Central Vancouver Island,
British Columbia

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In the Central Vancouver Island, British Columbia region you'll find a wide variety of activities, including some of the best family beaches on the island. It's the perfect place to go for a family beach vacation or to use as a home base for an island-wide exploration.

The East Coast beaches have the warmest climate on the island. They boast sandy shores and shallow water that's perfect for families with children.

But the beaches aren’t everything the Central Island region has to offer.

You'll also find great fishing, scuba diving, whale watching, quaint little towns with unique shopping, and fine hotels and restaurants.

This makes the Central Island the perfect base if you're planning to take in as much of the island as you can during your stay. There will be lots to see and do locally, and you'll be situated in the middle of Vancouver Island, making it fairly easy to get to both the northern and southern areas for day or weekend trips.

Qualicum Beach Sunset
Central Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Cities & Towns in Central Vancouver Island

If you’ll be visiting the central island/east coast region when you come to Vancouver Island, here are some of the cities and towns that you may want to tour:

Comox - Comox is located in the greater Comox Valley, and is quieter than towns further to the south. But, don’t let that fool you. Comox has lots of interesting things to do.

Chemainus - Chemainus is known worldwide for its outdoor murals and its dinner theatre featuring professional productions.

City of Nanaimo - Nanaimo is a bustling city with many parks and festivals, including the world famous bathtub races. It's also where the famous Nanaimo Bar was born.

Sayward - A town of only 400 people, Sayward offers quite a bit to visitors - sport fishing charters, killer whale watching tours, wildlife viewing, world class caving, eco-tours, clean accommodations, nice restaurants and several pubs for winding down after a day of fun.

Parksville - A town of 14,000 people, Parksville has become a retirement destination, as well as a year-round holiday destination.

Ladysmith - In addition to its fabulous Transfer Beach, Ladysmith has an award winning downtown area with amazing little shops and cafes.

Duncan - Duncan is the City of Totems, and there are a lot of them! While you’re here, make sure you take in the Saturday Farmer’s Market and the BC Forestry Discovery Centre.

Courtenay - While hiking, biking, golfing and visiting vineyards and farms are all popular here, you can also hunt for fossils.

City of Campbell River - Campbell River is popular for its world-class salmon fishing, and you can also enjoy kayaking, camping, wildlife watching and hiking in the area.

Qualicum Beach - Another popular community for retirees, Qualicum Beach has a mild climate, a great beach, golfing, boutique shopping and many local artisans and unique shops.

The Central Vancouver Island area has many opportunities for recreation, accommodation and sightseeing. The most difficult part about planning a vacation here is deciding where to go next!