Lakes, skiing, hikes, and bike rides! It really is a wonder how the Sunshine Coast, BC, is unknown to many Canadians! We had the privilege of living here – exploring the waters, watching the sunsets, eating the local food, and mingling with the friendly locals.
Here’s our guide on things to do, see, and eat on Canada’s Sunshine Coast, not to be confused with Australia.
Quick answer: where is the Sunshine Coast, BC?
- Where: on the mainland of British Columbia, just north of Vancouver, running from Howe Sound up to Desolation Sound. It is not on Vancouver Island.
- Getting there: no road connects it to the rest of BC, so most people take the 40-minute BC Ferries sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale.
- Main towns: Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay, Pender Harbour and, across a second ferry, Powell River.
- The road: Highway 101 runs 156 km from Langdale to Lund, including the ferry across Jervis Inlet.
- Not to be confused with: the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. Same name, different hemisphere!
Where is the Sunshine Coast, BC?
The Sunshine Coast, BC (British Columbia) is situated on the West Coast of Canada.
It sits on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province (see our guide to Canada’s 13 provinces and territories), so despite the ferry, it is not an island and not part of Vancouver Island. It just feels like one.
It is a mere forty-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay, just outside Vancouver; the ride alone is worth the trip.
The Sunshine Coast’s natural wonders are on Sunshine Coast Highway 101.
Highway 101 is 156 km long from the Langdale ferry terminal to Lund, and that includes a second ferry hop across Jervis Inlet between Earls Cove and Saltery Bay.
How to Get to the Sunshine Coast
Take a bus from Vancouver to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal. TransLink’s 250 and 257 Express routes run there from downtown.
For times, see the TransLink planner.
The ferry journey is beautiful; sit on the top deck if you get the weather.
The ride takes forty minutes and accepts foot passengers and cars.
See BC Ferries schedule for times.
If you’re catching an early sailing, it’s worth staying the night before; here’s where to stay in Vancouver by area.
Heading further north to Powell River? You’ll need a second ferry from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay. It takes 50 minutes and can’t be booked, so you just turn up. BC Ferries times the Langdale sailings so drivers can make the connection, and it allows about 2 hours 20 minutes from Horseshoe Bay to Earls Cove. Check the Earls Cove sailings before you set off.
Short on time? Harbour Air flies floatplanes into Sechelt, and Powell River has its own airport.
Foot passengers can take a bus to many of the small towns on the coast, although a road trip by car is the ideal option for first-time visitors; we did this with my parents, and it was a dream.
Now, let’s explore things to do on the Sunshine Coast.
Ferry times and links checked against BC Ferries in October 2026. Sailings change with the seasons, so always check the day before.
First time in the country? Read our tips for planning a trip to Canada before you book anything.
Sunshine Coast BC vs Sunshine Coast, Australia
Search for the Sunshine Coast and you’ll mostly get Australia, so here’s the difference.
Canada’s Sunshine Coast is a quiet strip of forest, lakes and small towns in British Columbia, reached by ferry from Vancouver. Australia’s Sunshine Coast is a surf and beach region in Queensland, north of Brisbane, with big resort towns like Noosa and Mooloolaba.
Same sunny name, very different trips. This guide is all about the BC one.
Sunshine Coast Locations
Here’s the whole coast at a glance, south to north, in the order you’ll reach each stop:
Gibsons
Gibsons is a big town in comparison to others along the coast.
It has a gorgeous waterfront and many dining and drinking opportunities such as Smitty’s Oyster House.
The town is famous for hosting the set of the ’70s TV programme Beachcombers.
There is also a nice hike up Soames Hill, which offers beautiful views.
Next to Soames is a brewery called Persephone, so you congratulate yourself on tackling those stairs!
Heads up: Persephone went up for sale in 2026, so check it’s open before you plan your post-hike pint around it.
This Sunshine Coast BC town is home to many music and art events throughout the year.
- More information: Fun Things to Do in Gibsons
Roberts Creek
Home for the summer for us Two Scots, Roberts Creek, like many towns on the coast, has an accessible stony beach.
This is a community-based location with events like the impressive mandala art piece painted every July.
Roberts Creek has one large restaurant (Gumboot), one cafe (Gumboot), a fish and chip shop (Sharkey’s), Curry in the Creek (Indian food) and a general store.
Stretch the body and relax the mind at a Yoga By the Sea class, a lovely wellness centre that allowed me volunteer in exchange for class access.
Cliff Gilker Park in the Creek has four treks catering to every ability.
It takes 30 minutes to cycle to Gibsons and fifteen minutes to drive by bus and car.
We lived and worked at Up The Creek, which offers dorm beds and private rooms.
- More information: Roberts Creek – A Quirky Town
Davis Bay
Blink and you’ll miss Davis Bay BC.
This small town has a vast sea to get lost in.
The pier is well-used by fishermen and local kids.
If the sea air makes you hungry, grab some food from the waterfront shops.
Watch out for whales making a splash.
Sechelt
The big town of the Sunshine Coast!
Sechelt BC has a variety of bars, cafes, restaurants and spas.
It even has a cinema called the Raven’s Cry Theatre.
If you’re craving junk food there is a Mcdonald’s and other well-known haunts but don’t waste your money on the American Embassies, go local at the likes of Shift Kitchen and Lighthouse Marine Pub.
Look out for Clamatos on the menu: tomato juice concentrate, sugar, spices, dried clam broth (!) and vodka.
Not for me. You?
Watersports such as kayaking and paddleboarding are accessible at Sechelt Inlet; you can rent boards from the friendly staff at Pedals & Paddles.
Hit the trails at Coast Gravity Park.
Don’t miss Porpoise Bay to see the seaplanes take off.
- More information: Two Celts in Sechelt, on the Sea Shore
Halfmoon Bay
Another stony beach, with a tree swing, just north of Sechelt.
The area offers lots of hiking opportunities, and there is a local shop where you can purchase picnic essentials.
Close by Sargeant Bay, which has a sandy beach.
Garden Bay
This is where you will find my favourite lake, the sandy Katherine Lake.
Family-friendly with some rocks to jump off!
Plenty of food opportunity around Garden Bay such as Dan’s Grill & Greens.
Secret Cove and Smugglers Cove
Secret Cove is home to Buccaneer Marina for boats, and Smugglers Cove is a delight for those with feet!
Locals always highly recommend this spot for the easy hike with stunning views.
You might see some beaver dens as you walk!
Madeira Park/Pender Harbour
Pender Harbour has lots of little islands, bays and nature.
Best discovered by boat by organising a tour with Slocat Harbour Tours, where your captain points out local wildlife and the stories behind the fancy houses!
- More information: Whale of a Time at Pender Harbour
Ruby Lake
The name, Ruby Lake, comes from the lake’s ability to turn pink with the reflection of the sunset. Beautiful!
Smaller than Katherine Lake and also family-friendly.
Skookumchuck Narrows/Sechelt Rapids
Skookumchuck is Chinook Jargon for strong rapids; you’ll soon see why!
You reach the rapids after an easy 4 km walk (about an hour each way) through a shaded forest.
Check out the tide times here before you set off to see Sechelt Rapids at their best two/three times per day.
At peak flow the current can top 30 km/h, which is why BC Parks warns only very experienced paddlers should go near it.
Note: Although they share the same name, Sechelt and Sechelt Rapids are an hour’s drive apart.
Powell River
Powell River is actually the biggest town on the whole coast, but it’s across Jervis Inlet, so you’ll need the Earls Cove to Saltery Bay ferry (or a flight) to get here.
With a second ferry to reach it, Powell River works better as an overnight stop than a quick detour. Beach Gardens Resort and Marina has sea views from each room and is about 2.5 miles from the town centre.
The cute Patricia Theatre has been standing for decades in its various forms. It first opened in 1913, moved into its current building in 1928, and is known as the longest-running movie theatre in Canada.
Cheap night was Monday night when we visited.
The Hulks are bulky ship carcases used to manipulate the water flow; now they sit in the water as a historical landmark.
Every weekend, local produce is sold at Powell River Farmers Market. It runs on Sundays all year and on Saturdays too from May to September.
Hike or bike the Inland Lake Provincial Park trails which connects around the entire lake and camp in nature.
If you love hiking, consider the 180km Sunshine Coast Trail from Sarah Point on the Desolation Sound to the BC Ferries terminal at Saltery Bay on Jervis Inlet.
It’s Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hiking trail, and most of its huts are free to use.
A comfortable 40 litre pack is useful for carrying overnight gear between the huts.
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Best Beaches on the Sunshine Coast, BC
Most beaches here are stony, so pack water shoes. These are the ones worth the drive:
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- Davis Bay, Sechelt: big, west-facing and great for sunsets, with the pier right there.
- Bonniebrook Beach, Gibsons: busy with dog walkers, kite surfers and paddleboarders.
- Sargeant Bay, near Halfmoon Bay: a sandy beach, which makes a nice change from the stones.
- Coopers Green, Halfmoon Bay: rocky, with tide pools and shallow water for snorkelling.
- Buccaneer Bay, Thormanby Island: white sand and clear water, reached by water taxi from Secret Cove.
- Katherine Lake and Ruby Lake: warm freshwater swimming, and the best bets for families.
- Willingdon Beach, Powell River: a family beach close to downtown, with a splash park and campground.
Sunshine Coast Tourism keeps a fuller list of beaches if you want more.
Sunshine Coast BC FAQs
Where is the Sunshine Coast in Canada?
The Sunshine Coast is in British Columbia, on the mainland just north of Vancouver. It stretches from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound and is reached by a 40-minute ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale.
Is the Sunshine Coast on Vancouver Island?
No. The Sunshine Coast is on the mainland, across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver Island. It only feels like an island because there is no road in, so you arrive by ferry or plane.
How long is the ferry to the Sunshine Coast?
The Horseshoe Bay to Langdale ferry takes 40 minutes. If you’re going on to Powell River, the Earls Cove to Saltery Bay ferry adds another 50 minutes and can’t be reserved.
Do you need a car on the Sunshine Coast?
A car is easiest, especially north of Sechelt. Without one, BC Transit buses link the Langdale ferry with Gibsons, Sechelt and Halfmoon Bay, which covers the southern half of the coast.
Can you visit the Sunshine Coast as a day trip from Vancouver?
Yes, for Gibsons, Roberts Creek and Sechelt. Door to door, Gibsons is under two hours from downtown Vancouver. Pender Harbour, Skookumchuck and Powell River are better with at least one night.
Why is it called the Sunshine Coast?
Local pioneer Harry Roberts painted “Sunshine Belt” in huge letters on the freight shed at the Roberts Creek steamship dock. The Union Steamship Company borrowed the idea around 1925 to sell holiday trips to Sechelt, and the name stuck.
Is the Sunshine Coast BC the same as the Sunshine Coast in Australia?
No. Australia’s Sunshine Coast is in Queensland, north of Brisbane. Canada’s Sunshine Coast is in British Columbia, north of Vancouver. They just share a name.
Is there a Sunshine Coast in the USA?
Not officially. The closest thing is Florida’s Suncoast, the name for the Gulf of Mexico beaches around St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Sarasota. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest, BC’s Sunshine Coast is the nearest one, just north of Vancouver.
Sunshine Coast Video
Enjoy our terribly amateur video documenting our time on the Sunshine Coast, BC.
Our Sunshine Coast BC Guides
Many thanks to all Sunshine Coast businesses who worked with us: Slocat Harbour Tours, Shift Kitchen, Pedals & Paddles, and The Gumboot. Our own opinion, as always.
Where would you like to visit on the Sunshine Coast?
Lived here in British Columbia for 30 years and may have missed it but found all the gems you have listed- thank you!
Cheers Alex! We hope to live here again in the future.
Great video and post! I am glad you enjoyed your time on the Sunshine Coast of BC. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Paul! The Sunshine Coast has made fans and friends for life out of us Two Scots.
Gemma, I spent a lot of time looking/experimenting in that map of yours! Thanks for sharing such useful plugins and of course, your photos really reflect “Sunshine Coast.”
The map is lovely eh?
Sunshine coast looks so much fun! Especially in summer time where you can enjoy most of the nature without freezing your ass off. I can see laods of similarities with the nature between Canada and Finland. Very beautiful and inviting!
I can imagine! Finland looks beautiful too, like Scotland 😉
There are so many great places to go! Smugglers Cove and Gibsons look particularly appealing.
I adored Smugglers Cove! I did a hike to Bowen Island which has a small marina but does not compare to Gibsons!
We’ve been super spoiled this summer too! Scotland, USA (not by choice 🙁 ) & Croatia. We also to 8 other countries & we are going to London next month! 🙂
We’ll be following you to the States and Croatia then the inevitable trip home to Scotland next August!
Wow! I certainly want to go there! Absolutely amazingly gorgeous!
We were spoiled this summer!
Well done on the video. I like the music. I would love to visit this part of the world. It looks fantastic.
Thanks Elizabeth, i’ll pass that on to Craig. He is now making his own music, reincarnated an old skill!
Hey this is some serious guide you guys put together. I didn’t know much about the sunshine coast but now I feel like i know everything i need. I will bookmark this for when I head to that part of Canada
I did a hike on another island today (Bowen) and nothing compares to the Sunshine Coast – we’ve been spoiled!
Another awesome Canada post guys. We’ve been desperate to do a Canadian road trip for ages and these posts aren’t helping it in the slightest 😉
Loved the video. This place looks so fun with so much to see and do.
Where’s been your favourite place in Canada so far?
I think Vancouver is the best city in the world! The Rockies trip was ridiculously fun and the views are just incredible – Emerald Lake or Two Jacks Lake were my favourite spots. On the Coast it has to be Katherine Lake – rocks to jump off (seen in video) and it has grass so I don’t have to lie in damn sand (pet hate!)
Wow, when I think Sunshine Coast, Canada has never sprung to mind!
Some beautiful places.
That ferry system, do you know if it’s integrated with the Alaskan water highway as well?
I didn’t but I have met quite a few tourists who are spending a night in Van to then get back on the cruise to Alaska the next day. I’m back to Horseshoe Bay tomorrow to get the ferry to Bowen Island tomorrow – a first! Photos on Facebook as usual.
It is not.
The ferry system extends north to Powell River and across the Georgia Strait to Comox on Vancouver Island. There is another ferry that travels between northern Vancouver Island and, I believe, Prince Rupert. But your options to Alaska along the BC coast are by air, cruise ships, or hitch a ride on a salmon boat.
I lived my teenage years in Davis Bay. This blog was my tour down memory lane.
Happy to provide the walk down memory lane! Thanks for information.
I haven’t been to the Sunshine Coast, but I have been to Vancouver and to Vancouver Island (which is also incredibly beautiful and amazing). The world-famous Butchart Gardens are also on Vancouver Island. It is a gorgous area. I miss the days when I lived in Seattle and could easily drive up to visit! You’ve shown us some more worthy sights to see as well!
I am the world’s worst preacher when I adore somewhere! We will be heading down to Seattle in January for a few nights. Any tips appreciated!
No way did Craig put that ball in the top left, twice! It’s gotta be photo-shopped!
He may have put a ‘rewind’ edit on it. It’s his favourite part of the video!
Magic, Loved the video footage, handstands were nearly as good as mine Craig!!!
Must take after his Dad!