The residents of Mayne Island, BC, don’t want you to know their secret. This became apparent as we sat enjoying an evening beer at the Springwater Lodge – the only pub on the island – having an awkward discussion with a group of three very straight men. Though they weren’t unfriendly to us outsiders, they did acknowledge a slight apprehension that some residents feel about sharing this little corner of the earth, where they all go to escape the bustle of urban life. A mere glance off the patio, out toward the docks where the sun was setting bright orange over a peaceful ocean, was a small example of what the islanders would love to keep all to themselves...and who can blame them?

So far they have succeeded, as Mayne Island, located between the mainland and Vancouver Island, can only be accessed by Ferry or Aquaplane. Both of these services only run during the daytime, making it impractical to visit unless you intend to spend the night on the island – of course, the Mayne Island Inn offers a solution to this.

We were told that the island’s population varies roughly from 900 people to 1400, depending on the season. But such exclusivity comes with a hefty price tag. Residents claim breathtaking coastlines or lush green forests as the site for their permanent homes or cabins – many of which are borderline mansions. Until recently, the average person could only dream of doing the summer cabin experience to such a beautiful and remote location.

But the Mayne Island Inn, located in Benett Bay, has made some expansions that offer us non-millionaires a way to escape to the island for a week or two of summer vacation. Of course you can always rent a room at the Inn, but this takes away a lot of the freedom that cabin living might bring. So the owners of the Inn are in the process of expanded their facility into a fully fledged resort, with additional cabins that you can own for a reasonable price (starting at $59,000, likely less than a tenth of the cost of a private cabin) thanks to their fractional ownership program.

Fractional ownership is a lesser known means of sharing a seasonal dwelling with others, thereby greatly reducing the cost to each owner – in this case, split eight ways. Owners at the Mayne Island Resort are guaranteed 42 days (6 weeks) a year of personal use without having to purchase blocks of time like a time-share. Also unlike a timeshare, fractional ownership counts as actual Real Estate equity.

"We’ve given the term going to the cottage a whole new meaning," says General Manager Debbie Lancaster. "When you arrive, you’re immediately on vacation. There’s no cleaning, cooking, or work required. We do everything and leave the relaxing up to you."

Phase one of development, which includes 18 cabins, is already 80% sold. As additional incentive, the Resort offers the option of two new Scooters, two Kayaks, or two years of free maintenance as a grand opening bonus. "It’s all about giving our owners every opportunity to fully experience island living."

Holidaying to this spot is not about staying exclusively within the resort, but also about enjoying nature, and the handful of shops, restaurants, and other establishments scattered around the island. We had a unique opportunity to explore the sights by day, and much to our surprise we found there were far more things to see than we could possibly fit in our 3 day stay.

We were given access to two electric scooters, like the ones offered as a bonus to new owners, which we found invaluable for exploring the island. Though these vehicles could not go much faster than 30km/h (in BC they are classed similar to bicycles and don’t require a license to drive), the slower pace allowed for more time to take in many interesting sights from the road, including houses and farms.

Sadly we could not be present over the weekend when the island’s beaches are their busiest, and when attractions such as the Museum and Farmer’s Market are open. Nevertheless, we got to visit a number of shops and popular sites, and have them virtually to ourselves.

The Gulf Island National Park is 5 minutes down the beach from the Resort. It’s a short hike to the tip of the peninsula, where you can see Georgeson Island up close, watch sailing boats and ferries coast by, explore the interesting rock formations, and discover the sea life.

The Japanese Gardens on the Southwest corner of the island were absolutely breathtaking. Built and maintained by locals, this park takes you for a stroll through the cool shade of the forest – past a stone enclosure, ornamental bell, and meditation pool – into a lush green clearing with flowing water surrounding a miniature island. It would be easy to find oneself spending a great deal of time taking in the beauty of a place like this.

One of the best public beaches on the island can be found right at the centre of Campbell bay. There’s an obvious area for parking at the side of the road, and a path ending with a wooden staircase to take you down to it. If you head a tiny bit further north along Campbell Bay Road, there’s another less prominent area to park right before the road takes a sharp turn west. On the pathway down, a sign high up in the trees reads, "Welcome to Boulder Beach. Clothing Optional." Technically this beach is just around the corner from the other one, but an outcropping of rock hides them out of view of one another. We’re told this is a favorite hangout for many of the island’s gay population.

On the last evening of our stay, we went out to Georgina Point Heritage Park and Lighthouse to watch a beautiful sunset from the island’s north coast. We were able to make it back to the Resort on the other end of the island before the last light faded, passing by several grazing deer along the way.

Exploring by Sea

The resort graciously booked us on a kayaking tour so that we could get an idea of what lies off the coast that may be of interest for vacationers. Surely there would be a reason to offer the choice of kayaks instead of scooters to new owners.

The tour took us out to the tip of Georgeson Island, whereupon we turned south to visit a string of three small islands. We could see seals sunbathing on the rocks, and as we approached they disappeared into the water, occasionally popping their heads up to get a closer look at us. However, a mother and her pup remained on the rocks and watched us lazily as we went by. Our guide made reference that sea lions can be seen on some islands, but don’t mix with the seals.

On the return trip we passed through a narrow corridor between one of these smaller islands, and a larger island of unknown name that sits between Mayne and Saturna. We took our time through here to admire the teeming sea life: purple and orange Ogre Starfish, the rarer Sunflower Starfish, and small crabs scuttling away.

It was an exhausting paddle back home for us novice kayakers, but it made us realize the many opportunities there are for exploring the coastlines and islands by sea. The map of Mayne Island reveals many areas that can’t be reached by road, and having transportation by water can open them up for you to explore.

Even without a kayak, simply combing the beach can be an entertaining way to kill several hours. Just off the docks we encountered an otter, cranes, sandpipers, geese, seagulls, various species of smaller birds, an abundant bed of oysters, groves of smaller mussels, starfish, crabs, baby flatfish, a small jellyfish that had washed up on shore, and tons of seaweed. Empty clam shells and conchs can be found in sandy areas, free for the taking. Navigating the rocky areas can be a fun challenge, and some of the bizarre rock formations are worth a closer look.

The Resort

Originally built in 1912, century old Mayne Island Inn is at the heart of the Mayne Island Resort.  Featuring 8 ocean view rooms, a fine dining restaurant, and a casual lounge open daily, it’s ideal for weddings, receptions, and conferences.

Guests and fractional owners will have access to many additional amenities, including the Wellness Centre and Spa, which plans to be open in the spring of 2010.  Included are a jetted lap pool, steam room, fitness facility, Jacuzzi and various spa services.

Vacationers will also have access to the resort’s conference room, business centre, concierge service, and shuttle service.  Meanwhile, owners receive discounts throughout the resort, as well as discounts with participating island moped rentals, kayak rentals, fishing charters, eco tours and more.

The Food

You don’t need to wander far to go out for a meal, or relax and have a drink.  The Brickworks restaurant and lounge, located on the main floor of the Inn, serves a variety of food ranging from standard fare to fine dining.  Executive Chef George Adams, a former Vancouver resident, works tirelessly in the kitchen to bring all of these dishes to life.

We sampled a variety of menu items, from Fish and Chips to Cedar Planked Salmon; Teriyaki Chicken Burgers to Prawn Linguine; Seafood Chowder, Prawn Cocktail, and Crab Stuffed Mushroom.  Another surefire winner was the Ice Cream Cake, super delicious, and unique in that it is prepared locally.  All of these dishes were an absolute delight!