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A city of this size, surrounded by natural wonders - if you can buy a home that is "central" in Nanaimo, it means you're within 9 or 10 minutes of ANYTHING, including:

  • The Island's biggest shopping mall
  • Historic Downtown Nanaimo
  • Trailheads for 1000m Mt Benson
  • Kayak and canoe heaven
  • BC Ferries to Vancouver
  • Ferries to three other islands

Real estate in Central Nanaimo has become more desirable (relative to other parts of the city) in recent years, partly owing to the development described below, and partly because of gentrification created by more working-class families moving to Nanaimo and wanting to be central. There are all kinds of development in this region, from TOC miner's cabins to brand new developments.

You can read more below; or, here are homes for sale in Central Nanaimo:

Homes in Central Nanaimo

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New
2397 Barclay Rd, Nanaimo

$999,000

2397 Barclay Rd, Nanaimo

5 Beds 4 Baths 2,692 SqFt 4,792 SqFt Lot Single Family Detached MLS® # 927023

Sutton Group-West Coast Realty (Nan)

New
2366 East Wellington Rd, Nanaimo

$1,995,900

2366 East Wellington Rd, Nanaimo

5 Beds 4 Baths 4,573 SqFt 326,700 SqFt Lot Single Family Detached MLS® # 927507

Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty (NanIsHwyN)

New
1637 Bowen Rd 2, Nanaimo

$449,900

1637 Bowen Rd 2, Nanaimo

3 Beds 2 Baths 1,052 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Row/Townhouse MLS® # 927359

Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty (NanIsHwyN)

New
1620 Townsite Rd 303, Nanaimo

$435,000

1620 Townsite Rd 303, Nanaimo

1 Bed 1 Bath 773 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 927272

RE/MAX of Nanaimo

New
997 Bowen Rd 4303, Nanaimo

$274,900

997 Bowen Rd 4303, Nanaimo

1 Bed 1 Bath 660 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 927365

RE/MAX of Nanaimo

New
1675 Crescent View Dr 402, Nanaimo

$464,500

1675 Crescent View Dr 402, Nanaimo

2 Beds 2 Baths 1,010 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Row/Townhouse MLS® # 927262

Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty (NanIsHwyN)

New
1912 Bowen Rd 203, Nanaimo

$310,000

1912 Bowen Rd 203, Nanaimo

2 Beds 1 Bath 885 SqFt 872 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 927274

eXp Realty

New
1160 Beaufort Dr, Nanaimo

$649,900

1160 Beaufort Dr, Nanaimo

4 Beds 2 Baths 1,633 SqFt 8,712 SqFt Lot Single Family Detached MLS® # 926914

RE/MAX of Nanaimo

New
1600 Dufferin Cres 101, Nanaimo

$319,900

1600 Dufferin Cres 101, Nanaimo

2 Beds 1 Bath 878 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 926304

Oakwyn Realty Ltd.

434 Girvin Ave, Nanaimo

$695,000

434 Girvin Ave, Nanaimo

4 Beds 2 Baths 1,874 SqFt 9,148 SqFt Lot Single Family Detached MLS® # 926812

RE/MAX of Nanaimo

523 Bradley St, Nanaimo

$588,000

523 Bradley St, Nanaimo

3 Beds 1 Bath 956 SqFt 6,099 SqFt Lot Single Family Detached MLS® # 926712

Century 21 Harbour Realty Ltd.

1600 Dufferin Cres 109, Nanaimo

$309,000

↓ $6,000

1600 Dufferin Cres 109, Nanaimo

2 Beds 1 Bath 859 SqFt 872 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 924179

RE/MAX of Nanaimo

The boundaries of Central Nanaimo would vary according to who you ask - but the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board uses these boundaries:

The length of Northfield to the Parkway ; south to the Millstream (Pryde Vista) ; downstream to Quarterway ; following Bowen Rd down to Wall St ; jump over the curling rink to Barsby Park ; down to the Pearson St Bridge ; north on the Island Highway back to Northfield.

Central Nanaimo Amenities

Terminal Park mall is just across the highway from Central Nanaimo - the mall has an excellent line of boutique shops all close together: a fish market, a popular family-owned specialty meat shop, a bakery, a liquor store, and a health food store.

On the other side of the area is the Bowen Road corridor, which includes a growing number of commercial amenities. There is the Country Grocer supermarket, the amazing Arbutus Distillery, a veterinary hospital, two Vietnamese restaurants, a Korean barbecue, Greek, ramen, more bakeries, specialty meats, fish and chips, drug store, haircutters, women's gym, furniture boutiques and barns, thrift stores, and much more.

The Landlubber Pub, Windward Pub, and Quarterway Hotel (and pub) are all popular meeting places in the area.

Parks and Rec

Central Nanaimo Neighbourhoods & Home Styles

There's been a big explosion of homes in this area, including large clean apartment buildings with amazing mountain views, and affordable new-construction houses and townhomes on smaller lots, convenient to everything.

Hospital Area

The "hospital area" is roughly in the centre of Central Nanaimo. Named for Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (the busiest hospital on The Island), this area has some nice family-oriented neighbourhoods, as well as some more run-down ones. I'd be happy to discuss the differences with anyone who needs information for choosing the best area!

A lot of real estate investors like this area because there is constant demand for temporary housing for hospital staff, ferry workers, etc.

Quarterway and Townsite Rd West

South of the hospital are the Townsite and Quarterway areas. These include some older neighbourhoods from the early 20th century (Quarterway is so named for being a quarter way along the old 1800s road from Nanaimo to Wellington). Some beautiful old homes are here, especially near Townsite Rd and the Pryde Vista golf course near Buttertubs Marsh. There are some older apartment units near the hospital, and a lot of new condos near the commercial corridor along Bowen Rd.

Northfield West

The western ends of Boxwood Rd and Meredith Rd - just south of the old Northfield School - the area seems quite peaceful despite being near the Parkway and a light industrial park. There are some gorgeous views of Mt Benson, here.

In recent years, this space between the corridors of Bowen Rd and the Nanaimo Parkway has been getting developed into light industrial purposes - it makes sense because of the proximity to the noisy Parkway.

Home types:

  • New apartment buildings
  • Medium-sized '80s-'90s homes on 7500-8500 sqft lots
  • Some homes on large parcels
  • Houses on ~5250sqft strata lots

Meredith Road Area

This area between the hospital and Northfield Rd, stretching west to Bowen Rd, is generally quiet and family-oriented. Most homes were built in the '70s-'80s, aside from some newer ones in the area west of Woodlands School.

Median lot sizes seem to be about 7500-8000 square feet, though there are some sized 10,000 and even 12,000.

Much of this area feels separated from the retail and service corridors, which is nice for drivers, but not always for pedestrians - but the #3 bus (hospital) does run through here.

Strathmore, Waddington, Millstone

From the old Woodlands High School, east to the highway and then south past St George St almost to Townsite Rd, there is a well-kept but unpretentious neighbourhood comprised mainly of homes built 1960-1990. There are some well-built 1940s-era homes nearer the southern reaches of this stretch, getting even older (for some homes) nearer Mansfield Park and Millstone Ave.

Much of this area is just across the highway from Terminal Park mall and Brooks Landing mall, convenient to the appealing ravine trail of Beach Estates Park as well as the E&N Trailway that appeals to cyclists and joggers. Bowen Park is also just 3-20 minutes' walk away, depending on your starting point.

Boundary Crescent to Holly Avenue (Townsite)

While the far western end of Townsite Rd is characterized by new and old apartments near to Quarterway (see above), and the eastern reach of Townsite is a semi-luxurious drop to the ocean among early-century monster houses, the area in between is what is most commonly referred to when someone says "the Townsite area". There are some beautiful character homes here (as well as everyone's favourite arbutus tree - EDIT: that was cut down, boo), but some parts of this neighbourhood are considered to be a bit dodgy.

Townsite is named for the site of "Newcastle Town", a prestigious residential suburb in the early 20th century. It's the area close to the ocean, near the White Spot restaurant.

Satellite map showing location of Central Nanaimo and nearby landmarks

Back to Nanaimo neighbourhoods