6 Amazing Places to Visit on Mayne Island
Longtime readers will know of my love of spending time on the Gulf Islands. I think I have written about ten articles about my visits to local islands in the Salish Sea (you can read a couple of the more recent ones here and here). We recently went to a really special family gathering on Mayne Island. I am not sure what it is about Mayne Island, and maybe it is still too soon for me to say it is my favourite Gulf Island, but I get a real and distinct sense of place while I am there. It could be that it is a little more rural, with lots of farm land; or it could be that its size not too big or not too small; or it could be the incredible amount of places to visit and things to see that draws me in. It is likely a combination of all of that. While we were there, this last time, we visited a number of those incredible places. This list only scratches the surface of the things to do, but it is a good starting point for your next visit to Mayne Island.
Georgina Point Lighthouse
Located at the northern tip of Mayne Island is the Georgina Point Heritage Park and Lighthouse. Even if you have never been to Mayne Island, I am sure that you would still know Georgina Point lighthouse as it is the large white and red lighthouse that is at the eastern entrance to Active Pass that almost everyone who has been on a BC Ferry has taken a picture of at some point. As beautiful as it looks from a ferry, it looks even better when you are walking around the park. Georgina Point is part of the Gulf Islands National Park though you do not pay an access fee here. There are lots of tables for a picnic and so many spots to explore. If you want to extend your visit on this part of Mayne Island, you can also visit the nearby Fred and Bette Cotton Park, which has more beautiful views as well as some lovely gardens as well.
Japanese Gardens at Dinner Bay Park
Located along south side of Mayne Island, Dinner Bay Park is a huge park with lots of different things to do and is definitely one of the ‘must see’ places on the island, and that is even before talking about the Japanese Gardens here. When you include the gardens, this park becomes one of the ‘must see’ places on all of the Gulf Islands. The gardens were built as a memorial to the many Japanese families that lived on Mayne Island and who were taken away and interred in prison camps during the Second World War. Despite its tragic reason for creation, it is absolutely stunning. While there are many beautiful Japanese gardens around British Columbia, this one might be my favourite due to its location, complexity and beauty. After spending time in the park you can take in a small putting green or full frisbee golf course also located in Dinner Bay Park. I haven’t gone to Mayne Island without visiting the park and gardens and neither should you.
The Briary
This is likely the smallest sight on this list, but also perhaps the most serendipitous. The Briary is for all intents and purposes just a farm stand, but the way that it has been built, the amazing contents and how it is decorated make it so much more than that. It is full of jams, jellies, compotes and pickles and I haven’t tasted one that wasn’t absolutely delicious. The blueberry jam I had on this last trip was amazing. The farm stand is located on the south east portion of the island and you really need to look for it as there is not much else around, but once you see it you will know you have arrived. Visiting the Briary is a tasty way to add a little magic to your trip to Mayne Island.
Mayne Island Brewing Company
What is a vacation in BC without some microbrew beer, right? Well, you can definitely partake in some amazing beer on Mayne Island at the Mayne Island Brewing Company. The special thing about this brewery though, apart from the amazing beers, is its tasting space set-up. The brewery is set perhaps right in the middle of Mayne Island and you turn off Fernhill Road, one of the main roads on the island, to get there. As you arrive in the parking lot you are surrounded by tall trees (there is bike parking as well of course). The ‘tasting room’ is also located in the forest and it has to be one of the most magical (am I using that word too much in this article?) places to have a delicious beer I have ever visited. There is a broad selection of great beers that you can have served in a tasting flight and when you find the one you love, you can buy some to take back to where you are staying on the Island. A visit to the brewery is a must on any trip to Mayne Island.
The Farm Gate Store
There are two grocery stores on Mayne Island, Tru Value Foods and the Farm Gate Store, and I love them both. That said, the Farm Gate store has an extra bit of special. The Farm Gate store is located a little further down the road from the brewery and in the second largest commercial centre on the island after Miners Bay. For those from Victoria, the Farm Gate Store is a Gulf Islands version of the Market Garden in Vic West (though no affiliation between them, just to be clear). The products they carry are varied and from all around the world. There is also a great deli in the Farm Gate store and I haven’t had anything to eat that they made there that was less than absolutely delicious. After you get some provisions and a snack, make sure you check out Books on Mayne for something to read, and The Mayne Bean for a coffee. Both of these and more are located in the same area as the Farm Gate Store and are awesome.
Campbell Point and Bennett Bay
Campbell Point is located on the eastern side of the island. This is the largest piece of the Gulf Islands National Park on Mayne Island. Just before you arrive at Bennett Bay you turn to the left and there is bike and car parking. As you follow along the trails, you get amazing views of the beach at Bennett Bay and the surrounding islands. What I love about Campbell Point though is all of the arbutus trees which are all over the park here. After walking out to the end of the point and back, make sure to take some time to walk along Bennett Bay. This is perhaps the most sunbathing and swimming friendly beach on Mayne Island and has some stunning views towards Saturna Island. The southern border of the beach is where you will find the Mayne Island Resort and the great Bennett Bay Bistro if you happen to be hungry.
I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight the amazing Blue Vista Resort where we stayed on this and previous trips. The owners are amazing and the cabins are wonderful. If you have been to Mayne Island and have a tip for another great place to visit (I know there are a tonne…), please leave a comment below!
