Hornby Island
A small island of white sand and sandstone galleries, with an artist community and two ferries to reach it.
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Hornby takes two ferry hops to reach, across Denman Island, which keeps it quiet. Tribune Bay is the draw: a crescent of fine white sand that shelves so gently the water warms through summer, unusual on this coast and locally called Little Hawaii. Helliwell Provincial Park runs a loop along sandstone bluffs above the strait with Garry oak meadow and sea lions hauled out below. The sandstone around the shore is weathered into honeycomb hollows and galleries. A community of potters, weavers and other makers settled here from the 1960s and still runs a co-op gallery and a summer market.
What you actually see
- Tribune Bay - fine white sand with shallow water that warms in summer.
- Helliwell bluffs - a cliff loop with Garry oak meadow and sea lions below.
- The sandstone galleries - honeycomb weathering along the shore.
- The artist co-op - potters and weavers selling through a community gallery.
When to go
June to September; the island is very quiet from October to April with many businesses closed. Summer ferry queues at Buckley Bay can be long, particularly on weekends.
Honest expectations
Two ferries each way makes a day trip tight and summer queues can cost hours. Accommodation is limited and books out. Services on the island are minimal.
Nearby
Denman Island is the first ferry stop; Courtenay is on Vancouver Island.
What to pack for Hornby Island
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
