Gabriola Island
Berry Point Rd. view of Entrance Island.
POPULATION: 4,500
FERRY TERMINAL: Descanso Bay
BANK MACHINES: Folklife Village and
Gabriola Professional Centre
With just a 20-minute ferry ride from Nanaimo, visitors can quickly sink into the bliss of Gabriola’s warm summer days. From superb kayaking to viewing ancient petroglyphs to curling up with a book on the beach, pleasures abound on Gabriola that are sure to rejuvenate your soul.
The most northern of the Southern Gulf Islands, Gabriola offers 45 km of shoreline for beach enthusiasts, kayakers, boaters and nature-lovers. About 4,500 people call Gabriola home with a good mix of old and young, artists and entrepreneurs, retired folk and those who commute to work in Nanaimo and Vancouver.
Gabriolans enjoy four waterfront parks and public access to many beaches.
Cyclists especially enjoy the views of farmland mixed with ocean vistas along the 30-km (18.6-mile) North Road-South Road loop. Berry Point Road offers cyclists an easy route to Gabriola’s sea and sandstone. A real bonus on this route is the views of the mountains on the mainland, Entrance Island Lighthouse from Orlebar Point and, on most evenings, the lights of Vancouver and Gibson’s Landing.
Camping is available at Descanso Bay Regional Park, less than one kilometre from the ferry, as well as a couple of commercial campgrounds on the island’s south end. Two trails at Drumbeg Park let explorers discover views of Gabriola Passage and Valdes Island. This park preserves a Garry oak ecosystem and is a favourite swimming spot. It’s one of the best places to marvel at the sandstone rock formations.
Walking the shady trail into Sandwell Provincial Park is another favourite island pastime. The sandy-pebbly beach is ideal for lounging with a book, and the expansive beach is ideal for children to romp and play. Sandwell Park was established in 1988 to protect the archeological sites, including a petroglyph and shell middens.
More petroglyphs, some 50-plus can be found at Petroglyph Park. These ancient carvings are intriguing and their origins remain a mystery. The Gabriola Museum has replicas of the petroglyphs on their property. These have been made for people to do rubbings on so that the originals can be preserved.
Joyce Lockwood Community Park, named after a long-time Gabriolan, is a mix of sand and large rocks. With endless opportunities to view sea-dwelling creatures, it’s a popular spot. Gabriola Sands Provincial Park offers a unique setting: twin beaches, one on either side of a narrow strip of land. The “sunny side” is a favourite of island children as nature offers the delight of discovering sand dollars or moon snails at lower tides. The Taylor Bay side is the easiest access to a public beach on the island, with parking just a stone’s throw from the beach. The annual Sand Sculpture Competition is held at Gabriola Sands.
The historic Malaspina Galleries are accessible along the shoreline from Gabriola Sands at low tide or down a short trail at the end of Malaspina Drive. A sculpted, cave-like, sandstone feature, the galleries measure approximately 90 metres (300 feet) long by 3.5 metres (11 feet) high — a glorious example of nature’s art.
Gabriola also has two new parks, thanks to community preservation efforts. The “UREP” lands (used for recreation and enjoyment by the public), accessed off North Road, protect an area of old-growth forest, while the criss-crossed trails in a 707-acre wood in the heart of the island are perfect for a hike or mountain bike trek.
As the “Isle of the Arts,” Gabriola is home to varied and talented artists, who produce functional and decorative pottery, wearable art, glass sculpting and mosaics, silver jewellery, acrylics, watercolours, wood carving, metal work and more.
Take the Thanksgiving Gallery Tour when many island artists open their studios to the public. You need to be really dedicated to see all 80+ artists in one weekend, though gallant folks have tried.
Pre-booking accommodations is recommended during the busy summer months. Gabriola offers a wide variety of places for visitors to stay, from homes offered as vacation rentals to rustic camping.
Drop in to the visitor information centre located at Folklife Village (phone 250-247-9332). Open every day in the summer months, the volunteers are happy to help with any enquiry. For more great Gabriola information, see www.gabriolaisland.org.