Making the most of Nanaimo
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Nanaimo lives up to the name of harbor City with the completion of the new floating cruise ship pier and welcoming terminal capable of receiving large cruise ships of today, and designed for even larger ships of tomorrow.
There are complimentary buses running in a circular route from ship to downtown and around and back to the ship.
If the weather is good you can walk to the Downtown core, not far.
The downtown Harbor area has Marinas, Seaplane Terminals, food, and a Neigborhood Pub overlooking the Harbour activity.
There are many great ways to spend your day in Nanaimo; from scuba diving in a sunken navy ship, testing yourself at an indoor rock climbing wall, spending a day on the golf course, to watching a performance of the Vancouver Island Symphony at the Port Theatre. Whatever you do for fun, you'll find tourist attractions in Nanaimo that satisfy your needs, along with many activities you might not have tried before.
Getting around
Bungy Jumping, TreeGo and Ziplines at WildPlay Element Park (Formerly known as the Bungy Zone). (About 10km south of town)
The beaches of the Parksville and Qualicum Beach region are a short 20-minute drive from Nanaimo. This region also includes Coombs, offering some wonderful rustic and exotic shopping and this is where you find the goats on the roof. It's a favorite spot for locals and an excellent stop for tourists. It's about a 30 minute drive from Nanaimo.
Nearby places
Nanaimo's island coastal setting makes it a great place to spend the day outdoors. Here you can hike a rain forest mountain, take panoramic pictures of Georgia Strait, and cool off in a river canyon all in the same day. There are also several great ocean swimming and snorkeling spots along the city's waterfront, including Departure Bay, Neck Point, Jack Point, and Snake Island. For the more adventurous types, there are activities such as bungy jumping, zip-lining, and ATVing.
Food and shopping
Nanaimo seawall -- a pedestrian walkway that winds along the waterfront from Cameron Island to the Nanaimo Yacht Club. Visitors especially enjoy the section of the seawall near the Bastion, where craft shops and restaurants dot the path.
Behind the inner harbor, the city center’s main shops line Commercial St and Terminal Ave, while the attractive but small Old City Quarter resides up the hill and is bordered by Fitzwilliam, Selby and Wesley Sts.
Money
Canadian dollar
You will find ATMs in many grocery stores, malls, airports and so on, and most are linked to the international networks, the most common being Cirrus, Plus, Star and Maestro. You can also grab cash from an ATM if you use a major credit card although this method tends to be more expensive because, in addition to a service fee, you'll be charged interest immediately.
Staying connected
In Canada the main languages are English 59.3%, French 23.2% (both official); other 17.5%. Quebec and New Brunswick being the most "French" The rest of the country is English speaking.