Coast Info
Lower Coast communities
GIBSONS LANDING is named after George Gibson, who was blown ashore here during a gale in 1886 while sailing between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Within a few years, more than 100 others had staked land claims and by the turn of the 20th century, the population was big enough to merit regular freight and passenger service by the Union Steamship Company. The red and black-funnelled steamers also brought visitors from as far afield as California and along with them, the development of summer homes, food and drink outlets and lodges. Through the nearby Langdale terminal, Gibsons and The Lower Sunshine Coast are now a comfortable, 40-minute, cruise from West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay through scenic Howe Sound. Gibsons has much to offer. While it retains the charm and character of a small west coast fishing village, it hasn’t changed much over the last 60 or 70 years of its existence. It did enjoy — and because of re-runs, continues to enjoy — its 15 minutes of fame, brought on by a popular 1980s Canadian Broadcasting Corporation TV series called The Beachcombers. The 15 minutes actually extended worldwide for 19 years, re-runs aside.
Gibsons is a great place for waterfront strolling, fresh seafood — sold right on the dock — from where it’s just a short drive along Gower Point Road to Cedar Cottage, Ocean Beach Esplanade and the delightful Bonniebrook Beach. Gower Point was named for a British Royal Navy captain, who later became Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower, in whose name a cairn and plaque are mounted on Ocean Beach Esplanade to mark the point where he stepped ashore while surveying and mapping the area.
ROBERTS CREEK was first settled in 1889 by and named after Englishman Harry Roberts. “The Creek” has a character all of its own. While its population may have expanded, it has retained much of the laid-back charm it enjoyed in the early ’70s as a gathering place for ‘hip’ and peace-loving travellers, some of whom put down permanent roots to help create what over the years, has become The Coast’s funkiest community.Just as it was 30-odd years ago, the confluence of Lower and Roberts Creek Roads and Beach Avenue form the community’s ex officio village square, which is served by a well-stocked village store, the legendary Gum Boot Cafe and Restaurant, a public library and in keeping with its rural, seaside ambience, a modest collection of arts, crafts and health food stores. The Creek has its own pier and beach access, which afford outstanding views of Georgia Strait and Vancouver Island. The ‘Square’ is the focal point for the Roberts Creek Daze parade and mini-festival in August and also, at the pier head, the location for a 10-foot (three-metre) diameter mandala - colourful pavement art depicting a Mayan calendar that’s painted annually by as many as 200 volunteers. Roberts Creek is also the setting for a magnificent, old-growth forested provincial park and The Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club.
A short highway drive further north takes travellers to WILSON CREEK, home to Chapman Creek Salmon Hatchery, an excellent restaurant, coffee shop, a large Canadian Tire store and a well-stocked supermarket.
A few minutes further on lies DAVIS BAY and its sweeping sand and shingle beach and once again, a great stopping place for specialty coffee, arguably The Coast’s best fish and chips and boutique and grocery shopping.
A few kilometres on, SECHELT is justifiably regarded as The Sunshine Coast’s cultural capital. Located on narrow strip of land between Georgia Strait and Sechelt Inlet - both outstandingly scenic — it’s a year-round venue for the visual and performing arts in an attractive beachside setting. That aside, it’s well-supplied with a variety of ethnic and traditional dining outlets, a couple of lively pubs and all the urban facilities to be expected of the Coast’s largest town. Sechelt is also the home of The Shishalh (just say Sechelt) People, who feature strongly in local arts activity. This First Nations’ community offers a huge selection of native art, including traditional carvings and superbly depictive paintings, through its easily accessible Tsain-ko Gallery and House of Hewhiwus (House of Chiefs). In 1986, the Sechelt Band was the first in Canada to achieve self-government.Sechelt Inlet is home to Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, where good swimming, kayaking, canoeing and guided tours are available. Porpoise Bay is one of nine provincial parks on and around The Inlet, which is rated by Scuba Diving magazine as one of the world’s top 20 recreational diving areas. The main attraction is an artificial reef created by the sucttling of the former Canadian warship HMCS Chaudiere.
Beyond Sechelt lies Sargeant Bay Provincial Park — a superb venue for hiking and bird-watching in a magnificent cedar forest - and a little further on, HALFMOON BAY. A visit to Halfmoon Bay’s historic General Store and the nearby government dock are well worthwhile, as too is a stroll along the forested Redrooffs (with two ‘f’s) Trail.As well as the picturesque location for another provincial park, SMUGGLER’S COVE purportedly gets its name from the fact that not only was it a base for rum-smuggling during Prohibition, but also part of the route used by illegal Chinese immigrants en route to the United States.From Smuggler’s Cove, onward and northward to PENDER HARBOUR, a stunning archipelago that takes in MADEIRA PARK, GARDEN BAY and IRVINE’S LANDING. An excellent base for fishing and boat rentals, good pub food is available at both Garden Bay and Irvine’s Landing. As well as fine Italian dining, nearby RUBY LAKE offers guided walking tours, a nature school program through the Iris Griffith Interpretative Centre, trails and bird-watching. From there, it’s a short drive to the charming community of EGMONT, its boat launch, pub, general store and the spectacular tide race of Skookumchuk Narrows. The Lower Sunshine Coast Odyssey ends at the Earl’s Cove Ferry terminal, where another magnificently scenic 50-minute ferry trip takes visitors to the Northern Sunshine Coast, the historic townsite of Powell River and the continuation of The Circle Tour. But that’s another story …
