 |
 Welcome!
to the
Living Forest Oceanside RV &
Campground
The
Living Forest is without question one of the finest RV Parks and
Campgrounds on Vancouver Island--or anywhere else! For the
second year in a row, RV WEST Magazine readers have voted us Gold Medal
status for a privately run RV park and campground!
Click on the
'Photo tour of Living Forest and 'Must See' Area Attractions' link above
for quick load pictures of the Living Forest
and closeby
attractions. Pictures tell the story!
Centrally
located in beautiful Nanaimo, the park is the perfect location to
call home base while you explore all of the natural beauty of
Vancouver Island.
The Living Forest is 53 acres of pristine
forested land with 300 fabulous sites situated on a peninsula where
the Nanaimo River joins the ocean. There's water on three sides of
this spectacular park! RV'ers and tenters have a wide selection of
serviced and unserviced sites for every taste-- sunny sites, river
sites, ocean sites, pull thrus and secluded forest sites- even 'nose
in first' sites for motorhomes to take advantage of the
view!
It's hard to
believe this tranquil setting is only a five minute walk to a
shopping mall, or a five minute drive to downtown Nanaimo-- a
vibrant city of 100,000, boasting one of North America's most
beautiful harbours with an oceanfront walkway.
Close
to ferries and main highways, the Nanaimo location makes our park
the perfect base camp to explore the hundreds of Vancouver Island
attractions awaiting you, knowing you'll have a fabulous, affordable
park to return to each evening.
Day trips from
here include scuba diving,fishing, crabbing, bungy jumping, a
cruise to the West Coast, Gulf Islands wildlife cruises, whale
watching cruises, scenic train rides, golf, mural tours, hiking,
kayaking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, waterfall viewing, old
growth forest walks,swimming in lakes, rivers, the ocean, aquatic
centres, chairlift rides, waterslides, shopping--whew!
--if you
think of anything else, it's probably available too!
On
site you can enjoy a stroll along the river, in the forest, or go
kayaking or canoeing,maybe swim in the river-- try bird
watching, or play basketball, beach volleyball, or lawn bocci- so
many choices, and they're all yours!
And when the time
comes, kick back and take in the breathtaking view of the Nanaimo
Harbour and Gulf Islands. The many members of this family run park
have spent years exploring supernatural Vancouver Island, and can
guide you to just about any activity you can think of. Come
for a day, a week, or a season! At the Living Forest,
we've got it all!
But don't take our word for it, listen to
what RV'ers Lew & Helen Wright from Sidney, B.C. recently wrote
in the magazine RV Times:
"We were impressed
with the staff… …then we saw our campsite- it was awesome! At
night we would watch the lights of Nanaimo and enjoy seeing the
cruise ships go by... …as we sipped our wine beside our
outdoor firepit, we decided this is the way to enjoy the sea and the
forest… …we’ll definitely be back."
To ensure ALL campers can enjoy the
peace and quiet of our natural setting, NO OUTSIDE MUSIC is allowed
at the Living Forest. If it can be heard outside of your RV,
that's too loud!
New for
2008
-
The winter elves have been busy as always! Sites 50-94 have been
completely redesigned and rebuilt - now larger and angled for easy
back in & new service pedastals and cable TV.
- Sites 97-105 have also been redesigned and rebuilt and converted from unserviced tenting sites into fully serviced RV sites.
- extensive photo
tours of favourite Vancouver Island attractions close to the Living
Forest are here on our website. Just click the following link: Photo tour of Living Forest and 'Must See' Area
Attractions
When the new window opens it will automatically load pictures of the
Living Forest, and you can take a photo tour of our area's favourite
places to visit by choosing from the attractions listed on the left
hand column. The pictures load very quickly! We
will continue to add to this list and you'll quickly see why RV
West Magazine's readers have not only given the Living Forest a Gold
Medal for favourite privately owned and operated park for the second
year in a row, but have also given Vancouver Island the 2008 award for
favourite and most scenic RV destination in B.C.!
- expanded and upgraded WiFi wireless internet
connection in most RV sites of the park. We'll continue to expand
this service and fine tune it- it's quite a challenge to cover a
property of this size, covered with big trees!
- Waterfront coffee & snacks! We'll be opening The Living
Forest Cafe overlooking the water late spring- have a cappuccino and
something sweet and start your day on the waterview deck!
- more
landscaping between sites.
-Orca sightings! Nanaimo's
renowned Orca scientist Graeme Ellis was tipped off to a rare visit
of a pod of transient Orcas to Nanaimo harbour recently, and took to
a boat to get these shots of them in Nanaimo Harbour, which the
Living Forest overlooks.
  
-Fundraising
to buy and save Nanaimo's backdrop,
Mt. Benson, from
logging.The Nanaimo Area Land Trust (N.A.L.T.) is raising $ to buy
the top of Mt. Benson.
The Living Forest has been proud to
contribute over $10,000 to help save this amazing hiking and
recreation area. This contribution was actually made by
you! We donated a portion of camping fees to raise our contribution-
Thanks to you- our campers! More is still needed to put them
over the top of the $500,000 goal - if you can contribute, want to
help or learn more about this great organization, visit NALT's
website http://www.mountbenson.ca/ .
And in case you haven't been to the Living Forest for a a while, here's
some of the other upgrades and park features we've added over the
past few of years:
Winter season lounge: Adults visiting
the Living Forest  can enjoy an elegant living
room with granite hearth fireplace and big screen TV for movies-
relaxing on luxurious leather furniture.
Winter season games/kitchen: We've added a
kitchen for group
meals, and after a meal, snowbirds can relax with table shuffleboard
or play a game of pool or cards.
Summer season lounge: For the summer, we pull
out the 'fancy' adult furniture and put in 'kid friendly' chairs for
big screen TV on rainy days.
Summer season games: The pool table and table
 shuffleboard
hibernate for the
summer,replaced by ping pong, foosball & 2 deluxe air hockey
tables- let the games begin!
Cable TV for oceanfront and oceanview
sites: All of the RV sites in the
park have our extended cable TV package included. If you
have your own satellite dish, let us know, because of the trees
onsite, there's only a few sites where this works well, but we'll do
our best to locate you in one of them when you arrive.
29 new ocean view sites:  Started in 2005, sites 143-171 are located on two
 paved roads. They are terraced,
serviced RV sites (sewer, water, 30 amp electric and cable TV)
with oceanviews and are the brightest sites in the park.
Paving- The 41 sites added for 2007 have paved
roads too! Almost 3 kilometers of paved roads now!
 Paved roads
make for a smooth ride and no dust!
RV'ers in particular notice the smooth, clean ride throughout the park.
Here's the Hub City Paving crew doing the final grading & finished
paving. Bring your rollerblades and walking shoes! We have
our own street sweeper to try to keep it smooth rolling & strolling.
Security Gate, overnight security person and recording
security camera.
 For the overnight
privacy and security of our guests, a coded security gate &
river rock wall is shown here being installed Spring '05. In
addition, a motion sensing infra-red camera system records all entry and
exits day and night. Let us know if you'll be arriving after 10
p.m. so we can arrange entry. 250-755-1755.
Forest pull thru sites
extreme makeover-  Our popular
forested pull - thru sites have changed!
They've now been re-graded, re-gravelled, re-serviced, re-widened,
re-cabled, and are re-ally re-laxing! Cheezy description
aside, you'll love these re-newed sites. Services are now
contained in our custom aluminum service pedastals, with 30 amp or
standard 110V plugs/cable, and city water, with concrete sewer
connection alongside.
Riverside with
water and electricity-
This is the
view you'll wake up to at each of these four new sites where the
water is up close and personal. Suitable for small RV's and
tents, these new sites (R1-R4) will be extremely popular. Over
the winter these sites have been widened and privacy shrubs have
planted between them.
Better views!
 As the name
LIVING FOREST implies, we're committed to a natural setting for your
camping experience. If you have been here before, you know
that the views over the ocean, the river and estuary are very
special. The trees we love do make it hard to see the view in
places, but cutting trees is something we have a tough time
doing. What we have done is carefully limb a number of the
trees along the waterfront, so that views are enhanced and trees are
left healthy. We've pruned some branches that impede the ocean
views and have planted more evergreens between sites for more
privacy.
New showerhouse and bathrooms-
 We didn't
get the highest facilities rating in B.C. for nothing! A second
6 shower building is located next to S-20 to service the new view
sites and tenting area. The
 high quality
tile and cedar finishing you see in all our buildings was used here
too. In addition, the T- section is getting two new 'two
flusher' buildings, one shown under construction here, with our
usual high standard of quality. Another bathroom facility has
been located between site 183 and 184 for folks in the new site area
there.
Privacy landscaping- An extensive
planting program between sites continues over every the winter
too. Indigenous species such as cedars and giant ferns have
been planted and are starting to take hold. This will greatly
enhance the natural beauty and privacy of these sites.
Continued Tenting area makeover-
The T & S
section continues to be improved, with site widening and extensions
and shrub planting. These modifications have created larger sites,
easier access and enhanced water views. Tenting doesn't have to
be 'roughing' it! You're going to like
 the difference.
Cruise
ship visits-  Living
Forest campers in ocean view sites were treated to seeing the Royal
Caribbean ship Infinity several times in 2007. There will be
over 15 cruise ship visits in 2008, as more cruise ships are making
Nanaimo a stopover port on their way to Alaska.
We
regularly get campers telling us the Living Forest is the best park
they've stayed in. These are some of their favourite features:
- Spectacular views with
water on 3 sides.
- Over 50 acres, there's lots of elbow
room.
- Full service RV sites, stunning ocean views.
- Great
city water from pristine Nanaimo Lakes
- 30 amp electricity- some
50 amp sites for 2007.
- Sewer hookups and Sani-dump, cable
TV.
- 3 tenting areas -riverview, riverside and
rorested.
- Lots of private, family sized camp sites.
-
Office/store has ice, treats, and dry firewood.
- Large
laundromat, 4 dryers and 6 washers.
- Hi speed wireless internet
access.
- Peaceful kayaking and canoeing on site-
- launch
your own, or rent ours.
- all the main roads are
paved-
- 3 kilometers for smooth & gentle bicycle
riding!
- Large games room, set up for kids in the summer and
adults in the winter.
- Ping pong, foosball, shuffleboard, air
hockey- summer set up
- Pool table, table shuffleboard,
card tables, kitchen, fireplace and leather couches for the winter
adult set up. - Big screen TV.
- Adventure playground
- Full
size concrete basketball court (we have balls to borrow).
-
grassy volleyball net set up next to the beach. -You'll love our
first rate washroom facilites- all tile.
- HOT coin
showers,with handicap facilities.
- Fire rings and picinic tables
at all sites.
- Sandy sunbathing beach and gravel swimming
beach
- Downtown only a five minute drive away.
- Shopping center
just 1 km (1/2 mile) away
- Walking trails.
- Nanaimo River,
forested trails, ocean viewpoints.
2008 Rates
To ensure everyone
has access to all of our sites, reservations are only taken a
maximum of one year in advance of your stay in the
park.
Campsites (rate for 2 People)
(1 family or 4 adults
maximum per site.) Well behaved, leashed, and 'cleaned up after'
pets are no extra charge.
All Prices in Canadian Dollars
(US
dollars accepted within 1% of current exchange rate at time of check
in)
All rates are subject to 5% Federal Goods and
Services Tax. When you stay at the daily rate, your 7th night is
free! (not in addition to any other discount)
Daily
rates
(May 1 - Sept.30) Summer Winter (Oct.1-Apr. 30)
Oceanfront Sites-
$36
$30
Oceanview
Sites-
$34
$28
Forested Back-ins
- $30
$24
Forested Pull Thrus
- $32
$26
Riverfront partial service- $29
$24
Partial serviced sites-
$26
$21
Riverview
Tent Sites - $25
$18
Unserviced Tent sites - $23 $18
50
amp sites add $2
Extra Adult (age 18 and up) -
Add $4.00
Extra Child (age 6-17) - Add $0.50 (under 6
free)
Under 19 must be accompanied by parent who's staying
onsite!
Long Stay Campers
The Living Forest is a recreation
campground, NOT a residential park. Maximum stay is 8 months
per calendar year. Monthly rates fluctuate over the year to
reflect our peak times.
Monthly Rates:
Oceanside Sites:
May
$725 CAD
June, & September $875
CAD
July & August
$925 CAD
Oceanview
Sites:
May
$475
CAD
June, & September $775 CAD
July
and August
$875 CAD
Oceanview 50 amp Sites:
May
$500
CAD
June, & September $825 CAD
July
& August
$925 CAD
Forested Sites:
May
$425 CAD
June, and September
on Cedar Circle $475 CAD
on Hemlock Dr.
$575 CAD
July and August
on Cedar Circle $600 CAD
on Hemlock Dr.
$675 CAD
Forested 50 amp Sites :
May
$450
Forested Sites:
CAD
June, and September
$625 CAD
July and August
$725 CAD
Winter
Rates
October 1st, 2008 to April 30,
2009
$360 CAD/month for
oceanside sites
$335 CAD/month for oceanview sites
$320 CAD
for forested sites
all sites include an extended cable TV
service, sewer and water.
Electricity is metered at
approximately the same price as set by the utility company
(currently $.07/kilowatt hour).
All rates are subject to 5% Federal Goods and Services Tax. Click
the 'Wintering' link on the left or scroll down for much more
information about joining the Snowbird gang at the Living Forest next
winter.
Prices
include sewer, water,cable television and 30 or 50 amp electricity
and Canada's clearest summer skies! All rates are subject to 5%
Federal Goods and Services Tax.
Island Events:
HarbourLiving.ca is Vancouver Island's Events
Website - you'll run out of time before you run out of things to
do!
Our central location makes the Living
Forest Campground a wonderful base camp to explore the
rest of Vancouver Island.
Here's some of our close by favourites.
Nanaimo Seawall
 The
Nanaimo Seawall, stretching from Cameron Island to Departure Bay, is
a great place to have a stroll year round, get a bite to eat, or if
the time is right, catch some of the summer festivities at
Maffeo-Sutton Park.
Things to See and Do:
There's no better place to spend a
sunny afternoon than at Maffeo-Sutton Park, where Nanaimo holds most
of its summer festivals. There's a big adventure playground, many
grassy fields, and always lots to see. This is the best place to
watch the summer fireworks shows that the city stages
periodically. The world famous Bathtub Race starts here late
July. Maffeo-Sutton Park is
connected to a large public crabbing pier, and it's a great place to
fish or drop the traps. Lots of friendly faces will give you advice
on how to crab best, but remember to pick up a license at a tackle
shop before you go. We also have traps you can borrow at the Living
Forest. If you like to look at boats, walk the docks and view the
mixture of visiting yachts and local fish boat fleet. Stretch
your legs around the yacht basin out to the cruise ship pier to see
the 'big ones'. Grab a meal or a snack and enjoy the view of
the harbour at one of several restaurants such as the Lighthouse
Bistro, Penny's Palapas or Trollers Fish & Chips, all of which
are right on the water. There's also an ice cream parlor and coffee
shop along the walk.
Farmers Market Fridays 10-2, May
thru October, Pioneer Plaza Downtown Nanaimo
How to Get
There:
Head out of the
Living Forest and turn right onto the highway. Turn right at
Esplanade (at Port Place Mall) and just past the Port Theatre is
public parking at Pioneer Plaza, right beside the waterfront shops
& restaurants. Alternatively, for the park, continue on
the highway past Port Place to Comox Street, turn right at the
'Mister Lube' and immediately left into the public parking lot
across from 'The Foundry' pub/restaurant beside Maffeo-Sutton Park.
Downtown Nanaimo
(pop.
80,000- 5 minute drive, city bus leaves from Southgate Mall- five
minute walk from the Living Forest)
4 major
malls Woodgrove Centre, Country Club Mall,
Port Place Shopping Centre,
Nanaimo North Town Centrel,
as well as our neighbour mini
mall, Southgate Plaza, a five minute walk from the Living Forest.
It features a full service supermarket, drug store, several
restaurants, liquour store, neighbourhood pub, banking, doctors
office, dentists, spa, gas station and postal outlet.
Adventure/sightseeing/wildlife cruises
6 golf
courses (Cottonwood, Nanaimo
Golf Club,
Pryde Vista, Winchelsea View, Eaglequest,
Beban Park Pitch & Putt 13 other area
golf courses,several with ocean views.
Public
fishing and crabbing pier (downtown Nanaimo)
Salmon fishing
charters
Public
pools and aquatic centers and rec. centers
Cyber
City amusement center
Freshwater
trout fishing
Wild Play at the
Bungy Zone
Newcastle Island Marine Park
World
Class Scuba Diving/Outfitters
Chemainus Festival of Murals a historical restored
logging village with many arts and crafts galleries, shops and their
world famous outdoor murals painted on their village buildings.
Cathedral Grove, the most spectacular old
growth forest in Canada. Englishman Falls and Little Qualicum Falls Provincial
Parks- hikes and waterfalls.
Native
Heritage Center, located in Duncan, on the Cowichan River,
this is a cultural exposition of coastal aboriginal peoples- food,
art, dancing, history and amazing architecture.
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park
The
tide goes out more than a mile on this beautiful sandy
beach.
Butterfly World, near Coombs is your chance to
walk among these delightful free flying wonders from all over the
world.
The Coombs
Country Market and Emporium - dozens of funky shops with local
crafts and wares in addition to the food market, ice cream bar and
cafe with the world famous goats on the roof.
Full day
trip ideas:
Many campers prefer to set up a
base camp at the Living Forest to see Island attractions, enjoying a
full day of Vancouver Island adventure, knowing they will have
a great camping experience to return to for the night -- and be
ready for more the next day!
The
West Coast - 3 hours of scenic driving takes you to the wild west
coast and Pacific Rim National Park Ucluelet and Tofino. Surfing, whalewatching, and hiking are the main activities.
Check the West Coast weather report because it's a completely
different climatic zone on the other side of the Island (it rains
much more there!). Camping there is expensive and crowded in
the summer, compared to the sunny side of the Island-- so if
you do plan to stay overnight, only go with a reservation!
Cruise to the West Coast -
make an early morning 75 minute drive to Port Alberni, and board the
historic 105', 100 passenger Lady Rose
for a round trip cruise up the fabled Alberni Inlet to the West
Coast. Ideal for RV'ers that want to see the West Coast but don't
want to brave the narrow, winding road to Pacific Rim. The day
cruise returns to Port Alberni around 5 p.m. Returning
cruisers rave about their adventure, often seeing whales, sea lions,
seals and eagles. It's a recommended favourite.
Port
Alberni's Alberni Pacific Railway and McLean Mill.
Take a
step back in history and ride a steam train through the Alberni
Valley to Canada's only steam operated sawmill, a national historic
site. A 75 minute drive takes you to this
popular attraction.
Victoria
- No need to describe the attractions there- and only 90
minutes from the Living Forest. Camping in the Victoria
area is extremely limited making a day trip an even better idea- you
can even take the scenic Dayliner train ride for the trip. It leaves
Nanaimo in the morning and returns from downtown Victoria at
dinnertime.
Mt.
Washington- An hour and a half drive north takes you to Vancouver
Island's premier ski hill. It also offers wonderful warm
weather summer recreation. The scenic chairlift provides
a stunning view over the ocean with capability to take
your mountain bike on the lift too- chairlift up, ride
down-- what's not to like? There's also horseback riding, ATV rides,
fly fishing and dining. The other big attraction is the world class
hiking, as the lower lodge is the starting point for hikes into
world famous Strathcona Provincial Park. There's miles of
trails, alpine meadows, lakes,peaks and glaciers. Take a gentle
twenty minute boardwalk loop through Paradise Meadows or pack
your gear and go for 2 to 5 day hiking excursions.
Local Walks & Hikes
To see lots of
pictures of these attractions, click on the 'Pictures' link at
the top of the webpage, and then choose an attraction for a photo
tour.
But first of all, the scenery and trails within the
campground are wonderful. But when you're ready to
venture offsite, there are almost 200 parks in Nanaimo, a short
drive away, that range from forests to lakes to beaches, and
almost all have excellent walking trails. On this page we've
compiled our favourite places to stroll or hike and enjoy the
scenery, and we'd like to invite you to do the same. Naturally, our
staff can give you more information about any of these places,
including directions. City parks map.
Neck Point -
 Offering a great view of
the Winchelsea Islands, Georgia Strait, and the mainland mountain
range, Neck Point is one of Nanaimo's best oceanside parks.
Beachcombers will be right at home here, with several gravel and
rock beaches to explore and plenty to see. The many bays make
this a favourite with scuba divers and snorkelers, which Nanaimo is
world famous for. In 2002, a rare 'superpod' of over 200 Orcas
(killer whales) paraded past the Neck Point's viewing platform,
thrilling the lucky park users there that day. Park map.
20 minute drive from
Living Forest.
Waterfront Promenade-
 Nanaimo is blessed with one
of the most beautiful harbours on the West Coast. A walkway
allows you to stroll the parks, shops, fishing pier, restaurants and
yacht basin. Area map.
10 minute drive from
Living Forest.
Linley Valley-
 Linley Valley is
true gem within the city, though less than half of the 400 acres has
park status, at present. Miles of trails criss-cross the rocky
knolls and forest valleys, and anyone looking for relaxing or
challenging bike rides or hikes through the forest would do well to
check it out. Lost Lake and Cottle Lake are also within the valley,
as well as several creeks.
15 minute drive from
Living Forest.
Lost Lake Park - This
10 minute loop trail circles north Nanaimo's water reservoir, Lost
Lake. Hard packed gravel trail, located on the north edge of
Linley Valley.
20 minute drive from Living Forest.
Hemer Park- has a
great network of smooth, gentle trails through tall conifers,
without a lot of change of elevation. The 45 minute loop is
sandwiched between two quiet lakes, one of which is a bird wetland
and features a sunny bird viewing platform.
10
minute drive from Living Forest.
Piper's Lagoon-
Situated just south of Neck Point, Piper's Lagoon
 is a long spit
and rocky outcropping that encloses a sandy lagoon. At low tide, the
lagoon drains and sandpipers and other seabirds roam the flats
looking for a meal. This beautiful city park is popular with good
reason. Park map.
20 minute drive from
Living Forest.
Westwood Lake-
 This is one of Nanaimo's most popular
places to swim, with a great sandy beach and warm water in the
summer. A lakeside trail encloses Westwood, paul kurucz
photo and takes approximately an hour and a half to navigate.
The trail system also links to the Morrell Sanctuary.
10 minute drive from Living Forest.
Departure Bay
Beach-
 Located
just north of the Departure Bay ferry terminal, is a popular place
to visit for saltwater swimming, beachcombing, kayaking or maybe
just grab a meal and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
15 minute drive from Living Forest.
Morrell Sanctuary-
 This is a
lovely forested park with trails that run around several small lakes
and ponds that are home to many waterfowl. Loop walks range from 10
minutes to 1-2 hours round trip, and the trails also extend to
Westwood Lake, an adjoining park.
10 minute
drive from Living Forest.
Beach Estates Park-
 Pick
up a double double at Tim Hortons across the street at Brooks
Landing Mall, and enjoy this hidden gem of a park. The park
descends to a small sandy beach by the BC Ferry dock in Departure
Bay, following the ravine cut by Beach Estates creek.
Criss-crossed with wooden bridges and surrounded by giant ferns,
you'd never know you were right in the city.
16
minute drive from Living Forest.
Newcastle
Island
 Newcastle Island is the
gem of Nanaimo's harbour, a 600 acre provincial park only a 10
minute foot passenger ferry ride away from downtown. It is the
perfect place to spend a sunny day in Nanaimo, with plenty of trails
for walking or biking, many beaches, diverse flora and fauna, and
much more. From the massive oaks overlooking the harbour to Mallard
lake in the center of the island, Newcastle is a must see for any
visitor to Nanaimo.
Things
to See and Do:There are several beaches on the island that present
great opportunities for both swimmers and beachcombers, but Kanaka
Bay is undoubtedly the cream of the crop. With a sandy stretch for
strolling
 and thousands of
tidepools for the more inquisitive, one could easily spend the day
without leaving the bay. However, not to be overlooked is Echo Bay, and the
Pirate's Causeway, where one can walk to Protection Island when the
tide is fully out. Just be careful not to get caught across the
channel with a rising tide! Miles of well maintained trails
criss-cross Newcastle, allowing both hikers and bikers to enjoy the
themselves on the island. On foot the island can be circumnavigated
in about three and a half hours, but that's not counting breaks to
enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Tucked in the middle of the
island is the aptly named Mallard Lake. Don't forget to take some
seeds to feed the ducks. Newcastle Island was once home to a thriving sandstone
quarry, and in several places on
the west side of the island there is evidence of this past in the
form of large piles of cylindrical rocks. Pictured here is a column
that had been destined for the construction of the San Francisco
mint (sandstone for which was quarried from Newcastle), but sank
along with its cargo ship in a storm many years ago. It was
salvaged and returned to this spot in the park. Youngsters
will have a blast navigating the shallow caves and gullies formed by
these long untouched stones.
 At the end of the day,
enjoy a snack at the historic pavilion, home of black tie affairs of
the rich and famous in the 1920's, along with more information and
exhibits about the island, its wildlife, and its heritage.
How to get to Newcastle Island:
Head out of the
Living Forest and turn right on the highway to head north. After
passing through downtown, turn right onto Front Street, and
then immediately left into the parking lot of Maffeo-Sutton Park.
Head to the water, and you'll find the Newcastle Island
passenger ferry. It leaves about every hour, and takes about 10
minutes to cross the channel. See the Newcastle Island webpage for scheduling and
pricing.
Haslam Creek Suspension
Bridge-
 Part
of the new Trans-Canada Trail, it's a bit tricky to get to, as the
trail system is under construction, but your 30 minute hike in is
rewarded with this breathtaking suspension bridge over Haslam
Creek.
15 minute drive South from Living Forest to
trail head.
Colliery Dam-
 This
downtown's most popular park, as it has numerous entrances and many
separate trails. They all revolve around the dam and various
bridges over the chutes of water. Park map.
10 minute drive from Living
Forest.
Buttertubs Marsh-
What a great place to go in the spring time and early summer to see
all kinds of baby ducks and other birds in this wetland sanctuary-
take bird feed (not bread). The kids will have a great time
feeding them from the beach. A scenic loop trail goes around the
marsh for a 45 minute stroll.
10 minute drive from
Living Forest.
Bowen Park-
 Situated
just a few blocks from the city center, Bowen Park is home to an
outdoor pool, recreation center, frisbee golf, lawn bowling, beach
volleyball, skate park, tennis, a duck pond, towering rhododendron's
and many enjoyable forested walking paths. For a stroll along the
lovely Millstream River and it's beautiful waterfall, there's no
better place.
8minute drive from Living Forest.
Dodd Narrows/Cable Bay
Trail-
 a half hour
walk through the forest rewards you with a birds eye view of a tidal
narrows, where two large bodies of seawater are forced through a 30
meter wide channel with each tidal change, creating a river-like
torrent of tidal rapids and whirpools. Then, every six hours,
before the current reverses direction, there's a lull and the waters
become serene, allowing boats to sneak through before the next tidal
rip. Because of the extreme current, many species of marine
life only seen on the West Coast, like huge barnacles, bull kelp and
anemones are found.
Canada's Warmest Winter
Destination!
Going south for the
winter isn't for everyone- the section below will try to answer
your questions and paint a picture about wintering in your RV at the
Living Forest in Nanaimo. If you have any other
questions, drop us an email or give us a call.
Winter
Rates
October 1st, 2008 to April 30,
2009
$360 CAD/month for
oceanside sites
$335 CAD/month for oceanview sites
$320 CAD
for forested sites
all sites include an extended cable TV
service, sewer and water.
Electricity is metered at
approximately the same price as set by the utility company
(currently $.07/kilowatt hour).
All rates are subject to
5% Federal Goods and Services Tax.
Top Ten reasons to enjoy
Oct. 1- April 30 RV'ing in Nanaimo at The Living Forest Oceanside
RV-- voted Favourite Winter Destination RV Park by RV WEST magazine
readers as well as Favourite Private RV Park!:
1. You're still
in Canada! That means Canadian health care, no need for
a passport, no fluctuating money exchange, and all of the advantages
of citizenship, 'eh? And depending where you're coming from,
it's probably closer than driving south!
2. To stay
active! Use it or lose it! The list of great outdoor
winter activities is a long one on the Island. Golfing,
hiking, kayaking, cycling, birdwatching, sailing, scuba diving
and surfing are just a few of the popular activities. And if
you like traditional Canadian winter sports, such as skiing,
boarding,snowmobiling, or snowshoeing-- Mt. Washington is just
a short 1.5 hour drive away. Winter exists on Vancouver Island, but
it doesn't deliver to your door most of the
time.
Still timid about the outdoors in
the Winter? Nanaimo offers tons of great indoor recreation
too- two fabulous aquatic centres including wave pools, steam rooms,
weights and aerobic equipment, water slides and hot tubs.
There's also multiple indoor ice surfaces for skating, a
climbing room, gymnasiums with drop in and organized sports, a
curling rink, community clubs and classes at Nanaimo's Malaspina
University/College for just about anything you're interested in-
you'll run out of winter before you run out of things to do on the
Island.
3. To save
money! Many snowbirds, whose home is where winter is truly
cold, find that by converting their household to 'away' mode,
and turning down the heat and utilies, that they save enough
money to pay for the low monthly winter rates at the Living Forest
($320-$360/month-- full details below). Plus, you don't
have to winterize and store your RV- just come to the Island
and live in it. Heck, you paid for the darn thing-- get your money's
worth by using it year round! Here on the Island, we don't
even know what block heaters are!
4. To enjoy 53
acres of pristine waterfront living! The Living Forest is a special
property, with water on three sides, tall trees and spacious sites.
The majestic Nanaimo River completes it's long journey from inland
mountains and lakes and joins the ocean at the Living Forest.
Whether your site overlooks the ocean or the river, you can't
help being moved by nature's show.
If you
begin your winter stay October 1, you'll have a front row seat to
watch one of the world's great miracles-- thousands of salmon
parading past the Living Forst to their upriver spawning grounds.
The salmon run also brings hundreds of eagles, just one of the
more than 50 species of birds on the property. Seals and
otters are common sights at the start and end of each day. Nanaimo's
busy harbour always provides something to watch, with ferries,
freighters, tugs and yachts always on the go.
Enjoy over 2 km of quiet paved roads in the park for gentle
strolling or cycling, and there's also many trails where you'll
think you're miles from anywhere, instead of a five minute drive to
downtown.
5. To enjoy the
clubhouse! The winter version of the clubhouse features one
room for games- pool table, card or game tables, and a big classic
wooden shuffleboard table-- remember those? And if you
want to plan a meal with other snowbirds or visiting family, there's
kitchen facilies too. There's also a sumptuous lounge area with
granite faced fireplace, gorgeous leather furniture and a big screen
video screen. What a great place to enjoy an evening and meet other
snowbirds (or even just relax in while doing laundry in our
well equipped laundromat). And during the winter, it's
exclusively for adult use.
6. To
shop! Need a 'Mall-o-day'? You may have heard that
there's more square feet of retail space in Nanaimo per capita than
anywhere else in North America! Whether you like big malls, or
the personal touch of Nanaimo's historic downtown shops and
galleries, you'll find an incredible selection of shopping
opportunities- heck, you can even buy fabulous Nanaimo Bars here--
who knew?
And for those day to day
things, there's a great little outdoor mall within walking distance
to the Living Forest with a major grocery store, gas, bank, medical
and dental offices, hair salon, dollar store, drug store, spa,
fitness centre, pub (do they go together?), Subway,
A&W, great little Chinese restaurant, great take-out
pizza place, and of course the mandatory Tim Hortons. Jeepers,
there's even a couple of auto mechanics and a tire store - get your
vehicle serviced while you load up on whatever you need. Did I
forget the steak house a block away?
7. To enjoy
dining out and entertainment! Island folks like to eat and a
night out. Name your favourite type of food, and we'll tell
you about a great restaurant (or two or three) nearby that serves
it. With chefs teams from the Culinary Arts program at
Nanaimo's Malaspina University/College having won gold medals at the
World Culinary Olympic many many times, it only makes sense!
Chefs cook, snowbirds eat- it's a
natural!
The sun sets early in the winter, so
there's lots to do after dark in Nanaimo and it's close by.
Many outstanding performers in the arts call the Island home.
That makes for a thriving live theatre scene (both amateur and
professional), live music of all kinds, clubs, and dancing for
all ages, concerts, 19 movie screens- heck there's even a
casino.
There's also plenty of live sports on
tap too- to watch or play! The Nanaimo Clippers are always in the
hunt with over 2000 cheering fans at every one of their Jr. A hockey
home games. Malaspina University/College enjoys success with
their soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams (one of our family
staff members plays for the women's team). The Nanaimo Hornets Rugby
Club hosts international play, there's an active Island soccer
league, lots of high school sports, and of course, Nanaimo is home
to Canada's top Jr. football champions, the Vancouver Island
Raiders. A night at our nationally recognized 800
seat Port Theatre comes with incredible acoustics and sight lines in
an intimate atmosphere. Touring perfomances of modern dance, ballet,
jazz, blues, pop, rock, country, and symphony grace our stage from
across the country and around the world! Greater Nanaimo is
well over 100,000 people, but still has a small town feel. And
if you really think you have to, Victoria and Vancouver are only
about two hours away.
8. To explore
incredible Vancouver Island! Our location on the Island also
adds to making the Living Forest such a great winter destination. If
you had a year to explore the Island, it wouldn't be enough- it's
the size of England, and the list of places to visit and things to
see just goes on and on. Nanaimo has always been called the
hub city because of it's proximity to the rest of the Island.
Tell us what you want to see and do,
and we'll provide directions and local knowledge. Our family,
which makes up most of the staff, spans three generations and has
lived on the Island for 40 years. We've explored all over,
under, around and above this special place. But be warned, the
more you see, the more you'll love the Island.
9. To avoid the
crowds of the high season! Many of the more popular Island
sights and attractions can get busy in the summer. But in the
winter season, many of Nanaimo's 100 parks and other favourite
Island attractions will feel like you're the only people there- it's
heavenly!
10. To relax!
Part of the attraction of coming to the Living Forest is to be
able to just look at the fabulous view from your RV window, have a
cup of tea, read a book, go online, or just have a nap.
There's always tomorrow when you're on
holiday!
Frequently Asked
Questions
about wintering at The
Living Forest Oceanside RV
Q. Can I receive
mail during my stay?
A. Yes, we hold mail
delivered to the office in your name.
Q.
What are the hours for the showers and
bathrooms?
A. 24/7- All bathrooms onsite are
quality flush toilet, tiled and heated. Showers are coin
operated, $1/ 5 minutes and cleaned daily. Our facilities
are top rated in B.C. (Camping Select).
Q.
What are laundry hours, facilities, and
costs.
A. 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. (last load start by
8 p.m.). There's 6 washers and 4 commecial dryers.
$1.50/wash load & dryers are $.25/ 5minutes.
The laundry room is connected to the games room
and lounge and also has an ironing board and iron, TV,
book exchange, and modem to check e-mail on your laptop.
Change, soap and drier sheets are available in the adjoining office
(during winter office hours).
Q. What are
winter office hours?
A. Mr. Littlejohn
Sr., usually has the office open and the coffee pot on around 7
a.m.- noon. We re-open for an hour from 5-6 p.m. In case
of any emergency, there are a number of family/staff on site
24/7.
Q. What are the lounge and games room
hours?
A. 7 a.m.- 10 p.m. daily - no extra
charge.
Q. What about
security?
A. The gate automatically closes
after midnight and re-opens at 5:30 a.m. If will always
allow exit from the park and we can provide you with an entry
code if coming in late. As mentioned, several
family/staff members live onsite in several locations of the
park, so in the rare event of any disturbances or problems,
help is close and immediate by
telephone.
Q. What's the water like in the
park?
A. The river and ocean are much warmer in
the summer... O.K., O.K.-- we're in the City of Nanaimo, where
the water quality is better than any other place we know
of!
Q. What about garbage and
recycling?
A. We ask folks to pack their
garbage and extensive
recycling list to a central location
near the park entrance.
Q. Are you pet
friendly?
A. Are your pets friendly? Non
agressive, quiet, social, leashed and picked-up-after pets are most
welcome- any other type- not so much. We can also direct
you to off leash areas.
Q. What about
heating costs- is propane delivered?
A. With
current rates for electricity and propane, many folks
find electricity to be a bit more economical, and also
more comfortable heat (propane heat creates condensation
and dampness). Propane is delivered to the park, but
unless you have huge tanks, it's less expensive to take them to
the nearby gas station that fills them. Monthly electric
bills are between $20 and $40 for people heating with propane,
and $50 - $110 for people heating with electricity. Rig
size, age, and temperature heated to all affect the range, but
that gives you an idea. The meters are read at the end of
each month and added to your site rental, which is due on the
first of each
month.
Q. Is telephone and hi-speed
internet available?
A. Yes. Most
folks use cell phones, but some sites can be connected to telephone-
let us know if that's a priority, as not all sites have this
available. Hi-speed internet is available, with Shaw. We
now have WiFi available in the RV sections of the park.
There is a computer for rent in the office
during office hours if you don't have your
own.
Q. Will my satellite dish work
there?
A. Too many trees in a lot of the park,
but we do have a small selection of waterview sites that seem
to work just fine- let us know if that's a
priority.
Q. Are there sites with 50 amp
electrical service?
A. 17 sites have 50 amp
service, many with oceanview, some are pull thrus.
Q. Are campfires
permitted?
A. Othewise it just wouldn't be
camping! Every site has a picnic table and fire ring and
dry firewood is available for $5/bundle.
Q.
Is there a minimum winter stay?
A.
Yes- one night! We do have daily and weekly rates.
During the winter months we try to rent the oceanfront sites
with a four month minimum, but oceanview and forested sites can
be any length, up to the whole winter rate period (Oct.1-Apr.
30).
Q. Can I reserve a particular
site?
A. Absolutely! For monthly
reservations, we require a $50 deposit made on your Visa or
MasterCard (or debit if in person). Just call or
email.
Q. What kind of day to day outdoor
clothes should I bring?
A. Most
locals favour layers, as the typical daily temperatures are from
plus 3 to plus 10 during the coldest part of the
winter. Wicking, breathable inner garments, followed by a
breathable waterproof outer shell is ideal- with GORTEX being very
popular. Don't neglect your feet! Waterproof walking
shoes or hikers make all the difference between an active outdoor
winter and one where you'll want to cocoon inside. It took me 25
winters to take that advice- I'm embarassed to
say!
Q. How early should I
reserve?
A. Just before the site you want gets
taken! Our reservation software looks far into the future- we
have some regulars that book a year in advance! Reserve as
early as you can for best selection. All of the sites are
nice, but everyone has favourites. If you come up with any
other questions (and I just know you will!), just call or email.
The only dumb questions are the ones you don't ask.
RV Storage:
For those wanting to
bring their RV or trailer through the mountains while the weather is
nice, we will store vehicles on site during Snowbird season for $70
CAD/month, provided they are occupied at the $320-360/month rate for
at least 2 months. We can also put you in touch with a
neighbouring storage compound- fenced and owner occupied, complete
with big dogs!
Useful Links
Attractions
and Sightseeing | Car
Rental | Charters
and Tours | Diving
| Entertainment
| Fishing
| General
Information | Golf
| Lodging
| Restaurants
| RVs
| Transportation
| Weather
and Conditions | Whale
Watching
Attractions & Sightseeing
BC Parks
- Resource and listing of all the provincial parks in BC with in
depth descriptions and directions to each.
Newcastle
Island - Beautiful island park situated right in Nanaimo
Harbour. Many trails for hiking and biking and a great place to
spend the day. Accessible by passenger ferry from Maffeo-Sutton
park.
Nanaimo Bathtub
Society - Home of the world famous Bathtub Race, the finale of
the Nanaimo Marine Festival. July 24th-27th is the festival, with
the 27th being race day.
Wild Play at the
Bungy Zone - Bungy jumping, rapid rappelling, zip lines, and
more, all over the Nanaimo River. The ultimate adrenalin rush.
Nanaimo
District Museum - Partake in Nanaimo's rich cultural history in
the heart of downtown. Visitors can explore the Bastion, a 150 year
old monument on the waterfront, stroll the re-created streets of
both early Nanaimo and Chinatown, and much more.
Butterfly World - Butterfly World is a large
garden/greenhouse that is home to hundreds of beautiful butterflies
and birds.
Horne Lake Caves
- The Horne Lake Caves is Vancouver Island's most popular spelunking
destination, with several cave networks to explore for both
beginners and veteran cavers.
Lady Rose
Charter Boat - This charter boat runs a sightseeing tour in and
around the Alberni Inlet and offers spectacular sights on the
water.
Port Alberni
Heritage Network - Information about the Alberni Valley Museum,
the Alberni Pacific Railway, the McLean Mill National Historic Site,
and the Maritime Discovery Centre. Learn about Vancouver Island's
past in a fun and entertaining way.
BC Forest
Discovery Center - A wonderful tribute to old fashioned logging
from 1919, a visit to the BC Forest Discovery Center is a great way
to spend an afternoon in Duncan.
Mt.
Washington Alpine Resort - Located near Courtenay, 1.5 hours
north of the Living Forest. Fantastic Skiing and Snowboarding,
cross country and snowshowing in winter- one of the highest annual
snowfalls in North America. In the summer the resort caters to
world class hiking, downhill mountain biking (you and your bike ride
up the chairlife and ride down), or just enjoy lunch and a scenic
chairlift ride. From the chairlift, on a clear day you get a
panoramic view of the surrounding mountains as well as the ocean!
Unbelieveable!
Mt. Washington Map page
Car Rentals
Nanaimo
Harour Ferry - The 'pickle boats' provide foot passenger ferry
service to Newcastle Island or harbour tours. New to Nanaimo
in 2007, they're fleet of boats have plyed Victoria's harbour for
years.
Pacific
Northwest Expeditions - Offers 3-6 day guided kayak tours around
Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia.
Alberni Outpost - Sea
kayak rentals and tours - With daily tours, lessons and kayak rentals,
it's no wonder Alberni Outpost is so popular. Shore location
beside the Brechin Boat Ramp by the Departure Bay BC Ferry terminal.
Easy access to Newcastle Island!
Nanaimo Dive Association - Home of an exciting
project that culminated several years ago with the sinking of the
HMCS Cape Breton and HMCS Saskatchewan creating world's largest artificial
reefs.
Nanaimo Theatre
Group - The Nanaimo Theatre Group puts on several excellent
shows each year at the Bailey Theatre, from comedy to
drama.
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