Mayne Island, BC

Know the town

About Mayne Island

Mayne Island is a small, peaceful island in the Southern Gulf Islands, set beside Active Pass, the narrow channel that BC Ferries’ big vessels navigate on their way between Victoria and Vancouver. With orchards, coves, forest trails and a population of around a thousand, it offers an easy escape with a strong sense of community.

Miners Bay and the village

Miners Bay, on Active Pass, is the island’s historic heart, with a general store, cafés and a pub, and views of the ferries passing close by. The name dates from the 1850s gold rush, when miners heading to the mainland stopped here on their way to the Fraser River. The island’s small museum, in an old lock-up, tells the story of those early days.

Japanese Garden

At Dinner Bay Park, the Mayne Island Japanese Garden was created by volunteers to honour the Japanese Canadian families who farmed on the island before they were forcibly removed during the Second World War. It is a quiet, beautiful place for reflection, with ponds, bridges and stone lanterns.

Lighthouse, beaches and trails

Georgina Point, at the entrance to Active Pass, is home to a historic lighthouse and grassy lookout where seals, eagles and sometimes whales can be seen. Bennett Bay, part of the national park reserve, has a sandy beach and calm water, and Mount Parke Regional Park offers a forest hike to a sweeping viewpoint.

Getting here

BC Ferries serves Village Bay on Mayne Island from Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, with connections to the other Southern Gulf Islands. Island services are modest, so many visitors stock up before they sail.

Mayne Island’s verified businesses follow, with any upcoming island events.

For council, permits, garbage and recycling, parks bookings and other local services, visit Capital Regional District — Southern Gulf Islands.