Rabbit Island rests in Canada’s Inside Passage between Vancouver Island and mainland Canada. The closest city is Nanaimo (pop 80,000) on Vancouver Island, just 25 nautical miles away. The Island is at the top of the Straights of Georgia, and is the easternmost island in an archipelago that includes Bull, Jedidiah, and the much larger Lasqueti and Texada Islands. Rabbit Island is 50 miles north of Vancouver city, and 60 miles from the famous fjord, Princess Louisa Inlet. Rabbit Island is in the province of BC, Canada, within the Nanaimo Land District.

The nearest major public road is to a modern marina called Schooner Cove, in the Fairwinds Resort Development at Nanoose Bay, 20 minutes north of Nanaimo. By boat, Rabbit Island is ten miles north of Schooner Cove.

Driving
You can take car ferries to Vancouver Island from various points on the British Columbia mainland. BC Ferries has an extensive system with many options including Vancouver to Nanaimo. Their website is www.bcferries.bc.ca

Flying
There are several air carriers serving Nanaimo in the summer. From Vancouver, Air Canada flies several times a day to Nanaimo. From Seattle’s SeaTac airport, Horizon (Alaska Airlines) and Kenmore Air provide daily service to Nanaimo.

From the Nanaimo airport or the ferry dock, it’s about a 30 minute taxi/shuttle ride to Schooner Cove.

Private Charter
Private Flight or Boat Charter companies can be recommended and arranged from any location.

A sheltered cove provides an excellent landing area near the Island’s lodge. A pier and float accommodate vessels up to 50 feet with eight foot draft at any tide. All are connected by wooden walkways and stairs.

Rabbit Island’s rustic dwellings are comprised of four cabins, a lodge, a bathhouse, and a shop/generator building.

The cabins are on different elevations. The Island can accommodate up to 18 guests if all beds are used. Two of the cabins are subdivided into two units. Up to five couples can be given private rooms.

The 18 x 24 cabins are clean and simple with hardwood floors and trim. They are furnished with single beds and small dressers. Each has a private dressing room with a sink and vanity.

Two of the cabins are about 50 feet from the lodge and are near the same elevation. A series of stairs south of the lodge connect the other two cabins, the topmost requiring a climb of about 100 stairs (the view is worth it.) The top cabin provides roomy space for five single beds.

The Bathhouse
The Island has three full restrooms and showers, two located in the bathhouse near the lodge and one in the lodge itself.

The Lodge
The 900 sq ft lodge is the heart of Rabbit Island, where everyone gathers for meals, takes in the spectacular views of Bull Passage, and plans for tomorrow. The lodge features a dining area and living room with a large stone fireplace. Off the living room is a large kitchen and pantry, which contains a big freezer and refrigerator. Island décor is abundant in the lodge.

Power
Rabbit Island has two sources of electricity. The first is a large array of solar panelswhich feeds a battery bank that supplies power provided the sun shines and energy use is low. When the Island is operating at capacity, a new 20 kilowatt Yanmar diesel generator is used to provide enough energy for lights, freezers, and water. When running, the generator supplies high power to the batteries. An inverter turns the DC battery power to regular 110 AC household current.

Fresh Water
All water for drinking, cooking, cleanup and showering is made from seawater by a reverse osmosis system. Once made, water is stored in tanks next to the generator shed and is pumped by electric motor to the lodge, bathhouse and cabins. The water maker requires generator use. The water maker can produce up to 60 gallons an hour.

Hiking
There are many opportunities for hiking on Rabbit and surrounding islands. Jedediah is adjacent to Rabbit and part of the BC Marine Parks system. It has well established trails as well as some more challenging ‘off trail’ hikes to the top. Nearby Lasqueti has an established gravel road system allowing for easy hikes. Lasqueti Island is an interesting backwater populated by about 400 permanent residents. This number rises considerably in the summers and the island has been ‘discovered’ as evidenced by recent housing construction. Texada the neighbour to the east is a large island with virtually no population at the south end. Hiking here is essentially trailblazing through open woodlands as there are no established paths. For those up to the challenge the vistas from the top of 3,000 foot Mt. Shepard is well worth the effort.

Kayaking
People come from all over to Kayak in this area. Myriads of coves and beaches along with calm waters and active sea life make for great kayaking. There are multiple choices of day trips for kayakers at all skill levels.

Sailing/Boating
From Rabbit Island, countless miles of pristine shoreline are easily discovered.

Bird Watching/Wildlife
Bald eagles, osprey and many other sea bird species are common to the area. Other wildlife watching opportunities exist on and around the island including: seals, sea lions, otters and deer. Although there are no resident pods, transiting orca can sometimes be seen and dolphins often accompany the boat.

Fishing
Excellent salmon fishing can be experienced in the waters surrounding the island. For those with smaller ambitions a line off the rocks will usually bring in a cod or snapper. Prawns can be trapped throughout the area.

Oysters and Clams
There are large oyster beds on the island and some smaller clam beaches.

Scuba Diving
The area is highly rated throughout the world for the abundant under sea life and crystal clear waters.

Photography
Visitors to Rabbit Island can experience endless photo taking opportunities of beautiful seascapes and abundant wildlife.

Rabbit Island lies in an archipelago of larger islands: Bull, Lasqueti, Texada, and Jedidiah. The Straight of Georgia is famous for its stunning, pristine scenery, temperate climate, vast expanses of protected parkland, and ocean vistas second to none.

LD: Nanaimo (32); Section 46; Narrative: Island lying E of Lasqueti Island 

Disclaimer:

Buyers should verify any information provided that is important to them to their sole satisfaction. Our best efforts have been made to provide the most current and accurate information from sources believed to be reliable.