The simplest way from Departure Bay Ferry Terminal to North Nanaimo is a BC Transit bus from the terminal, or a taxi if you have luggage or arrive late. The terminal sits in the north end of the city, about 4 km north of downtown Nanaimo, so many North Nanaimo addresses are only a short ride away.
Buses that stop at Departure Bay
Two Nanaimo routes serve the Departure Bay terminal. Route 20 runs between downtown and the Hammond Bay and Dover areas, and Route 25, the Ferry Shuttle, links the terminal with Northfield, Country Club Exchange, Woodgrove Exchange and downtown. Woodgrove is the main shopping area in the north, so Route 25 is the one to look at first if that is where you are heading.
Frequencies and first and last departures change with the season and the day of the week, and routes get revised from time to time. Before you travel, enter your destination in the BC Transit trip planner for Nanaimo and check which stop to use at the terminal. Fares are on the same BC Transit site.
Driving or taking a taxi from the terminal
If you arrive with a vehicle, the ride off the ferry leads onto the road network that runs north and south through Nanaimo. Which road suits you depends on where in North Nanaimo you are going, so put the address into a map app before you load the car and follow the signs as you leave the terminal. Traffic builds around sailing times, and a busy ferry can put a lot of cars on the road at once.
Without a car, a taxi from the terminal goes straight to your door and avoids waiting at a stop with bags. The Nanaimo taxi page lists the local companies, and the taxi fare estimator gives a rough idea of cost for the distance.
Walking and cycling
Some people walk off the boat and carry on by foot or bike. That works for nearby spots around Departure Bay, but North Nanaimo is spread out, and a destination near Woodgrove or farther up the Hammond Bay area is better covered by bus or car. Check the distance on a map first, and look at the weather before you commit to a long walk with luggage.
Rental cars are available in Nanaimo for people who want to explore beyond the city, though it is worth booking ahead in summer when the ferries are full. For a single trip into the north end, the bus or a taxi is usually the easier choice.