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Mayne Island is a place of beautiful seascapes, dense forests, farm-fresh foods, and turn-of-the-19th-century architecture. The island's water activities include kayaking, swimming, boating, scuba diving, and salmon fishing. Shorebirds and marine mammals are a common sight around the island’s many sheltered beaches. For nature enthusiasts, a great place to visit is the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Events on Mayne Island include the Farmers’ Market, Fall Fair, and artists’ studios tour.
Air & Land Activities Hiking is a wonderful way to experience Mayne’s diverse natural setting. Mount Parke Regional Park's trail leads to the 263m/863ft summit of Mount Parke, the island’s highest point. The wide-ranging land and ocean views make the challenging, 45min ascent to this viewpoint well worth the effort. A short trail in the Bennett Bay area of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve leads to Campbell Point and views of Georgeson and Saturna Islands, and Mount Baker. Bike rentals are also available.
Architectural & Structural Miners Bay is the most architecturally interesting area of Mayne Island. Many buildings there date from the turn-of-the-19th-century, when the island served as the commercial centre for the Gulf Islands. Springwater Lodge, possibly the longest continuously operating hotel in BC, opened its doors in 1892. A small museum operates in the old Plumper Pass Lockup building, where criminals and rabble rousers were incarcerated starting in 1896. St. Mary Magdelene Church, completed in 1898, has commanding view of Active Pass. Stroll through its cemetery to enjoy this view and read some interesting, century-old inscriptions at the same time.
Arts, Culture & History Many artists and artisans live and work on Mayne Island, producing woodwork, glasswork, paintings, jewelry, candles, and more. Some artists open their studios and workshops to the public. Consult one of the self-guided studio tour maps available on the island for more information.
The Mayne Museum and the Japanese Memorial Garden honour the contributions of past inhabitants of the island. The museum contains Aboriginal artifacts, settler paraphernalia, and historic photos. The garden is a beautiful reminder that there was a prosperous and thriving Japanese community on Mayne before the government forced all Japanese-Canadians into internment camps in 1942.
Entertainment Like most Gulf Islands, Mayne has a seasonal Farmers’ Market, featuring local produce, art, crafts and freshly prepared foods. Buskers provide musical entertainment. The market is held at the Agricultural Hall grounds every Saturday from July to October. The long-running Fall Fair, also held at the Agricultural Hall, happens in August and includes a parade.
Gulf Island National Park The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve protects pockets of land on 15 islands and many islets. It also protects the intertidal zone around these areas to a distance of 25m/82ft. On and around Mayne Island, reserve areas include Bennett Bay, Georgeson Island, Anniversary Island, and the Belle Chain Islets. Bennett Bay features old-growth forest, a walking trail, superb ocean views, and a sandy beach popular with swimmers. Georgeson and Anniversary Islands are forested, while the Belle Chain Islets are not. All three areas offer good kayaking.Regional Parks Dinner Bay Park is home to the Japanese Memorial Garden, as well as a putting green, baseball diamond, picnic shelter, playground, beachfront swimming area, and boat launch. Georgina Point Lighthouse Park features a rocky beach and picnic facilities in addition to a concrete lighthouse built in 1969. A gorgeous view of Active Pass is probably the best feature of that park.
The summit of Mount Parke is the highest viewpoint on Mayne. 263m/863ft up, it offers stunning views of the surrounding islands and the BC mainland. At lower elevations, the Campbell Point viewpoint, located at the end of a trail in Bennett Bay, takes in Georgeson and Saturna Islands, and Washington State’s Mount Baker in the distance.Wilderness & Wildlife Birds, deer, and marine mammals are abundant on and around Mayne Island. Bird species include Winter Wrens, Bald Eagles, robins, finches, towhees, hummingbirds, swallows, goldfinches, and Cedar Waxwings. Flocks of shorebirds use the mudflats at Horton Bay and Village Bay for resting and feeding in autumn. Black Oystercatchers, Glaucous-winged Gulls, and Pigeon Guillemots nest on the Belle Chain Islets, which are also used by seals and sea lions.
Water Activities There are plenty of opportunities for recreational water activities on Mayne Island. Popular swimming areas include Bennett Bay, Campbell Bay, Dinner Bay, Oyster Bay, and Piggott Bay. Many of these bays suit novice kayakers, as well. More experienced paddlers can explore the many nearby islands and islets. (Active Pass, with its heavy boat traffic and strong tides, should be avoided by all paddlers.) Equipment rentals and guided tours are available. Charters for sailing and Chinook Salmon fishing around Georgina Point and Active Pass are also available. Moorage is available at Miners Bay and Horton Bay.
Two of the best dive sites in the area are Georgina Shoals and the wreck of the Zephyr. The shoals feature a rich array of marine life, and interesting rocks and reefs at a depth of about 10m/33ft. The Zephyr sank more than 100 years ago, midway between David Cove and Edith Point.
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