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

Activities:

Due to the island’s rugged typography, hiking and biking the many tails and backroads of Galliano is a great way to explore the island.  It has a wonderful mix of both natural forest and rural pasture.  For ocean-focused pastimes beachcombing, fishing, bird and whale watching are great ways to spend a day.  One of the many local resident orca pods ( J pod, 19 whales) have made Galliano Island a regular stop on their foraging trips and often treat visitor to breathtaking displays of breaching and play.

The Bluffs or at Montague Harbour, Bodega Ridge or Bellhouse Park, bird-watching enthusiasts are likey so see many of the 150+ species of birds that inhabit the biodiverse environment of Galiano Island.  Dionisio Point Provincial Park,(a new 141-acre park, accessible by water only) includes spectacular mature forests, rocky points, sandy beaches and a tidal lagoon.

There are numerous places to get a bite to eat including:

• ’The Harbour Grill’ Restaurant
• Sturdies Bay Bakery & Cafe
• Atrevida Oceanfront Restaurant
• Hummingbird Pub
• ’La Berengerie’

Together they cover all levels of formality and all budgets.

There are many artists, artisans and craftspeople in residence on Galiano Island.  Examples fo their work are for sale at a number of locations in town, including:

• Galiano Twirly Tree Shop
• Art & Souls Craft Gallery
• Shera Street’s Serenity Gallery
• Cedar Grove Pottery.

History:

The Coast Salish people have a long and rich history on Galliano Island, where extensive, 3000+ years old shell middens can be seen at Montague Harbour.  

European settlers arrived with the Klondike Goldrush of the late 1800’s but fould the soil difficult to cultivate and water scarce.  Some farmed sheep and planted orchardwhile others turned to fishing and hunting.
There was little other development on the island and it meant rowing across Active Pass to collect the mail, attend church or even have a drink at the bustling Springwater Lodge at Miners Bay.