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
1666 Sheriff Way, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #872487
This One-of-a-kind Luxury Estate Sits High Above Departure Bay And Boasts Panoramic Ocean Views Spanning From Vancouver, Over The Gulf Islands, Over Greater Nanaimo, And All The Way To Mount Arrowsmith. The Gorgeous Landscaped Grounds Include Lawns, Mature ...
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® #874301
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...
Land
1220 Manzanita Pl, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #869794
Centrally Located In Nanaimo, Rockwood Heights Offers Developers A Unique Opportunity. This South Facing Development Lot Has Views Of Departure Bay, Nanaimo And Mount Benson. The West Coast Contemporary Style Of Rockwood Heights And The Natural Beauty Of Th...
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
121 Amphion Terr, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #873522
First Time Offering For This Stunning Custom Ocean View Residence. Located In Rockwood Heights A Prestigious Departure Bay Development Of Beautiful Contemporary Custom Homes. Southern Exposure, Endless Sunrise, Sunsets, City Lights And Soaring Views To The ...
Single Family Detached
1431 Sherwood Dr, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #876158
Potential Top-line Ocean View Residential Home Development Opportunity. Wide Open 270 Degree Departure Bay & Mt. Benson View. 7 Minutes Drive To Departure Bay Ferry Terminal, 5 Minutes Walk To The Beach&park, And Within 5 Minutes Drive To Fitness Centre Sho...
Single Family Detached
2520 Lynburn Cres, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #877380
180 Degree View Of Departure Bay In One Of Nanaimo's Most Desirable Neighborhoods, Semi-updated Lynburn Classic Is Charming Inside And Out. Floor Plan Features 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms (2 Are Ensuites), And A Self-contained 1 Bedroom (suite That Can Be Conve...
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® #871035
Development Opportunity! One Of The Only Remaining Development Parcels Left 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 Dropping Setting Of Nan...
Single Family Detached
2700 Cosgrove Cres, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #878801
Rare Offering & Amazing Views In One Of Nanaimo's Most Desirable Locations. Watch The Ferry's Come & Go In This Spacious Level-entry W/walk-out Bsmt With About 2000 Sqft On Main & Over 3700 Sqft Overall. Situated On An Almost 11,000 Sqft Lot With Circular D...
Row/Townhouse
3224 Partridge Pl, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #878883
Stepping Through The Gate, You Enter One Of The Most Private Sanctuaries Available In The Edgewood's Gated Community. This End Unit Is Nestled Beside A Natural Fifteen-foot-high Rock Outcropping Which The Owners Have Artfully Used To Create An Outdoor Garde...
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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