Nanaimo area
- Lantzville about 15 min
- Nanoose Bay about 20 to 25 min
A short run along Highway 19 or the coastal 19A.
Home › Serving Vancouver Island
Mid-Island · Minutes from the Northfield Road exit · 20-minute ferry from Gabriola
Japanese Head Spa and Day Spa for Vancouver Island
Flamingo House Spa is a private, home-based day spa at 951 Dufferin Street in Nanaimo, BC, mid-way up Vancouver Island, offering Japanese head spa sessions, relaxation spa massage, manicures and pedicures, lash lift and brow lamination, and waxing to guests from across the Island. Whether you are 15 minutes away in Lantzville or over three hours away in Tofino, this page shows how long the trip is, how to make a day of it, and how to book.
Why Vancouver Island guests visit us
Nanaimo sits where the Island's roads meet. Highway 19 runs north to the Comox Valley and Campbell River, Highway 1 runs south through the Cowichan Valley toward Victoria, Highway 4 branches west to Port Alberni and the Pacific coast, and the Gabriola ferry docks right downtown. Flamingo House Spa is a few minutes from the Northfield Road exit off Highway 19, which makes it an easy stop to build a day around, whichever direction you are coming from.
The studio is a private, home-based space that sees one guest at a time, so your appointment is yours: no waiting room, no stacked bookings, and free parking at the door. Every Japanese head spa includes aromatherapy, a shampoo and scalp cleanse, a head massage and a blow-dry, so you leave ready for dinner or the ferry rather than for a shower.
Because the same studio offers relaxation spa massage, gel manicures and pedicures, lash lift and brow lamination, and waxing, one drive can cover several appointments. Pair a head spa with a hot stone massage, add a pedicure before a beach weekend, or book a lash lift the day before an event. Tell us what you would like when you book and we will schedule the services one after the other.
WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM
Drive and ferry times from around the Island
Times are approximate, by car in normal traffic, from 951 Dufferin Street. Allow extra in summer and on holiday weekends.
Oceanside
- Parksville about 35 min
- Qualicum Beach about 40 to 45 min
Take Highway 19 one way and the coastal 19A the other for the water views.
Cowichan
From Highway 1 north, take the Nanaimo Parkway (Highway 19) and exit at Northfield Road.
Gabriola Island
- Ferry, Descanso Bay to Nanaimo Harbour about 20 min
- Harbour terminal to the studio about 5 to 10 min by car
Sailings run through the day; check the BC Ferries schedule before you travel.
Comox Valley & Campbell River
- Courtenay about 1 hr 25 min
- Comox about 1 hr 30 min
- Campbell River about 2 hr
Coming this far, the 90-minute Royal Roots Experience or two services in one visit makes the most of the drive.
Port Alberni & the west coast
- Port Alberni about 1 hr 20 min
- Ucluelet about 2 hr 50 min
- Tofino about 3 hr 15 min
Nanaimo sits on the route between the Vancouver ferries and Highway 4, so a session can bookend a west-coast trip.
From Victoria, allow about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours via Highway 1 over the Malahat.
OUR SERVICES
Our services
Every service on our menu is available to island guests, and any of them can be combined in one visit.
Japanese Head Spa from $65
3 tiers, Crown Therapy Deluxe to Royal Roots Experience 45–90 minutes Aromatherapy & blast blow-dry included
See details & pricing → Taxes not included Book Now 
Hot Stone Massage from $85
45 / 60 / 75 minutes Warm stones & unhurried strokes Calm, candle-lit room
See details & pricing → Taxes not included Book Now 
Full-Body Relaxation from $85
45 / 60 minutes Calming full-body spa massage Personalized combinations available
See details & pricing → Taxes not included Book Now 
Lash Lift & Brow Lamination $100 each
Korean Lash lift & tint Brow lamination & tint 60–90 minutes
See details & pricing → Taxes not included Book Now 
Manicure & Pedicure from $45
Express manicure & pedicure Deluxe Pedicure with hot stones Gel polish in your choice of colour
See details & pricing → Taxes not included Book Now 
Waxing from $10
Face, arms, legs & back Smooth, gentle hair removal Quick brow wax to full legs
See details & pricing → Taxes not included Book Now Plan your visit, at a glance
Directions from around the Island
From the north (Oceanside, the Comox Valley, or Port Alberni via Highway 4), follow Highway 19 south into Nanaimo. From the south (the Cowichan Valley or Victoria), follow Highway 1 north and continue onto the Nanaimo Parkway. Either way, exit at Northfield Road; 951 Dufferin Street is a few minutes from the exit, and the map link below covers the last stretch. It is a private home studio with free parking on site. From the Gabriola ferry, the studio is about 5 to 10 minutes by car from the Nanaimo Harbour terminal.
Open in Google Maps →Three ways to build a day around your visit
Half day from Oceanside or the Cowichan Valley: drive in mid-morning, take a 60 or 90-minute head spa, then wander the Harbourfront Walkway or the Old City Quarter for lunch and a Nanaimo bar before the drive home. You are back by mid-afternoon with clean, blow-dried hair.
Full day from the Comox Valley or Campbell River: book two services back to back around midday, a head spa followed by a hot stone massage, for example, or a pedicure and a lash lift before a trip. Have lunch downtown or at Departure Bay beforehand and drive home rested.
Stopover for west-coast travellers: Nanaimo is on the way between the Vancouver ferries and Highway 4. The 45-minute Crown Therapy Deluxe fits between a ferry arrival and the drive west, and a longer session is a good way to shake off the road on the way home.
Planning from a specific town? See our pages for Parksville , Qualicum Beach , Lantzville , Ladysmith and Duncan
QUESTIONS
Serving Vancouver Island, FAQs
Where is Flamingo House Spa, and how do I get there from elsewhere on Vancouver Island?
Flamingo House Spa is at 951 Dufferin Street in Nanaimo, BC, a private home-based studio with free parking on site. From the north, follow Highway 19 into Nanaimo; from the south, follow Highway 1 onto the Nanaimo Parkway. Either way, exit at Northfield Road; the studio is a few minutes from the exit. From Gabriola Island, the BC Ferries crossing from Descanso Bay to Nanaimo Harbour takes about 20 minutes, and the studio is about a 5 to 10-minute drive from the terminal.
Can I book more than one service in a single visit to Flamingo House Spa in Nanaimo?
Yes. Guests driving to Flamingo House Spa in Nanaimo from further up or down Vancouver Island often pair a Japanese head spa with a hot stone or full-body relaxation massage, or add a manicure, pedicure, lash lift or brow lamination on the same visit. Tell us what you would like when you book by calling or texting 778-855-2256, and we will schedule the services one after the other.
What are Flamingo House Spa's hours, and do I need an appointment?
Flamingo House Spa in Nanaimo is open Mon–Fri 10am–7pm and Sat 10am–5pm, and closed Sundays. Every visit is by appointment, so please book ahead rather than dropping in, especially if you are driving from the Comox Valley, Port Alberni or the Cowichan Valley. Book through the contact page or call or text 778-855-2256.
Can a group of friends from out of town visit Flamingo House Spa together?
Yes. Flamingo House Spa in Nanaimo is a small private studio that sees one guest at a time, so friends travelling together book individual sessions back to back. For a larger group, call or text 778-855-2256 and we will plan an order of sessions that works for everyone.
How much does a Japanese head spa cost at Flamingo House Spa in Nanaimo?
Japanese head spa sessions at Flamingo House Spa in Nanaimo start at $65 for the 45-minute Crown Therapy Deluxe and go up to the 90-minute Royal Roots Experience, with three sessions to choose from. Relaxation spa massage starts at $85, manicures at $45, pedicures at $55, lash lift and tint or brow lamination and tint are $100 each, and waxing starts at $10. Taxes are not included. Gift certificates are available for any amount and are valid for one year.