Fun Things To Do on The Sunshine Coast BC: Canada’s Most Underrated Destination

Want to know the best places to visit and things to do on The Sunshine Coast, BC? I got you. I have visited three times and have traveled all up the coast. Here are my favorites…

I just can’t figure out why British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast isn’t better known to tourists.

It’s blessed with natural beauty in the form of rugged beaches and lush rainforest, the towns are charming, the people are super friendly and welcoming, there is so much to do, and it is within day-tripping distance from Vancouver.

It just doesn’t make sense.

The Sunshine Coast, BC comprises a string of towns on a secluded stretch of coastline that is carved out with secluded bays and inlets. Sandwiched between the Strait of Georgia and the formidable Coast Mountains, the Sunshine Coast can only be reached by seaplane or ferry from Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

Despite being so close to the big city, the Sunshine Coast retains a very laid-back vibe, which has attracted a lot of disillusioned city dwellers craving the simple life to move there. Can’t say I blame them.

I first visited the Sunshine Coast in 2010 when I was traveling through the US and Canada for nine weeks. I had a couple of days before I was meeting up with my Dad in Seattle.

I had heard a bit about the Sunshine Coast from when we lived in Vancouver in 2009 and as we had never made it there, I thought it would be the perfect place to spend a couple of days.

Turns out it was. I ended up falling for the Sunshine Coast, and hard.

I have since visited two more times and love it more every time. You could easily spend weeks here exploring but it also worth visiting if you just have a couple of days. After three visits, I put together my must-visit places and best things to do on The Sunshine Coast, BC.

Best Things To Do on The Sunshine Coast, BC

Visit the Sweetest Town on the Sunshine Coast: Gibsons

Lovely Gibsons is the first place you will come to if you are taking the ferry to the Sunshine Coast from Vancouver (other than tiny Langdale). It is a picture-perfect coastal community that is worth spending a couple of hours in, strolling the waterfront and pier at Gibsons Landing and checking out the views and the shops.

Do the short but steep hike up Soames Hill, also known as the Knob, which offers stunning views over the coast. Walk the coastal path to Armours Beach, and if you love waterfalls, don’t miss the easy hike to Langdale Falls.

Explore Quirky Roberts Creek, BC

Nestled in close proximity to the sea and surrounded by the beautiful temperate rainforest that I can’t seem to get enough of, Roberts Creek could well be one of Canada’s prettiest towns.

But it isn’t just pretty, Roberts Creek is home to a vibrant community of ageing hippies, back-to-landers, young families and travellers that have found their perfect base to settle down.

The community spirit is palpable with a notice board outside the General Store crowded with flyers advertising local yoga classes and live music. 

This alternative haven is full of charm with it’s attractive red wooden shops including the best restaurant on the coast: The Gumboot. This place serves up some killer meals and the staff are so friendly. There is also a cafe of the same name that does great coffee and baked goods.

I loved that hardly anything has changed in Roberts Creek from when I first visited until now. It is still quiet and friendly. It is still beautiful and delightfully underdeveloped. And I have a feeling it will stay that way, especially if the locals have anything to do with it.

Some of my favorite things to do in Roberts Creek include eating at the acclaimed Gumboot Restaurant, browsing and sampling the local products at the small but popular farmers market, swimming in the clear waters of the Strait of Georgia at Marlene Beach, and watching the sunset from the walkable pier.

There are numerous hiking trails you can do in nearby Cliff Gilker Park and Mount Ephinstone Provincial Park, and if you are lucky enough to visit during Creek Daze Festival in August, it will further cement your love for this adorable town.

Have a Quiet Bay Day at Davis Bay

I hired a bike from Roberts Creek and took one for a spin to the nearby blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town of Davis Bay. The ride itself was along the forested highway, mainly on a daisy-lined bike path that parallels the road. There’s nothing like riding a bike through natural surroundings on a sunny summer’s day.

Blessed with a beautiful, long, rocky beach, Davis Bay is the perfect spot for a swim and to sit with a book. There are a couple of food trucks and fruit vendors to grab a snack or lunch.

Explore Sechelt and Porpoise Bay Provincial Park

Sechelt is the biggest town on the Sunshine Coast BC, and as I missed it the first time around I made sure to get there this time. The downtown itself was nothing special in my opinion. It lacked the charm of nearby Gibsons and Roberts Creek, although I had an awesome lunch of blue cheese and pear pizza with corn chowder at Ty’s Fine Foods and Bistro.

I browsed the shops before heading down to the beach, which ended up being my favourite part of Sechelt. There is a selection of totem poles at the southern end of the beach that are worth checking out.

From Sechelt, I walked in the sweltering heat the four kilometres to Porpoise Bay Provincial Park on the edge of Sechelt Inlet. This was probably not my brightest idea. My God, it was hot, and I didn’t have any water with me. In the last section, I walked along the quiet coastline, dodging boggy sections along the way.

Swimming at the white sand beach backed by the second-growth forest of the park was worth the long, hot walk. Luckily, I didn’t have to walk the whole way back; a friendly local took pity on me and gave me a lift back into town.

Marvel at Nature’s Power at the Skookumchuck Narrows

The Skookumchuck Narrows form the entrance to Sechelt Inlet, and the rapids are created by 200 billion gallons of seawater being forced through the narrows on each tide. It is one of the fastest tidal rapids in the world. And I had never even heard of it.

We drove the hour north to Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park near the small settlement of Egmont, timing it to get there for the incoming tide.

After parking up, it was a 45-minute hike through the quiet of a morning forest to the viewpoint over the rapids. They were certainly impressive with many eddies and whirlpools that could suck a person down in a second if you were unfortunate enough to fall in.

Kayakers are known to ride the rapids but there weren’t any around during the hour we were there. In fact, we were also the only people at the viewpoint for the first twenty minutes until others slowly trickled in.

The West Coast Wilderness Lodge is located nearby and we went in for a peek before leaving Egmont. If I come back to the coast next time with significantly more money, I know where I am staying!

Swim at Sublime Ruby Lake

On the way back to Roberts Creek, we stopped at the sublime Ruby Lake, one of many lakes that dot the interior of the Sunshine Coast BC, making lake swimming a popular summer activity in these parts. If I was only going to see one lake on this trip then I was glad it was Ruby Lake.

With a small white sand beach and super clear water that was just cold enough to be refreshing but warm enough to stay in for ages, Ruby Lake was a great spot to spend a couple of blissful hours.

Hiking and Exploring in Powell River 

Powell River is the largest town in the even more remote Northern Sunshine Coast. To reach Powell River, you need to take a ferry from Earls Cove at the tip of the southern Sunshine Coast to Saltery Bay at the bottom of the Northern Sunshine Coast, then drive 30 minutes.

The town itself isn’t the prettiest compared to lovely Gibsons and Roberts Creek but I really enjoyed camping by Willingdon Beach – watching the sunset from the pier is a definite must-do.

I also really enjoyed doing the 8.5-mile loop trail around Inland Lake in Inland Lake Provincial Park and swimming in the lake. You can also hike trails closer to town, including the trails around Mowat Bay. For a more challenging hike, do the day hike to Tin Hat Summit, part of the 180km Sunshine Coast Trail.

Discover the End of the Sunshine Coast at Lund

Nearly 160km from the start of the Sunshine Coast in Langdale is the tiny village of Lund, the end of the Sunshine Coast and Mile 0 of Highway 101 – a highway that runs for over 2,400km all the way to Chile and is one of the longest in the world.

There aren’t a ton of things to do in Lund itself, although you should definitely take your time and walk along the boardwalks of the picturesque village and check out the local boutique shops and grab a blackberry cinnamon bun from Nancy’s Bakery.

Do a Day Trip to Savary Island

The best thing to do from Lund is to take the ferry to Savary Island for a day trip, or stay for a few nights if you get the chance. Savary Island is a beautiful small island with white sand beaches – not common in Canada – with super clear water, and a small close-knit summer community.

If you can time your visit for a Tuesday or Saturday – do it because this is when the bustling Hacienda Farmers Market is held in the summer months. I really enjoyed the market and there are a number of unique and interesting stalls selling art, gifts, and produce, as well as a cafeteria selling food and drinks.

Hike the Sunshine Coast Trail

If you really want to deeply explore the Sunshine Coast, there is no better way than to hike it on the 180-km Sunshine Coast Trail that stretches from Desolation Sound to Saltery Bay on the Northern Sunshine Coast. It is the longest hut-to-hut hiking trail in Canada, and it is free to stay in any of the 14 huts.

Along the trail, you will see rugged coastline, old-growth forest, pristine lakes, and grand mountains as you hike through remote backcountry.

I truly love the understated charms of the Sunshine Coast in BC, an overlooked region that is truly blessed with abundant natural beauty and locals so friendly that you will never want to leave.

I will be back, and sooner rather than later.

Where To Stay on The Sunshine Coast

Staying at Up the Creek Backpackers was a big part of why I loved the Sunshine Coast so much the first and second times I visited.

Located in the small community of Roberts Creek, my favourite town on the Sunshine Coast BC, Up the Creek is one of those rare hostels where you instantly feel like you have come home. It is small and cozy with a large common area, a well-equipped guest kitchen, and a deck with hammocks for lounging in. There are both dorm and private rooms.

For highly-rated stays in the lower Sunshine Coast, stay at the West Coast Wilderness Lodge, Sunshine Coast Resort, Davis Bay Bed and Breakfast, Hideaway Haven B&B, and Creekside Bunkies.

If you prefer to stay in the more remote Northern Sunshine Coast, stay at Beach Gardens Resort and Marina, Bratty Catty Cabin, and The Magical Dome.

The Best Travel Insurance For Your Sunshine Coast Trip

Make sure you get travel and health insurance before your Sunshine Coast trip, just to be on the safe side. Safety Wing is my go-to and they are cheap and easy to claim with. 

Safety Wing also allows you to sign up when you are already traveling, unlike a lot of other travel insurance providers.

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