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Mayne
Island
Mayne Island is located across the Strait of Georgia from Tsawwassen,
just south of Galiano Island across
Active Pass, west of Pender Island
and north of Saturna Island.
BC
Ferries
To get to Mayne Island, you have the choice of taking a private
boat, a water taxi, a sea plane or as most people do take a regular
scheduled ferry on BC Ferries. You can either leave from Tsawwassen
on the Lower Mainland or Swartz Bay near Sidney
on Vancouver Island and sail through the Gulf Islands to the Village
Bay ferry terminal on Mayne Island.
Miners
Bay
The main commercial centre for activity on Mayne Island is located
in Miners Bay just east of Village Bay Ferry Terminal. Once a stopping-off
point for miners going to the Cariboo gold fields, Miners Bay has
been in existence since the early 1900's.
Heritage
Buildings
You can view some of the oldest buildings on the island in Miners
Bay with the old Agricultural Hall, Plumper Pass Museum located
in the original lockup and the St. Mary Magdalene Church. The Agricultural
Hall features the Mayne Island Open Market Saturday mornings from
July through October and is home to the annual Mayne Island Fall
Fair which happens in August.
Stores
and Services
At Miners Bay you can also find the two main island stores one called
the Trading Post which is situated just up from the CRD government
dock. The Trading Post offers meat, fresh produce, a liquor outlet
and small hardware items. Then there is a True Value Foods which
is a little larger and is located in the Mayne Street Mall next
door to the Sunny Mayne Bakery Café. For locally produced
foods including organic chicken try the Farm Gate Store on Fernhill
Road.
Georgina
Point Heritage Park & Lighthouse
For some oceanfront adventures situated on the north-east side of
the island facing the entrance to Active Pass from the Strait of
Georgia sits the Georgina Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse and grounds
have been included into the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve giving
people a day-use facility with access to the waterfront around Georgina
Point.
Bennett
Bay and Georgeson Island
Besides Georgina Point are two other parks on Mayne Island that
are also part of the National Parks of Canada - Gulf Islands National
Park Reserve. Both Bennett Bay with beautiful sandy beaches and
Georgeson Island featuring a sandstone rock formations and a forest
of Garry Oak, Douglas Fir, and Arbutus Trees, will give you access
to some areas well-renowned for great kayaking and ocean exploring.
Mount
Parke Regional Park
For a beautiful panoramic view of Mayne Island and the other neighbouring
Gulf Islands, go to Mount Parke Regional Park. About a 45-minute
walk up a slight hill takes you to the top of Mount Parke where
you can enjoy the highest point of Mayne Island at 185 metres (607
feet). Throughout the trail going up you'll pass fields of wildflowers
and native birds.
Dinner
Bay Park
Other places on Mayne Island to beachcomb, wildlife watch or just
marvel at the ocean is at Dinner Bay Park. Dinner Bay is a major
meeting and social gathering place for the local residents of Mayne
Island and also the site of the beautiful memorial Japanese Garden.
The community park features flush toilets, a children's play area
and picnic grounds.
Helen
Point
Helen Point is the site of the oldest aboriginal remains of a fishing
ground next to Active Pass, estimated to be 5,000 years old, in
the Southern Gulf Islands. Today Helen Point serves a location for
a lighthouse station for the entrance into Active Pass and is the
traditional land of the Tsartlip Indian Band.
Bennett
Bay Bistro
For something to eat, Mayne Island has a couple of choices including
the Bennett Bay Bistro located in the very beautiful Mayne Island
Resort. The bistro offers an outstanding ocean view along with delicious
food items many coming from a sustainable fishery.
Springwater
Lodge
Besides
the pub, the Springwater Lodge, which was established in 1892, also
has accommodation including waterfront cabins, moorage and an outdoor
patio restaurant. The lodge which has a beautiful view across Active
Pass towards Galiano Island is conveniently located right in Miners
Bay.
CRD
Dock
You can find the Springwater Lodge next to the CRD Dock in Miners
Bay. Also at the CRD Dock, there is a gas and diesel float, fishing
licences and some moorage on a first-come, first-served basis. You
can find a boat ramp at the Village Bay where there is ample launch
space.
'Cow
Pie Run' and the Lions' Salmon Barbecue
Definitely one of the highlights of Mayne Island is the annual 'Cow
Pie Run' and the Lions' Salmon Barbecue taking place at the end
of August. This event attracts all of Mayne Island's residents into
a full weekend of celebration, fun and entertainment.
Mayne
Island Artists and Galleries
There are artists' studios and galleries found throughout the island
and include the En-Vision Gallery, the Active Pass Fine Art Gallery,
the dragonfly gallery, Toby Snelgrove Photography, the Tree Frog
Gallery and the Creative Potager.
Accommodation
For accommodation there are a number of lodges, Bed & Breakfast
outlets from which to choose. If you prefer to camp, there are no
campgrounds in any of the parks but there are two private operators
- Fern Hollow Campground and Mayne Island Camping.
Information
on Mayne Island
Accommodation
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