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Hornby
Island
Hornby Island is located south-east of Denman
Island off of the East Coast of Vancouver Island around 18 km
(11 miles) south of Courtenay.
BC
Ferries
To get here, the easiest way is to take the BC Ferries starting
north of the small community of Fanny
Bay at Buckley Bay. From Buckley Bay the ferry takes you over
Baynes Sound to Denman West on Denman Island. Once on Denman Island,
it is a short distance to the south-east side to Gravelly Bay where
you catch another ferry to Shingle Spit on Hornby Island.
Ocean
Paradise
Approaching Hornby Island across Lambert Channel to Shingle Spit
aboard the BC Ferries, you can see beautiful panoramic ocean views,
long sandy beaches and excellent boating opportunities. Hornby Island
is an ocean paradise. Everything about the ocean can be able found
here - kayaking, scuba diving, sailing and fantastic swimming in
some of BC's warmest ocean waters.
Tribune
Bay Provincial Park
If you enjoy sandy beaches, Hornby Island has a really lovely one
at Tribune Bay Provincial Park. The beach is nice and long with
lots of room between you and your neighbour. The beach tends to
be quite gradual in slope making it really kid-friendly allowing
you to relax with the sounds of the soothing ocean-wave action from
the south.
Sandy
Beach
The sandy beach found at Tribune Bay extends out into the aqua-blue
ocean with an excellent southerly view. Adjacent to the beach is
a sandstone rock shelf that meets the sandy bottom offering you
excellent snorkeling opportunities. The bay, because of this sandstone
shelf, provides excellent protection from the wind and has good
moorage for pleasure crafts.
Explore
Around the Ocean
There are some other areas to explore around the ocean including
the beach and swimming at Whaling Station Bay, beach combing at
Shingle Spit and the rock formations at Helliwell Provincial Park.
If you enjoy walking, the 5 km (3 mile) circle walk to the Helliwell
Bluffs, is well worth it with excellent panoramic views of Flora
Island and the Strait of Georgia off St. John Point.
World-class
Scuba Diving
For world-class scuba diving, you can try Hornby Island Diving;
they are known for their expertise especially in the chance of spotting
a six-gilled shark There are also kayak tours, lessons and rentals
available throughout on the island with Hornby Ocean Kayak. If you
have a boat or need marine services or scuba air fill-ups, there
is a marina situated at Ford Cove located at the end of Central
Road past the Co-op near Norman Rock.
Art
Galleries and Artisans
If you enjoy local art, then Hornby is the place with various art
galleries, displays and artisans found throughout the island. Known
as an artists' haven for all types from metal sculpture, dance studios,
pottery shops to even a blues workshop.
Hornby
Island Co-op
The Hornby Island Co-op is where you'll find most of the shopping
and cafés on Hornby Island. The Co-op is conveniently located
at Central and St. John's Point Road near walking distance to Tribune
Bay and the Tribune Bay Campsite. At the Co-op you can find fuel,
propane, groceries, a liquor outlet and a hardware store. The bike
shop is located here plus various clothing boutiques and places
to eat or have some coffee.
Co-op
Park
There is also the Co-op Park next door that features fresh organic
fruits and vegetables, café shop, fish-and-chip shop and
every once-in-a-while, the local flea market. You will be impressed
with area musicians that sometimes perform daily for an audience
in the Co-op Park.
Hornby
Island Cycling
If you enjoy cycling and mountain biking, you'll really be impressed
by the local enthusiasts who live on Hornby Island. Hornby Island
is very bike-friendly throughout with bike racks, bike lanes and
bike trails everywhere, making cycling very doable on a full-time
basis.
Mount
Geoffrey Park
A must thing for you to do is to pick up the local bike map of Mount
Geoffrey Park available at the bike shop. For the cost of a donation
this map is indispensable. The trail system is unreal and when they
say 'smooth' they are not kidding. For those who require an adrenaline
rush, try going down 'No Horses,' you'll be smiling at the bottom
- this one's a real laugh!
Multi-use
Trail
Also located on Mount Geoffrey is the multi-use trail allowing horses
and hiking. The walk around the cliff trail will give you excellent
views of Hornby, Denman and Comox north. The trail intertwines with
the biking trails and the map found at the bike store is highly
recommended before venturing out.
RV
Camping
There are two campsites located on Hornby Island. Both are very
family orientated and can provide you with a couple of options.
Tribune Bay Campsite is conveniently located close to the Hornby
Island Co-op and Tribune Bay. Bradsdadsland is within walking distance
to Shingle Spit, the ferry terminal and the Hornby Island Resort
featuring a restaurant and the Thatch Pub.
Bed
& Breakfast
For other accommodation there are also a number of Bed & Breakfasts
found throughout Hornby Island as well as cabin rentals on a weekly
basis.
Information
on Hornby Island
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