Vancouver Island Campground Information
August is the time for BCFFC Vancouver Island. During two fun-filled weeks in August, Living Forest Campground comes alive with the thrill and excitement of our Vancouver Island BC Family French Camp.
Directions
The Living Forest Campground is located at
N 49° 07.818 W 123° 54.780
View in Google Maps.
From Victoria, the camp is approximately 108 km and an hour and twenty minute drive.
- Head NORTH from Victoria on the Island Highway (TC-1).
- As you get close to Nanaimo you will see a large "Welcome to Nanaimo" sign, and a turnoff to the Duke Point ferry terminal. You are getting close so get in the left-hand lane as the right-hand lane will shortly turn off onto HWY-19 and bypass Nanaimo. Stay on TC-1.
- You will come to a four-way lighted stop and an overpass (where HWY-19 passes over TC-1).
- Keep on TC-1. After the overpass, move into the right lane and go straight for two blocks, and through two more sets of traffic lights.
- At this intersection you should see a small shopping mall with an A&W Restaurant and Smitty's Restaurant on your left.
- Turn RIGHT onto Maki Road and drive about 1 km until you reach the Living Forest Campground, which is at the end of the road.
From Duke Point Ferry Terminal (from Tsawwassen), the camp is approximately 10 km and a 14-minute drive.
- Take the Duke Point Highway out to TC-1.
- Turn right onto TC-1, heading north.
- Get into the left lane as the right-hand lane will shortly turn off onto HWY-19 and bypass Nanaimo. Stay on TC1.
- You will come to a four-way lighted stop and an overpass (where HWY-19 passes over TC-1).
- Keep on TC-1. After the overpass move into the right lane and go straight for two blocks, and through two more sets of traffic lights.
- At this intersection you should see a small shopping mall with an A&W Restaurant and Smitty's Restaurant on your left.
- Turn RIGHT onto Maki Road and drive about 1 km until you reach the Living Forest Campground, which is at the end of the road.
From Departure Bay Ferry Terminal (from Horseshoe Bay), the camp is approximately 8 km and a six-minute drive.
- When you get off the ferry, head south along Stewart Avenue (TC-1) until the road connects with TC-1 South.
- Head SOUTH, right through town.
- As you leave the downtown area the highway speed increases to 70 km/hr. Get in the left lane.
- You will drive under a railway overpass and come to a small shopping mall on the right, which has an A&W Restaurant and Smitty's Restaurant. There is a four-way lighted stop here.
- Turn LEFT onto Maki Road and drive about 1 km until you reach the Living Forest Campground, which is at the end of the road.
From the North Island.
- As you approach Nanaimo, you will see signs that direct you to a route that bypasses Nanaimo heading south towards Victoria. This is route HWY-19 (also called the Nanaimo Parkway).
- Take HWY-19 and proceed south until you see signs for Nanaimo and Cedar.
- Get into the left-hand lane and take exit #9. You will come to a stoplight and an overpass.
- Turn left onto TC-1 heading north back towards Nanaimo.
- Go straight for two blocks, and through two more sets of traffic lights.
- At this intersection you should see a small shopping mall with an A&W Restaurant and Smitty's Restaurant on your left.
- Turn RIGHT onto Maki Road and drive about 1 km until you reach the Living Forest Campground, which is at the end of the road.
Living Forest Campground
2009 will be our sixth year at Living Forest Campground. It is the perfect setting for our Vancouver Island French Camp and the hospitality provided by the campground owners is exemplary.
The Living Forest Campground is on 59 acres of waterfront property within a very easy drive from Nanaimo. The campground is just south of Nanaimo in a very central, easy to reach area close to the ferries as well as all the needed amenities. Living Forest has everything we need such as an oceanfront location from which to launch our kayaks and canoes. The river is a couple of kilometres away and is perfect for tubing and various hikes. Local attractions will serve us well as we set up new and exciting programming ideas.
The campground has been expanded just for BC Family French Camp, with exclusive use of the group tenting area, firepit, and picnic shelter. We need to remember and respect that we are sharing the site with other non-French camp folks. I think we shocked a few of the long-time residents and campers with our crazy antics and songs-but we soon brought them around and they were in our audience a few times watching the nightly skit.
Nanaimo is about two hours from Victoria, and one hour from Courtenay/Comox/Campbell River areas, so bring your fishing gear and take a day trip. Denman, Hornby, and Salts Spring islands all offer that same laid back "Island time" mentality and thrive on getting those "big city folks" de-stressed. Go ahead... give it a try!
Please check out Living Forest Campground's website at www.campingbc.com.
Summer 2009 Camping Fees
Camping fees for Summer 2009 are as follows:
- Basic unserviced site: $215.00
- Tent site with electricity: $240.00
- Full service site: $280.00
- Staying offsite: $50.00
Please see the Program Fees page for more information on the costs of individual programs.