Fun things to do in Parksville: 13 fun attractions and activities

Fascinating beach where you wade out for great distances due to the very slight incline of the sand bar. The park itself has pleasant picnic areas, decent parking, and some inretesting old tree boles.

Late season camping was so beautiful! This is a difficult Provincial Park to get a site in during high season. We were able to get a large site close to the main beach trail. It was quiet and the natural beauty was stunning.

We camped at the campground for a night second week of September, it was fully occupied. This place was very well maintained, very organized and well labeled rows of campsites, very clean bathrooms, easy access to beach and nice walking trail along the waterfront. They came by to sell firewood in the evening. Sunset was beautiful and peaceful at the beach. Would definitely recommend this campground.

Huge cedar trees everywhere...very thick tree cover makes it feel like camping in an ancient forest. Sites are super clean, bathrooms and showers are clean and in good working order. Then, walk down the end of your camping row and find yourself out on the beach! It is immediately beside the campground...you can hear the ocean from many of the sites and smell the ocean air. Great combination of camping and beach watching. The minor inconveniences are that there are no hookups and the sun does not often penetrate the tree cover so solar isn't the best option. Bring your own water or make a funnel like I did because water taps do not have a hose connection option. Wood is super expensive. You get 4-5 pieces of wood for $10. Finally...take your own toilet paper to the bathroom. One ply? Come on...thought we were done with that foolishness. Still one of the best campgrounds I've ever been to!

Beautiful park and amazing views. Very family friendly, bathrooms are pretty clean and the showers are nice and hot. There is a few items you can buy when you check in at the front of the park. There’s also a general store before you meter the park if you need groceries or camping items. The water is lovely and the trails are nice and clean. Amazingly quiet at night.

Rathtrevor Provincial Park on Vancouver Island offers a truly enchanting experience, especially at low tide. The expansive sandy beach, revealed by the receding waters, creates a perfect playground for exploration. The tide pools teeming with marine life, such as starfish, crabs, and anemones, offer a fascinating glimpse into the underwater world. Walking along the shoreline, the views are breathtaking, with distant mountains framing the horizon and the fresh sea breeze adding to the serene ambiance. The park's natural beauty is complemented by its well-maintained trails and picnic areas, making it an ideal spot for families, nature enthusiasts, and photographers alike. The unique coastal ecosystem provides excellent opportunities for bird watching, as many species flock to the shore during low tide. One of the highlights is the sense of tranquility and connection to nature that Rathtrevor Provincial Park offers. The experience of walking on the soft sand, listening to the gentle lapping of the waves, and discovering the hidden treasures left by the tide is nothing short of magical. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure in nature, this park at low tide is a must-visit destination on Vancouver Island.

Wish we'd had more time to enjoy this park. We visited in the evening and walked along the walking trail which is very well maintained. There are also several spots to go out to the water's edge as well. It was very calm on the water so would be a great place to paddleboard or kayak.

We visited the mini golf and bumper boats with our granddaughters aged 11 and 8. The girls loved the bumper boats which have a water cannon on them. There are also 2, 18 hole mini golf courses which are fun for all ages. This is a very popular attraction and can be quite busy.

Good place and lots of fun. It even has an arcade with lots of good games. DO NOT do the stuffed animal claw machine though because the claw is so week it couldn't pick up an ant >:( Also if you get a room at the sea edge motel you get free mini golf so definetly worth it

Last month, my friends and I randomly stopped by Paradise Golf and Fun Park during our trip to Vancouver Island, and it ended up being such a fun highlight of our trip! The place has such a lively, welcoming vibe, and it’s perfect whether you’re with friends, family, or even just looking for something lighthearted to do. We played mini golf and had an absolute blast — the courses were well-designed, clean, and offered just the right mix of challenge and fun. The staff were super friendly and made the whole experience even better. What I really liked was how the park felt relaxed but still very well maintained, so we could just enjoy ourselves without worrying about anything. Definitely recommend this spot if you’re in the area — sometimes the most spontaneous stops turn out to be the most memorable! ⛳

Great place to have family fun time. 2 different 18 hole mini golf courses, plus they have arcades, and a pool table. There is seating both indoor and outdoors, as well as a concession. Prices are decent, and parking is pretty good.

I had such a great time at Paradise Fun Park! The mini golf courses are beautifully maintained and super fun-especially with all the charming castle and fairytale-style buildings around. You can tell a lot of care went into the design of the whole place. There are two 18-hole courses to choose from, and both are just the right mix of challenge and whimsy. We went on a sunny day, and it honestly felt like a little escape with all the colourful lights, water features, and well-kept gardens. Great for families, dates, or just a laid-back outing. Staff were friendly and everything was really clean, which I appreciated. It does get busy in the summer, so I recommend going earlier in the day if you want to beat the crowds. But even then, it's such a fun atmosphere you don't really mind waiting a bit. Overall, it's a must-do if you're in Parksville- whether you're local or just visiting. I'll definitely be back!

I was astonished to see the state of this beloved mini golf park, especially during August long weekend. Like many others, I have frequented this place for the fun mini golf adventure almost every summer. The water features were frightening. The water was far from it's usual blue, but now replaced with dark, green sludge in essentially all areas. Even the clock tower characters have changed and the pendulum barely swings. For the sake of the many Islanders and tourists that come to visit, I hope this establishment can be turned around for the better.

Locals, be prepared for disappointment. We've been coming to Paradise mini golf since the nineties. Lately, I can see it has become extremely neglected which is very sad. There's big green globs of mosquito algae in all of the ponds, of which none of the waterfalls are flowing and only one fountain works. (I know there are water restrictions but why not at least give the pools a scrub?) I saw water striders swimming along the surface of one particular pool. The plants are sad looking and sparse, only 1 string of Christmas lights on the Pirate ship is working and the spotlight above the hole in the middle of the ship isn't on so at night you're just swinging in the dark hoping for the best. On two holes where your ball goes from an upper green, through a tube to the lower green, the pvc pipe is chipped so your ball gets hung up and you need to run up and stuff your club handle into the hole to free it up so the ball will roll down the tube. It's handy when the people in front of you have figured that out first. It's nice that they've put big umbrellas onto the first course so you can admire the surrounding sloppy brick repairs in the cool of the shade. No more waterfall over the pirates treasure but there is alot of dry, dead ivy still clinging to the wall. The gift shop has been replaced with a pool table which gives the entrance are an open, cafeteria-style feel. On the upside, the murals outside look fresh, which is nice. I'm sure the tourists think this place is great because it's very unique, but it nothing near as nice as it used to be. Bear in mind they're still charging $20 a head to do the two courses. I really do want to return but I think I'll wait until it has been scrubbed and repaired first.

What an adorable little farm! Went with my mom on a spring weekend and it’s very well taken care of, and you get to be in very close proximity with the animals which is great. There are some educational aspects too. Tried their milk and cheese sampler, both delicious. All the animals were 1000/10 cute and we had a great experience there.

I'm a local customer who has visited the farm since it first opened, I appreciate the growth and changes the farm has made and love where it is at now. There are not many farms that allow you to wander around for as long as you'd like while interacting with the animals, let alone without a cost! We love visiting the animals(especially the calves) and then going to find lots of local food treasures in the farm store, and of course finishing with delicious coffee. Also, we enjoy being able to go get milk 'after hours', conveniently avoiding the crowds... since this is the only milk we ever want now, we are hooked! As suggested to us, the ground beef is fantastic, it makes perfect smash burgers, and is so flavourful! The cheese curds are squeaky and addictive, a favourite for us, along with the brie of course!! Thankful for all their hard farm work, and to be able to frequently visit and shop at this fun and educational farm!

Lovely little farm with no entry fee. Our kids enjoyed seeing the cows, calves and rabbits so much they had us come back a second time (alas on a closed Monday!). The Brie is excellent and they sell crackers and paring knives if you haven't brought your own. A nice variety of merchandise as well. Highly recommended for the cheese/dairy if local and for a visit if from out of town.

I live in Calgary, and I have visited this farm twice in the past two years. The milk here is the best I’ve ever had—so fresh, it tastes like melted ice cream. You can also interact with cows, lambs, and rabbits. It’s a must-visit place when traveling to Nanaimo.

It’s a lovely little farm where you can see newborn calves and dairy cows. They sell delicious milk and cheese, too. Families with kids would really enjoy it

Cute little farm. No guide, just feel free to zoom around the property. You can see the cow feeding. Sample or buy fresh milk onsite. $3 for 1L seems quite expensive and tastes the same to me.

We came here as a quick stop on our way back to Parksville. We got some cheese to go and also learned about how the farm produces milk. We got some milk and it is was great. We regretted not getting more. Tip: bring your own cartoon.

We were in Parksville for the weekend to attend the Trooper concert and also go to the Sandcastle competition. Considering how many people were in the city and how popular these events are. We were really impressed with the infrastructure. We took the public transit from Resort Drive to the park for the concert. After the concert we were able to get on the first bus back again to Resort Drive. That was so well organized. It just ran like clockwork! It’s great that you have food trucks in the community park… that’s something we’re sadly missing in Esquimalt.

Beautiful beach! I love how you can wade in the water for a long time, doesn't get deep for awhile. Perfect for kids or those who like to gradually get wet, like me 😜 The water is warm and clean! There's places to have a picnic, kids to play, and just lay out in the sun. Fun in the sun for all!

Amazing beach! It's absolutely huge with plenty of room for laying on the beach, grass, or by the playground. The playground is massive so if you have kids they will for sure have a great time. And the beach is dog friendly so bring your pooch with you! Going to the sand sculpting competition was a blast! Great beach made even better by the weather!

What a beautiful park! This park also leads down to the beautiful beach. These few pics were taken from my 1st visit in the summer of 2019 for their annual Sand Sculptures competition. The theme was Myths & Legends. I’m sorry I didn’t take pictures of the whole park, but it is very clean, has stuff for the children, tables, and a building with washrooms.

Fantastic community hub of activities. Always busy but well deserving as the best beach for kids and a really long sand bar, spray park, clean bathrooms, lots of room to spread out, food trucks with snacks and ice cream daily, lots fo dogs, decent free parking (if you are willing to walk). Always something going on. Beautiful sunsets. Shallow warm water makes it good for children.and seniors.

Love parksville for the whole family. Good facilities and a large park for kids. U can bring a kite to fly in the green space or just hang at the beach. Food trucks are there along with live entertainment. We were lucky enough to see the sand sculptures and go for a quick swim!

What a beautiful park! We loved checking out the sand castle competition, and walking along the lake. A beautiful spot so close to downtown! The main beach area was quite busy, but walking just a short ways away were lots of quieter spots. There’s lots of parking as well.

This was lovely. The enclosures for the animals appear well made, the animals have space to keep away from view if needed, and they look close to natural habitats. The animals are well adjusted to the public, definitely not shy. They seem quite happy! I really like the story behind the recovery center and how it came to be what it is today. It was busy, and parking was limited when we arrived. It was definitely worth a visit. It did not disappoint.

This is definitely worth a visit. Absolutely amazing. Great volunteers and staff and very educational. A great well stocked gift shop to check out too.

This place is definitely worth the visit. It's the only location on the Island where you can go and support rescued wildlife. While learning a great deal of fun and educational information. (Also love that they include each animals story and why they're at the centre)

For the price it is a great activity!! Lots to see and learn. Sad to see how many animals get hurt but the enclosure were generally all great. Except the bears. Couldn’t see anything with the few windows they have. But the birds are all great viewing Lots of spots to stop and sit and enjoy a break with some great views. All the staff in interacted with were super friendly too

Very nice place to see ask this wildlife, and their effort to rehabilitate them. This place is also surprisingly big, almost like visiting a zoo. Should be perfect for little kids.

Quaint little wildlife recovery centre! So many birds - cool to see more background information on each of the animals on how they got to the centre and why can’t be released, if they’re endangered or not, and other fun facts about the species! Special shoutout to Casey the cutest bald eagle with a dislocated wing 🦅🥺🪽

Great place to support and visit. I had no idea how snobby Great Horned Owl were. They seem to be thinking, "How dare you breath My air Human?!" Just wonderful. Very cute bear. They are an actual rescue with an ICU. The animals you see there were injured enough to not be released.

Great interactive structures where you can walk around and appreciate buildings and mementos from a past time. Living history. Extremely well maintained and landscaped, making it a real pleasure to walk around and enjoy. We really enjoyed it.

So very interesting our first time there and will definitely go back. I enjoyed all the different areas, the blacksmith spoke to us about his knowledge and training in Japan etc so fascinating and he's very talented. The lady in the museum was so helpful and the main room was wonderful as you were able to touch and pretend to use things, open drawers and scavenger hunt for the kids we spent 3 hours there but could have stayed longer maybe take a picnic next time beautiful place to sit and enjoy the water feature outside the church. Oh forgot to mention this is by donation there is a tap for debit outside the church or cash inside but if you cannot afford this ....it is free education and a lovely day out. Well done Parksville.

Free outdoor museum that takes you back 100 years, it's definitely worth the stop. Our kids (8-11) loved it and learned a lot. Nice picnic tables and washroom too.

Railway Day was busy again and many people enjoying the great weather and displays. The Museum has made some nice upgrades to the grounds / displays.

This place is amazing its bigger & better then i thought . Its got a food stand . Every Sunday is live jazz music by TOPAZ JAZZ. Its a informative place and the buildings are old and if you like red dead redemption the video game or western cowboy stuff then this is the place for you . Its close to rathtrevor beach and the hotels in that area . Its got parking around .

Loved loved loved this place. So much history. Authentic buildings and authentic collections. There is a blurb next to the everything. The host was extra nice and he walked us through and explained several things and told us the background stories for several buildings/pieces. Call ahead for off-season visits! But definitely visit if you get the opportunity!!

Good stop while going to Tofino

Loved touring this farm, so many animals to see. Cows, goats, sheep, and even bunnies! The cheeses and coffee were excellent and even got some fresh cheese curds (on Thursdays at 2pm) that were extra squeaky. All free to walk around, would definitely recommend on a sunny day.

Those who love nature and natural foods can bring their children and pets here to buy 4.11% grass-fed milk and freshly made cheese.

We went to Morningstar Farm in Parksville, BC. A great visit. FREE admission. A very modern dairy farm operation with very happy cows! It's a great place to take kids. Gift shop sells farm themed toys and a selection of cheese and meats. Some very funny signs! Accessible except for toilets. Disabled parking right at the farm.

We held our wedding ceremony here in summer 2019, and it was one of the best decisions we made in our wedding planning! The owners and staff were friendly, helpful, patient when answering questions, and helped make our ceremony run perfectly smoothly. Holding the ceremony on the farm was great for kids too, as the dairy farm is a great place to wander and see the animals up close. 🐮

Interesting to see a working dairy farm, really good cheese curds made on site and fresh self serve milk dispenser.

Awesome experience and great grilled cheese lunch menu at their cafe. We came her for a wedding and their venue is beautiful!

Disregard the negative comments. This is a generational dairy farm that has opened it's doors for a self run visit. Watching the automated cow milking was fascinating and we had to physically removed our daughters from the calf nursery. Awesome to see these family run businesses. You can buy products on your way out. A highly recommended way to spend an hour.

Cute little dual mini golf course. Great for kids. Snacks. Pizza. Ice cream. Bumper boats. Decent for a small town. Got busy by the afternoon. Early/opening was best time to go.

Two 18 holes mini-putt, ice cream, fair prices. Pizza, hotdogs on the weekend clean washrooms. Good fun fair value. Interesting landscaping and course themes for kids.

Outstanding mini golf course that's suitably challenging for kids and families, but not too hard. It's beautifully shaded by trees and plants, so even hot summer days feel bearable playing. We had a great game in the evening while it was still 30°C. The course is thoughtfully designed with fun water features, a little cavern section, and ample screening so people aren't atop one another. Our younger players enjoyed the Wandering Willie theme, and we really appreciated the umbrellas on the patio afterward. Parking is excellent. Access to the Island Highway makes for an easy visit, and I much prefer this course to others in Parksville.

Had a very good time here on Aug /03/25. It was quite busy but that gave us all a chance to get to know the group in front and behind us. The courses are surprisingly well maintained as was the washroom I used. The staff were polite and friendly. We played both courses and will definitely be back again.

Riptide Lagoon Adventure Golf is always a great time! The course is beautifully maintained, making for a fun and relaxing outing with the family. The staff are usually very pleasant and helpful (today was a rare exception with one employee being a bit curt), but it didn’t take away from the overall experience. Highly recommend for a fun family adventure!

Did 18 holes and had some ice cream. Great way to show my golfing prowess to my family and then have to buy the ice cream anyway. The course is awesome, and they have another 18 that looks even better. We did the lagoon side. Had a blast!

So good! My first time ever mini golfing and it was so great!

Awesome time had by the whole family. Very creative and d close by playground

Amazing sculptures! My 1st visit after being on island for only 2 months. Being from Ottawa, and seeing Ice and Snow Sculptures, I could not believe my eyes! Check out the pictures I've attached. Edit: I've been living here on the island going on my 6th year. Here are my 3rd visit here of some of the mind blowing sculptures. The people volunteering here are amazing & this year the tide was low so we got to go for a long, long walk out to the wooden teepee!

Really amazing sculptures and the local lions club made it fun for all by doing a scavenger hunt for the kids . I would recommend if you’re visiting Parksville to stop by !

Great attraction to visit. We go every year usually a couple times. Very neat displays. This display is right next to the playground and beach. Food trucks and entertainment near by. Entry is by donation. Canceled due to Covid 19 this year unfortunately.

Amazing sand sculptures next to well equipped playground. Bring the kids and spend some time. Worth making a trip for.

Very steep hill up to the lookout. Would not recommend if it is snowing or raining heavy. Can be a quick stop or a nice place to eat a meal. Great views of eagles playing in the up currents.

Breathtaking scenery. Just remember to stay away from the very steep drops and keep you dogs and children on a tight lead!

Cool little lookout area, steep hill if walking, recommend drive up. Some parking at top

What an incredible view!! Limited parking and you have to step over a concrete barrier to reach the view point (this isn't an official tourist spot!) but the view is spectacular. You really get a feel for the vastness and wilderness of VI, even right next to a town!

It is dangerous. You can fall off the cliff. Don’t get too close to the edge with loose material.

Amazing! Parking has only enough for like 8-10 cars though!

The view was out of this world. Spectacular. Breathtaking view.

Great facility, lockers were clean and didn't have much locker room smell. Arena was nice, good swinging doors. Good warmup areas around the building too.

I'd say 80% accessible friendly. The doors from the outside are button accessible, but the doors to the box/rink aren't. The door to the family/disabled bathroom is VERY heavy. There are, however, disabled cubicles in the gendered washrooms. In the box/rink bleachers is a wheelchair accessible ramp with watching area. Not idea for with people, but its definitely better than being stuck at floor height! Plenty of parking, great facilities, and shopping nearby if you forgot anything.

Great place to watch the Generals games. Good site lines, good temperature, and great entertainment value. Go Gens!

Re the main arena for non-ice sports. After a few visits: ⭐️ Clean team change rooms ⭐️ Well maintained bench/doors ⭐️ Clear visibility for spectators ⭐️ Clear lines on the game floor ❌ Very slippery playing surface

Nice arena, no first aid help outside of office hours! There is a lacrosse tourney type event happening at the moment and practice on the other ice. Sister got cut and we were running around the arena trying to look for someone but they didn't! No person to contact. Luckily there's a store next door with first aid but just make sure you bring your own kit.

Very nice facility. Lots of space. Clean.

The locals made the experience amazing for my son and I. Thank you!

Dec 24/ 2202. Top Bridge Park, aka. Englishman River. Regional Park One of the coolest parks to spend time in. Enter from Chattel Road. The opening pics are from, when you get out of your car, walk toward the suspension bridge and take the rail on your right-hand side. Google Maps needs to update itself as this trail is not shown on the maps. This area has a very mild winter with lots of precipitation either snow or rain. Snow doesn't stay here very long as it is rained away. It just so happens we had 2 days of snow with a one-day break then 2 days of more snow then 3 days of heavy rain with 7 to 9°C. This trail is well known & heavenly used. A good pair of runners is needed, that is if you are physically fit to walk over roots & and rocks. Don’t be miss lead, while we were there very young children were there with adults. The trial view is unique in features as you are right next to gorged-out cliffs that were carved out by the last glacier. Have fun & play safe.

Great spot for cliff jumping that isn't too high. Bit of a current to swim downriver with. Shallow section downriver for younger kids. Bit of a challenge to climb the steep part of the rocks but there is a rope set up to help.

By far my most favorite place to visit when i want to go out for an easy walk early morning or late afternoon. It has also a nice biking trail, which is not easy, there are some stairs where the bike needs to be carried through. Overall it's a place where you spend some time with your family out in the sun, not a serious hiking trail though.

Beautiful riverside walk with wide trails. Option to walk several km's. Very lush, green, and peaceful.

Lots of people walking dogs, very friendly. Trails unsuitable for walking aids or wheelchairs. Some good photos can be had of the river and surroundings. Good carpark.

If the parking was any closer to the river you'd be underwater. Unbelievably handy and a really lovely swimming spot. Some nice trails as well

Excellent hiking trails above and along rushing waters of Englishman River. Short trail loops or long ones to explore.

Nice swimming spot so near to Parksville, it was fun walking the bridge and watching people jump into the water! Big parking lot and easy to find parking on a Sunday afternoon in Sept.

A short and easy walk to this suspension metal bridge. Many people come to enjoy the sun and water alone the river bank. Some even do cliff jumping!

This was a beautiful place, although I wouldn’t recommend coming down the Chattell Road side in snowy conditions without snow tires bc if you get stuck the tow companies won’t come down (I didn’t know my rental didn’t have snow tires). Thankfully some wonderful residents helped me out to get my car up! The bridge is fun and part of the river was blocked off when I did the trail, but it was still a nice and peaceful place that I’m sure is spectacular in great weather!

Best spot on earth lol. I love the rock jump into the river have been going for so many years. The locals are nice. Great view great place for a picnic. Good walking area good place to bring kids and dogs and cats if you’re that kind of person haha. Great for walking on cold days or jumping in if you’re a daring person sunny days amazing time to swim.

Nice to get away and have Nature in such beautiful places. Parking lot is great 👍 a bathroom is here !! And the Bridge is right there. Great if you don't want to walk to far. Plenty for everyone to do.

I did love it there. Park staff were friendly and approachable. Some sites were really small, and some didn't have much privacy. But all in all I'd definitely recommend this Provincial Park and I'd go again also.

Lots of trail to be discovered here. Swimming areas, small beach areas, lots of shade, some trails follow the river so it's easy to find your way around and there is a main trail that is wider for bikes and also if you don't feel like venturing into the bush.