Plan Your Visit

Centrally located in Downtown Nanaimo

The Port Theatre Society is pleased to provide our audiences with information and services to enhance your overall experience.

Parking

Conveniently located beside the theatre, the most ideal parking is in the Harbourfront Underground Parkade.  Other options include the Bastion parkade and VICC parkade, both within a block of the theatre. The parkades can get very busy before sold-out events so remember to allow for extra time. Rates in the City’s parkades are very reasonable.

  • Harbour Front Parkade @ 51 Gordon Street (lower level has direct access to the theatre)
  • Vancouver Island Conference Centre/Port of Nanaimo Centre @ 101 Gordon Street

Getting Here From the South

Cedar, Ladysmith, Cinnabar, Duke Point

When approaching Nanaimo, do not take the Parkway Bypass (Hwy 19), continue on Hwy 1 through South Nanaimo until you reach Downtown

Parking in the Parkade

  • Turn right onto Gordon Street (just past Casino Nanaimo) and drive straight ahead, past the VI Conference Centre, into the lower level of the Harbour Front Parkade.  You will also have access to the VI Conference Centre parking to your left.
  • A door leads directly from this lower lower level of the parkade into the Port Theatre.
  • You can also get to the upper level of the parkade by turning right onto Museum Way (before reaching the parkade) and then turn left onto Front Street. The entrance is just past the theatre on the left.

Just Dropping Someone Off

  • (coming from the south) after you pass Port Place Shopping Centre & Casino Nanaimo, turn right at the light onto Commercial Street.
  • Turn right onto Wharf Street (by the Library & Diana Krall Plaza) and follow to Front St.
  • After you turn right onto Front Street, continue just past the parkade entrance and pull into the Ticket Centre pull-in
  • OR continue to Museum Way and turn right to use the pull-up to the left of the main entrance

From the North

Parksville, Lantzville, Coombs

When coming from the north, stay on Hwy 19 all the way until the #18 “City Center” exit at Jingle Pot Road.

  • Turn left off highway onto Jingle Pot Road. This turns into 3rd Street, then into Fitzwilliam Street and then eventually Bastion Street.
  • When you’ve reached the old Bastion fort at the end, turn right onto Front Street, and then the 2nd right is the entrance to the Harbourfront Parkade
  • OR continue to Museum Way in front of our doors to drop someone off.
  • You can also enter the lower level of the parkade from Museum Way at Gordon Street. There is a door from the parkade directly into the theatre on this level.

From Central Nanaimo

Hospital, Departure Bay, Country Club

Follow the Old Island Highway (19A) or Stewart Avenue (Hwy 1) south to Downtown. 

  • Turn left onto Comox Road at the lights near the Howard Johnson Hotel
  • Follow Comox Road up the hill. It turns into Front Street after the bend. 
  • You’ll pass the Best Western Dorchester Hotel, then the Coast Bastion Inn, and then you can turn right into the Harbourfront Parkade (after Wharf St.) 
  • OR continue to Museum Way in front of our doors to drop someone off.
  • You can also enter the lower level of the parkade from Museum Way at Gordon Street. There is a door from the parkade directly into the theatre on this level.