Making travel connections in Nanaimo

Many connecting services are within walking distance of the Gabriola Island Ferry at Nanaimo Harbour:

Map of Nanaimo Waterfront area showing where to access onward travel connections
Click or tap the image above to enlarge.

Walking distances from the Gabriola Ferry to:

  • Protection Island Ferry – 250 metres (about 3 minutes)
  • Downtown Nanaimo Transit Exchange – 300 metres (about 5 minutes)
  • Sunshine Coast Air Check-in – 550 metres (about 8 minutes)
  • Harbour Air Check-in – 600 metres (about 9 minutes)
  • Helijet Terminal – 1.2 kilometres (about 18 minutes)
  • Hullo Passenger Ferry Terminal – 1.2 kilometres (about 18 minutes)

The following connections are 4 km away at Departure Bay (about 55 minutes walk). Transit connections are available from the Downtown Transit Exchange to Departure Bay Ferry Terminal (Routes 20, 20A or 25).

Click or tap the image above to enlarge.
  • Seair Seaplanes Terminal
  • Kenmore Air (Summer only)
  • BC Ferries (Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay)
  • Island Express Bus and Tofino Express Bus
  • Tofino Bus / VI Connector (Summer only)

Nanaimo Airport (YCD) is about 14km from Nanaimo Harbour by road (approximately 14 minutes by car). Duke Point Ferry Terminal is about 15km from Nanaimo Harbour (approximately 15 minutes by car)

The following details are provided using the most up-to-date information available to us. Times of connecting services may be subject to change at short notice,  so we do recommend that you check with the operator concerned in case any alterations have been made. The FAC does not guarantee the accuracy of this information, nor do the various operators guarantee that connections will be held in the event of service delays.


Ferry routes to and from Nanaimo

Vehicle and Passenger Ferries – operated by BC Ferries

Fast Passenger Ferries – operated by Hullo (Vancouver Island Ferry Company)

Protection Island Ferry – operated by the Dinghy Dock Pub

Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) Ferry – operated by Snuneymuxw First Nation


Local Public Transit

Gabriola Community Bus Services – operated by GERTIE

Nanaimo Transit Services – operated by Nanaimo Regional Transit


Inter-city buses from Nanaimo

Tofino Bus / Vancouver Island Connector

Services between Victoria, Nanaimo and Tofino will operate on three days a week between March 29th and October 13th, 2024, operating to Tofino on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and returning on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Alternative daily services are available with Island Link Bus and Tofino Express Bus (see below).

Island Link Bus

Connecting route to Port Hardy starts May 16, 2024


Flight connections (by seaplane or helicopter)

Connecting to and from Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Seaplane flights serving Richmond (YVR) operate to/from the Floatplane Docks adjacent to the Vancouver Airport South Terminal. Passengers wishing to transfer to or from the Main Terminal may use the free Courtesy Shuttle Bus which connects both the Domestic and International Terminals at YVR with the South Terminal and Floatplane Dock on a continuous circuit. The schedule for the Courtesy Shuttle can be found below:

Seaplane flights direct to/from Gabriola – operated by Gulf Island Seaplanes

Seaplane flights from Nanaimo Harbour – operated by Harbour Air

Seaplane flights from Nanaimo Harbour – operated by Sunshine Coast Air

Seaplane flights from Departure Bay – operated by Seair Seaplanes

Helicopter flights from Nanaimo Waterfront Heliport – operated by Helijet

Seasonal seaplane flights from Departure Bay – operated by Kenmore Air


Flights serving Nanaimo Airport (YCD)

The following airlines currently serve Nanaimo Airport each day: