VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 224

INFORMATION AND SERVICES
Nanaimo is promoted to the world by Tourism Nanaimo (250/756-0106 or 800/663-7337,
www.tourismnanaimo.com ) . The main Nanaimo Visitor Centre (2290 Bowen Rd.,
9am-5pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-4pm Sat.-Sun.) is in an imposing historical log building north of
downtown and off the main highway in the grounds of Beban Park. Another useful resource
is the website www.gonanaimo.com .
For maps, nautical charts, and books about Vancouver Island, visit Nanaimo Maps and
Charts (8 Church St., 250/754-2513). Numerous used bookstores can be found along Com-
mercial Street.
The main post office is on Front Street in the Harbour Park Mall. For emergencies,
head to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (1200 Dufferin Cres., 250/754-2141). If you
need a pharmacy, go to the Pharmasave (2000 N. Island Hwy., Brooks Landing Mall, 250/
760-0771).
GETTING THERE AND AROUND
Getting There
It's possible to get to Nanaimo by airplane or bus, but most people arrive by vehicle up
Highway 19 from Victoria (allow 90 minutes for the 110-kilometer/68-mile trip) or by ferry
from Vancouver.
BC Ferries (250/386-3431 or 888/223-3779, www.bcferries.com ) operates regular ser-
vices between Vancouver and Nanaimo along two different routes. Ferries leave Van-
couver's Tsawwassen terminal up to eight times a day for the two-hour trip to Nanaimo's
Duke Point terminal, 20 minutes south of downtown and with direct access to the highway
that bypasses the city. Through downtown, at the north end of Stewart Avenue, is the De-
parture Bay terminal. This facility contains a large lounge area with a café and large-screen
TVs. Ferries from Vancouver's Horseshoe Bay terminal leave up to 11 times a day for De-
parture Bay. Fares on both routes are the same: Peak one-way travel costs adult $15.50,
child $7.75, vehicle $51.25. Limited reservations are taken via the website ($15 plus ferry
fare).
Harbour Air (250/714-0900) flies daily between downtown Vancouver (just west of the
convention center) and the seaplane base in downtown Nanaimo ($109 one-way).
The Greyhound bus depot is at the rear of the Howard Johnson hotel (corner of Termin-
al Ave. and Comox Rd., 800/753-4371). Buses depart regularly for points north and south
of Nanaimo and west to Port Alberni and Tofino.