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With coastline on two sides and mountains in the middle, Central Vancouver Island is a popular vacation and recreation area on Vancouver Island. You can take it easy with gentle strolls amongst old-growth trees, walk along wide beaches or check out some of the local museums to learn about the area. Or get the heart going and ski, bike, rent a kayak, visit a cave, do a multi-day hike or surf.
By car
The main highways into Central Vancouver Island are Highways 1 and 19.
By bus
By boat
By plane
There are seaplane facilities with scheduled commercial flights located at Nanaimo harbour.
BC Transit operates bus transit systems in Central Vancouver Island including Campbell River, Comox Valley (Courtenay and Comox), Nanaimo Regional (Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach), Port Alberni, and West Coast…
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Small city at the northern end of the central island region. It is known for fishing and is nicknamed the Salmon Capital of the World.
The gateway to Mt Washington, Strathcona Provincial Park and some spectacular fishing. These two towns are a beautiful place to visit in summer and winter.
Village at the end of Hwy 28. It has some caves and is the gateway to Nootka Sound and the Yuquot National Historic Site.
A popular stop on the road to Tofino best known for the Goats on the Roof in Coombs — both an attraction in its own right and a very popular market with a number of unique and imported items — and the old growth forest at Cathedral Grove.
Rural area northwest of Parksville/Qualicum Beach. Coastal communities like Qualicum Bay and Deep Bay offer quiet respite and great views. Inland, Horne Lake is an adventure center with caving and rappelling.
The largest city in the region and transportation hub. Nearby Saysutshun Newcastle Island is a popular attraction with trails, lookouts and First Nations history.
A summer vacation spot about 30 minutes north of Nanaimo. Its best known for its beautiful shallow beaches where you can walk and walk and walk when the tide goes out. There are also family-friendly parks and farms to entertain the kids. The two cities make a good base to explore the Mid-Island area and have a range of accommodation options, but do fill up July and August.
Small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island, renowned for fishing charters.
Developed as a major forest industry town and a service town for the fishing industry, today it is a popular salmon fishing destination.
Ecotourism center on the beautiful (if wet) west coast of the island. The main attractions are storm watching, whale watching, surfing and Long Beach, which is part of Pacific Rim National Park.
Small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island about 30 min from Tofino. Traditionally a service center for the fishing industry, it has a growing number of resorts and accommodation options due to its proximity to Tofino and Long Beach.
a small island between Parksville and Courtenay. It has a number of parks that are popular for hiking, biking and beaches.
four season resort with more than 80 downhill runs and 55 km of cross-country ski trails in winter. In summer, there's hiking, mountain biking and the lifts are open to take in the views.
surf or take a stroll on the long sweep of the aptly named Long Beach, and learn about the natural and cultural history of the area at the Kwisitis Visitor Centre. Limited camping is available close to the beach but most visitors stay in nearby Tofino or Ucluelet.
a popular destination for hikers, mountain climbers, swimmers, canoeists and kayakers. The park contains the highest peaks in the Vancouver Island ranges and Della Falls, considered to be Canada's highest waterfall. Hikes range from short ambles to multi-day adventures. There are both drive-in and backcountry campsites and one lodge in the park.
named Friendly Cove by James Cook, it was the site of Santa Cruz de Nuca, the first European colony in British Columbia, a Spanish settlement founded in 1789 and abandoned in 1795, today a National Historic Site.
Articles and travel topics about Central Vancouver Island and Canada.
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