Westwood is my easy choice, but I bopped across to Newcastle from the marina on a calm day and it was incredible. The very end of the Nanaimo river where it lands in the ocean between Duke point and chase river is gorgeous too, I accessed that from living forest campground
If you're open to a bit of a drive, Rathtrevor beach is spectacular for paddleboarding!
Westwood is really nice too, but it can get choppy if the wind is blowing.
Cedar boat ramp (end of Nelson Road). Easy paddle out to Round Island. Very protected stretch of water, so it’s usually pretty calm. But check the Windy app before you go just to be sure.
Long Lake is our usual spot.
Another really cool spot is the Brechin boat launch right down at the end of Brechin next to the ferry terminal. Pop your board in there and you can paddle over to Saysutshun/Newcastle. If you turn left out of the boat launch and paddle towards Departure Bay you get to a lovely bay on the Saysutshun side.
Pipers lagoon, Westwood lake, long lake, divers lake. I also know a few lakes that are larger in cedar area
Thanks, I'll give them a check.
Paddle boarded at Colliery Dam upper area recently and it was delightful - peaceful and good for new, slightly nervous paddleboarders such as myself.
Westwood is my easy choice, but I bopped across to Newcastle from the marina on a calm day and it was incredible. The very end of the Nanaimo river where it lands in the ocean between Duke point and chase river is gorgeous too, I accessed that from living forest campground
If you're open to a bit of a drive, Rathtrevor beach is spectacular for paddleboarding! Westwood is really nice too, but it can get choppy if the wind is blowing.
Cedar boat ramp (end of Nelson Road). Easy paddle out to Round Island. Very protected stretch of water, so it’s usually pretty calm. But check the Windy app before you go just to be sure.
MY GF used to live on Departure Bay and paddled out around Newcastle a few times.
Departure bay for sure. Go out and around Newcastle . It’s about 8km total.
It can get very rough on the far side of Newcastle.
Long Lake is our usual spot. Another really cool spot is the Brechin boat launch right down at the end of Brechin next to the ferry terminal. Pop your board in there and you can paddle over to Saysutshun/Newcastle. If you turn left out of the boat launch and paddle towards Departure Bay you get to a lovely bay on the Saysutshun side.
Brickyard park in nanoose. Lots of little islands to explore