A universal problem in the west is the fear the authorities have for
the unauthorised human body. If you leave home, you are expected to go
to approved overnight parking spots, for which you are supposed to
pay. Anywhere else you are suspicious - perhaps a hold over from the
Depression when so many vagrancy laws were passed to deal with the
movements of desperate people. It's very frustrating to pass perfectly
good stopping-over places in the westy with gates across the road or
signs forbidding access except during the day. It's the same in
certain Canadian provinces (mostly Ontario). Fortunately in BC, Alta,
Sask, you can usually pull over pretty much anywhere you want.

Anyway, we found a great spot of the highway at Big Sur -there is a
road to Pfieffer beach rec area. Closed at night of course, but just
before the ferociously forbidden parking area there is a big gravel
turn around, and we pulled off there. The silence was absolute, the
stars gorgeous. No traffic noises, nothing. And coffee at the
Ripplewood cafe the next morning where we had the best breakfast since
leaving BC.

As for Van Island I haven't done much bsides Victoria and Long
Beach/Tofino, but I heartily recommend the series of backroad
mapbooks. They will show all the forest service campsites and old
logging roads to small lakes and such. A must if you want to get away
from the crowds.