Day Trips from Nanaimo
Sometimes you have to get out of the city. Visitors and residents alike should check out some of the ideas below.
Top Daytrips
Parksville's gorgeous sandy beaches are only a half hour's drive north of Nanaimo. The little City of Parksville is quiet and relaxed; there is some great shopping and food; and the seaside parks are absolutely amazing (including a huge children's playground and waterpark). Lovers of geology and amazing views should check out Little Mountain.
City bus to Parksville
Protection Island is just a ten-minute boat ride across Nanaimo Harbour. (There's a little passenger ferry.) This residential island has some beautiful parks on the water, and a floating pub is the only place to spend any money.
It's easy to spend an entire summer's day swimming and exploring at Nanaimo River, a 15-minute drive from downtown. Please stay in the city, though, if you can't keep our river clean.
Newcastle Island is Nanaimo's star attraction. It takes a long day to explore this big island park, and you can visit every weekend for a decade without learning all of the secrets here.
There's an interesting innercity hiking route that will bring you along the nicer part of the waterfront, and then ducks up into our industrial past, along the Millstone River through Bowen Park and finally to serene Buttertubs Marsh. The whole route keeps you within walking distance of downtown.
Hikes in the Hills
Climb the mountain – If you're a hiker, you should get up Mt Benson to see the real picture of Nanaimo. Not to mention, you'll see Vancouver, Duncan, Texada Island, the Sunshine Coast....
Drive south for 35 minutes and hike Mount Tzouhalem for an eerie and beautiful perspective of the Cowichan Valley and the City of Duncan.
It takes about 90 minutes to drag yourself up to Roberts Roost, a prominent hump at the foot of Mt Benson. Expect spectacular views of Departure Bay, South Nanaimo, Gabriola Island, Extension Ridge, the Nanaimo River Estuary, Cedar and Ladysmith (also Mt Baker and Vancouver, on the clearest days).
Westwood Ridge is Nanaimo's most popular elevated 2-hour hike (but it's common to see nobody up there). Some people run these ridges in about an hour, and others meander along the peaks for a few hours.