There are no swaying palm trees to shade sunbathers, but Tribune Bay on Hornby Island is still close to paradise. Nicknamed “Little Hawaii,” the white sandy beaches of Tribune Bay stretch endlessly out to meet an aquamarine sea. Boasting close to 1 km of fine white sand beach, the south-facing Tribune Bay is easily one of the most spectacular on the east side of Vancouver Island. Here, shallow waters meet near tropical temperatures during the summer and the bay is considered to be one of the warmest salt water swimming areas in B.C.
If you visit the park in the spring you’ll be treated to a dazzling display of wildflowers cloaking the hillsides along the beach. In the summer, dark blue salal berries and edible red huckleberries provide colourful contrast to the white sand and unusual rock formations along the shoreline.
A five-minute stroll for Tribune Bay will lead you to “downtown” Hornby Island, an eclectic community with a unique assortment of shops and services. You may also choose to go sightseeing along the bluffs at Helliwell Park, just around the corner from Tribune Bay.
Date Established: November 2, 1978 Provincial Park Size: 95 hectares (72 ha upland and 23 ha foreshore)