South Vancouver Island and Gulf Island Marine Parks

o Montague Harbour (Park 189): Located on the west side of Galiano Island. The Park is accessible by vehicle ferry from Swartz Bay, Ganges, Mayne, North Pender, and Saturna Islands. Ferries also arrive from Tsawwassen. Facilities include an all-weather anchorage 26 mooring buoys, both a boat and dingy dock, 15 walk-in campsites, 40 vehicle campsites, drinking water, pit toilets, a picnic area, about 250m of beach, security patrols, and a Park host. The Park is recommended for kayaking and hiking. Refer to Canadian Hydrographic Service Nautical Chart #3463.
o Newcastle Island (Park 209): Located in Nanaimo Harbour. The Park is accessible via a passenger ferry from downtown Nanaimo. Facilities include an all-weather anchorage, boat and dingy floats, 18 walk-in campsites, picnicking areas, toilets, pavilion with snack bar, drinking water, good tide-pooling beaches, 20km of hiking trails. The Park is recommended for hiking, kayaking, and has several historical points of interest. See CHSN Chart #3463.
o Sidney Spit (Park 275): Located at the northern end of Sidney Island between Miners Channel and Sidney Channel. The Park is accessible via passenger ferry from Sidney in the summer. Facilities include thousands of metres of sandy beaches, 35 mooring buoys, both small boat and dingy docks, 24 walk-in campsites, drinking water, pit toilets, picnicking areas, and a Park host. The Park is recommended for kayaking, fishing, and hiking. Refer to CHSN Chart #3462.
o Whaleboat Island (Park 337): Located at the south end of Ruxton Island and north of Whaleboat Passage. Facilities or this undeveloped Park include limited anchorage. Use as an alternative to nearby Pirates Cove Provincial Marine Park. The Park is recommended for kayaking. See CHSN Chart #3463.
The following parks are accessible by water only:
o Pirates Cove (Park 233): Located at the southern end of the tip of De Courcy Island. Facilities include an all-weather anchorage, dingy float, 12 walk-in campsites, picnicking areas, toilets, drinking water, and a nice beach on Ruxton Passage. Recommended for kayaking and hiking. See CHSN Chart #3463.
o Princess Margaret (Park 239): Located on all of Portland Island north of Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. The 194-hectare Park has facilities for 300m of sandy beaches, fair weather anchorage, 20 walk-in campsites, drinking water, pit toilets, picnicking areas, and a Park host. Recommended for kayaking, scuba diving on a sunken artificial reef and 7km of hiking trails. Refer to CHSN Chart #3462.
Adapted from the Wavelength Paddling Magazine
http://www.wavelengthmagazine.com/parks2.php