wine route sign for Merridale Ciderworks on the left-hand side.
  • Turn right onto Merridale Road, drive to the end, come down our driveway and follow the signs to our Ciderhouse.

From the Brentwood-Mill Bay ferry

When you drive off the ferry ramp at the Mill Bay terminal, veer right and you will be on Mill Bay Road. Drive 5km, enjoying a beautiful scenic view of the Mill Bay Inlet. At Deloume Road, take a left, which will lead you to Highway 1. Turn right on the highway, and immediately get into the left hand lane to turn left at Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road. There will be a light at this junction. Turn left and drive 2.3km, and just after the large crest of a hill, turn right onto Cameron-Taggart Road. Travel 1.6km, turn right on Merridale Road and drive to the end. Come down the driveway and look for the “Welcome” sign to lead you to our Ciderhouse doors.

From Shawnigan Lake Village

From the four-way stop travel approximately 3 km on Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road. Look for the wine route sign to identify your left hand turn into Cameron-Taggart Road. Travel on Cameron-Taggart Road for 1.6 km, turn right on Merridale Road, and follow it to its end. Head on down the driveway and follow the signs to our Ciderhouse.