On Thursday, May 29, 2025, thirteen Malaspina Naturalists caught the early ferry to Comox and headed to Vancouver Island. We carpooled to Maffeo Sutton Marine Park in Nanaimo where we had a quick lunch before boarding the small passenger ferry for the fifteen minute ride to Saysutshun/Newcastle Island Provincial Marine Park. Newcastle Island is just minutes from the Nanaimo waterfront and is very close to Protection Island. There are beautiful rock formations along the shoreline and it is very pristine and picturesque.
What started as an overcast sky soon turned sunny and warm. We enjoyed a cool ocean breeze as we followed a lovely wide trail along the coast. We did not see the infamous blonde racoons that inhabit the island, but we did see beautiful towering gary oak, arbutus, cedar and fir trees. A small mouse or vole greeted us around the halfway mark, and we also encountered two large termite hills along the path. They looked busy! There isn’t much evidence of the large-scale underground mining operation that once existed on the island, other than a large ventilation shaft that is now surrounded by forest.
We turned inland and passed by Mallard Lake and then followed the inland forest path back to Mark Bay. There was signage showing the manufacture of limestone wheels which were used to grind wood down into pulp to be used for papermaking. The limestone mined from Newcastle Island was also used in buildings from San Francisco to Vancouver to Victoria.
The museum there was unfortunately closed, but this beautiful island is definitely worth a return trip. In the afternoon we ferried back to Nanaimo, where we carpooled back to Comox for the evening ferry. As we waited to board we were treated to the sight of harbour seals and an eagle perched above us.
Thanks to Cindy for organizing and to Libby for leading us on the trails.
Report submitted by Colleen Tompkins
