Regional Island Activities
Go Outside and Play!
- Golf – from driving ranges and par 3 to amazing ocean front courses- endless choices. Vancouver Island Golf Courses. Nanaimo Golf Courses
- Cycling (road and mountain biking) – beginner to expert with available maps and enthusiast groups you can contact/join
- Paddling- kayaking (ocean and river), dragonboats and outriggers – from beginner to expert with active user groups/clubs.
- Sailing – If you’re in the Nanaimo area and are interested in crewing on a sailboat (yes, there is a winter series), there’s a Facebook page to make contacts and make that happen.
- Scuba diving – Jacques Cousteau called it the best temperate water diving in the world- with visibility best in the winter. Very active dive community with boat and shore dives available, and classes.
- Downhill or cross country skiing/boarding/tubing/snowshoeing Mt. Washington Alpine Resort is our mini Whistler – rentals, lessons and lower midweek rates.
- Quads/motorcycling/snowmobiling – Vancouver Island’s forestry history means endless miles of backroads!
- Hiking and Parks exploration – endless day trips to local and regional parks from gentle to extreme- lots of maps/user groups
- Rock climbing – there are many climbing spots and indoor facilities to train/learn and an active user group.
- Caving – Vancouver Island has a sizeable percentage of Canada’s caves! Active user group.
- Birding – there’s a very active bird watching community all over the Island and weekly group bird walks.
- Wine tours– there are several wine regions on Vancouver Island itching to show off their products and properties.
- Car touring (parks/regions/commercial attractions- e.g. Christmas season at Buchart Gardens)
- Fishing (fresh and saltwater)
- Ocean day cruise to the West Coast out the famous Alberni Inlet aboard a freight/passenger boat. See the West Coast in a whole new way and perhaps see whales, orcas or bears along the way.
- Hunting
- Wildlife viewing (land and sea)
- Geocaching– very active ‘mid island caching community on the Island and caches everywhere you are of all levels
- West Coast storm watching
- West Coast surfing
- Disc Golf
Indoors:
- Harbour Living– an online events calendar that covers the Island and updated weekly- more stuff than you’ll have time for!
- Bowling
- Movies
- Winter holiday activities
- Museums
- Curling
- Rec basketball/volleyball/floor hockey/soccer/dodgeball
- Parks & Rec Swimming/skating/fitness gyms/gymnasiums/aquatics/seniors and adult programs and classes
- Rec hockey
- Elder College at Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island University
- Hockey (spectating)
- Yoga and fitness classes
- Dancing
- Theatre (live or movies)
- Concerts
- Restaurants
- Pubs
- Casino