B.C. Travel Guide

Vancouver Island Newcastle Island Provincial Park

Newcastle Island Provincial Park is located off the shores of Nanaimo BC on south-central Vancouver Island. And the kool thing is that It is only accessed by boat, kayak or the local foot passenger Ferry service. The scenic foot passenger Ferry service to Newcastle Island is well worth the experience. It is only 10 minutes long, but it is a full 10 minutes packed with local marine activities and beautiful island scenery. The ocean channel between Vancouver Island and Newcastle Island is busy with sailboats, motor boats and yachts coming and going from Nanaimo harbours.

Newcastle Island Provincial Park is one of the marine parks with a deep history and is an important part to our past culture and history. One can experience the remains of two First Nations Salish Buildings which were deserted when the coal industry moved in around the year of 1849. Newcastle Island is a jack-of-all-trades, as far as islands go, once supporting a fish-salting plant, a shipyard and a sandstone quarry.

In 1931 Newcastle Island became a hip place for the high-society people to meet, ultimately becoming an island resort with a dance pavilion, tea house, picnic areas, wading pool and change houses. The locals at the time brought in an old ship and tied it to the dock thus converting it into a hotel. At one point 1500 people would converge on Newcastle Island to attend parties and special outings. Then like all things good affected by bad, World War 2 broke out and that was the end of Newcastle Island parties.

Today, Newcastle Island has converted into another island resort with many well maintained facilities for all age groups to enjoy while visiting this island park. There is some picnic facilities, a Pavilion which offers food, the gift shop and interpretive programs and guides during the summer.

The Newcastle Island Pavilion also is used for hosting dances and weddings. This park has a large day-use/picnic area with a playground, picnic tables, information shelter, swimming beach, toilets, horseshoe pits and a large grassy area.

Hiking the 22 kilometres of trails on Newcastle Island is not only refreshing and filled with beautiful island scenery but there are caves to be found and rocky caverns to explore. The trails weave in and out among tall Douglas Fir trees, the endangered Garry Oak trees, the coastal twisted Arbutus trees and our symbolic Dogwood trees.

Newcastle Island is within eye shot of Nanaimo BC, just a few hundred metres away. The shorelines of Newcastle Island are sharp with sandstone cliffs, spotted with sandy beaches and decorated by rock cliffs. Tent camping on the island has some amenities like hot showers, fresh running water, a food concession food lockers and flush and pit toilets.

How to get to Newcastle Island Provincial Park

Newcastle Island is accessible by boat and kayak only. There is a wharf for 50 boats, but do not count on moorage in peak seasons unless you come prepared and booked in. From Nanaimo BC hop on the foot passenger ferry from Maffeo-Sutton Park behind the Civic Arena, in downtown Nanaimo off Hwy 1.

HOMEPAGES:
- British Columbia, Canada
- Vancouver Island
- Gulf Islands

Nature Parks

Pacific Rim Parks - Long Beach - Broken Islands - West Coast Trail North Island Parks - Cape Scott Park - Strathcona Park - Schoen Lake - Morton Lake - Elk Falls - Rebecca Spit Marine - Miracle Beach Central Island Parks - Cathedral Grove - Stamp Falls - Sproat lake - Horne Lake Caves - Little Qualicum Falls - Englishman River Falls - Rathtrevor Beach South Island Parks - Newcastle Island - Gordon Bay - Cowichan River - Carmanah Walbran - Roche Cove - Galloping Goose - Elk Beaver Lake - Juan de Fuca - French Beach - Goldstream - Sidney Spit - Ruckle Park - Montague Harbour Island Adventures - Island Fishing - Golf Courses - Surfing Adventures - Whale Watching - Wineries & Vineyards - Kayaking

FROG INTERNET

RR#2, 781 Chapman Rd. Cobble Hill, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Tel: 1.250.743.1943 | Toll Free: 1.877.923.3764