Halfmoon Bay -
Joni Mitchell and giant octopus both live here

The romantic name of Halfmoon Bay suits this peaceful curve in the coastline. Gentle bays and coves provide protected harbours for marine traffic, and pristine wooded shores beckon. A diverse community, the region stretches northwest along the coast from Sargeant Bay and includes Redrooffs, Welcome Woods, Halfmoon Bay, Secret Cove and Wood Bay. Houses are nestled in sheltered pockets along the shoreline and in the forest, with a few more concentrated areas such as Secret Cove and Welcome Woods.

Pictured at right: The Country Fair of Halfmoon Bay is a popular old-fashioned community event held every July.

Halfmoon Bay Heritage General Store is a community gathering spot with a post office, liquor sales outlet and great ice cream. It's located on the waterfront in Halfmoon Bay near the government wharf (from which you can see Anchor Rock, Whale Island and Coopers Green).

There are two art galleries in the village displaying local work. Like the rest of the Sunshine Coast, the Halfmoon Bay area is famous for its artists, crafters and otherwise talented folk, many of whom open their home studios to the public.

HISTORY:
THE SHSIHALH
The Halfmoon Bay area was originally occupied by natives of the Coast Salish nation, specifically the shishalh tribe, from which the town of Sechelt took its name. Archaeological studies have recorded 38 recognized sites containing shell middens, rock shelters and stone fish traps, now protected by the provincial Heritage Conservation Branch. European exploration of the area began in the late 1700s by the Spanish (Captain Galiano and Captain Valdes) and the British (Captain Vancouver).

Halfmoon Bay Harbour
Photo courtesy of PhotographyTips.com

HOW TO GET HERE

To get to Halfmoon Bay, take the Sunshine Coast ferry from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to the Langdale terminal. (For ferry details, see the website:www.bcferries.bc.ca, or call 1-888-BCFERRY.) Head straight up the hill on the bypass road to get to Highway 101 North. Keep going through Gibsons and along the highway past Roberts Creek, Wilson Creek and Davis Bay. Stay on the highway right through Sechelt and continue north about 10 km to Redrooffs Road (the original highway). A left turn here will take you winding through the Redrooffs residential area and along the shoreline of Sargeant Bay, around Reception Point to the waters of Halfmoon Bay. Eventually you'll wind up back on Highway 101 at the north end of the Redrooffs area. Continue north along the highway to get to Secret Cove and Wood Bay.

Or, if you're coming from Powell River, take the ferry from Saltery Bay to Earls Cove at the north end of the Sunshine Coast. Drive south along Highway 101 for a reverse tour, ending at the southern reach of Redrooffs Road. Malaspina Coach Lines charter bus service runs from both the Langdale and Earls Cove terminals, and public transit from Langdale. Or you can even fly if that strikes your fancy.