Northern Vancouver Island

airports serving Northern Vancouver Island

Vancouver International Airport

for flights throughout Canada and International destinations

Nanaimo Airport

for flights to Vancouver, Victoria and Abbotsford

Qualicum Beach Airport

for flights to & from Vancouver

Comox Valley Airport

for flights to Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton

Campbell River Airport

for flights to Comox Valley and Vancouver

Port Hardy Airport

for flights to Vancouver, Bella Bella and Klemtu

Vancouver Island
Time

British Columbia Time

Vancouver Island
Weather

Transferring between YVR Main Terminal and the South Terminal

A free airport shuttle bus operates every 20 minutes from 0630 to 1830 weekdays (0730 to 1830 weekends) between the following locations:
             Main Terminal (International Arrivals - Level 1) outside the building, Pillar #1
             Main Terminal (Domestic Arrivals - Level 2) outside Door F
             South Terminal - outside the arrival doors at the south end of the building.

Typical transfer time to/from South Terminal is 10 minutes. This service does not stop at the Floatplane Terminals; passengers must travel to the South Terminal then walk to Inglis Drive (5 minutes)

connecting flights from the mainland to Northern Vancouver Island

Vancouver (YVR) - Nanaimo

Abbotsford - Victoria - Nanaimo - Comox

Abbotsford - Nanaimo

Vancouver (YVR South) - Qualicum Beach
with shuttle connections to and from Port Alberni

Call toll-free on
1-800-665-4244

Vancouver (YVR South) - Tofino

Vancouver (YVR) - Comox & Campbell River

Vancouver (YVR South) - Comox & Campbell River

Edmonton (YEG) - Comox

Calgary (YYC) - Comox

Vancouver (YVR South) - Port Hardy - Bella Bella

getting to and from local airports

Nanaimo Airport

Shuttle service to downtown Nanaimo and ferries

Comox Valley Airport

airport shuttle service

Scheduled floatplane services to Northern Vancouver Island

Vancouver Harbour - Nanaimo Harbour

Vancouver Harbour - Nanaimo Harbour

1-855-647-7560

Vancouver Harbour - Nanaimo (Departure Bay)

Vancouver Airport - Nanaimo (Departure Bay)

Vancouver Airport - Nanaimo Harbour

Vancouver Airport - Gabriola - Nanaimo Harbour

1-855-647-7560

Sechelt - Nanaimo Harbour

call Sechelt base at
1-888-436-7776

Sechelt - Nanaimo Harbour

Seattle - Nanaimo (Departure Bay)
(May to September)

Vancouver Harbour - Comox Harbour

Vancouver Airport - Campbell River
(June to October)

Call toll free to
1-888-287-8366

Campbell River - Discovery Islands & Desolation Sound

Call toll free to
1-888-287-8366

Campbell River - Port McNeill & the northern islands

Call toll free to
1-888-287-8366

Campbell River - Seymour Inlet

Call on
1-250-287-2433

Seattle - Campbell River area
(May to September)

Travelling from YVR to Nanaimo by transit and ferry

Outside the main terminal,
take the escalator up to the
Canada Line Station.
Trains every 8 minutes approx
YVR AIRPORT to
VANCOUVER CITY CENTRE
travel time about 25 minutes

Purchase a 2-zone ticket from the
platform ticket machine (cash/card)
Mon-Fri daytime
$8.75 adult, $7.50 concession
Evening/weekend
$7.50 adult, $6.75 concession
(see note ** below)
Valid for 90 minutes from time of issue

From the station, cross over
West Georgia Street to the bus stop
outside Hudson Bay Company store.
Bus 257 (Horseshoe Bay Express)
WEST GEORGIA STREET
to HORSESHOE BAY
travel time about 45 minutes

your 2-zone ticket is valid
providing you board the bus
within 90 minutes of buying your ticket.

On the bus, validate your ticket in
the ticket machine by the driver.

Alight at Horseshoe Bay
(outside BC Ferries Terminal)
purchase ticket to Nanaimo.
Wait in terminal for boarding
HORSESHOE BAY to
NANAIMO (Departure Bay)
crossing time 1 hour 40 minutes

Purchase a walk-on fare at the
ferry terminal before boarding.
Adult $14.25 + 5% fuel surcharge
Child $7.25 + 5% fuel surcharge

Outside the main ferry terminal
board the Nanaimo Regional Transit
bus to Downtown Nanaimo
(Route 2 or 2A)
DEPARTURE BAY to
DOWNTOWN NANAIMO
travel time about 10 minutes

Correct fare required
$2.25 Adult, $2.00 concession

Connections also available at
Departure Bay with
Tofino Bus Services and
Greyhound Canada

** Fare includes a $5.00 supplement for any journey starting from YVR Airport. The supplement does not apply on the return journey.

Alternative route from YVR to Nanaimo via Tsawwassen Ferry

Outside the main terminal,
take the escalator up to the
Canada Line Station.
Trains every 8 minutes approx
YVR AIRPORT to BRIDGEPORT
journey time about 7 minutes

Purchase a 2-zone ticket from the
platform ticket machine (cash/card)
Mon-Fri daytime
$8.75 adult, $7.50 concession
Evening/weekend
$7.50 adult, $6.75 concession
(see note ** below)
Valid for 90 minutes from time of issue

Take the escalator down from the
platform to the bus bays below.
Bus 620 to Tsawwassen Ferry
departs from Bay #3
BRIDGEPORT INTERCHANGE
to TSAWWASSEN FERRY
journey time about 40 minutes

your 2-zone ticket is valid
providing you board the bus
within 90 minutes of buying your ticket.

On the bus, validate your ticket in
the ticket machine by the driver.

Alight at Tsawwassen
(outside BC Ferries Terminal)
purchase ticket to Nanaimo.
Wait in terminal for boarding
TSAWWASSEN to
NANAIMO (Departure Bay)
crossing time 2 hours

Purchase a walk-on fare at the
ferry terminal before boarding.
Adult $14.25 + 5% fuel surcharge
Child $7.25 + 5% fuel surcharge

This route normally operates to and from Duke Point, where there is no public transit service. Public Transit is available at Departure Bay.

** Fare includes a $5.00 supplement for any journey starting from YVR Airport. The supplement does not apply on the return journey.

Car and Passenger Ferries to Northern Vancouver Island

Ferry services between Tsawwassen and Nanaimo (Duke Point) are currently operating to and from the Departure Bay terminal in Nanaimo, while damage to the dock is repaired. There are no sailings to or from Duke Point until further notice.

Tsawwassen - Nanaimo (Departure Bay)

Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) - Nanaimo (Departure Bay)

Powell River - Comox (Little River)

Prince Rupert - Port Hardy (Inside Passage routes)

Gold River - Kyuquot
(year-round passenger and freight ferry.
No cars transported.)

Call toll free to
1-877-824-8253

Vancouver Island train services

Passenger services between Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo and Courtenay are suspended until further notice owing to the deterioration of the track. Alternative services are available by Greyhound Coach.

Inter-city coach lines serving Northern Vancouver Island

Victoria - Nanaimo - Campbell River - Port Hardy

Tofino - Ucluelet - Port Alberni - Nanaimo
(with connections to Vancouver and Victoria)

Tofino - Ucluelet - Port Alberni - Victoria

Connector services to Northern Vancouver Island

Vancouver - Nanaimo
Connecting with BC Ferries at Horseshoe Bay & Departure Bay

Nanaimo (Departure Bay) - Campbell River
Connecting with BC Ferries at Departure Bay

getting around by local public transit

Nanaimo Regional Transit serving the Nanaimo and Parksville areas
Comox Valley Transit serving the Comox and Courtenay areas
Campbell River Transit serving the Campbell River area
Mount Waddington Transit serving the Port Hardy area

click on a Rider's Guide below for details of transit services in each area

Northern Vancouver Island map

View Location Map

where to find more information about Northern Vancouver Island

official BC tourism site

local tourism guides

local accommodation guides