Surrounded by mountains and situated on the calm waters of Osborne Bay, Crofton is a friendly forestry community that is centrally located between Victoria and Nanaimo.
Crofton offers car and passenger ferries to Vesuvius Bay on Saltspring Island. Golfers can choose from a few golf courses in the area, Cowichan Golf and Country Club, Duncan Meadows Golf Course & Mount Brenton which is right in Chemainus. For the avid fisherman, there are many lakes in the area, as well as saltwater fishing in Sansum Narrows. There’s a good prawning spot not far from the boat launch, towards Thetis Island. You’ll need a local fisherman to point out the exact spot as it’s a little tricky to find but the depth is about 230′ and there’s a nice shelf there that those yummy prawns like to hang out on.
You can tour Crofton pulp mill’s tranquil Japanese Gardens, stroll along the sea walk or down to the beach at Osborne Bay during the salmon runs or go for a hike on the nearby trails of Maple Mountain, Richards Trail or Mt. Prevost.
A large majority of the homes in Crofton have ocean views because the town is on a hill that slopes towards the ocean. I’ve owned 2 homes in Crofton myself. We really liked the Glenhurst Estates area which is off Adelaide St.
Chemainus BC on Vancouver Island has been dubbed “the little town that did” and is a picturesque artsy village snuggled between a beautiful mountain range and the pacific ocean. Peruse trendy shops, galleries, and farmer’s markets and so much more. Chemainus is famous for its 41 murals and 13 sculptures as well as the ever popular Chemainus Theatre.
Chemainus offers the opportunity to casually view the outdoor murals and sculptures on a horse-drawn carriage or to board a trolley for a heritage tour. You can visit the Chemainus Valley Museum, fish and swim at Fuller Lake Park, or relax on one of the beaches with an ice cream cone. If you enjoy golf, there is a challenging par-71 course available at Mount Brenton Golf Club. For the passionate diver, you could explore Xihwu Reef. If you like hiking in the great BC outdoors you don’t want to miss out on the “Hobbit Trails” located near the railway tracks.
Real estate values and homes for sale in Chemainus are generally a little lower than they are in the Duncan area even though there are many properties in Chemainus that enjoy gorgeous ocean views. Chemainus is definitely worth some serious consideration for sure!
Saltair borders both Chemainus and Ladysmith, so you can have the best of both towns. Some truly lovely homes are located there and the proximity to the water is very enticing.
