Gabriola Island Things To Do
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 The bucolic Gabriola Island setting invites travellers to fish for salmon and halibut, hike the verdant forests, bike the island from top to bottom and discover ancient petroglyphs. That's enough for any island. But Gabriola goes further. Its remarkable concentration of artists in every medium extends the invitation. Come shop the galleries and private studios, take in a play or festival and unwind body and soul with a full range of contemporary therapies.
Land Activities
Scenic DrivesNorth and South Roads loop around opposite sides of the island and converge at Silva Bay. This 30km/18.6mi circle route treats motorists, bikers and hikers to a succession of sandy bays, golden beaches, sun-dappled forest and panoramic views. Douglas fir, red cedar, western hemlock, and the iconic Gulf Island Garry oak make choice canopies. Must-do stops are the Malaspina Galleries and Orlebar Point, with its view of the Entrance Bay Lighthouse.
HikingGabriola Island woos and wins hikers' hearts with its gentle trails, beaches, lush verdant forests and no bears, cougars or other beasties. Hiking trails transport visitors from one end of the island to the other and back. One of the island's most scenic hikes leads to the Malaspina Galleries, a spectacular, overhanging rock formation resembling a 90m/295ft-long frozen wave in mid-roll.
Cycling North and South Roads loop around opposite sides of the island and converge at Silva Bay. The cycler's Gabriola becomes a loop of beautiful sandy bays, golden beaches, sun-dappled forest and panoramic views. The section of deeply forested terrain on North Road is known as "the tunnel". Cool, refreshing and lovely to look at, it's a fave with bikers.
PetroglyphsGabriola Island is known in some quarters as Petroglyph Island because of its abundance of ancient rock carvings. Newcomers can literally stumble over petroglyphs on Gabriola Island. Although constantly re-growing cloaks of moss, more than 50 petroglyphs have been unearthed under at Petroglyph Park.
Water Activities
FishingGabriola is one of the top Gulf Island destinations for picking and eating fresh oysters, mussels and clams straight from the beach. Anglers can drop traps for prawns and Dungeness crab. Its surrounding waters swim with salmon, halibut, ling cod, rock cod, snapper, octopus and other delicacies. Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon are premium catches. The fisherman's grail is the "tyee", in Aboriginal parlance a salmon weighing 13.61kg/30lb or more. Two local charter companies take guests fishing.
DivingWith an under-seascape of reef, wreck, drift and crevice wall dives, Gabriola offers divers diversity. The internationally renowned Gabriola Passage alone boasts astonishingly varied marine life. The kickline consists of rock scallops, ling cod, tiger rockfish, cabezons, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, giant barnacles and the Giant Pacific Octopus, plus many species of anenomes. Gabriola's High Test Dive Charters offers guided dives to all major sites and for all levels of experience.
Festivals & Events
Thanksgiving Weekend Studio TourFor more than a dozen years, Gabriola's seminal event has been the Thanksgiving Weekend Studio Tour produced by the Gabriola Arts Council. It runs through the long weekend and involves roughly 100 island artists. A map brochure guides visitors to more than 60 studios. Artists display masterworks in clay and metal sculpture, jewellery, acrylics, batiks, oils and water colors, photography and stained glass.
Gabriola Theatre FestivalIt's no surprise that an island celebrated for its arts community should get around to theatre arts. The Gabriola Theatre Festival in August was an instant hit, selling out before it began on its first season in 2009. Talk about applause. Look for a theatrical range covering comedy, satire, fantasy and drama.
For more information and brochures, head to the Gabriola Island Visitor Centre on Berry Point Rd. Proceed cautiously because the turn-off after the ferry terminal is maddeningly easy to miss.
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