Located at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, just north of Vancouver, Gibsons (population: 9,100) is a quaint town of artists and fishing boats. Perched on a hillside, it overlooks a harbour and faces nearby islands in Howe Sound.

As the crow flies, the “Gateway to the Sunshine Coast” is 16km/10mi from Vancouver. Gibsons is accessible via BC Ferries service – a 40 minute ferry ride from West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay terminal – or via Pacific Ferries. This area is home to the traditional territories of both the Squamish and Sechelt First Nations.

Gibsons has earned international recognition: it was recently named the “Most Liveable Community under 20,000” (2009) in a world-wide competition by the UN-backed International Awards for Liveable Communities. But, it’s perhaps most famously known as the location for the longtime hit TV show The Beachcombers, which first aired in 1972 and ran until 1990.

Nowadays, it attracts visitors with its chilled-out blend of water and land activities, suitable for all ages and ability levels. Choose from kayaking, canoeing, diving, or fishing. Enjoy hiking in the Sunshine Coast’s regional and provincial parks, or play golf. Relax while visiting farmers markets, dining at diverse restaurants, browsing through museums and art galleries, or checking out local festivals and events.

Rent a kayak or canoe and explore the waters off Gibsons Harbour, venturing over to local islands like Keats Island and Gambier Island. Alternatively, kayak up Sechelt Inlet, watching out for dolphins and deer. Wherever travelers go, Sunshine Coast beaches offer great summer swimming. Throughout the year, the ocean around Gibsons offers prime salmon fishing: coho, chinook, chum, pink, and sockeye. Further up the coast, anglers love the trout fishing at Trout Lake, Sakinaw Lake, and Ruby Lake. Fishing charters and equipment rentals are available. Visitors can also stroll along the docks and buy fresh halibut, prawns and crabs at the historic marina in Gibsons Landing.

Land Activities
Hiking up Soames Hill offers a superb view of the region around Gibsons. Check out Sprockids Bike Park conveniently located right up the hill as you drive off the ferry, or stroll around Cliff Gilker Park with its bubbling waterfalls. While summer is the most popular time of year to visit the Sunshine Coast, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on groomed trails bring winter sports enthusiasts to the Dakota Ridge recreation area on a plateau north of Gibsons and Sechelt.

Food, Culture and More
Gibsons Public Market is a must-visit attraction – grab farm-fresh produce and crafts by local artisans. Notable local museums include the Sunshine Coast Museum. There are numerous art galleries around Gibsons Landing. Better yet, time your trip to attend one of the annual festivals, including the Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival and the annual Sea Cavalcade, or the Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Festival.

Visitor Information Centre
Gibsons Visitor Centre
417 Marine Drive, Gibsons, BC
Toll-free: 1-866-222-3806
Tel: 604-886-2374
visitorinfo@gibsonschamber.com

If you are looking to experience the true arts and culture scene on the Sunshine Coast, there is perhaps no better area to visit than beautiful Roberts Creek.

Roberts Creek is a peaceful, rural community seated between Gibsons and Sechelt, and possesses a stunning blend of beaches, forest, and some of the friendliest people you will come across. A relaxing atmosphere awaits you here, where both your artistic and outdoor adventure self are sure to feel at home.

If the arts scene is what you are into, check out the variety of local painting, pottery, and other arts studios and galleries found in Roberts Creek. This community plays host to some of the most talented artists on the whole of the Sunshine Coast. Every year the residents gather and repaint the mandala; a community art wonder right at the base of Roberts Creek Pier. If you are need of a place to stay be sure to check out the cozy cottages, backpacker’s lodge, and one-of-a-kind bed and breakfasts. They are sure to make your getaway relaxing and memorable!

Roberts Creek is also the location of a flourishing food scene. The Gumboot Restaurant and adjacent café provide stunning meals and goodies for all! With ample vegetarian and vegan options at both the restaurant and café you are guaranteed to find something that tickles your fancy, and has you coming back for more….and maybe even a little bit more…

If the water is where your heart is then be sure to take a stroll down to the beach, spanning miles of the coastline and allowing for excellent long walks! It is a bit rocky, so just be sure to wear good shoes. When the tide is low there is also a nice sandy area for kids and dogs – or adults! – to play and go for a swim. The beach in Roberts Creek is also a prime location to launch a kayak or paddleboard, and go for a gorgeous sunset paddle along the shore in the Georgia Strait. If you’re more of a land dweller, be sure to check out the B&K trail system for mountain biking, or take a stroll through serene Cliff Gilker Park.

Visitors from all walks of life and with all interests are sure to quickly fall in love with the community of Roberts Creek, and make memories to last a lifetime!

Located on the Sunshine Coast north of Vancouver, Sechelt is as laid-back as it is scenic, full of artists and surrounded by mountains.

Getting to Sechelt is just a 40-minute ferry ride from West Vancouver, followed by a 27km/17mi drive up Highway 101. Sechelt is the name of a town, a peninsula, an inlet, and a people. The town is a small community sitting on a sandbar; the narrow Sechelt isthmus which separates Sechelt Inlet from the Salish Sea. Named after the original First Nations people of the region – the shíshálh – the word Sechelt means “land between two waters.”

Aboriginal legend has it that the creator gods were sent by the Divine Spirit to form the world. They carved out valleys leaving a beach along the inlet at Porpoise Bay. Later, the transformers – a male raven and a female mink – added details by carving trees and forming pools of water. The raven is an integral part of the shíshálh Nation culture and is often seen in their carvings.

THINGS TO DO
Grab a gelato and take a stroll along the Davis Bay shoreline, watching the eagles. Take the time to reconnect over a pastry and latte at one of our local coffee shops. Or visit the unique shops and galleries on Cowrie Street for handcrafted items, local artwork, books, beads, sports gear and clothing. Finally, treat yourself to a relaxing spa visit.

Looking to celebrate the great outdoors? There’s a lot of it to celebrate here! Located mid-way up the southern Sunshine Coast, Sechelt is an ideal home base for exploring. Sechelt Inlet (and adjoining Salmon & Narrows Inlet) offers sheltered waters for kayaking, fishing, & boating, complete with free, marine access only campsites. Enjoy a swim in Trail Bay, Davis Bay or at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park. Fish in Davis Bay, or one of the many lakes north of Sechelt. Or experience our world class scuba diving sites, renowned mountain bike trails, and multiple golf courses.

VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
Sechelt Visitor Centre
5790 Teredo St
Sechelt, British Columbia V0N 3A0
Tel:604-885-1036
Toll Free: 1-877-885-1036
visitorinfo@sccss.ca

They say one should not stray too far from the beaten path, but here on the Sunshine Coast we say the most unforgettable memories are made far away from that beaten path. Halfmoon Bay is one such community, and the atmosphere waiting to welcome you here could not be more warm and inviting.

Halfmoon Bay is one of the smaller communities on the Coast, but boasts some of the most stunning coastline and beach access points. With a view directly across to Vancouver Island, be sure to drive slow as you make your way through and glance across the ever-gorgeous Salish Sea. Neighbouring Secret Cove lives up to its name as a boater’s haven. Its sheltered waters provide an ideal anchorage, and the many marinas offer a chance to rest and refuel.

If you’re feeling in a beachy mood, be sure to check out one of Halfmoon Bay’s beach access areas, including Coopers Green, Welcome Beach, and Sargeant Bay Provincial Park. Coopers Green also moonlights as an excellent boat launch for either motor boats or kayaks and paddleboards.

If hiking is what you’re into then make sure to take a trip to Smuggler Cove. This Provincial Park allows for hikers of all levels to enjoy the beauty of both the pristine coastal rainforest and the lovely shoreline. This is a local and visitor favourite!

Halfmoon Bay also houses a plethora of mountain biking trails that offer something for everyone – from kids to pros – to rave about. Take your family or your buddies – or just yourself! – through the beautiful trail systems and ride for as long as your heart desires!

Of course every community on the Sunshine Coast boasts a unique blend of artists, and Halfmoon Bay is certainly no exception. Be sure to make your way through and have a gander at the local talent!

Finally, if you are looking for a little R&R, Halfmoon Bay and neighboring Secret Cove are home to a range of accommodations, including loghouse bed and breakfasts, vacation cottages nestled in the trees and luxury tent suites perched on the water’s edge. Secret Cove is also a beautiful paddling destination. 

If you want to visit a true water-centric community, Pender Harbour is a must.

Travellers from Vancouver take a ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale (Gibsons), and then drive a scenic 50 kilometres northwest on Highway 101. Small communities, including Madeira Park and Garden Bay, form a “horseshoe” around the harbour, and a 5 minute boat ride from one tip to the other could take an hour to drive the whole way around. This unique harbour community is all about the water. Experience the true Pender Harbour Spirit, or just enjoy the 5 freshwater lakes scattered around the ocean harbour.

With fewer than 3000 residents, Pender Harbour offers a surprising array of amenities. Resorts, a golf course, cafes, pubs, shops, and art galleries are scattered around the harbour. Next to Powell River, Pender Harbour boasts more large accommodations than any other community on the Sunshine Coast. It is the resort centre of the region.

You haven’t truly been to Pender Harbour until you see it from the water. The harbour is the vibrant, beating heart of this community. We highly recommend taking advantage of the unique opportunity offered to arrive in this region by personal watercraft.

For boaters, there are multiple marinas available in the area, both close to the convenience of the village shops, or in more relaxing locations away from the hustle and bustle.

Enjoy relaxing walks down easy paths, or take more difficult hikes through the area surrounding Pender Harbour. The routes to Pender Hill and up Mount Daniel are popular with experienced hikers, their summits providing spectacular views overlooking the harbour.

Pender Harbour is one of the most popular diving spots on the Sechelt Peninsula. Hire a guide or rent a boat and go exploring around Fearney Bluffs, Nelson Rock, and the Anderson and Charles Islands.

Pender Harbour is well‐known for its salmon fishing. Other fish to be caught here include cod, flounder, and snapper, as well as surface‐feeding trout in many of our freshwater lakes.

Music thrives in the Harbour! The Pender Harbour Blues Festival in June, the Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival in August, and the Pender Harbour Jazz Festival in September all feature concerts held in all three local communities, Garden Bay, Madeira Park and Irvines Landing.

Egmont is a one of a kind waterfront community, offering up laid back coastal days or one of a kind adventure pursuits; just take your pick!

Egmont sits on the Sechelt Inlet, a 1.5 hour drive up the Sunshine Coast from the ferry port city of Langdale, or a quick 10 minutes from the Earls Cove ferry terminal near the north end. It is a gateway to Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park – Skookum is a Chinook word for strong and chuck means water. The Sechelt Rapids surge through the narrows during a 3 m (10 ft) tide change twice daily, causing 200 billion gallons of water to explode upwards into standing waves and be sucked into bottomless whirlpools, creating an extreme destination for experienced kayakers and surfers.

History buffs won’t want to miss the Egmont Heritage Centre, which opened in 2006 and is located across from the Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park. The Centre tells the story of the First Nations and early European settlers of the area with emphasis on the logging and fishing heritage. There are special collections of Vivian and Easthope engines, antique bottles, Depression era glass and a gift shop featuring local books, arts and crafts.

A boater’s paradise, the nearby Princess Louisa & Jervis Inlets have been called the “most scenic natural anchorage” in the world, and is home to the powerful Freil and Chatterbox Falls, as well as many other waterfalls cascading down into these fjords. You’ll find everything you need at one of the local marinas to get you stocked and fuelled up for your trip. You also have the option of a guided boat or float plane tour to explore the Inlets and Skookumchuck Narrows!

Need a place to stay? How about a bite to eat? Many of the accommodations in Egmont will fill your plate, too, whether that’s at a campground paired with a food truck (or shall we say, food bus!), a luxury resort and restaurant with views beyond compare, or mouthwatering pub fare next door to your A-frame cabin.

Just passing through? Hikers & bikers rejoice, because here you can get off the highway and enjoy the SunCoaster Trail — 37km of multi-use trail winding through old growth forest, around mountain lakes and through multiple communities until you reach Halfmoon Bay. You’ll find the trailhead at the corner of Highway 101 and Egmont Road. And don’t miss beautiful Ruby and Sakinaw lakes en route either to or from Egmont. Ruby Lake also has a great sandy beach for kids.