Hornby Island Travel Guide

1 more image

1) Big Tribune - most popular but also the busiest. Large, long stretch of sand.
2) Little Tribune - pebbly beach frequented by nudists
3) Whaling Station Bay - sandy beach and not as busy as Tribune

2 more images

Only bakery on Hornby and it is fabulous. Sell bread, bagels, croissants, granola, cookies, bars, tarts, eclairs, pie, cake. Lunch menu of crepes, paninis, salad, etc.

Also a cool clothing and gift store next door as well as coffee bar. Public cottage garden as well.

Favorite Dish: You must try their cheesesticks which are the best I have ever had in my life! Everything of theirs is good. I also love the almond, chocolate swirls....yummy! They also sell pates, dips, breads, and in the evening fresh pizza. Sit and enjoy your purchase at one of the lovely picnic tables throughout their orchard setting. Enjoy a look through their amazing flower garden. Oh and don't forget to check out their outhouse where you can enjoy great art while on the loo.

Best to go early as many items sell out!

Live Music on Wed. and Sun. nights; warning it gets packed!

Hornby Island is a Northern Gulf island. Hornby Island is on the east coast of Vancouver Island. It is in the Comox Valley telephone exchange.

Hornby Island is about some three hours north of Victoria; and two ferry rides away. A ferry must be taken from Vancouver Island to Denman Island. And then a second ferry from Denman to Hornby Island.

Ferries to and from Hornby Island stop running at about 6pm; except fridays. So be prepared to spend the night.

Hornby Island is named after Captain Hornby R.N.; A man who never actually ever set foot on the island.

Originally inhabited by Indians, English settlers began to arrive in the 1870's.

The Weather on Hornby Island is great; the growing season is about 3 weeks ahead of nearby Comox valley.

Hornby Island has beautiful views of the Mainland and Vancouver Island glacier capped mountains that surround it.

Hornby Island is known as a mecca for new age spiritualists and alternative lifestyle types. And renowned for it's vibrant art culture.

In many ways the life of Hornby Island revolves around the new-age "Hornby Island Co-op". This co-op will be something hard for you to miss. There is also a bar on the islan. It is called "The Thatch".

On Hornby Island, there is all forms of recreation and tourism: swimming, golfing, boating, camping etc.

There is a large sandy beach called Tribune Bay ( named after HMS Tribune) and another called Little Tribune ( renowned for it's nudists.)

Because of the proximity of the Comox Valley, only scant ferry rides away, a person could take advantage of municipal buses and government sponsored ferries to cover much of the region from Hornby Island to Denman Island, onto the towns of Courtenay, Cumberland and Comox.

Hornby has quite a mild climate. In the spring there are grape and apple trees in bloom, cherry trees, flowering scotch broom, daffodils, wild flowers and more. There is even orchards of Kiwi trees growing on Hornby Island.