Gulf Island attractions

[Randygh]

We're heading to the Gulf Islands and Nanaimo in 3 weeks, providing one of our mutts is back to good health. What/where are some good attractions, moorages, sites we should not miss? We've been to Ganges and enjoyed the Sat. public market, but the Admiral was not impressed with the dumpy docks. We plan on returning to Fisherman's Bay on July 1 or 2. Gotta get some crab before coming home on the 4th. We'll be on the hook and use the new inflatable to motor into Lopez Island Resort. That place has the BEST calamari appetizers we've ever eaten!!. I plan on running over to Friday Harbor and meet some rowdy IBNW'ers.

[Stratocaster]

Randy,

Here are a few "must-visits".
Genoa Bay Marina (excellent restaurant)
Maple Bay (great chandlery)
Telegraph Harbour Marina (quiet countryside, awesome walking)
Otter Bay Marina (cleanest showers, manicured grounds, pool)
Poet's Cove (4-star, expensive, pool, hot tub, 2 restaurants)
Silva Bay Marina (restaurant, live music, scooter rentals)

My favourite anchorages are:
Montague Harbour
Tod Inlet
Beaumont (15 buoys and good anchorage, 5 min north of Poet's Cove)
Pirate's Cove
Newcastle Island (across the harbour from Nanaimo)

If you need more details on amenities, specifics on location etc, let me know. These are my stomping grounds!

[Randygh]

Mike,

Thanks for the good tips. I'll put waypoints in the GPS and mark on my charts. :D

[Kuredu]

I second Mikes recommendations - I would have given you the exact same list. I'll expand on some of them:

While on anchor next to Newcastle Island, be absolutely sure to visit the Dinghy Dock Pub and get the admiral a guava-tini.... :wink: You can also tie to the marine park docks for CAD $2 per meter of your LOA. Also dink across to Newcastle Harbour and have fish and chips on the docks - it's great.

If you go to Silva Bay, try their restaurant - very good calamari starter which is usually enough for a main meal. They also have a liquor store now so you can stock up there. Nice docks.

Poets Cove is awesome and the anchoring in adjacent Bedwell Bay is very good. There are also some mooring buoys, as Mike has pointed out.

If you stay over in Pirates or Telegraph Harbour - go tie up in Chemainus and take a stroll through the town. The murals are very well known.

We will be in Todd Inlet on July 1st for Canada Day - there will be some great fireworks in Buchard Gardens that evening and it's a worthwhile visit in any case. If you're around let us know and we could meet up for a beer somewhere.

Enjoy your trip.

[1northernstar]

Poets Cove just isn't the same since they changed it to be "Roche North". The local charm it had is gone...

Montague has teh Pub Bus that takes you to The Hummingbird Pub. Food is just okay.

Maple Bay is nice. Try the Quamichann Inn for dinner. Thier van will come get you at the marina. Used to be owned by Pam & Clive, a british couple, but with new owners things have changed a bit. Still, a special treat. Make sure you get a reservation...

[Sray51]

Port Browning Marina is my favorite via Shark passage. Rustic, Quiet, Beautiful and has a bar :D too. A short walk to town and a Bakery!

[mvwallyworld]

This is from boatless in Arizona.
If you have not been there, the docks in front of the Empress Hotel in Victoria are an absolute must.
Regarding Maple Bay, On one of our trips there we were treated so badly by the new management we left!!! They are not dog friendly and quite rude. Jim has moved his chandlery to Cowichan bay about 2 blocks from the public docks. The store in Maple Bay now is not well found.
Just my 2 cents
Randy

[boating777]

A buddy of mine went to Tod Inlet last year and just loved it, said they swam and just relaxed for a couple of days and wants to go back this year in August, I am planning on going with him for a week up in the Gulf Islands, are there any hazards or shallow's to look out for when heading into the Inlet? I have also been told there is back entrance to the Gardens from Tod Inlet? is this true? And what are the thought's on Fulford Harbor?

777

[Stratocaster]

Tod Inlet is incredible. Here is a pic I took there a couple of years ago:
http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/albums/albun21/IMG_1717.jpg

You can not sneak into Butchart gardens through the back...there is chain link fence topped with barbed wire all through the surrounding forest. We tried.

For the fireworks, the best vantage point is near the entrance to the inlet, anchor and tie to the south shore.

If you just want a place to anchor out, free of wind and dead quiet, go almost to the end of the inlet, where it opens up a bit.

If you stick to the middle of the channel and don't go TOO far at the very end, there is no danger of hitting bottom. In the pic above, I am in about 6 feet of water at low tide.

[boating777]

That is a great shot, Mike thanks for the info, what are your thoughts on fulford Harbor? It looks like we be in the very lower half of the Gulf Islands for a week.

Kevin

[Kuredu]

Nice pic Mike. We're going to ne there on July 1 till about the 2nd or 3rd. We're planning on going to Buchard for the fireworks on the 1st but we'll dink to the Butchard dock.

After we leave we will be going round to the spit and then Victoria for a couple of days before making our way back and ending at Newcastle on about the 8th. Heading home on the 10th.

[Stratocaster]

Kevin, Fulford is not one of my favourite spots. The "town" is OK, but the marina is, shall we say....rustic. Plus it is exposed to the wash from the ferry that docks right next to the marina.

In that area, Genoa Bay gets top marks for me, just due to how different it is. There is an artistic community right in the marina, and the restaurant is fantastic. Reservations are a must, even for lunch (we missed dinner there because I didn't make a rezzy).

Otter Bay is about 15 minutes east from Fulford, and is highly recommended.

Then there's Sidney Spit Marine Park......I could go on and on!!!!

Here's a few more shots:
PIRATES COVE
http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/albums/albun21/IMG_1725.jpg

TELEGRAPH HARBOUR
http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/albums/albun21/IMG_1718.jpg

GANGES
http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/albums/album357/IMG_1530.jpg

MONTAGUE HARBOUR
http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/albums/albun21/IMG_1666.jpg

TRINCOMALI CHANNEL (beside Galiano Island)
I just put this in as a "don't try this at home", shot during a violent thunderstorm!!
http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/albums/album357/IMG_1525.jpg

[boating777]

I had seen your remark about otter bay, I think we will give that a shot than instead of Fulford, In the crusing guide they make it look new with the docks and the flower's on the dock, so That is why I had asked, We plan on clearing at bedwell, than head to otter I guess, and than to Todd Inlet, than Maybe Sidney, or Victoria....... You always see such great photo's of Victoria that it look's like a nice spot maybe.

anyway I apppreciate the advice, Thanks.

Kevin

[Kuredu]

Kevin - do you prefer a dock or anchoring out? If you like anchoring you can also consider Anette Bay on Prevost Island (between Otter and Ganges). It is absolutely protected from anything and very nice.

Mike - time is dragging more and more as I look at your pics!

[reggies3270]

Good anchorage at Genoa Bay as well as Portland Island at Princess Margaret marine park. Bring your prawn traps and drop them at Seanus Island in 220- 250 ft on your way to Todd(about five minutes north of Todd Inlet). Also new this past year is the new Brentwood Bay Spa, scrap the spa its got a great pub just before Todd on the east side of the bay, big brown hotel looking place, pull in to the dock and go for a drink. Like it has been said before to see the fireworks the best stay close to the entrance rather than go to far inside the bay, there are a bunch of local scows anchored at the beginning of the inlet go just past and find your spot. I`ll be at Winter Cove for the lamb roast otherwise I`d love to get together for a pop or two.
Reg

[boating777]

It really does not matter to me if I am on the Dock or the hook, I just had my wife take a look at Mike's picture's and she was blown away !! Those harbor's are just so peacefull looking, those clouds looked like they where on fire in the last shot. I am going to print this out for a reference for our cruise. Thank you for sharing Guys


Kevin