 Aerial View of Nanaimo, Tourism BC photo The city stretches long and lean from north to south, hemmed in by the ocean on one side and Mount Benson to the west. The view to sea from the downtown Harbourfront Walkway takes in nearby Newcastle and Protection islands. Further to the east and also accessible by a short ferry ride is Gabriola Island. Nanaimo's central location makes it a prime base for exploring Vancouver Island. Tofino and Ucluelet on the far west coast are just over two hours' away by car. In the immediate neighborhood are Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Ladysmith, while the ski hills of Mount Washington is a two-hour drive to the north. Climate and Weather Sheltered from the more dramatic weather on Vancouver Island's west coast, Nanaimo has a temperate coastal climate that swings between dry and not-too-hot summers and wet winters during which temperatures rarely dip below the freezing mark. Average summer highs are 20°C/70°F and much of the annual precipitation (1144mm/45 inches) falls in November, December and January. Fashion tips: Dress in layers to keep warm on cool summer nights. And always pack raingear in the off-season, when the wet stuff ranges from a pleasant light mist to the kind of extreme downpours that locals refer to as "buckets and squalls."
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