Gabriola Island

Activities

What to do on Gabriola

For the adventurous, you can dive the local reefs, mountain bike or hike the nearby trails, rent a kayak and discover the delightful private coves and beaches of the beautiful Flat Top islands that surround the bay. You can take your friends for a morning of world-class salmon fishing and an afternoon of golf on Gabriola’s challenging course overlooking Hoggan Lake followed by a relaxing beverage with the “locals” at one of the many island pubs. Or how about touring the many island galleries, restaurants and shops. A quieter day might include a walk around the shores of beautiful Drumbeg Provincial Park, exploring the ancient Petroglyphs or a visit to the many white sand beaches to take in the incredible marine life far out in the ocean and close up in the many tidal pools. Our friendly and helpful staff will be pleased to help you plan your vacation activities when you arrive.

While only a 20 minute ferry ride from the bustle of Nanaimo, Gabriola Island offers its visitors a chance to step back and breath in the slow pace of island life. That could mean simply relaxing on one of the many island beaches, strolling the parks or browsing the art galleries and shops. However, Gabriola does offer plenty of activities and attractions to keep the most active visitor engaged. One can kayak through the local waters, exploring the beautiful bays and discovering an isolated beach or hiking the hundreds of trails that wind through old growth forests and parkland. There are the ancient petroglyphs to find and marvel at their mysteries while a visit to the Gabriola Museum will provide in-depth information as to their origin and where the staff will teach you how to do a souvenir rubbing of the replicas of the original petroglyphs. Cyclists will enjoy the 30km loop around the island that winds through huge coniferous forests and beside waterfront vistas or venture off to the remote inland roads and paths that spans the island from its summit to its beaches. The Malispina Galleries is Gabriola's most marvellous and famous sites. Here you can walk over and around and for some a huge wave of sandstone that has been carved by hundreds of years of ocean forces. Gabriola is known as the island of the arts because there are more than 200 artists and artisans that make up the small population of the island. That means a busy event calendar that is full of musical concerts performances, theatre festivals and plays, art tours and movie festivals. If hands on is your thing, there are many island workshops held throught the year where one take learn woodworking, cheesemaking and pottery and other arts and crafts. After an active day or a relaxing one, it is time to kick back and enjoy the numerous island pubs, restaurants and cafes; each offering something special from gourmet hand-crafted meals to casual pub fare with ocean vistas or coffee and sandwiches on a bistro patio. In addition, the local stores and weekend farmers markets offers local garden produce, meats and baked goods. Whatever you wish to see and do, the knowledgable staff at Page's Inn will guide you in the right direction to ensure your stay on Gabriola Island is a memorable one.