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Gibsons, surrounded by the Howe Sound fjords, is a beautiful town located in British Columbia. The Canadian town formally known as Gibson’s Landing is the gateway to BC’s Sunshine Coast but it definitely is not an in/out kind of town. Set aside a couple of days to explore these things to do in Gibsons on a weekend trip from Vancouver or as part of your Sunshine Coast road trip. We (Gemma and Craig) spent the summer living in the neighbouring town, Roberts Creek, spending free days hiking, biking and eating ice cream in Gibsons.
Gibsons Ferry
Vancouver to Gibsons is a mere forty-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay which is in the west of the city. BFerrieses run every day for foot passengers and cars. The port town, Horseshoe Bay, has a handful of restaurants and stunning views. Ferries do get busy so it is best to arrive early to book tickets. Check the current prices here. Horseshoe Bay to Gibsons is a scenic ride, head to the outside of the ferry to see the views
Vancouver city centre to Horseshoe Bay is connected via bus and takes 25 minutes on the 257 Express bus. The reverse journey, Gibsons BC to Vancouver, is as straightforward as the journey there. You may need exact money for the bus so carry some loose change in your pocket.
Things to do in Gibsons, BC
1. Marvel at Gibson’s Marina
The one thing that really stands out when you first arrive in Lower Gibsons is the stunning harbour packed with boats of all sizes. The mountainous backdrop sets this Blue Flag boatyard apart from others, especially during Winter when the hills have snow and the sunsets are a cute pink tone. There’s space for up to 380 moorage slips – if you are arriving by private boat check out this site for pricing.
2. Kayaking in Gibsons
Just because you don’t have friends with sails it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy time on the water.
We hired kayaks in Gibsons and gave our upper body a right good workout while we paddled to Keats Island which is home to holiday lodgings and Keats Camp.
Remember the sunscreen and waterproof phone covers to avoid sea salt breaking your mobile. You will want some tunes to play while you paddle and the ability to take a selfie!
3. Restaurant in Gibsons
Now that you have worked up an appetite you have the tough choice of selecting where to eat in Gibsons.
The most notable restaurant is Molly’s Reach. Many tourists and Canadians alike flock to Gibsons because Gibsons is famous!
The town was the film set for the internationally renowned 70s TV series, The Beachcombers. The nineteen seasons strong comedy-drama followed the lives of two loggers, Nick and Jesse and their tugboat – Persephone, you’ll hear this word again soon…
The show was centred around the cafe, Molly’s Reach, which was run by the motherly figure, Molly.
Although the show ended in the nineties (with a failed attempt to bring it back), it is still very much celebrated in the town of Gibsons.
Molly’s Reach restaurant serves a variety of burgers, fish and chips along with local beers and a long list of cocktails. All amongst lots of Beachcombers paraphernalia.
Smitty’s Oyster House is always busy on a hot day. This eatery is located at Smitty’s Marina on Gibson’s Landing and serves seafood as you watch halibut and crab trawlers return from a hard day’s work!
For a quick-grab spot of lunch head to the Smoke on the Water huts. This is where we took my parents when they visited us on the Sunshine Coast.
All food is locally sourced and the meat is smoked on-site with real hardwood for an authentic BBQ sensation. The pulled pork, chicken and brisket sandwiches are worth a taste.
Need to leave Gibsons? Ask for it vacuum-sealed.
4. Gibsons Public Market
5. Gibsons Tapworks
Craig will be disappointed to hear that there is a craft brewery he didn’t experience in Gibsons! Gibsons Tapworks sells craft beer and bar food such as tacos and pizza in Lower Gibsons. Vegan tacos available too. On Tuesdays, all growlers are $11 CAD and Saturday is music day.
- Address: 537 Cruice Lane, Gibsons
5. Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives
Beachcombers fans will want to stop by the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives to check upstairs! The donation entry museum also offers access to 7000 historic photos of First Nations artefacts.
For more museums, watersports and beer, check out our Sunshine Coast guide.
6. Soames Hill, Gibsons
Although Soames Hill aka Knobs Hill is slightly awkward to get to without wheels (we cycled there), this hike is totally worth the trek. After a short walk through shaded trees, you are met with a tough climb up but these stairs really are the steps to heaven!
The views from the top take in Keats Island and also Vancouver Island. There are a variety of hikes to try with varying difficulty but neither take longer than 40 minutes.
Be bear aware and don’t forget the bug repellent. We travel with DEET free repellent called Avon So Soft because after a year of applying DEET and still getting attacked we decided not to put that poison on our skin anymore. It can melt plastic!
7. Watch Out, Beers Crossing!
After your Soames Hill trail you will have worked up a thirst, this puts Persephone the brewery in the perfect position.
Nestled behind the hops next to Soames Hill, you’ll find this rustic brewery come bar which sells a selection of home-brewed beers including Craig’s favourite The Golden Goddess. We spent a fun afternoon there with our Scottish friends, Karen and Craig.
Not the biggest beer fan, I sampled the Taster Flight which is four beers of your choice in a cute set. Our friends went home with a souvenir – a growler which is a cool looking refillable beer bottle! This word obviously created hilarity amongst us Scots (look it up)…
Persephone not only does the perfect pint but also provides parties!
We were invited along to the brewery’s anniversary party (disclosure – the $25 cover was waived. Thanks for the tickets, Giddy!) By day, teams battled it out in a Tough Mudder-style event to win the prize of 100 litres of Persephone beer then as dark drew in, we partied in the barn amongst the hay bales to a young jammin’ funk band.
- Address: 1053 Stewart Road, Gibsons
Gibsons Events
The Sunshine Coast is a social place with events running throughout the year.
The first kicks off on the April 1st, the April Fools Run in Gibsons. The race includes relays, half marathon and a child-friendly race.
Shuttle buses are provided for those arriving by ferry. Canada Day festival takes place at Gibson’s Winegarden Park which sits just in front of the marina.
This park is also home to the Jazz Festival (June) and Starlight Film Night (August) plus ongoing events throughout the Summer weekends.
Gibsons Accommodation
There’s a mix of accommodation in Gibsons from hotels, apartments and BnBs.
Gibsons’s Garden Hotel is a modern hotel set amongst a blooming garden. Facilities include a fitness suite and swimming pool. The only downside is that the hotel is not in Lower Gibsons but free parking is also available. Click here to check the availability of Gibsons’s Garden Hotel.
For beachfront accommodation in Gibsons head to Gibsons Harbour Retreat.
This property is only 3 minutes walk from the beach and smack bang in the middle of Gibson’s restaurants and bars although there is no reason to leave the apartment as it has a kitchen, seating area and outdoor hot tub. Grab one of two bedrooms today, click here to check the availability of Gibsons Harbour Retreat.
Gibsons to Sechelt
The next big town from Gibsons is Sechelt. Sechelt also has a number of restaurants, a supermarket, a beautician, waterfront and watersports.
We spent the day paddleboarding at Sechelt Inlet which was a first for me. Obviously, I fell in twice while Craig was confident enough to do headstands on the board. We have video proof!
Don’t miss the towns of Roberts Creek and Davis Bay on the way. Roberts Creek has a thriving art scene, a yoga studio, hiking trails and a beach. Davis Bay is a popular spot for fishing. We were entertained by a whale there!
Homebrews, hikes, wholesome food – what to do in Gibsons has been covered in our guide to the gateway of the Sunshine Coast, BC. We encourage you to visit in Winter as well as Summer because those sunsets really are worth it!
I would love to move there. Is there alot of rentals there and what is the typical price for a 2 bedroom apartment?
Hi Cheryl, you’d need to get in contact with real estate on the coast. It would be a lovely area to live in. Best of luck.
love this article! great information! my husband cant wait to rent a scooter:) my question is: we have 10 days, wondering if we should spend our whole trip on the sunshine coast or should we expand to vancouver island! after reading your article, i wonder if we will wish we stayed longer than the 4 days we planned already
Hey Sharon! I absolutely adore the Sunshine Coast, I am very jealous! I’ve not actually been to Vancouver Island but I hear it is pretty magical especially for wildlife spotting.
I am planning my personal trip of the Sunshine Coast and am very excited to start this trip in my rented Motorhome that I and the wife will hopefully be adding more memories to our life together. You might say this is part of my lifestyle bucket list that I have saved until we both retired
That’s lovely to hear, Larry! I am very jealous. Keep in contact! If you are passing by Roberts Creek, pop into Up The Creek and say hello to Martin from us.