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  • Parksville Qualicum Beach

    Glorious Beaches, Resort Lifestyle, Unique Attractions

    From Nanaimo, with its beautiful harbourfront, through Nanoose Bay and all the way to Lighthouse Country just north of Qualicum Beach, this stretch of coastal beauty has been captivating vacationers for over a century. Miles of golden-sand beaches lure paddlers and dreamers, boaters ply the waves on sailboats and yachts, lush green parks invite walkers and hikers, restaurant patios serve just-caught seafood, and resorts with decadent spas and water views provide the ideal escape from the stresses of modern life. Not to mention incredible golf courses!

    In the summer, this region is a very popular vacation destination. The four main beaches of Parksville Qualicum Beach offer almost 20 kilometres of glorious sand and sun-warmed waters with ample opportunity for well-spaced relaxation and summer fun. From mid July to the third week in August, visitors and locals can enjoy the Parksville Beach Festival. The 5 ½ week long family-oriented festival includes Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition & Exhibition, Tim Hortons free Summer Concert Series, daily buskers, an artisan market and a special weekend evening light up of the sculptures.

    But Central Island’s beaches are as appealing in the cooler months as they are in the heat of July and August. In fact, many vacationers prefer to be here when the summer crowds subside and the beaches are more conducive to quiet contemplation and peaceful strolls.

    On land, most of the region is included in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve, recognized with a UNESCO designation for its unique microclimate and ecosystem of Douglas fir and giant red cedar. For jaw-dropping views of the Strait of Georgia, explore the alpine trails leading to Mount Arrowsmith, Cokely, and Moriarity.

    Learn more about this beautiful region of Vancouver Island by visiting the official travel website for Parksville Qualicum Beach.

    Visit Parksville Qualicum Beach.com

    The Parksville Qualicum Beach area features two distinct golf courses.

    Parksville

    Parksville is a well-established resort community on the east side of the Island, famous for its long sandy beach. Ebbing tides can expose up to 19 km of shore, leaving large shallow pools in the sand, perfect digging spots for young castle builders. The ocean water in this area warms to a comfortable swimming temperature in the summer.

    Image Credit: Tourism Vancouver Island/Jordan Dyck
    Learn More About Parksville

    Qualicum Beach

    Qualicum Beach’s unique small-town charm, natural beauty, climate and prime location between Mount Arrowsmith and the Straight of Georgia make it a popular tourist spot.

    Come and Explore Parksville Qualicum Beach Golf Packages or plan your trip with 5 Tips for a Relaxing Golf Vacation.

    Image Credit: Parksville Qualicum Beach/Jordan Dyck
    Learn More About Qualicum Beach

    Amazing Places

    No Island experience is complete without a walk in the forest. Milner Gardens and Woodland features 60 acres of woodland trails leading into the old-growth forest and 10 acres of gorgeous gardens.

    Opportunities to explore the great outdoors include the Qualicum Beach Heritage Forest, Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park, Englishman River Falls Provincial Park and Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park. Adventure awaits with hiking trails, picnic areas, waterfall views, salmonbearing streams and all-natural pools for swimming.

    Make sure to check out the UNESCO Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve (MABR) sitting at 118,593 hectares, with a core area of 3,538 hectares. Amazing Places showcases areas within the MABR that people can visit and explore. Visitors can enjoy a GeoTour, using a Geocaching app or GPS to find cleverly hidden geocaches.

    Image Credit: Parksville Qualicum Beach/Jordan Dyck 
    Learn More About Parksville Qualicum Beach

    Craft Breweries and Distilleries

    Top off your adventure with a pint or two of local beer at the local craft breweries. At both Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company and LoveShack Libations, you can sample smallbatch brews and chat with the pros, then take a growler to go. Be sure to also visit the wonderful Fern + Cedar Brewing and Rusted Rake Brewing. The region is also home to a very fine distillery, Misguided Spirits.

    Image Credit: Tourism Vancouver Island/Jordan Dyck 

    Exciting Attractions

    Whether you’re fishing for your dinner or snapping photos of marine wildlife and scenery, an adventure by boat is an experience you won’t want to miss. Charters are all available within easy reach of Parksville Qualicum Beach. Ocean EcoVentures Whale Watching offers exciting and educational whale watching and adventure tours.

    Visit Fast Time Amusements, where you can drive like a Formula One racer in a European-designed kart on a half-kilometre Naskart track with 35 turns. This fun family attraction also offers axe throwing and archery tag.

    Image Credit: @glamouraspirit_

    Coombs

    No trip to this region would be complete without a visit to Coombs, a small rural community with a big heart and all kinds of artisan goodies, antiques, and locally-made food, as well as the famous goats that graze on the grass roof of the Old Country Market.

    Image Credit: @glamouraspirit_

    North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

    This incredible rehabilitation facility is home to more than 60 resident, non-releasable animals, as well as those who will return to the wild. Eagles, owls, black bears, hawks, turtles, ravens, and turkey vultures are just some of the ill, injured, and orphaned creatures rescued and cared for at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.

    Image Credit: North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre

    As for the golf, it has been a favourite pastime in the Central Island since 1913.

    One of the key reasons for the popularity of the Parksville Qualicum Beach area is the quality and variety of the golf courses, which you can experience in combination with spas, resorts, and beaches with our Parksville Qualicum Beach Golf Packages.

    The area includes two communities Parksville, located just a half-hour north of Nanaimo, and Qualicum Beach a half-hour further north of Parksville.

    This (Bear Mountain Resort – Mountain Course, on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail) is my new favourite golf course – I just love the layout. It’s really one of the prettiest golf courses I’ve played in my life, I’ll come back here on vacation, it’s that good.

    Scott McCarron, PGA TOUR Champion

    I always treat golf courses as how many poor holes there are. This (Bear Mountain Resort – Mountain Course, on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail) is a very good one. There’s not one poor hole on this golf course.

    Colin Montgomerie, PGA TOUR Champion

    Great job on the initial booking and subsequent changes requested. Easy check-in at the golf courses and the hotel made the trip hassle-free. Nice touch with the driving directions and discounts at recommended food and beverage establishments. Will definitely recommend your service to friends and business associates.

    Vancouver Guest, Corporate Golf Outing

    Terrific trip: well presented website, knowledgeable staff, and the golf and accommodation were second to none.

    Couples Golf Trip

    We will make this trip an annual April vacation. We will definitely book with Golf Vancouver Island again in 2017!

    Annual Couples Golf Trip

    Very much enjoyed our trip and staff were great to deal with - we'll be booking more trips through Golf Vancouver Island in the future.

    Buddies Trip Golf Package

    Wonderful trip, well planned and organized. Fantastic golf. Wish we stayed longer.

    Buddies Golf Trip

    I have used Golf Vancouver Island a number of times and have found them very helpful and professional. Everyone in our group had a great time, the courses and accommodation were first class.

    Repeat Customer, Buddies Golf Trip

    Staff did an amazing job! So easy to work with. I am already looking to book another trip next year, making this an annual event.

    Annual Buddies Golf Trip

    Personalized, quick response, good customer service and reasonable price. Overall experience was great.

    Couples Golf Trip