Vehicle and passenger ferry service between Nanaimo Harbour and Descanso Bay on Gabriola Island.
Descanso Bay terminal: 350 North Road, Gabriola, BC V0R 1X2. Boarding is first come, first served; check-in closes 10 minutes before scheduled departure for foot passengers and vehicles. Terminal amenities include accessible washroom, accessible parking, waiting room, Wi-Fi, bike rack and limited free parking. GERTIE and Gabriola Island Taxi serve the terminal. Check BC Ferries for current schedules, fares, conditions and capacity.
Oceanfront regional park and campground near the Gabriola ferry terminal.
The 14-hectare park offers beach access, biking, boating and boat launch, camping, parking, picnicking, swimming, toilets and walking. Campground has seasonal reservations and limited first-come sites in low season; current dates, fees and availability are on the RDN page. Address: 595 Taylor Bay Road.
Service Areas: Gabriola
Location: 595 Taylor Bay Road, Gabriola Island, British Columbia
Day-use coastal park with beach, walking trails, picnic tables, grassy field, pit toilets and information shelter.
Located at the south end of Gabriola Island, accessed via South Road and Stalker Road. Approximately 2 km of easy walking trails. There is no designated swimming area; currents can be dangerous. Pets must be leashed and are not allowed on beaches or in park buildings.
Gabriola Elementary School is part of Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools. Its published school day starts at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 2:20 p.m.; contact the school for current calendar and enrollment information.
The branch offers library collections, programs and meeting spaces. Official branch hours listed at retrieval: Tuesday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. Meeting-space booking guidelines are under review; contact the branch for current access.
Appointment-only clinic with physicians and a nurse practitioner.
Island Health lists the clinic at the community-owned Health Centre with three physicians and one nurse practitioner (listing updated February 20, 2025). By appointment only. Island Health directs visitors to the clinic website for current hours; confirm provider availability and patient intake directly.
Day-use park with two sandy beaches, lawns, swimming areas, picnic and event space.
Located on the northwest side of Gabriola Island at the isthmus between Taylor Bay and Pilot Bay; access via Decourcy Drive. Bring drinking water; potable water and a boat launch are not available in the park. There are no lifeguards. Pets must be leashed and are not allowed on beaches or in park buildings.
Provider: People for a Healthy Community on Gabriola Society
Weekly food assistance for residents of Gabriola, Mudge and De Courcy Islands who need groceries.
The provider confirms that the weekly grocery program serves residents of Gabriola, Mudge and De Courcy Islands who need food. Grocery pickup is Tuesday 10:00–15:00 and Thursday 14:00–19:00 at the People for a Healthy Community office. Registration is confidential; contact the program to register. The provider describes accessibility support and notes that its current facility does not meet every accessibility guideline.
Service Areas: De Courcy Island, Gabriola, Mudge Island
Location: 675 North Road, Gabriola Island, British Columbia
GERTIE is a community bus operated by the Gabriola Community Bus Foundation. The official rider information describes a flag-down system, service generally Monday through Saturday (excluding Sundays and listed holidays), ferry-coordinated runs, and stops at the ferry, village centre, Silva Bay, Twin Beaches and Thompson Road. Schedules and fares change; check the current route pages before travel. A community directory says fees may apply and youths ride free effective 2026.
The RDN identifies Huxley Community Park on North Road between Folklife Village and The Commons. The 0.8-hectare park has two tennis courts, a sport court, a small unofficial skateboarding area, parking and trail connections. Gabriola Recreation Society handles court bookings.
Service Areas: Gabriola
Location: North Road, Gabriola Island, British Columbia
Day-use park with a wooded walking trail, picnic area and sandy Lock Bay beach.
Located on Strand Road, about 10 km from the Gabriola ferry terminal. An 800 m trail leads from the parking area to the beach; the final section is very steep and slippery. Ocean swimming is not designated and there are no lifeguards. Pets are not allowed on the beach.