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OVERVIEW
Travel 30 minutes north of Nanaimo to the laidback seaside town of Qualicum Beach. Boasting 19 km of accessible beachfront, Qualicum Beach is the perfect destination for hanging out on the beach or taking part in a variety of water sports.
Top things to do
Credit: Tourism Vancouver Island/Ben Giesbrecht
Explore caves
Take a caving tour at Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park, or hike, bike or horseback ride along local trails.
Credit: @jeffisaak
Enjoy water and beach activities
Sunbathe, picnic and relax on the beach, or swim, kayak, canoe, windsurf, stand-up paddleboard, fish and more in the water.
Credit: Destination Canada/Brian Caissie
Experience ancient fir trees
Stroll through an 800-year old Douglas fir ecosystem to explore trees as tall as 75 m and up to 9 m around at Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park.
Credit: CC Image courtesy of marneejill on Flickr
Visit Englishman River Falls Provincial Park
Explore Englishman River Falls Provincial Park and find two stunning waterfalls cascade into a deep canyon.
Credit: Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism/Katya Small
Taste local wines and cheese
Try a variety of hand-crafted cheese, taste wines and meet the animals at Morningstar Farm.
Explore activities
Horne Lake Caves Riverbend Cave Explorer
Experience an unforgettable one and a half hour underground adventure through Riverbend Cave and discover a magical world filled with crystal formations and ancient fossils. Suitable for any adventurer, explore a twilight cavern and learn all about the cave’s unique geology and history with cave exploration experts.
Tour highlights
- Take in the raw beauty of Riverbend Cave and discover a world of crystal formations, marbled passages and ancient fossils.
- Navigate through rocky terrains with no need to crawl or vertically climb.
Horne Lake Caves Multi-Cave Experience
Gaze at beautiful crystal formations and ancient fossils during your two and a half hour thrilling underground experience. Perfect for adventurous families and novice cave explorers, discover the many protected caves within Horne Lake Provincial Park and learn about the cave’s unique geology firsthand.
Tour highlights
• Explore multiple underground caves including one with an underground waterfall
• Venture into the twilight cavern and see a world of unique crystal formations, marbled passages and ancient fossils.
• Navigate through a variety of cave features using ramps, ladders and slides—all with a professional tour guide.
Participants must be 8+ years.
Nearby cities
Parksville
Drive 30 minutes north from Nanaimo to visit Parksville, offering long sandy beaches, lots of water sports, and plenty of arts and crafts to suit all tastes. Known as Canada's Riviera, Parksville is the perfect destination for romantic getaways and family fun.
Courtenay
Drive 90 minutes from Nanaimo to the heart of beautiful farming landscapes on Vancouver Island to visit Courtenay—the urban centre of the Comox Valley. Downtown Courtenay boasts charming streets filled with art galleries, theatres, shops, artists’ studios, boutiques and gardens, and out of town there are sandy beaches, forests, mountains, parks and lakes. Plus, drive just 15 minutes to the local ski hill.
Port Alberni
Drive to Port Alberni for a variety of activities and attractions. Close to Barkley Sound, Clayoquot Sound and the Pacific Rim National Park, Port Alberni is the perfect base for exploring the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Nanaimo
Take the ferry from Vancouver to visit Nanaimo—the second-largest city on Vancouver Island, with plenty of outdoor activities and adventures for everyone, situated along one of the most beautiful waterfronts in Canada.
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