The Departure Bay area is a beautiful oceanside neighbourhood, a bowl-shaped valley rising from a large beach. It is a highly desirable area owing to its spectacular ocean views, large swimming beach and park, well-kept homes, and central location. Almost anyone who's been to Nanaimo will be familiar with Departure Bay as the large bay where the ferry arrives from Vancouver. (But the ferry terminal is not in the residential area referred to as Departure Bay - it's in the Brechin Hill neighbourhood.)
There are luxury waterfront houses down by the beach of course, but as you go uphill you'll find different types of neighbourhoods. At the southern end are Cilaire and Beach Estates - then further north is the Lynburn neighbourhood, also notable for its mid-century and higher-end postwar homes. There are some strata buildings close to the beach, and then to the north, the land rises as dark basalt bluffs covered in houses of wood and glass. Sherwood Forest is tucked into here (with streets named Prince John Way, Marion Way, Bowstring Close, Nottingham, etc.).
North of Sherwood Forest there is still a lot of undeveloped land (beautiful undulating lands with arbutus and moss and towering firs and hemlock), with multiple ridges rolling back toward the Hammond Bay area. These ridges are still being developed with beautiful newer custom homes, but a large area has also been preserved as hiking trails and protected lakes.
Amenities are very near with several big malls within a 10 min drive. But even closer are the many beaches and rocky shores, most notably Pipers Lagoon and Neck Point, and of course the long sandy Departure Bay Beach, a popular (but seldom crowded) swimming beach with a playground, grassy lawn, driftwood hide-outs and a coffee shop.
Need help buying or selling in Departure Bay? Contact me.
Single Family Detached
2600 Randle Rd, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #863517
Spectacular Oceanfront On The Beach Of Departure Bay In Nanaimo, Bc. Close To Schools, Downtown Nanaimo, Bc Ferries And All Of Central Nanaimo's Amenities. Level Fenced Corner Lot With Rear Vehicle Access On A No Thru Road. Amazing Beachfront Yard, Private ...
Single Family Detached
1326 Ivy Lane, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #860379
Breathtaking Views And Classic Elegance Define This World Class Property In The Departure Bay. In One Of The Most Desirable Locations In The Bay Area, This Home, Custom Built, Offers Luxury Living, Spectacular Vistas And Grand Outdoor Entertaining Spaces. E...
Single Family Detached
2745 Departure Bay Rd, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #866879
Live Across From Nanaimo's Departure Bay Beach!! Behind The Blue Door Of This Beach Facing 4 - Bdrm 4 Bath Home - Including A 1 - Bdrm Lower Suite - You'll Find Wall To-wall Light, Smart Design, And Beautiful Interiors. Priceless Ocean And Mountain Views...
Single Family Detached
1228 Manzanita Pl, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #865612
Welcome To This Prestigious Development Of 4 Exclusive Residences Offered For Pre-sale In Rockwood Heights Departure Bay. The West Coast Contemporary Architecture Of This Area Is Cohesive And Impressive. These Luxury Builds Will Include Engineered Wide Plan...
Land
3245 Granite Park Rd, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #864239
Development Opportunity! One Of The Only Remaining Development Parcels Open For Acquisition In The Prestigious Rockwood Heights Of Departure Bay! This 3.41 Acre Property Is At It's Primetime For The Right Developer To Build In A Unique And Truly Jaw Droppin...
Single Family Detached
3273 Telescope Terr, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #865981
Watch The Ferries Dock From All 3 Levels Of This Bright And Spacious Home. On The Main Level You'll Find The Large Primary Bedroom & Ensuite Complete With Heated Floors, Soaker Tub, Separate Shower And A Skylight. There's An Open Kitchen With Quartz Counter...
Single Family Detached
133 Amphion Terr, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #865588
Welcome To This Prestigious Development Of 4 Exclusive Residences Offered For Pre-sale In Rockwood Heights Departure Bay. The West Coast Contemporary Architecture Of This Area Is Cohesive And Impressive. These Luxury Builds Will Include Engineered Wide Plan...
Single Family Detached
2225 Departure Bay Rd, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #866982
Desirable Departure Bay Home With Ocean Views Across The Water. Split-level Classic Home Offers 1845sq’ Of Living Space, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms. Fully Renovated Kitchen And Bath Ensures Modern Design. Ocean Views Can Be Enjoyed From The Living Room, Kitc...
Single Family Detached
2901 Hammond Bay Rd, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #868796
--------superb North Nanaimo Oceanview--------relax On Your Deck & Watch Bc Ferries Coming-&-going From Departure Bay, Enjoy Stunning Ocean Views Reaching Across To Newcastle Island From All Main Living Areas, Or Stroll Across The Street For A Sun-soaked Af...
Single Family Detached
3139 Monk Pl, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #867048
Highly Desirable Departure Bay Location Is Just A Short Walk To Both Sugar Loaf Mountain And Departure Bay Beach, Schools And Shopping And Amenities. This 4-bedroom 2-bathroom Home Is Located On A Quiet Cut-de-sac And Features A 1 Bedroom Authorized Suite W...
Single Family Detached
3073 Mccauley Dr, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #865936
Looking For That Perfect Rancher In A Great Neighborhood That Has Had All The Work Done To It Already? You Have Just Found It! This 3 Bedroom Rancher Is Located A Short Walk From Country Club Mall And Is Close To Wellington And Rock City School. It Was Full...
Condo Apartment
2560 Departure Bay Rd 404, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #867192
Feel Like You're Living At A Resort Everyday! This 1700 Sq Ft Penthouse Features Views Galore! Wake Up Every Morning In Any Of The 3 Bedrooms And You Are Greeted By The Panoramic View Of Departure Bay. Watch The Boats And Seaplanes Come And Go All Day From ...
The first telephone line in British Columbia was installed here in the 1880s - it ran from the wharves at Departure Bay up to the coal town of Wellington (now part of Nanaimo, between Diver Lake and Long Lake). One of the mining engineers assembled the telephone system based on instructions he saw in a science magazine.
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