Gabriola Island Tour

Birds of a Feather’s Zodiac Medline III based in Victoria is available for private charter transport (water taxi) to and from Gabriola Island. We are also available for marine eco-tour charters, or simply boating the west coast.

History:

Gabriola Island came by its name from the Spanish explorers who sailed throught he region in the late 1700’s.  They originally named the southern tip of the island ’Punta de Gaviota’, which devolved into Gaviola and eventually became Gabriola.

 

Drumbeg Beach

Points of Interest:

The island has become know as ’Petroglyph Island’ due to the immpressive occurance of ancient native stone carvings (50+).  These can be viewed at Jack Point, Lock Bay, Weldwood and, most famously, the orca carving at Degnen Bay.  Inland, behind the United church, is path that leads to more carvings.

The Malaspina Galleries, are a series of limestone rock formations, carved by the surf and frost.  They are found in the Gabriola Sands Provincial Park.  Due to damage from all the tourist traffic, the formations can only be seen from a short distance if you approach them by land.  The best way to see them is by water, as you can get closer without actually coming in contact with them.

On the southern coast is Brickyard Beach, where you can still see some of the old bricks that were made manufactued on the island during the depression.

Gabriola Island has aslo been dubbed the ’Isle of the Arts’.  Like many of the Gulf Islands, there is a large population of artists, artisans and craftepeople, who provide the island with its own unique character as well as a wealth of treasures for you to take home.  These can be found at:

  • Earth, Fire & Tears Pottery
  • Glassworks & Anvil Art
  • Paradise Island Alpaca Farm
  • Illuminati Glassworks
  • Indigo Herons Studio & Gallery
  • Slice of Life Gallery

 

For a bite to eat, you could try:

  • Raspberry’s Jazz Cafe
  • Silva Bay Resort & Marina
  • Skol Pub
  • Surf Lodge

 

 

 

 

 

Humpys, Orcas, Stellars and California Sea Lions all in one afternoon

Every day is a unique adventure out on the Salish Sea but today’s trip stood out. We launched at Pedder Bay Marina in Metchosin to place us close to Race Rocks. As the California and Stellar Sea Lion bulls were entertaining us from their perches on the rock formations we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by a dozen or so of these mamoths swimming, diving and porpoising. Then the incredible happened. One of the stellars suddenly sprang out of the water not 40 feet from us with a huge salmon which it had just caught as it breached the surface. The salmon was squirming it the sea lion’s mouth. Just as quickly as the stellar had surfaced he dove again and repeated this motion 2 more times. All the while a dozen or so of his very excited mates were porpoising almost in unison as a group. In 12 years being out here on the ocean that was a first for me. This was just the begginning of our adventure. We had heard reports of 4 to 6 humpbacks in the general vicinity over the past week. As we networked with our colleagues we heard 6 transient orcas were nearby. We spent a bit of time enjoying the orcas before heading out in the direction of the shipping lanes where soon we spotted 4 humpbacks. They put on quite a show for us including some excellent tail flukes. The humpbacks were also very vocal. All this in the space of 4 hours on one of those special autumn days when the seas were calm and the sun was out.