A Winter Getaway on Vancouver Island
Rainy season is hot tub season. A private suite with a fireplace and your own salt-water hot tub, 40 minutes from the Departure Bay ferry.
Updated
For a winter getaway on Vancouver Island, Qualicum Beach is quiet, green and easy to reach: Five Gables is about 40 minutes’ drive from the Departure Bay ferry in Nanaimo. You get one private suite with a king bed and a gas fireplace, and your own salt-water hot tub in the garden, open all year.
October is when the rainy, low season starts here. For us, it’s also when hot tub season starts. In winter we often host weekend guests from Vancouver and Victoria, and snowbirds who come to stay a little longer.
Why come to Qualicum Beach in winter?
Winter is the quiet season in Qualicum Beach: fewer visitors, empty beaches and slow mornings. Summer here is busy. From October the crowds thin out, the rain rolls in over the Strait of Georgia, and the town settles into its own pace.
- Quiet beaches. The Yambury beach access is a 600 m walk from the suite. On a grey weekday you may have the shoreline almost to yourself.
- Rain and wind on the water. This is the sheltered east coast of the Island, so expect moody skies, rain and the odd windy day rather than the big Pacific swells of Tofino.
- Warm evenings in. A gas fireplace, a deep soaker tub and a hot tub that is yours alone.
What is the hot tub like in cold or rainy weather?
The hot tub is open 24/7, all year round, and cool or rainy air is when it feels best. It’s a private salt-water Arctic Spa with three seats (two full-length loungers and one classic seat) in the suite’s private backyard. No one else uses it during your stay.
A few things that help on a cold night:
- Bathrobes are in the bathroom for the walk out and back.
- Close the cover when you’re done. It keeps the water warm and clean for your next soak.
- Quiet hours are 10 PM to 8 AM, so keep voices low late in the evening. Headphones are welcome; outdoor music isn’t.
- No glassware near the tub. Use the plastic cups provided or cans from the fridge.
More detail is in our FAQ about the hot tub.
A slow winter day: beach walk, café, fireplace
A good winter day here is a slow one: coffee, a walk by the water, a soak, then the fireplace. This is how we’d spend it, using our own favourite places.
- Morning. Breakfast is self-serve in the suite. Or drive into town for a coffee and a freshly baked croissant at L’îlette Café & Bakery, our favourite morning spot. If L’îlette is closed, we go to French Press Coffee Roasters.
- Late morning. Walk to the beach at Yambury, or try Heritage Forest in town for a forest walk with some old-growth trees. On a wet day, the short Hamilton Marsh Loop is a good choice; wear boots, as it gets muddy.
- Afternoon. If it’s pouring, swim at Ravensong Aquatic Centre: they keep the water a bit warmer than other public indoor pools. Or browse The Mulberry Bush Book Store. On Saturdays, the farmers’ market runs all year.
- Evening. Pick up takeout from Sushi Hama, our favourite sushi spot (take-out is available, but no delivery), or have a pint at the Fern + Cedar brewpub. Then a soak under the trees, and the fireplace.
If the hot tub isn’t enough warmth, the bathroom has a deep soaker tub with a candle and Epsom salts. See everything in the suite on our amenities page.
A winter weekend from Vancouver or Victoria
From Vancouver, take the ferry to Nanaimo: Five Gables is about 40 minutes’ drive from Departure Bay and 50 minutes from Duke Point. From Victoria, you drive north up the Island, with no ferry to catch.
From Vancouver by car
- Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, then about 40 minutes’ drive, depending on traffic.
- Tsawwassen to Duke Point, then about 50 minutes’ drive.
Winter sailings can differ from summer ones, so check the BC Ferries schedule before you plan your arrival time. Check-in is from 4 PM; early check-in from 2 PM is an optional add-on, subject to availability.
From Vancouver without a car
- Hullo fast ferry from downtown Vancouver to Nanaimo takes about 70 minutes. The Nanaimo terminal is about a 40-minute drive from us.
- Fly from Vancouver South Terminal to Qualicum Beach Airport, less than 2 km from the house. We offer a free pickup or drop-off at the airport on request. Availability is limited and not guaranteed until we confirm it.
Bus routes and other options are in our FAQ on getting here.
From Victoria
Head north on the Island Highway through Nanaimo. If you fly in, Victoria Airport is about a 2.5-hour drive from us.
Winter roads
Check DriveBC for road conditions before you set out, especially if snow is in the forecast.
Staying longer: winter stays for snowbirds and remote workers
Five Gables suits a longer winter stay: there’s a dedicated workspace, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a washer and dryer for guests. What to know before you plan a few weeks here:
- Work. A desk with a 27” monitor, with HDMI and USB-C cables for your laptop.
- Laundry. A washer and dryer with detergent included.
- Food. There’s no full kitchen (town rules for B&Bs don’t allow one). The suite has a mini fridge, microwave, kettle and Keurig coffee maker, breakfast is included, and we can top up coffee pods and basics on request. For dinners, see our local favourites.
- Garden visits. On longer stays we may need to pop into the yard for routine care, such as lawn mowing. We always arrange this with you in advance.
- Who it suits. Up to 2 adults; children up to 12 are welcome. The suite is pet-free, so it isn’t the right fit if you travel with a dog.
Planning several weeks? Send us a message with your dates and questions before you book.
What’s open and what’s closed in winter?
We live here all year, and Qualicum Beach doesn’t shut down in winter, but some seasonal spots do close. From our own list:
- Shore Restaurant, our sunset-drink spot, is closed in the winter months.
- The Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday, all year round.
- Food trucks such as Farm To Fire Pizza and Flyte Cafe move around, so check their social media or website for the current location.
Opening hours change with the season, so check before you go. More of our picks are on the Explore page.
Minimum stays and booking your winter dates
A weeknight stay can be a single night. Friday and Saturday arrivals need 2 nights, and so do arrivals the day before a BC or federal statutory holiday, such as Remembrance Day in November or Family Day in February. The date picker shows the minimum for each arrival day.
When you book on our website, there are no platform fees, you deal directly with us, and your booking is confirmed instantly.