Located in the east coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Nanaimo is known as "The Harbour City" (previously known as "Hub City") for its original layout design, where the streets shot out from the shoreline like the spokes of a wagon wheel. It is also the centralized location on Vancouver Island, making it the "hub" of the Island.
Looking out over the Salish Sea to the Coastal mountains on the mainland of, British Columbia this stunning area is full of scenic views and full of things to do such as:
- Boat Tours
- Shops
- Restaurants
- Museums
- Whale watching
- Wildlife Tours
- Parks
- Harbourfront Walkway
There are countless options in Nanaimo, B.C. however listed below are the absolute top 5!
1. A Whale Watching Tour:
With breathtaking scenery surrounding you, of the mountains of Vancouver Island on one side and then higher mountains of mainland British Columbia which stretches across the strait on the other; it makes for an amazing and spectacular backdrop to the surfacing whales. These exciting tours usually come with calm and beautiful scenic water, making it ideal for anyone who may be a tad nervous at the beginning!
With a variety of whales to watch and be simply amazed by; the tour does focus on orcas. Professionally guided by highly educated individuals in marine biology, you are experiencing a very educational and enticing adventure! Offering no expiry date on your tour ticket; if you do not see any whales- the guide guarantees sightings indefinitely. This is done by a clear pattern between boats, where information is shared, and the tour operators work as a team to locate pods.
If you don't spot a whale right away, or perhaps at all, you will still catch a glimpse of:
- Sea lions
- Harbor seals
- Fish
The boats carry either 23 passengers or, you can join a 12-person zodiac boat, making your experience all that more thrilling! For safety measures, anyone volunteering to hop onto the 12-person zodiac boats, is equipped with insulated and flotation suits seeing as the boat size is smaller and more personal.
Tour times vary and can take on average between 3-4 hours, depending on where the whales may be, and 1 full hour is provided for the whale sightings alone. All boats are required to remain 100-meters in distance from the whales in order to stay out of their path.
The tour is concluded with an educational piece about whale conversation which provides a personal connection, to these magnificent creatures. Booking tickets in advance is highly advisable as this is a very popular tourist adventure and you do not want to miss out on it!
Choose between:
- The Nanaimo Whale Watching Tour in a Semi-Covered boat
- The more adventurous zodiac Open Boat Nanaimo Whale Watching Tour
2. Harbourfront Walkway:
This amazing walkway has people talking, Nanaimo's Harbourfront Walkway is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in this city. Running along the waterfront below Front Street- this walkway is lifted high above both the shore and the ocean (in some areas) and crosses over parks and green spaces as well, making it super unique.
As you walk down this beautiful pathway, you will find:
- Shops
- Restaurants
- Outdoor patios
- Docks
- Boats
- Seaplane base (watching people fly in and out)
- Whale watching boats (which dock here)
As you shop, eat and explore; you can then catch a seaplane into Vancouver or, hop on a 40-minute Seaplane Tour over the Strait of Georgia, with stunning views over the sunshine coast.
For an intimate dinner, head over to the Lighthouse Bistro down the walkway which overlooks the harbor and if you want to stay overnight in this gorgeous spot, head over to the best hotel in the area full of luxury, the Coast Bastion Hotel- which offers an incredible view overlooking the harbor and into the Coastal Mountains.
3. Snorkeling with Seals:
Want to take the harbor walking adventure to a whole new level? Seals can be spotted around the docks and on the rocks, which run all the way up and down the coast. This is amazing, in itself- but if you want an experience of a lifetime then swimming and snorkeling with real seals is a perfect adventure!
Here are some rules and must-knows of the snorkeling experience:
- Snorkelers must be 10 years or older
- Boating out a rock island inhabited by a colony of harbor seals
- Weather permitting to venture out
- Guided tours are available through the local diving outfitters
- The option of a day trip directly from Vancouver is available
This is a half-day adventure right in Nanaimo from Vancouver, which takes you by a seaplane out to the boats and on your way to the colony! Experience is not needed however you do need to be able to swim to join in on the fun.
4. Neck Point Park:
This famous park is known for its scenic views and is a great place to picnic at or, go for a walk. Surrounded by beautiful water and mountains in the distance there is much to Neck Point Park;
- Swimming
- Scuba diving
- Access to views of; orcas, sea lions and other marine life from the outlooks of the park!
- Walking trail- which follows the shoreline past beaches and arbutus trees
- Douglas fir. Sunset Beach
- Last Beach
- Indian Beach
- Finn Beach
An interesting spot which is a must, is between the Indian Beach and Last Beach at the far end; a lookout point which is located on high rock, where a tidal zone lays and allows you to see at low tide; an exposed gravel sandbar and small rock island! This is the "neck" in which the park is named after and is the most popular dive sites for tourists- divers can actually, walk-in from the neck or leave from Finn Beach.
5. The Nanaimo Bar Trail and the Ferry to Newcastle Island:
Instead of just picking one last final spot, we had to mix two together because they are just too sweet to pass by! Let's start with the city's signature sweet- the Nanaimo bar! This is a must try treat filled with a thick layer of custard-flavored icing sugar, topped with a thin layer of amazing smooth chocolate, all sitting on a bed of coconut crumb wafer!
This city has published a map which reflects the route of the Nanaimo Bar Trail where you can pass by;
- Local coffee shops
- Pastry shops
- Nanaimo bar tastings
- Scenic views
This is an amazing place to check out and when you are done here, be sure to head out on a ferry from the Harbourfront Walkway which takes you to the nearby Island of Newcastle (located on the left of the Harbourfront Walkway).
A small ferry transports walk-on passenger(s) to the nearby island which is officially called; Saysutshun, the Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park. What you will find here is a combination of nature and history in the form of;
- Nature trails
- Beaches
- Snuneymuxw village sites
- Old sandstone quarries
- Remains of a fish saltery
- Coal mine sites
Want to extend your ferry adventure after the trails and Nanaimo bars?! This island is also a fantastic spot for camping, which is safe and comfortable from the walk-in sites available, which are quite popular with families or dedicated campers!
As there are many other amenities and things to do in the beautiful, Nanaimo B.C. of course! -Just ensure you make it to the top 5 listed above and put them all on your priority list- you will be happy you did!
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