Galiano Island

Last weekend we camped at Montague Harbour Marine Park on Galiano, and I think it probably deserves to be added to our Top Gulf Island Campsites list!  

Getting to Galiano

Galiano is one of the largest of the Southern Gulf Islands at about 27km long, it's also one of the furthest offshore from the coast of Vancouver Island.

We decided it was probably a bit too far for our little boat, so took the BC Ferries service over to Galiano and towed the boat with us.  There are various routes and multiple sailings per day to Sturdies Bay on Galiano from Swartz Bay (Victoria) or Tsawwassen (Vancouver), with stops on Mayne Island and / or North Pender Island.  The route is non-reservable, so just buy tickets at the terminal.

Montague Harbour is about a ten minute drive from the Sturdies Bay terminal.

Galiano Campsites

The park has 16 vehicle accessible pitches, 28 walk-in sites and a group camping area.  We had a great pitch (38) on the bluff overlooking Montague Harbour. 

It's a short walk to the pitches from the car parking area, but is up a short but fairly steep hill.  There are wheelbarrows available to help carry your kit in, and we took our little folding trolley which was really useful, the boys also loved using it to collect water and fire wood over the weekend.

Most pitches have a fire ring and food cache, there is a covered picnic / BBQ area, and pit toilet facilities.  Potable drinking water is available throughout the campground. Booking is highly recommended through the BC Parks website.

Why we love it

The great views over Montague Harbour from the camp sites, and the sandy beach on the other side really make this campground special.  As usual we loved exploring in our Stryker, finding deserted beaches, and the whales didn't disappoint - with our first humpback of the season. 

What to do on Galiano

1. Take a drive or cycle up to the north end of the island and check out the many arts and craft galleries along the way.

2. Visit one (or more) of the 3 Provincial Parks.  As well as Montague Harbour, there is Dionisio Point (boat access only) in North Galiano and Bellhouse near the ferry terminal.

3. Take a stroll around the Saturday Farmers Market at Lions Park in Sturdies Bay.  There are lots of local artists and craftspeople, as well as some tasty looking food!

4. The Crane and Robin at Montague Harbour is a great spot to watch the boats go by while sipping on some excellent margaritas.

5. The Humming Bird Pub really lives up to its name; watch out for the hummingbirds buzzing around the deck while enjoying a delicious lunch.  They even have a shuttle bus in the evenings from the campground or marina.

6. Sturdies Bay Bakery serves great coffee and some amazing baked goods.  Well worth a visit!

Backcountry Camping Gear

Check out the Gear Page for more details on the gear we use and recommend for backcountry camping, including our Stryker inflatable boat.