Driving Adventures

Tour the Nanaimo area by car!

If you're in Nanaimo for an extended stay, or a resident, there is plenty to keep you busy in the surrounding area, and it's all just a short car ride away. Here are some of our favourites:

The Charm Tour

Hop in the car and head south from Nanaimo about 23 km to The Town of Ladysmith. Here you will find all the warmth and charm of small town living with a full range of services and amenities. Chat with the downtown merchants as you walk along First Avenue, steeped in history. Spend your morning popping into shops, having a bite to eat and visiting the fine local art galleries.

Be sure to pack your swim suit, as your afternoon will have a water theme. Spend some time at the Maritime Museum learning about the area's rich history. Take a harbour tour with the Ladysmith Maritime Society (July & August). And no visit to Ladysmith is complete without a stop at Transfer Beach, located on Ladysmith's harbour. The kids will love the playground and fantastic spray park, while the young at heart will enjoy a walk on the beach, a picnic, or a chance to take a kayak out for a paddle.

To learn more about The Town of Ladysmith visit their website at www.tourismladysmith.ca.

Scenic Agri-Tourism Tour

In the summer, the rural roads around Nanaimo reveal lush greenery and working farms where growers are into their peak season; a prime time to take a day trip along the winding country roads in Cedar and Yellow Point, just 10 minutes south of downtown Nanaimo.

Follow Yellow Point Road, then turn left on DeCourg Rd., to the Barton & Leier Gallery where you’ll find one of the most magical, whimsical gardens in Canada.

Continue down winding Yellow Point Road to Yellow Willow’s gift shop to browse original bent willow furniture, stained glass, driftwood birdhouses and other funky gift items.

Approximately 10 kilometres down Yellow Point Road, you’ll discover the scenic,family-run farm Yellow Point Cranberries, also the home of Cranberry Cottage Preserves. Tour the upper fields and sample delicious home-made cranberry preserves.

Just down from Yellow Point Cranberries and across Yellow Point Road, you’ll see McNab’s Corn Maze where each year another creative maze is carved into the countryside. The family fun at McNab’s farm includes a petting zoo, hay rides, and picnic areas.

Rugged West Coast

Pacific Rim National Park is one of the biggest tourist attractions in B.C., and a perfect full-day trip from Nanaimo. A three hour drive from downtown Nanaimo will take you to Vancouver Island's breathtaking west coast, where you can spend the day surfing, hiking coastal trails, or shopping in the charming beach communities of Ucluelet or Tofino.

Here, the wild Pacific Ocean is the main attraction. On salmon fishing charters out of Ucluelet it’s not uncommon to reel in a 30-pounder during the fall. Ride an inflatable Zodiac out to sea from Tofino and spot bald eagles, sea lions, and grey whales. Local surf schools offer lessons and camps for riding waves at the well-known Long Beach. Hikers love Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail, an inspiring route that winds through old-growth forests and skirts the rugged shoreline.

Extreme Sports

Gear up and head north for extreme outdoor adventure. Drive an hour to Mt.Washington Alpine Resort in the Courtenay/Comox area. Depending on the season, you can ski, board or mountain bike. The mountain has dozens of runs for all experience levels, and a picturesque village with restaurants, equipment and apparel shops, a general store, and a pub. Chalets and condos are also available for extended stays. In the summer months, Mount Washington is also home to many challenging hiking trails and a world-class mountain bike park.

Next, head to the town of Campbell River to snorkel with the spawning salmon or fish for one (only in the fall). You can also dive with the elusive six gill sharks off Hornby Island.

World-class Kayaking, just a short drive from Nanaimo

Whale Songs & Solitude

The population thins as you drive toward Telegraph Cove, a tiny community near the remote north edge of the island. The town itself is no more than a few buildings perched on stilts above the ocean. Former saltery and sawmill workers’ cottages, connected by a boardwalk, are now charming guest houses. This is the starting point for some of the island’s best kayaking, whale watching, and bear watching.

Cowichan Wine & Culture Tour

Take a self-guided winery tour through Vancouver Island’s own picturesque version of Provence. The Cowichan Valley’s serene countryside is home to several quality vintners offering tours, tastings, on-site sales, and picnic areas. Some host outdoor jazz concerts during the summer months. Include a stop in Duncan for the farmers’ market and to view the locally carved totem poles. And, don't forget to walk downtown Chemainus to see the world famous murals and tour the art galleries.

Central Island Tour

Gear up and go north. Make your first stop at Coombs Country Market for hearty eat-in or take-out food and to view the must-see goats grazing on the rooftop. After that, zip down the road past Cameron Lake, and take a quiet stroll through the towering trees of Cathedral Grove. Refreshed and ready for extreme adventure go spelunking deep into the mysteries of Horne Lake Caves. Then, wind up at Parksville’s sandy beaches to hit the skate park ramps or unwind where sun hits shore.

Gulf Island Studio Tour

Hop a 20-minute ferry from downtown Nanaimo to Gabriola Island, a quiet rural setting where countless artists have taken up residence. Drive the loop around the island and look for roadside signs that point to studios and galleries of all kinds: pottery, stained glass, oil and watercolor painting, and more. It’s a treat to watch these artists at work in their own unique studio spaces.