Nanaimo is located on the east side of Vancouver Island, along the Strait of Georgia. Nanaimo is Vancouver Island's second-largest city and its loca...
Nanaimo is located on the east side of Vancouver Island, along the Strait of Georgia. Nanaimo is Vancouver Island’s second-largest city and its location and travel connections make it a good starting point for exploring Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
This part of the island has one of the mildest and sunniest climates in Canada. The scenery is quintessentially Vancouver Island: temperate coastal rainforests, sparkling ocean and majestic mountain ranges.
The city had its beginning as a trading post in the early 1800s. In 1849 the Snuneymuxw chief informed the Hudson’s Bay Company of the presence of coal in the area. By 1853 the company had built a fort known as the Nanaimo Bastion. Incorporated in 1874, Nanaimo is the third oldest city in British Columbia.
Since then Nanaimo has become a great place to live, work and visit. The city offers a clean, accessible waterfront, cultural festivals in the summer, a university campus, and superb scenery.
Located 70 miles (112 km) north of Victoria, and 35 miles (55 km) west of Vancouver, Nanaimo is separated from the lower mainland by the Strait of Georgia. Nanaimo is well connected. BC Ferries runs large ferries from Nanaimo to Vancouver every couple of hours connecting public transit on either side. Seaplanes are constantly coming and going from the downtown waterfront on their way to and from downtown Vancouver or Vancouver International Airport. Nanaimo also has a airport south of town.
By virtue of its connections and proximity to Vancouver, Nanaimo is the gateway to many other destinations both on the island – Tofino, Comox Valley, Campbell River, Port Alberni, Chemainus, … Off the Vancouver Island coast you will find: Newcastle Island, Protection Island, Gabriola Island, Valdes Island, and many other of the Gulf Islands.
Whether you are a visitor, business person or a baby boomer looking for a place to retire to, this City has all the services you could ask for. From the big box stores and malls in the North to the intimate unique boutiques and cafes downtown, it is all here.
The bustling harbour is the central focus for visitors to Nanaimo, with freighters, fishing boats, tugboats and barges, sail boats and float planes all coming and going from the downtown waterfront.
Nanaimo offers the perfect mix of work and play activities. With its pristine beauty, the incredible variety of adventures and the many activities you can choose from it is a great place to visit or live.
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Galiano Island is a long, fairly thin, island of 57 sq km. It is the second largest of the big islands that shelters some of the other islands from the Strait of Georgia winds. Galiano Island lies just east of busy Salt Spring Island and southwest of the BC Mainland.
The island’s remarkable coastline features sheer cliffs; sand, pebble and white-shell beaches; sheltered bays and remarkable sandstone formations. Douglas fir, arbutus and rare, native Garry oak thrive in the dense, inland forests. Galiano is a 50-minute ferry ride from Tsawwassen at Sturdies Bay.
Galiano Island is considered by many to be the most picturesque of the Gulf Islands. You may think so too once you feast your eyes on Montague Harbour Provincial Marine Park, the beautiful 97-hectare park with pristine beaches, lush forests, meadows, a tidal lagoon, and a network of romantic walks. Bluffs Park is another of Galiano’s remarkable settings and features a hiking trail and a view of Active Pass. For a demanding hike, follow the trail to the top of Mount Galiano; your reward is the view.
Galiano, like Mayne has a panoramic views across the Georgia Strait towards Vancouver/Lower Mainland and Coastal mountains. A more protected oceanfront option can be found facing the Trincomali Channel and looking across to Salt Spring Island. These could be a bluff/”high bank” waterfront options.
Galinao is celebrated for its Heritage Forest preserves, and its several marine park reserves. A less known one is Dionisio Marine Park, with wonderful Coon Bay, at the exit point from Porlier Pass.
Galiano Island is roughly half way between Vancouver and Victoria and the most northerly of the Southern Gulf Islands. To get to the Gulf Islands you must board B.C. Ferries. The trip length varies depending on the time and route chosen. The Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal is roughly 25 minutes north of the Victoria’s downtown.
Wildlife is abundant. Otters, seals and orcas swim in the ocean. The island is a birdwatchers paradise with over 130 species of birds. Whale watching is exceptional in Active Pass.
Walkers, hikers and cyclists benefit from the quiet country roads and trails that lead to awesome ridges and viewpoints, spectacular sculptured sandstone cliffs, coves and sheltered beaches. Scuba diving in the clear, clean coastal water is among the best in the world.
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With the open Ocean, islands, inlets and rain forests at its door step, Ucluelet is a major tourist destination providing quality services and all the amenities for visitors and permanent residents. The town is the gateway to a Pacific Rim National Parks’ Broken Group Islands and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Like the town at the other end of the Pacific Rim Highway, Tofino, Ucluelet is making the transition from a resource-based economy to a tourism-based economy. Located in between Tofino and Ucluelet is the Long Beach section of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
The Broken Islands Group, part the marine area referred to as Barkley Sound, lies southeast of Ucluelet. The fishing community of Bamfield lies on the opposite shore of Barkley Sound. This is also the site of Kiix?in (Keeshan), an important archaeological site and National Historic Site of Canada protecting a Nuu-chah-nulth fortress.
Recreational activities include the following: surfing, fishing, whale watching, kayaking, camping, biking, sailing, scuba diving, beachcombing and golf. If visiting Ucluelet during the winter to storm watch. Make sure to bring your sense of adventure, since the west side of Vancouver Island is one of the wettest places in all of Canada, receiving nearly 10 feet annually.
A visit to Ucluelet isn’t complete without a walk on the astounding Wild Pacific Trail which features the Amphitrite Lighthouse. This 5 mile trail is easily accessible and has spectacular views of the west coast. While on the well-maintained trail you could see bald eagles, along with exception views of nearby Barkley Sound. While on your trek you may also spot a wide range of other wildlife, including harbour seals, black bears, cougars, wolves, and river otters.
The weather in the Pacific Rim area of Vancouver Island is tempered by the Pacific Ocean and is some of the most moderate in Canada. The sandy beaches in this area are wonderful for family outings. The sport fishing is possibly the best in Canada. There’s an excess of year round recreational activities in the region. There is first class dining and shopping facilities and excellent professional services in the region.
The Pacific Rim Whale Watching Festival occurs every spring. The event, hosted by Ucluelet, Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park allows spectators to watch the annual grey whale migration. Many other whale watching tours are available right through the year as well, enabling visitors to catch glimpses of humpback and orcas whales.
The closest city is Port Alberni approximately 100 km to the east. The District of Tofino is 40 km northwest of Ucluelet on Pacific Rim Highway. Ucluelet is located 8 km south west of Highway 4 and the Pacific Rim Highway junction at the northern edge of Barkley Sound, on the outer west coast of Vancouver Island.
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