If you’re visiting Gabriola Island with kids, you’ll find ideas and tips for planning your trip with this complete three day itinerary.
It’s just a 20-minute ferry ride from Nanaimo, but Gabriola Island feels worlds away from the busy city and more populated Vancouver Island. Known as the “Isle of the Arts” for its thriving arts community, Gabriola Island offers stunning coastal scenery, unique natural sandstone formations, and a relaxed rural atmosphere. A short trip here makes for an easygoing, nature-filled escape.
This 3-day itinerary was designed to explore Gabriola Island with kids, but these activities are great for any visitor to the island. It blends outdoor adventure, farm visits and lots of flexibility to enjoy this beautiful place on island time.
Indigenous Culture on Gabriola Island
Gabriola Island is home to the Snuneymux First Nation of the Coast Salish People. It’s located in the middle of Coast Salish territory on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Fraser River in British Columbia. Their people have lived here for thousands of years. The Snuneymuxw population before European contact is estimated at about 5,000.
There are over 70 known petroglyphs on Gabriola Island, offering a rare link to the past. They’re carved into the unique sheets of sandstone bedrock and boulders found throughout the island. Some are more visible than others, and almost all petroglyph locations are kept private or are on private land to protect them. Estimates of the carvings range from less than a century ago to up to 3,000 years old.
We acknowledge that the land and waters of Gabriola Island are the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. We honour and respect their connection to the land and are grateful to them for allowing us to explore and benefit from its beauty.
Planning Your Trip to Gabriola Island with Kids
How to Get There
Reaching Gabriola Island is easy and convenient, especially compared to some of the other Gulf Islands. You can take BC Ferries from the downtown Nanaimo Harbour. This route doesn’t accept reservations; it’s first-come, first-served. The ride to Descanso Bay on Gabriola Island is about 20 minutes in good weather.
Check the Gabriola Island (Descanso Bay) Ferry Schedule.
Where to Stay
Gabriola Island is small, but it still has a range of accommodation options. Accommodations range from vacation homes, Bed and Breakfasts, lodges, guest houses and resorts with cabins and RV sites. We stayed at Page’s Resort & Marina and had a good experience, and we’ve also heard good things about the Surf Lodge & Pub.
Find places to stay on Gabriola Island.
Camping with Kids on Gabriola Island
Because Northern Explorers is an outdoor travel guide, we almost always camp at our destination and provide this essential information. There are really only two places to camp on Gabriola Island, and we’ve camped at both of them!
Descanso Bay Regional Park: This well-maintained oceanfront campground is nestled in the forest and hugs the two coves of Descanso Bay. It has 32 unserviced campsites, pit toilets, and a day-use area. A few of the sites offer water views, and hiking trails run through the campground and into nearby Cox Community Park. You can also launch a kayak or paddleboard from the day-use area. Reservations are recommended.
Page’s Resort & Marina: On the opposite side of the island is this pretty little marina, offering cabins and campsites for tents and RVs. It’s a little less private and rustic here, but it has flush toilets, showers and a couple of electrical sites for RVs. There are a couple of sites in the trees and near the water, but most are in an open field. They also have a small store and paddleboard and kayak rentals. There are no campfire pits here. Book at Page’s Resort & Marina.
Where to Eat
Gabriola has quite a few dining options, considering its size. Make sure you check their opening hours as some cafes are only open seasonally. The Ground Up Café & Catering offer hearty sandwiches, baked goods and hot drinks. We enjoyed ocean views, burgers and fries at the Surf Lodge & Pub. For Spanish-inspired taps (maybe not a kid-favourite), try Burro Rosa Tapas Bar, or you can get delicious pizza at the Wood Fire Restaurant.
Check out more restaurants on Gabriola Island.
Gabriola Island with Kids: 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Explore the Island’s Natural Beauty
Morning: Family Hikes on Gabriola Island
Malaspina Galleries
The unique wave-like sandstone formations known as the Malaspina Galleries are one of the top natural attractions on Gabriola Island. The ocean has carved out a smooth, swooping overhang in the sandstone wall. When you visit at low tide, you can carefully walk through the gallery and see the water reflecting on the stone above you.
Caution: The ground above the gallery may be unstable; visitors must explore at their own risk. Please obey the signs. The water is also very deep off the edge of the rocks, so keep children close.
Elder Cedar Reserve
The Elder Cedar (S’ul-hween X’pey) Reserve holds the last remaining stand of old-growth trees on Gabriola Island. The short 1.5-kilometre trail loops through young and mature rainforest, crossing small streams and wetlands, and offering beautiful biodiversity. The ecosystem is fragile here, so please stay on the designated trail.
Descanso Bay Loop
Whether you’re camping here or not, this area is worth exploring. This loop showcases arbutus trees and the rock formations of Descanso Bay Regional Park. It’s about 3.5 kilometres long and offers opportunities for beachcombing and slow exploration.
Drumbeg Provincial Park
This was our favourite provincial park to explore on Gabriola Island. Go at low tide, and your kids will love skipping along the smooth rock formations and exploring tidepools and the creatures that live in them. The park overlooks the scenic Gabriola Passage with views of the Coast Mountains across the Strait of Georgia.
If you arrive at high tide, there is a trail that takes you to the point and around the park if you can’t walk along the rock formations or beaches. Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles and oyster catchers here!
Afternoon: Beaches on Gabriola Island
Gabriola is small enough that you can explore a few beaches if you’re looking for the perfect place to take a swim, do some beach combing or watch the sunset.
Gabriola Sands Provincial Park: Located on the northwest corner of the island, Gabriola Sands offers two sandy beaches on either side of the road from one another. Each faces a different direction, so you can choose the one with the least wind or the most sun! Between them are large manicured lawns perfect for kicking around a ball or throwing a frisbee.
Whalebone Beach: This beach faces the Georgia Strait, and although it starts out as rocky, the rocks give way to long stretches of sand when the tide is out. Some prefer Whalebone Beach to Gabriola Sands because it has less seaweed.
Sandwell Provincial Park: Take a short walking trail through the forest to the sandy shores of Lock Bay. This is a cool beach to explore, with many unique sandstone formations and rocks along the shoreline.
Day 2: Local Markets, Museum and Farm Visits
Morning: Weekend Farmer’s Market & Museum Stop
Gabriola Island Farmer’s Market
Assuming you’re visiting on the weekend, the Gabriola Agricultural Co-op Saturday Farmer’s Market is a must-stop. It features local vendors offering fresh, local produce, preserves, baked goods, art, pottery, jewelry, and more. There’s a concession inside serving hot food, and you’ll always find live performances from local musicians.
If you’re there on a Sunday, check out the Silva Bay Sunday Market at Page’s Inn. It runs from the May Long Weekend through the September Long Weekend.
Gabriola Museum
While you’re in the area, pop into the Gabriola Museum for a glimpse of island history. The museum’s Petroglyph Park is worth exploring, showcasing to-scale replicas of sacred rock art carved by the early Snuneymuxw people. There are over 30 reproductions of these pieces.
Note: Petroglyph sites are protected by law. The original petroglyphs are fragile, and the Snuneymuxw have requested that no photographs or rubbings be taken of them.
Afternoon: Alpaca Farm and Apple Picking
Paradise Island Alpaca Farm
The Paradise Island Alpaca Farm is a true gem on Gabriola Island and a must-visit if you’re visiting Gabriola Island with kids. The owner and host, Taylor, is exceptionally welcoming and informative and will take you on a free tour of this working farm. You can meet, pet and sometimes help feed alpacas, llamas, hens, pygmy goats and miniature horses.
After you’ve visited the animals, you’re welcome to check out the shop. Inside, you’ll find products made from alpaca wool, most of them knitted or made by Taylor herself.
Ravenskill Orchards
From there, check out Ravenskill Orchards. This pretty apple orchard is home to Gabbies Cider, and you can easily spend an hour or two here. When we were there, the staff took my son apple picking! He gathered a basket of apples, and then we enjoyed a cold cider and apple juice in a beautiful outdoor seating area near the trees.
Day 3: Sea Kayaking and Campfires
Morning: Sea Kayaking at Silva Bay
Sea kayaking was the highlight of our trip to Gabriola Island! Paddling in the protected inlets in Silva Bay and the surrounding small islands, we saw bald eagles, harbour seals, breathtaking rock formations and plenty of sunshine. We rented our tandem kayak from Page’s Marina and Resort.
During our four-hour paddle, we stopped at Saturnina Island for a picnic lunch. It is the only public island in the bunch and offers a little rocky beach to land on. The sandstone headlands around this island were covered in harbour seals, and we ate our picnic while watching them swim and play in the water.
Afternoon: Departure or time for relaxation
After a busy weekend of activities, take some time to rest and relax. If you don’t have to head to the ferry and make your way home, kick back at your accommodation or campsite. You can also head to one of the three provincial parks for one last beach stop and an evening picnic watching the sun go down.
Rainy Day Activities for Families on Salt Spring Island
Rain is not uncommon on the West Coast, even in the summer. Check out these rainy day activities and add them to your plans if the storm clouds roll in.
Art Galleries and Studios: There are MANY artists who live on Gabriola Island, and some offer open studio visits. You can also check out events run by the Gabriola Arts Council or view art and shop at the Pier Gallery Artists Collective.
Gabriola Island Public Library: Though small, the Gabriola Island library offers shelter from the rain, children’s books and activities and a cozy place to spend some time.
Gabriola Museum: If you haven’t checked it out already, head inside to learn about indigenous history and the island’s “hippie” era.
Enjoy the rainy outdoors! Don’t let the rain deter you from enjoying the natural beauty of Gabriola Island. Enjoy a short walk at Sandstone Provincial Park, Descanso Bay or Drumbeg Provincial Park.
