by plane from Vancouver:

• Air Canada Jazz

• Harbour Air

• Seair

• West Coast Air

by boat from Vancouver:

• BC Ferries (to get from YVR airport to Horseshoe Bay, take the new Canada Line transit train to downtown Vancouver and then the 257 Horseshoe Bay Express Bus)

  Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay 

  3 km from the pool

  or

  from Tsawwassen to Duke Point 

  20 km from the pool)

  NOTE: If travelling by vehicle on BC Ferries, we recommend making a reservation. It is the May long week-end and traffic can be very heavy.

by bus from Victoria or other destinations

• Greyhound Canada and Island Coach Lines 250-388-5248

Google Maps: Nanaimo Aquatic Centre

From Departure Bay Ferry Terminal travel toward downtown Nanaimo via Stewart Avenue. Turn left at the lights onto Terminal Avenue. Go over the Millstone River Bridge and turn right at the next lights onto Comox Rd.-Bowen Rd. Continue up the hill on Bowen Road past the entrance to Bowen Park. Turn left at the lights onto Wakesiah Avenue. Turn right either onto Third Street or into Nanaimo District Secondary School to access the parking lot for the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre (attached to NDSS).

From the Parkway Highway follow the Third Street exit to Downtown Nanaimo and turn right at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.

Nanaimo Regional Transit 24 hour bus information: 250-390-4531 

• Kayaking or walking around Newcastle Island (2-4 hours) or taking the foot ferry over to Newcastle Island and camping there (10 minute ride, endless pleasure)

• Taking the foot ferry over to the Dinghy Dock Pub and Restaurant on Protection Island (10 minute ride, great food and entertainment)

• Swimming, walking or running at Westwood Lake (3 km from the pool; a 6 km trail around the lake)

• A relaxing walk, run or swim at the beach at Rathtrevor Provincial Park (a 30 minute drive to a rival for Long Beach)

• Walking along the Harbourfront Promenade (approximately 4 km)

• Sink or Swim Scuba 

  Snorkeling with the Seals. Go on a 25 ft zodiac to Snake Island , pop into the water, swim around and observe or be observed by seals.  $95.00 includes rental of snorkeling gear and boat. 

  We can arrange some shore dives too for certified scuba divers if the people have enough spare time to go diving.  

  More to come...

• 24 Carrot Café

• Amrikko's

• Blue Ginger

• Bocca on Fitz

• Cactus Club

• Delicado's

• Discovery Room - VIU

• Earl's

• Gina's

• Grapevine Trattoria

• Ilio's

• Le Café Français

• Lighthouse Bistro

• Longwood Brew Pub

• Minnoz (in the Coast Bastion)

• Modern Café

• Red Room

• Romeo's

• Tigh-na-mara

• Wesley Street Café