Things to do in Nanaimo
in sunny weather
If you find yourself in Nanaimo on a beautiful, warm day, they you must seize the day! Get your shorts and a cooler and GO, man, GO!
This page is still being developed. Let us know if you have ideas for things to mention on this page!
Big Annual Events
There are some great yearly festivals and other kinds of events in Nanaimo, usually around the same time each year. Even if the event this weekend is not exactly your thing, there will still be a lot of stuff to check out, and people to see, in the area where the event is happening. Specifically, when there is something happening at the waterfront (Dragonboat Races, Marine Festival, fireworks, etc.), it is usually worthwhile to go and just walk around.
Hike the Ridges
Local Bus Info
At the base of Mt Benson is a series of ridges with breathtaking views of Nanaimo and the Georgia Strait. There is an extensive network of trails joining them, and it's easy to feel completely alone up there with the arbutuses and the eagles. The Westwood Ridges are a mildly strenuous hike, suitable for anyone but the infirm or very young. The #5 bus will take you closest to the trailheads.
See the Petroglyphs
There is ancient rock art in the Nanaimo area. Specifically, it takes the form of "petroglyphs", which are images etched into the local variety of flat cement-like bedrock.
Swim in the ocean
Most of our beaches are rocky, and the water is often cold. HOWEVER, there are some secret spots:
"The gap" between Newcastle Island and Protection Island is a magical place to be when the tide is lowest. This area becomes a huge sandy plain with starfish and sand dollars and great blue herons, eagles, and little seagrasses. The sun warms the sand, and then as the tide comes back, the water ends up being warmed by the ground.
Gallows Point at the south end of Protection Island has a spongy kind of sand, and on a hot day, this is a gorgeous spot to be at low tide. You can play in the waves made by the Gabriola ferry.
Departure Bay Beach is sandy and very pretty, with shops and an Indian restaurant (Amrikko's) nearby.
Pipers Lagoon is a great place to explore, and has a long pebbly beach to swim at.
Hunt for Fossils at Ammonite Falls
In Nanaimo's backyard, there is a big waterfall that drops over a wall of Paleozoic strata. That means there are layers of fossils, and you can try your luck at finding some beautiful ammonite fossils in particular.
Gabriola Island Studio Tour & Farmer's Market
Check out a self-guided tour of artisans' studios, or head over in time for the weekly farmer's market (summertime only). If you miss these cultural highlights, don't worry — Gabriola Island is beautiful to explore. But it's a big island, so you don't want to come here without a car or bikes.
Goats on the Roof - Coombs
A few minutes north of Parksville is Coombs, where the ever-popular market and shops will give just about anyone a few smiles and yummy or beautiful things to buy.
Birding
Nanaimo is a premier birding destination, with excellent birdwatching at Morrell Sanctuary, Buttertubs Marsh Sanctuary, Nanaimo River Estuary, Neck Point, Pipers Lagoon, and other wetland locations.
Visit a desolate island
Find a boat that'll take you to Snake IslandNo doubt you can rent or charter some boat to take you to Snake Island, 6km out of downtown Nanaimo. It's rocky, rugged, and beautiful. There are beautiful spots for swimming, if you aren't afraid of seals or bull kelp.
See Quirky L'il Protection Island
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.
World-class Mountain Biking
Biking in Nanaimo rocks. Nanaimo is not flat, so using a bike for your regular commuting can be more challenging than in other cities. But this is great news for people who love picking their way (or careening) down forest trails and old logging roads. The ridges and mountains behind Nanaimo shelter excellent MTB trails.
Plan to watch the sunset
Two sites in Nanaimo vie for sunset supremacy. Pipers Lagoon is right in town and has a greater variety of landscape and parking options, but Jack Point Park is less crowded and allows for a sunset lower in the sky, with downtown Nanaimo spread beneath the mountain – very beautiful!
Take the Tracks
Info about the passenger train
The E&N Railway operates what many islanders refer to as "the dayliner", a passenger train that runs between Victoria and Courtenay. The best part of the tracks in Nanaimo is south of the train station Downtown, the stretch of railway between the Old City Quarter and Tenth Street. This is one way to glimpse the real Nanaimo. Especially notable are the lush backyards whose hundred-year-old compost heaps have long since crawled over the fences and are reaching for the tracks.
Sandy Beaches in Parksville
City bus to Parksville
Train to Parksville
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).
Swim at the Nanaimo River
It's easy to spend an entire summer's day swimming and exploring at Nanaimo River, a 15-minute drive from downtown. But if you can't keep our river clean, please stay in our city's shopping malls and parking lots.
Spend a few hours on Newcastle Island
Newcastle Island is Nanaimo's star attraction. It takes a long day to do any justice to this big island park, and you can visit every weekend for a decade without learning all of the secrets here. And yet, the island is right downtown!
More 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 Duncan, Texada Island, the Sunshine Coast, Mt Baker and Vancouver, on the clearest days. Or, drive south for 35 minutes and hike Mount Tzouhalem for an eerie and beautiful perspective of the Cowichan Valley and the City of Duncan.
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