Passenger and vehicle ferry terminal serving the Horseshoe Bay route.
Departure Bay terminal sailings connect Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay, Vancouver. Terminal address: 680 Trans-Canada Highway, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5R1. Amenities include waiting room, washrooms, accessible washroom and parking, Wi-Fi, baggage service, bike rack, children’s play area, pet area, food outlets and water bottle fill station. Wheelchairs and boarding assistance are available. Terminal is closed overnight. Direct transit access is available; vehicle check-in closes five minutes before sailing and foot passenger check-in closes ten minutes before sailing when travelling without a booking. Consult BC Ferries for current conditions, schedules, fees and parking.
Nanaimo transit route linking downtown, Departure Bay ferry terminal and Hammond Bay.
BC Transit lists Route 20 as Hammond Bay. It connects Downtown Nanaimo Exchange and Woodgrove Exchange via the Departure Bay ferry terminal, Country Club Exchange and Hammond Bay Road. Route 25 is the separately named Ferry Shuttle. Check current schedules and ferry connections before travel.
Free weekly meal open to all, with high-school students as the primary guests.
The City of Nanaimo’s January 2026 resource guide lists a free meal of soup, sandwiches, fruit, cookies and beverages on Thursdays from 11:00 to 12:30, September through June. The source notes that the meal primarily serves high-school students but is open to all.
Service Areas: Departure Bay, Nanaimo
Location: 4235 Departure Bay Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia