Keats island is Vancouver's best kept secret! Located only a 35 minute boat ride from Horseshoe Bay, it is nestled between Bowen island, Gambier island and Gibsons Harbour. Keats is only accessible by boat only : BC Ferries has scheduled runs year round to both sides of the island called the Stormaway-Keats island foot ferry. Water taxis like Mercury Water Taxi also make scheduled runs year round. Another option to come and go to Gibsons from Keats is the Gibsons Harbour Ferry. The harbour ferry is a fun way to go into Gibsons for a few groceries or some sight seeing.
Eastbourne is a subdivision of cottages that are freehold. Most properties have electricity and drinkable community water monitored by the Sunshine Coast Regional District. Short term home rental is not permitted on Keats island and is governed by the Islands trust. The Eastbourne Community Association works together as a non-profit society to improve small island issues like roads, wheelbarrows for carrying goods at the dock and other tasks like these.
The west side of the island, Keats Landing, is home to Keats Camp baptist church camp, founded in 1926. It is a familiar name and place for many Lower Mainland residents who spent many a summer there as youth. It is also home to the more recent Barnabas Family Ministries founded in 1986.
There is also a Provincial park called Plumper Cove Marine Park . It is a favourite place for islanders to hike to and for boaters to tie up and camp. Most cottages at the Keats landing side are leasehold property and also do not permit short term rentals.
