Harbour City Highlights
Tours
Fly High on a Carbon-neutral Nanaimo and Gulf Islands Tour
Flying daily between Nanaimo and Vancouver, Harbour Air, the world's largest all-seaplane airline, has pledged to become completely carbon neutral. Starting October 1, 2007, Harbour Air began purchasing high quality carbon offsets to mitigate the climate impact of its scheduled service, charter and tour operations. Harbour Air is now the first air carrier of any variety in North America and the only seaplane airline in the world to make all of its flight services 100 perfect carbon neutral. So pack up the guilt and take a high-flying tour of Nanaimo and the surrounding Gulf Islands by air. Harbour Air offers several options for chartered sightseeing and aerial tours of the Island’s spectacular coasts.
Downtown, you can hop aboard Nanaimo’s newest tourist attraction, the 12- passenger Nanaimo Harbour Cruise some fondly call the green “pickle boat.” Your knowledgeable captain will chart a 45-minute course that’s filled with fun and local history, along with plenty of chances to spot otters and seals playing in the city harbour.
On Nanaimo’s waterfront you'll find several charter companies offering daily tours to Desolation Sound, the Southern Gulf Islands and the Johnston Strait. And for those on a mission to land a Coho, Spring or Chinook salmon, many companies also offer multi-day skippered charters for fishing and sightseeing. Local scuba diving charters are hosted by certified divers who’ll guide you to see the Giant Pacific Octopus, wolf eels and sea lions at some of the world’s most spectacular four-season dive destinations making up Nanaimo’s natural and artificial reefs, including the sunken ships the HMCS Saskatchewan and the Cape Breton.
For sightseeing by land, hike up Mount Benson, sloping 1,000 metres (3,350 feet) above sea level, with a local outdoor adventure company. Or get in touch with the Nanaimo Community Heritage Commission for an historic city tour.
Nanaimo is also the ideal home base for side trips and day hops around the Island. Chartered buses offer winery tours of the Cowichan Valley or you can head for pretty Chemainus to see its world famous murals. And chartered sightseeing buses will take you to Tofino to connect to whale-watching, nature and eco-hiking tours. For more on touring Nanaimo by land, sea or air, go to www.tourismnanaimo.com/visitors/tours-and-charters.php