"The WhaleHouse"~ Upscale, 4000 Sq Ft Home For Large Family / 3.8 acres

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Entire home

Secluded - surrounded by trees, water and wildlife - very special place

View from driveway. Lots of space. Old cedars in foreground.

Very private hot tub. Only eyes watching occasional boat traffic & wildlife :)

Panorama of house taken by one of my guests! Jacuzzi on deck along w BBQ/relax!

July 2016....Whilst boating I saw 25 orca whales swim past my house. :)

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

9.8

Exceptional

4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 8372 sq m

Popular amenities

Hot tub

Washer

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Fireplace

Check-in time

4:00 PM

Check-out time

10:00 AM

Explore the area

Port McNeill, BC

Port McNeill Visitor Centre7 min drive
Port McNeill Ferry Terminal7 min drive
Port McNeill and District Museum7 min drive
Port McNeil, BC (YMP)9 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Balcony

Outdoor play area

Dining Area

About this property

Enjoy my upscale, 3.8 acre waterfront, 4000 square foot, secluded, but accessible home. There are 22 skylights in my beautiful custom built home, including a very large skylight over the master bed. Imagine stargazing from the comfort of your own bed and you don't even need to change out of your pajamas!!! There are also two skylights in the twin bedroom bedroom as well, and many scattered throughout the entire first floor.

Enjoy the master bedroom which is on entry the level with king size bed with water view and ocean sounds and ensuite bathroom with walk in shower and private toilet area. Entry level also includes a large family room with picturesque windows, an oversized kitchen, laundry room, ocean view bedroom/office work station, with 2 twin beds, half bathroom, and large outdoor oceanfront deck wit that is perfect for grilling or just relaxing.

There’s an oceanfront hot tub that you can enjoy and take in the ever changing scenery. Perhaps you’ll see a bald eagle, deer, elk, bear, white sided dolphins, whales and more. They’re definitely around!! You just have to be lucky to see them at the right moment!!!

Downstairs has a large TV/family room with professional grade pool table and two separate bedrooms (queen size beds) and one private full bathroom with step over tub/shower. Downstairs windows are at ground level so you'll often see wildlife strolling by or peering in at you. :)

We have WI FI, 2 TV’s- downstairs and in the master bedroom, and your cell phone should work fine (but depends on your cell phone carrier.)

Catch dungeness crab right off the beach out back. Beach is accessible from the backyard. Beach is rocky at high tide. At low tide rocky beach to get to sandy beach.

Town is about an easy 5-7 minute drive away.

Prices subject to change and are in USD by default. per VRBO.

Property manager

Nancy

Languages

English

Amenities

Hot tub

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Port McNeil

Located in Port McNeil, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Alert Bay Ecological Park and Cormorant Channel Marine Provincial Park, while Port McNeill and District Museum and Sointula Museum are cultural highlights. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Port McNeill, BC

What's nearby

Port McNeill and District Hospital - 20 min walk
Port McNeill Visitor Centre - 7 min drive
Port McNeill Ferry Terminal - 7 min drive
Port McNeill and District Museum - 7 min drive
Sointula Ferry Terminal - 50 min drive

Getting around

Port McNeil, BC (YMP) - 9 min drive

Restaurants

‪Subway - ‬5 min drive
‪Devils' Bath Brewing - ‬5 min drive
‪Gus's Pub - ‬5 min drive
‪Cluxewe Waterfront Bistro - ‬16 min drive
‪M & Y Restaurant - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is "The WhaleHouse"~ Upscale, 4000 Sq Ft Home For Large Family / 3.8 acres pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at "The WhaleHouse"~ Upscale, 4000 Sq Ft Home For Large Family / 3.8 acres ?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at "The WhaleHouse"~ Upscale, 4000 Sq Ft Home For Large Family / 3.8 acres ?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is "The WhaleHouse"~ Upscale, 4000 Sq Ft Home For Large Family / 3.8 acres located?

Situated on the beach, this holiday home is within 2 miles (3 km) of Port McNeill and District Hospital, Port McNeill Ferry Terminal and Port McNeill Visitor Centre. Port McNeill and District Museum is 2 mi (3.3 km) away.

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Paul S., Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA

1 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Nature Wonderland

This beautiful, clean and comfortable home is the perfect place to enjoy an endless show of wildlife, changing tides, great views, and incredible sea life. It’s perfectly isolated from noise and light, but close to the many activities offered in the area. The host is very helpful and communicative, and the house has everything you need to enjoy crabbing, fishing, and relaxing in the jacuzzi while watching the resident eagle. The large and abundant windows provide views of the show wherever you are in the house. We stayed 5 nights and should have stayed longer. We highly recommend!

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Derek B.

7 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location for a large group

The host was very easy to communicate with and did their best to ensure our stay was perfect. House is amazing with incredible views. Comes fully stocked with everything you need to be a home away from home. House and property are beautiful and spacious allowing for privacy if required. Great place for 4 couples or coworkers to stay comfortably.

Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Randy J.

9 Oct 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The package!

Excellent in every way. Location - quiet with beautiful views yet very accessible. . Amenities - everything to be comfortable and relaxed.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Peter P.

6 Oct 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Spectacular Sanctuary

A special place to unwind and to gather with family or friends.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

June T.

13 Sept 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing!!!!!

This property is amazing with all the amenities needed plus more. The views are spectacular and the furnishings are luxurious. We wish we could have stayed longer and hope to be back! Nancy our host is very attentive. Thank you for sharing your property ❤️

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Teresa M., Vancouver

1 Sept 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Many good reasons to come back!

We stayed 4 nights in the WhaleHouse at the end of August, it was beyond our expectations! Nancy was very thoughtful and responsive. I have never received an information package from other rentals as detailed and helpful as Nancy’s. The house was clean, tastefully decorated, the beds were comfortable and the water view was amazing. We saw bald eagles nesting on the tree out of the window, deers on the lawn, no whales and bears though. We will definitely return to WhaleHouse again when we visit the area next time - hopefully we will see the bears and whales then 😊. Thank you Nancy.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joe W.

10 Aug 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good

Best stay ever...gracious hosts and perfect accommodations...hoping for a repeat

Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tony P.

25 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing and great views

Nancy welcomed us with 2 fresh fillets of halibut -thank you very much! House was well equipped and generously stocked with supplies and afforded fabulous views.we loved the hot tub and the pool table (many competitions were had) - no whales or bears but we loved seeing the deer , eagles and belted kingfishers ( and an uncommon common nighthawk!!) - best house we stayed in on. Vancouver island during our holiday -could have stayed forever!!

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matt M., Vancouver

2 Nov 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great home base for 'Operation Orcas'

We stayed in the Whale House for a few nights in 2021. It is a beautiful property overlooking the Queen Charlotte Strait and we recommend staying here for the following reasons: 1. Location, location, location: it is private and overlooks an active pass where whales cruise by so you're always captivated by looking out onto the Ocean. Port McNeill is a great homebase for further adventures: you can go fishing, looking for whales, island hopping, or just escaping into the wilds of North Island. 2. Design: the home is tastefully designed with wall to wall windows, that makes it easy to enjoy the serene view. The tasteful decor and cabin specific touches add to its charm. 3. Lots of room and privacy: Although we didn't need all the space, the home is huge with plenty of bedrooms. Our three year loved playing 'hide-and-seek', as she had many more hiding spots to explore than in our small, Big City, loft. 4. Host with the most: Nancy, our host, was responsive and considerate of our requests. It was a very smooth experience all the way through.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Veronica F.

15 Sept 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Super Relaxing

This was the vacation our family needed. The property was well appointed. It was very comfortable and had everything to keep our family of 5 happy. We woke up everyday to a spectacular view. The biggest decision was whether to explore the North Island or just stay “home” and relax with book, take a walk on the beach, throw a frisbee with the kids or enjoy a soak in the hot tub. While we were there, the lowest tide was at 6:30 am on one day. We all got up to enjoy the sand that only appears at low tide. We were able to walk out a fair bit. It was super quiet. Everyday we were greeted by a pair of Eagles that loved to be perched on a tree viewable from the main windows. We went on hikes nearby and took a day trip to Alert Bay. There is no wifi, but we didn’t miss it. While there is cell coverage, it was spotty on my cell provider’s network. But since disconnecting from life back home was a high on our list of priorities, that was fine. Overall, we had a fabulous time at Nancy’s Whale House.

Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

GRATIAN F., North Vancouver, BC

15 Sept 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

Nice location and well furnished but no Internet & TV reception which is a disadvantage. Only the master bedroom has on suite shower and the guests from second bedroom have to use on suite bathroom for shower, which is some what inconvenient. Direction to the property needs to be improved and the lower level rooms and facility needs to be properly maintained.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Annie J., St jerome (qc)

8 Sept 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Dreamlike!!!

No hotel rooms available anywhere, we found this house last minute, and it was absolutely perfect!!!!! Wish we could have stayed much longer….

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

James K.

5 Aug 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely worth it!!

This stunning place to stay will not disappoint. Tastefully decorated and very well equipped, this place has everything you need to get in touch with nature while living in luxury. We saw a bunch of wildlife from the deck and living room including bears in our yard, deer, eagles, sea lions and otters ducks and a huge range of birds. No internet was a real treat to just disconnect from life and enjoy what this amazing property offers you. I didn’t catch any crabs unfortunately but that’s a good reason to come back another time. You won’t regret booking this place.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Etti G., Vancouver, BC Canada

1 Aug 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

great place to recharge!

The house was beautiful and comfortable for my family of 7, which is not always easy to find. Our 5 kids range from 10-20 years old, and there was ample room for all of us. The beds and blankets were so comfortable, and many "little things" - were provided as well to make this an even more comfortable experience. This is a wonderful home to go to if you want to recharge and unplug for a bit! The Hot tub on the porch overlooking the water was just perfect. There is a lot of wildlife if your patient, we had sightings of bears down on the beach, deer, and lots of Bald eagles, I even saw it swoop down and fly away with a fish in its talons! There are tours nearby you can take for whale watching and sea otter tours, depending on your budget, but with our size family, we just took a few day- trips to beautiful locations, such as San Joseph Bay, and enjoyed a lot of family time, which was just what we wanted before some of my older kids are off for the upcoming school year. Not having wifi was amazing, as my teenagers (and my husband and I) didn't have the usual phone distractions, we spent more quality time actually being together and because of it. We truly enjoyed our stay.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Alison S.

11 Aug 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful setting and great home base for the area

The location is stunning and the house is well equipped. It worked very well for five of us - three adults and two teens. Saw lots of wildlife (bear, eagles, kingfisher, deer, Canada geese and other shorebirds). Unfortunately couldn’t use the hot tub due to covid :( but the house is very comfortable and the view is absolutely stunning. The pool table was fun and there were games, and books to help identify local wildlife. The location is a great home base from which to explore Northern Vancouver Island - we were out in boats 3 days and saw orcas, humpbacks, dolphins, sea otters, seals and sea lions and another black bear. We also made two treks over gravel logging roads to San Josef Beach (to see the sea stacks and caves and pick up hikers from the end of the NCT), and to Little Huson Park (swimming hole with more caves). Lots of fun but take care for kilometres of pot holes and beware of logging trucks! Everyone we met was so friendly - we will have to come back to explore more on land next time! We ate in every night (again due to covid) and it was wonderful to cook with that magical view on the one hand ...and a glass of wine in the other :) Drinking water must be bought and brought in. The host was very responsive and helpful every time I had questions. The whole experience -host and home - formed the basis for a truly memorable vacation.

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Andrew D.

18 Sept 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Far more than the description

Having booked nearly a year in advance when we finally arrived at the Whale House we realised that it was even better than we had hoped for. Waking up to the ocean with (sometimes) a bear on the beach out front and Eagles in the trees. Perfect quite location, no sounds except the wildlife and passing boats. We are trying to work out when we can visit again.

Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2019

8/10 Good

George C.

22 Aug 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Port McNeil Whale House

Very spacious property which sleeps five comfortably. Needs simple items like salad spinners and cork screw bottle openers.

Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Michael W., Darmstadt, Germany

30 July 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay in a great location

Wonderful house with a perfect infrastructure, stunning and very relaxing view - we would love to come again anytime !

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Gilles B., Strasbourg, France

31 Oct 2018

So much more than a house...I have no words...

While traveling through British Columbia and Alberta in August 2018, we visited several places, from Vancouver to Lake Louise and other stunningly beautiful places. We had saved the whale house for the end of our trip, as we hoped this would leave the best impression on our teenage children...I was a bit worried that it would not, somehow, completely meet our expectations. Boy was I wrong....First I must say that we preferred the atmosphere of the Northeastern coast of Vancouver Island to the Tofino/Ucluelet area, which is very beautiful but with a lot of visitors in August. Then driving from Nanaimo to Port Mc Neill is a pleasant road, with a few great places to see on the way if you have time. The house is easy to find, and although in a secluded environment, is only a few minutes drive from Port Mc Neill. Everything other visitors have written about the house is 100% true. And yes, we saw two bears and two cubs on the side of the road! ( everyone was thrilled!). And you know what, with such outstanding views, such a beautiful silence, such a healing nature all around, we saw our teenage children talk a lot to one another...We talked with each one of them too, on the beach, on hiking trails, while playing billiard in the basement...Family bonds were greatly strengthened in just 3 days.. Needless to say, the Mackay whale watching experiment is a must...Kept all its promises! One little tip. Bring eye masks since there are no curtains or window blinds to keep bedrooms in the dark in the morning. And finally one little anecdote: whenever we would leave a place during our trip, the "kids" would ask " when are we coming back?". And invariably my wife would reply..." Not anytime soon, there are many places to visit in the wide world, and we will visit another country next year!"....But as we left the house on the last day, on that gravel road back to Port Mc Neill, we all sat silent in the car....About to fly back to France the next day...My wife was the one to break the silence with the question we all had on hour mind, turning to me she said, " I would like to come back here. Really"

10/10 Excellent

Mary Bush G.

17 Aug 2018

Perfect Home for a family vacation!

Look no further, The Whale House is it! Thank you Nancy, for sharing this gorgeous spot and your lovely home. We will never forget it. The house is very well equipped for cooking and serving meals. It was so lovely to have spices and some pantry items waiting for us. Meals at the dining room table, with the perfect view, were just wonderful. Bedrooms were clean, airy and comfortable. Again, we loved the view from our bedroom and awoke to the sounds of eagles chattering. The property itself is stunning. We loved sitting on the deck, watching for the resident kingfisher. It was so much fun to have all of the crabbing gear. This was our favorite pastime! Whale watching with the MacKay family is a must do! Book ahead. We learned so much from Nicole and her dad. This was a true treat! A visit to Alert Bay was another highlight. We asked about fresh fish in the local market and they were able to hook us up with fresh Sockeye. Yum!! We also enjoyed the Blinkhorn Trail at Telegraph Cove. If we only had another week. There is so much to see and explore here. The Whale House was the perfect home base. We looked forward to returning here each afternoon after a day’s adventure. We were a family group ranging in ages from 10-79. There is something for everyone here. Thank you again. We absolutely loved everything about this home.

Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Bruce B.

23 June 2018

The perfect spot for enjoying north Vancouver Island

Lovely weather front property with commanding views and visiting wildlife. The house is lovely and well maintained by a very helpful owner. Be sure to visit the nearby First Nation town of Alert Bay (easily accessible by ferry).

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

John E., Taylor Mill, KY/USA

29 May 2018

Beautiful Serenity

If you love to get away from it all with breathtaking views, this is the place. I went crabbing every day and saw more wildlife than anywhere I've ever been. Just a great place to recharge your soul.

Stayed 5 nights in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

debra s., pleasanton, california

4 May 2018

Gorgeous home

We had a wonderful time in this very clean, well appointed, beautiful home. It is bright, spacious and so comfortable! There are two bedrooms upstairs and a bedroom in the basement, The basement bedroom was a bit musty, however, it was located off the pool table room/tv room and it was secluded. The deck is amazing with a hot tub- both with wonderful views of the water and the private beach. The house is located in a remote area with few options for restaurants or entertainment. This is the perfect home for spending quiet time sunning yourself, reading, playing board games, cooking and relaxing! Thank you for a great week away!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Marco R., Vancouver, Canada

26 Aug 2017

Luxury Wilderness Experience

Great, comfy house. Gorgeous waterfront location, slightly out of the working-class village of Port McNeill. Can sleep eight, but four get to sleep in a slightly dark basement. The master bedroom is fantastic. The large windows that look out to Haddington Island are wonderful. Kitchen could use more dishes. Only four mugs and three wine glasses. So many bears up close and personal ... We saw two mothers with two and three cubs, and two adults walking on the beach, crossing the yard and climbing the trees - and that was only on one days. There were dozens of sightings during our 8-day stay, plus many, many deer and eagles. Overall great stay. Amazing launch pad for incredible adventures.

Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Catherine S.

7 Aug 2017

A dream location

A wonderful holiday home in an amazing location. The views were breathtaking; the accommodation was superb; the location was perfect. Not to be missed!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2017

About the host

Hosted by Nancy

I love the outdoors and all things that nature provides: sea kayaking, hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing and wildlife/nature photography. My extremely private home in British Columbia offers all of this, plus so much more. This space is my sanctuary and I'm grateful to be able to share this truly remarkable place with you. I have named her, "The WhaleHouse."

Why they chose this property

I love my property because of its location. My home is located on 3.8 oceanfront acres with amazing views all the way to the mainland. I have 2 bald eagle's nests on my property-1 is active and 1 is inactive. I see them flying back and forth from their nest to the waterfront often. This area is home of the Orca, or Killer Whale, and is a research hub for them. I have deer, bear, elk, and cougars walking through my property while they are enroute from the forest to the beach. I have seen orca and a large pod of white sided dolphins from the kitchen table. Guests and a close friend have seen wolves, however I have not (yet!!!). :)
I catch my own dungeness crab in the bay just in my very own backyard!! Port McNeill is a small, but quaint town with a population of about 2,500 residents. There is a grocery stores, a bank, an outdoor supply store etc. I'm approx. 30 minutes to world famous Telegraph Cove. The WhaleHouse is located in the middle of the forest but on the beach. It is nature at it's finest. It's close enough to town, but far enough to feel private and cozy, It is also clean, modern, upscale, and nicely decorated in the "West Coast~BC" style. It is also large enough to accommodate a large family, or several families traveling together. I believe you will find it to be super peaceful and a wonderful place to recharge your soul.

What makes this property unique

The unique benefits of The WhaleHouse are the views, the views, the views and location, location, location!!! It is also a beautiful custom home with 22 sky lights!!, with modern, upscale furnishings and decor, and then to top it off the jacuzzi on the deck is wonderful!! There is so much going on when looking out through the window. Because we are on the waterfront there is a ever constant change going on outside..... whether it be a deer and her fawn feeding in grass in front of the picture window, a bear on the beach, an eagle soaring over head, a fishing boat or ferry passing by, otters swimming past the house, Blue Herons fishing on the beach, catching Dungeness Crabs on the beach at low tide, the fog rolling in, the fog horns sounding, the tide changing, the sun setting, etc. etc.! I especially love the view from the master bed, and then at night there is a huge skylight above the master bed where you can stargaze!! I could go on forever! It's heaven on earth. Perfect place to relax and unwind. :)

Check in time 4pm (unless previous arrangements have been made)
Check out time 10am (unless previous arrangements have been made)