Qualicum Beach
Quick Facts
- Population (2006 Census)... 8,502
- Distance from Vancouver... 126km (78mi)
- Distance from Richmond... 138km (86mi)
- Distance from Whistler... 205km (127mi)
Qualicum Beach is a seaside community in Central Vancouver Island known for its award-winning gardens, quaint village atmosphere and safe, sandy beaches. With one of the highest concentrations of Provincial Parks on Vancouver Island, Qualicum Beach also offers great outdoor leisure opportunities.
This peaceful, quiet town is favoured by retirees and those escaping the hustle and bustle of life elsewhere. Leisurely morning strolls are a popular way of enjoying the pretty, pedestrian-friendly streets, lush, well-tended gardens and sweeping ocean views. Qualicum Beach hosts a very vibrant arts scene, great hiking, birding and fishing, numerous spas and plenty of child-friendly tours and attractions.
Display on Map
Click icon or title to show on map
2010 Host Cities
Venues & Visitor Centres
Transportation
Transportation to 2010 Winter Games Venue Cities
Visit www.travelsmart2010.ca for the latest information on travel during the 2010 Winter Games.
There will be no spectator parking at any Olympic venue.
The nearest transportation hub to Qualicum Beach is 49-km/30-mi away in Nanaimo, which has two ferry terminals offering car and passenger service to mainland British Columbia. Departure Bay connects with Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver providing easy access to Vancouver. Duke Point services Tsawwassen which is convenient for those needing to get to Richmond.
Transit passengers can take an Intercity Connector bus from Qualicum Beach to Nanaimo to catch ferries.
To Richmond:
Transit buses and taxis meet ferry arrivals in Tsawwassen and take passengers to Richmond.
For visitors traveling to Vancouver International Airport, coach service, available on board BC Ferries makes a stop at the airport, while flights leave from Qualicum Beach Airport and connect to the airport.
The Richmond Olympic Oval can be accessed by the Canada Line rapid transit system and connecting public buses.
To Vancouver:
Travelers can take BC Ferries arriving in either Horseshoe Bay or Tsawwassen where transit buses and taxis offer transport into downtown Vancouver.
Selected BC Ferries departing Vancouver Island sell tickets on board to connect passengers into downtown Vancouver via motor coach, while regularly scheduled floatplane service connects Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver's harbour front.
During Games time it’s best to take public transit as there will be road closures and limited parking. Extended transit service hours will be in place during February, 2010.
To West Vancouver:
Transit buses, car, motorcoach and taxis connect both ferry terminals to West Vancouver. Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal is a short drive from West Vancouver’s business district, which takes approximately 15 minutes.
Tickets holders can only access Olympic events on Cypress Mountain via the Olympic Bus Network. View travel information and reserve bus tickets here.
To Whistler:
Passengers can take a BC Ferry to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver then drive north to Whistler along the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Hwy 99). Note that there will be driving restrictions in place along the highway during peak Games times.
Ticket holders to Olympic events in Whistler will be transported to and from their event location via the Olympic Bus Network. This bus network has departure points in Vancouver, Burnaby and North Vancouver.
Daily motorcoach service from downtown Vancouver and the Vancouver International Airport has several departure points located along the Vancouver-Whistler corridor, including limited service from Horseshoe Bay.
Visitors to Qualicum Beach can choose to stay in hotels or motels, resorts, bed and breakfasts or RV parks. The resorts in Qualicum Beach are close to the waterfront, giving guests the chance to walk the beachside promenade and enjoy seaside dining. Some RV sites have oceanfront, riverside, and forest locations.
Want to talk to an accommodations expert? We'll be happy to help you with your search over the phone. Call us directly at 1-800-HelloBC or 1-800-435-5622. If you're calling from overseas, dial 1-604-435-5622.
Things To Do
Qualicum Beach is a great base for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, birding, spelunking and horseback riding, which are all possible through winter.
Hiking trails lead from downtown to nearby Provincial Parks containing dense forests, waterfalls, caves, mountains and coastline. Guided spelunking tours of the beautiful crystal formations and ancient fossils of Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park are offered all year round. Scuba divers can also take a guided dive off Qualicum Beach with water clarity best in winter.
Qualicum Beach is one hour's drive from Mt. Washington, Vancouver Island's biggest skiing and snowboarding destination. Snow enthusiasts can try cross-county skiing, snowshoeing, luge, night skiing and snow tubing and make it back to Qualicum Beach for an afternoon round of golf.
Visitors wanting to explore the culture of the area can tour the town's galleries, artists' studios and heritage sites and see one of the best-preserved Ice Age walrus skeletons in the world at The Qualicum Beach Museum and Historical Society.
Read more about what's happening in Qualicum Beach.