Mill Bay

Established in the 1860s, twenty years after Victoria was founded, this charming seaside village is located on the southeast shore of Vancouver Island, 40 km (25 mi) north of Victoria.

Originally a lumber and milling community, Mill Bay is today a haven for artists, boaters and those who appreciate the quieter side of life. The village can either be reached via a spectacular but steep stretch of the Trans Canada Highway over the Malahat, or across the Saanich Inlet on the BC Ferries from Brentwood Bay.

Dotted with hill-top and ocean-side homes, Mill Bay’s tranquil waterfront streets and town centre feature an array of shops and services, including galleries, specialty stores and a shopping mall. The village boasts gorgeous views of Gulf Island, and is surrounded by parks, wineries, fields and beautiful straits and channels well-known for boating and salt-water fishing.

The long, sandy stretch of Mill Bay Beach is a scenic and popular spot for swimming and basking in the sunshine, and Mill Bay Nature Park features many oceanfront trails. Bamberton Provincial Park is also a superb location for hiking and swimming, as well as camping. Visitors to Mill Bay in April may be lucky to catch the international Brentwood Rowing Regatta, a weekend of action-packed racing and entertainment.

INDUSTRY:
Agriculture and tourism