Begin planning your adventure to British Columbia's Sunshine Coast right here. We cover it all, from how to get there and get around once you've arrived, to where to sleep, play and eat. Plus, we've loaded this post full of great resources for finding more details about items we list. Happy travels!
How to Get There
(c) Sunshine Coast Tourism
Air
Pacific Coastal Airlines provides regular flights from YVR’s South Terminal to the Powell River Airport (YPW).
Harbour Air offers scheduled floatplane service and charters between Sechelt and Vancouver and Nanaimo.
Sunshine Coast Air operates scheduled floatplane service and charters between Sechelt and Vancouver Regional Airport and Vancouver Island, including Victoria.
KD Air flies from Vancouver to Gillies Bay on Texada Island and offers charters to Gibsons and Sechelt.
Car
Highway 101, the Pacific Coastal Highway, links the northern and southern communities of the Sunshine Coast. In fact, it is part of one of the longest highway systems in the world: the Pacific Coastal Highway stretches from Lund, BC, Canada, to Quellon, Chile.
Ferry
The southern entry point for the Sunshine Coast is a 40-minute sail aboard BC Ferries to Langdale from the Horsehoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver.
A BC Ferries terminal in Comox operates daily 1 hour and 20 minute sailings from Vancouver Island to Powell River at the Sunshine Coast’s northern end.
The northern and southern regions of the Sunshine Coast are connected by a 50-minute ferry ride from Earl’s Cove to Saltery Bay, 25 minutes south of Powell River.
Communities
(c) Sunshine Coast Tourism
Lund
A picturesque village that is the gateway to popular Desolation Sound. A waterfront boardwalk connects shops and cafes to the Historic Lund Hotel with an art gallery and a grocery store. Water taxis to Savary Island leave from the Lund Marina. (Pictured above)
Savary Island
Several cottage rentals and B&Bs are available on this island with no power and no public washrooms. Bicycling is the primary mode of transportation on this tiny island with ecosystems ranging from sand cliffs to dune meadows.
Sliammon
Tla'amin First Nation and also known as the "Salmon People", a village with a 2000 year history. Offers interpretive hikes and tours of the Sliammon Salmon Hatchery.
Powell River
The largest community on the Sunshine Coast is known for Townsite, a national historic district, as well as an outdoor recreation mecca with amenities such as the Sunshine Coast Trail and the Powell Forest Canoe Route. The city was named a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2004 and has many art galleries, studios, a symphony orchestra and a film festival.
Texada
The largest Gulf Island has a history of mineral mining and limestone quarries. Outdoor recreation is also extremely popular, both on land and in the water near the shore. Ferries arrive here from Powell River at regular intervals and there are four scheduled flights from Vancouver.
Pender Harbour
The communities of Madeira Park, Garden Bay and Irvines Landing surround the harbour. Madeira Park serves as the commercial center for the harbour with a post office, art gallery and numerous shops and cafes. Garden Harbour hosts the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club while Irvines Landing has a fishing marina and boat launch.
Egmont
Located east of the BC Ferries terminal, Egmont is a departure point for cruises up the Jervis Inlet. The high tide rapids at Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park offer a show in the form of watching extreme kayakers battle the rapids.
Sechelt
Tems Swiya Museum presents the history of the Sechelt First Nations and features First Nations plays, concerts, storytelling and movies. Canada’s longest running literary festival is held here in addition to art exhibits, literary readings and craft fairs. (Pictured above)
Halfmoon Bay
A small village that is a jumping off point for several hiking trails and a popular place for water sports. Smuggler Cove has protected anchorage for boaters as well as a protected wetland habitat.
Roberts Creek
A large group of Vietnam War draft dodgers settled here in the 60s and Roberts Creek has been a vibrant hippie enclave ever since. Many activities revolve around art and enjoying the natural surroundings. Roberts Creek's annual festival "Creek Daze" is held in early August.
Gibsons
Named the world’s most livable community in 2009, Gibsons retains a strong support of social and environmental issues. The TV series The Beachcombers was shot here and the former studio set is now a café. (Pictured above)
Climate
The Sunshine Coast, along with Vancouver, eastern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, is located in the Georgia Basin within the protected rainshadow of Vancouver Island. Average maximum winter low of about 6°C (43°F) to summer highs of 22°C (72°F) creating a mild, sunny climate year round.
History
(c) Sunshine Coast TourismThe Sunshine Coast is the traditional territories of the Squamish, Sechelt and Tla A'min First Nation who engaged in fishing, hunting and trading with Coast Salish people. Europeans and non-native people began to settle the region around the 1800s, adding logging and farming to the economic activities. In 1914 Harry Roberts (Roberts Creek) painted “The Sunshine Belt” on his freight house and the Black Ball Ferries used the phrase “Sunshine Coast” to promote the area. A paper mill in Powell River employed more than 2,000 workers in the 1930s, contributing to the population increase and the creation of the highway. The Sunshine Coast today is unique combination of high and low tech, melding modern advances with traditional activities such as fishing and carving.
Getting Around
The region has one main highway that follows the coast and while bike paths are continually being added, the main mode of transportation remains the automobile. Several areas along the coast offer car rentals but it’s generally easier and cheaper to rent a car in Vancouver.
There is also local bus service between Langdale-Gibsons-Sechelt and for northern coast within Powell River.
Visitor Centres
Gibsons
Address: 417 Marine Drive, Gibsons
Telephone: 604-886-2374or toll free 1-866-222-3806
Email: visitorinfo@gibsonschamber.com
Website: gibsonsvisitorinfo.com
Sechelt
Address: 5790 Teredo Street,Sechelt V0N 3A0
Telephone: 604-885-1036 or toll free 1-877-885-1036
Email: visitorinfo@sccss.ca
Website: secheltvisitorcentre.com
Pender Harbour
Address: Madeira Park Road next to the Community Hall V0N 2H1
Telephone: 604-883-2561 or toll free 1-877-873-6337
Website: penderharbour.ca/visitor-info-booth
Powell River
Address: 4760 Joyce Avenue, Powell River V8A 3B6
Telephone: 604-485-4701
Email: info@discoverpowellriver.com
Website: Powell River Visitor Centre
See
Skookumchuk Narrows
Twice daily, nature puts on a show as the tide changes and the flow of saltwater switches, reversing the direction and power of the turbulent rapids. The difference in water levels between one side of the rapids and the other can exceed 9 ft in height, with 200 billion gallons of water flowing through the Skookumchuck Narrows connecting Sechelt and Jervis Inlets.
Howe Sound
This is North America’s southernmost fjord. It is located between Metro Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast and extends for 42km from West Vancouver northwards to Squamish. This is the traditional home of the Shishalh (Sechelt Nation) and Squamish First Nation.
Eldred Valley
Jeremy Williams, Sunshine Coast Tourism
The Eldred Valley is a rock climbers’ paradise deep in the back country of Powell River that is on par with world-famous Yosemite and Squamish Valley. Towering granite slabs that surround a hidden climbers’ camp are home to eleven climbing routes.
Chatterbox Falls & Princess Louisa Inlet
As many as 60 waterfalls cascade down massive granite walls that rise to heights of 2100 metres. Princess Louisa Inlet is almost completely enclosed and is accessible only by boat or plane. Princess Louisa is best seen with experienced guides via charter boat, tour or floatplane due to dangerous tidal conditions. Discover how to experience Chatterbox Falls & Princess Louisa for yourself.
Historic Townsite
Townsite is one of three nationally designated historic districts in B.C., a neighborhood of arts and crafts style homes and unique historic buildings from the early 20th century. The district was built around the paper mill on a Garden City plan designed to enhance the area’s natural beauty and attract newcomers to a single-industry town. The longest running movie theatre in Canada is here along with, the world’s largest floating breakwater of WWI and WWII ships, and St. Luke’s Hospital, where the first medical plan in B.C. was introduced. Tours are available in the summer. Read more about historic Townsite.
Do
Sunshine Coast Trail
This is Canada's longest hut-to-hut hiking trail, stretching over 180km of beautiful landscapes, from coastal shorelines, along creeks and lakes, through old growth forests to panoramic mountaintops. There are many access points allowing hikers to explore smaller sections, or the entire route can be travelled in a multi-day hiking trip. The Sunshine Coast Trail runs from Sarah Point in Desolation Sound, across Powell River, and down to Saltery Bay.
Sunshine Coast Art Crawl
Dates: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 16–18, 2015
Details: Travel along the entire Sunshine Coast Highway and visit local artists at work. Meet the artists in their studios and experience the vibrant arts and culture community on the Sunshine Coast as you follow brochure maps, directional signs, smart phone maps and other Crawlers. This is a network of arts, cultural and heritage groups and individuals working to enhance the economic vitality of the Sunshine Coast through cultural sector development.
Dakota Ridge
The Dakota Ridge Recreation Area offers world-class cross country skiing and snowshoeing and is a 40 minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. Dakota Ridge maintains 20 km of track-set cross country ski trails (classic and skate) and 7 km of snowshoe trails that wind through old growth forests and open areas in a beautiful sub-alpine setting.
Desolation Sound Marine Park
The park is at the confluence of Malaspina Inlet and Homfray Channel and is popular with yachters and kayakers. Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park has more than 60 km of shoreline, several islands, numerous small bays and snug coves. There are 11 designated campsites throughout Desolation Sound, the Copeland Islands and Malaspina Provincial Marine Parks.
Powell Forest Canoe Route
The Powell Forest Canoe Route is one of the finest canoe journeys in the province. The route is a 57 km, 8 lake, 5 portage journey that takes roughly 5 days. Portages range from 0.7 km – 2.8 km, and paddling stretches from 1 km – 28.5 km. The best time to travel the route is from June – October. Click here to read more.
Eat
Drink
Persephone Brewing Company
Address: 1053 Stewart Rd., Gibsons
Website: persephonebrewing.com
Tasting room hours: winter - Tuesday-Sunday 11:00am to 7:00pm
Townsite Brewing
Townsite Brewing Co
Address: 5824 Ash Ave, Powell River V8A 4R4
Website: townsitebrewing.com
Tasting room: Free brewery tours every Saturday at 3 p.m. year-round; additional tour in summer on Thursdays at 3 p.m. Winter hours: Sunday-Tuesday 2 p.m. -6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Summer hours (after May long): 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily.
Sunshine Coast Winery
Address: 5245 Selma Park Road, Sechelt
Website: sunshinecoastwinery.com
Tasting room: winter hours: Every Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where to stay on the Sunshine Coast
Relax
Beyond Bliss Salon, Spa & Suites
Address: 4555 Marine Avenue, Powell River
Telephone: 604-485-9521
Email: bliss21@telus.net
Website: beyondblissspa.com
Float Sechelt
Phone: 778-458-3444
Address: 5652 Dolphin Street, Sechelt V0N 3A0
Telephone: 778-458-3444
Email: info@floatsechelt.ca
Website: floatsechelt.ca
Painted Boat Resort Spa
Address: 12849 Lagoon Road, Madeira Park V0N 2H0
Telephone: 604-883-2456 or toll free: 866-902-3955
Email: reservations@paintedboat.com
Website: paintedboat.com
Rockwater Secret Cove Resort
Address: 5356 Ole´s Cove Road, Halfmoon Bay V0N 1Y2
Telephone: 604-885-7038 or toll free: 877-296-4593
Email: reservations@rockwatersecretcoveresort.com
Website: rockwatersecretcoveresort.com
Self Realization Meditation Healing Centre
Address: 8904 Armstrong Way, Halfmoon Bay V0N 1Y2
Telephone: 604-740-0898
Email: info@selfrealizationcentrecanada.com
Website: selfrealizationcentrecanada.com
Golf
Myrtle Point Golf Club
Address: 2865 McCausland Road, Powell River
Telephone: 604-487-4653
Email: golfshopmanager@myrtlepointgolf.com
Website: myrtlepointgolfclub.com
Beach Gardens Resort & Marina
Address: 7074 Westminster Street, Powell River
Telephone: 604-485-6267 or toll free: 1-800-663-7070
Website: beachgardens.com
Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club
Address: 3206 Sunshine Coast Hwy (Roberts Creek)
Telephone: 604-885-9212 or toll free: 1-800-667-5022
Website: sunshinecoastgolf.com
Event Calendar
Click here for a complete event calendar
Brian K.Smith, Sunshine Coast Tourism
February
Powell River Film Festival
April
April Fools Run, Sechelt
April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge, Pender Harbour
Mountain Grind Sunshine Coast, Sechelt
Sunshine Coast Trail Marathon Shuffle, Powell River
Sunshine Coast Festival of the Performing Arts, Gibsons & Sechelt
May
Attack of Danger Bay (Longboard Race), Madeira Park
Coaster Bike Race, Roberts Creek
Coast Makers Festival - Gibsons
Pender Harbour May Day
Roberts Creek Art Festival
Shellfish Festival, Lund
June
Children’s Festival and Duck Pluck, Gibsons
Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival
Pender Harbour Blues Festival
PRISMA (Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy), Powell River
Stonewall Pride Festival, Roberts Creek
July
BC Bike Race
Davis Bay Sandcastle Competition
Gibsons Sea Cavalcade
Highway 101 Music Festival, Pender Harbour
Howe Sound Outrigger Race, Gibsons
Kathaumixw International Choral Festival, Powell River
Powell River Sea Fair
Roberts Creek Mandala Painting
Savary Island Triathlon
Texada Annual Fly-In, Gillies Bay Airport
Texada Island Aero Space Camp
August
Arts Alive in the Park, Powell River
Blackberry Festival, Powell River
Creek Daze, Roberts Creek
Davis Bay Sandcastle Competition, Sechelt
Festival of the Rolling Arts, Sechelt
Festival of the Written Arts, Sechelt
Hackett Park Arts & Craft Fair, Sechelt
Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival
Sunshine Coast VegFest, Roberts Creek
Sunshine Coast Yoga Festival, Sechelt
Synchronicity Festival, Gibsons
Run the Rock Half and Full Marathon, Texada Island
Texada Island Sandcastle Competition
September
Pender Harbour Jazz Festival
Powell River Fall Fair
Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Harvest Fair, Sechelt
Sunshine Music Festival, Powell River
October
Sunshine Coast Art Crawl
Sunshine Coast Mushroom Festival, Madeira Park
Halfmoon Bay Country Fair, October
Sechelt Arts Festival
Have you ever been to the Sunshine Coast?
Click here to let Sunshine Coast Tourism help plan your trip!
Related content on Canadian Traveller