Dogs at Roberts Creek Beach, by Matthew Lane

The Sunshine Coast’s population hugs the 86km stretch of coastline for the most part, with larger acreages spreading up into the mountains behind. You will find most Coasters as close to the water as possible!

Gambier/Keats

Gambier and Keats Islands have small year-round populations that double or triple in the peak summer months. These Islands do have roads, but no road access, so vehicles are barged over or are kept on the Islands for transporting groceries, building materials, gear etc. once on-Island. Both islands have beautiful marine parks. Plumper Cove, on Keats, is one of BC’s oldest marine parks, and is a popular destination for both out-of-area and local boaters. Halkett Park, on Gambier’s southeast side, is largely undeveloped and exposed to southerly winds, but is a quiet and protected destination during the summer north and northwesterly winds.

Langdale

Langdale is of course the artery into the Sunshine Coast, home to the BC Ferries Langdale Terminal, and jumping off point to Gambier Island via foot passenger ferry. Beautiful homes and properties perch along the shore curving around into Howe Sound; the water here is fairly exposed and subject to strong winds and currents.

Gibsons Landing

Gibsons Harbour/Gibsons Landing is a beautifully scenic oceanside village. The old highway winds along the edge of the water before swinging up the big hill behind the town to Upper Gibsons; Marine Drive and Gower Point Road ring the harbour. There is a community pier and government dock, and the Gibsons Marina and a gas dock. Favorite activities while in Gibsons Landing are a visit to Molly’s Reach, famous from the Beachcombers era and now a working restaurant; art galleries and studios both streetside and up the quaint staircases found in little nooks; taking an arts & cultural or walking tour; or antique shopping. There is a very good Maritime Museum in Molly’s Lane behind Molly’s Reach, and the Elphinstone Pioneer Museum is just at the end of the block of shops by the town’s post office. A wide range of restaurants and eateries can offer everything from gelati to weiner schnitzel, or lattes to sushi. Upper Gibsons is a hard hoof or a short taxi ride up the hill for a large shopping mall, London Drugs, Liquor Store etc. Gibsons Marina has a large selection of marine parts and accessories, as well as charts and boating gear.

Roberts Creek

Roberts Creek is affectionately referred to as The Gumboot Nation (you have to visit to see why). Creekers are a diverse lot – from business people to hippies, artisans to commuters – and the community is unique on the Sunshine Coast. A good example of the eclectic nature of Roberts Creek can be found in the name of its annual march down the hill for Roberts Creek Daze: none other than the Higgeldy Piggeldy Parade. There is a walking pier, sandy/rocky beach, estuary and beautiful community mandala at the water; just up the hill is the Roberts Creek General Store, Gumboot Restaurant, Gumboot Café and the Heart of the Creek shopping area with gifts, clothing, organic food, outdoor gear and new stores coming on a regular basis. [Matt – you will have to talk about anchoring at theCreek, I don’t know if it is suitable]

Wilson Creek/Davis Bay/Selma Park/Sechelt

These are all part of Sechelt proper. Wilson Creek is the first community you will encounter coming from the Vancouver side. From the water the only visible area of note to boaters is Port Stalashen, a local condominium/marina complex. The marina is small and private, and the size of the marina was limited out of a commitment to preserve the rare marsh estuary of the area. The area is home to a diverse range of birds and waterfowl, so keep an eye out as you pass by. Eagles and herons are common here.

Davis Bay is one of Sechelt’s best playgrounds. On low tides a sandy beach is exposed, great for boarding/skimming, sandcastle-building, kite-flying in out of peak seasons. In the spring and fall months one can often see windsurfers and boardsailers playing in the waters along Davis Bay. This is also a very popular fishing area, especially in fall months when the terminal hatchery salmon return to Chapman Creek, so marine hazards can run from float tubers, to swimmers, water-skiers, jetskiers, and crab traps. There is a small pier that is suitable for emergency tie-ups only. Closer to Selma Park there are places suitable for short anchorages while you run to shore for dinner (fish & chips or sushi) or to grab a late evening latte at Pier 17. Consult your charts for bottom conditions.

Selma Park is the hill you will see climbing out of Davis Bay towards Sechelt. This is an area of private homes and Sechelt Indian Band Reserve Lands, and a working marine port with a deep-sea shipping conveyor for Construction Aggregates. Consequently mariners must be alert for tug and barge operators and large ships maneuvering. There is a small anchorage/marina in Selma Park; it is Band-operated and usually full; anchoring here requires permission from the Sechelt Indian Band. Plans have been discussed for a number of years regarding a hotel and formal marina complex here in the future.

Sechelt’s waterfront consists of two areas: the Georgia Strait side, which is very exposed to wind and current, and Sechelt Inlet, referred to as the Jewel of the Sunshine Coast. The oceanside waterfront boasts a long, curved beach of beautiful pebbled stones and gorgeous vistas of the Trail Islands and Vancouver Island beyond. Boats can anchor here for short periods in good weather – consult the local marine charts for bottom conditions and tide information you need to be aware of before leaving your boat. This is also a popular area for small groups of swimmers, with two swim floats so beware of people in the water.  A public pier is clearly visible from the water; it is not suitable for boat tie-ups or access from the ocean but must be approached from land.

Sechelt Inlet is only accessible by going around the entire peninsula, entering through the spectacular Skookumchuck Narrows, one of the world’s largest tidal/current flows as the ocean tide ebbs or flows from the narrow neck of Sechelt Inlet. This marine entrance requires advance knowledge of the conditions, exact familiarity with the tides, and only traveling through in slack periods. Whirlpools, high waves, and unpredictable water conditions make this entrance one to be approached with caution and due diligence. Once inside, Sechelt Inlet offers unparalleled boating explorations, notably the Sechelt Inlets Marine Parks, with 7 on-shore camping destinations. This area is perfect for anchoring and exploring by kayak, and Narrows and Salmon Inlets are destinations in and of themselves, particularly Narrows Inlet, home to Tzoonie Narrows, a favorite dive spot for the diversity of underwater life found in the strong currents of the area. There is a wilderness resort at Tzoonie offering cabins, kayaks/canoes, and fireside seafood dinners if you’d like to get off your boat for a few days.

Before you get to the head of Sechelt Inlet, Porpoise Bay, the only other note of caution is the dive site for the HMCS Chaudiere, off Kunechin Point. The Chaudiere is a retired Canadian Forces destroyer escort, and rests at 20 – 40 metres. This is a very active dive site so boaters are urged to observe dive area limits and proceed with caution.

Porpoise Bay is a fairly large area, running from Porpoise Bay Provincial Park – look for the tall trees and sandy beach with swim area – to the isthmus,  home to a pub/restaurant complex, two float plane terminals, 3 marinas, and a government dock… you get the drift. Busy, busy, busy! The area off the park is popular for water-skiers and tubers, and for kayakers. Be alert for swimmers, kayakers, fishing boats, recreational watercraft, crab traps, and float planes approaching or taking off. Once you have tied up, the main centre of town is three long-ish blocks of easy walking or a very short and inexpensive cab ride. Sechelt is a town of approximately 8,000 so pretty much everything you would need to continue your trip is available.

On the ocean side, leaving Sechelt takes you past the Trail Islands. These islands are popular for salmon and bottom fishing, and for prawning and crabbing. On strong wind days tugs and log booms often lay up behind the islands to wait out the tide change and take an easier combination of wind and current. Windsurfers also like this area for its protection from strong gusts.

Next you will encounter the Sargeant Bay Provincial Park. This is more of a wildlife/waterfowl refuge than typical park; there is one pit toilet, a beachside walking path, rocky beach (sand is exposed on very low tides), and great views of Mount Baker and the UBC Endowment Lands in the foreground. This is also heavy crabbing area, so watch for pots and lines/floats if you decide to explore close to shore.

Halfmoon Bay

Sargeant Bay beach in Halfmoon Bay

Halfmoon Bay is our final destination for our branch of the Power Squadron. Halfmoon Bay starts with high-bank clay waterfront properties perched high on the cliffsides; this area is fairly exposed for wind and weather. Scooting around the final point brings you into Halfmoon Bay proper, with a government dock. Coopers Green Regional Park is across the small bay and is a popular dive teaching location. Just up from the pier in Halfmoon Bay is a telephone, general store/liquor outlet, and eatery offering great pizza by the slice, samosas and other ethnic treats, and wonderful desserts. A good short walkabout off the boat.

Just north of Halfmoon Bay is the Smuggler Cove Provincial Marine Park. This is an all-weather anchorage, popular in the summer, with five wilderness camp sites on land for tenters only. There are three basins for anchorages, and many places to tie off to shoreside trees as well. It is accessed by boat at the north end of Welcome Passage (running between Secret Cove and the Thormandby Islands). There are private homes situated within the marine park – please respect their privacy by giving them a wide berth and controlling noise in the vicinity. Trails criss-cross the point and there are several promontories offering beautiful sunset views or shady spots for afternoon clambers along the rocks.

From this point on you are into the Pender Harbour Power Squadron’s home waters – we invite you to visit their site at http://penderharbour.cps-ecp.org/.

Thank you for sharing our part of the Sunshine Coast, and we hope you enjoyed your visit and will come back many times in the future to continue your explorations!