Willow Point welcomes visitors to Campbell River along the stunning oceanfront South Island Highway (19A). A day spent in Willow Point is not to be missed during your visit to Campbell River—take in the beautiful public parks brimming with flowers, soak up the creative energy, pick up antiques and unique homewares, and be sure to taste a sampling of all the culinary haunts along the way (come hungry!).
Keep an eye out for some of our most well-known driftwood sculptures, marine birds, and migrating marine mammals before you wrap up your day with a beach bonfire when the weather permits.
For the more adventurous ocean enthusiasts, Willow Point Reef is renowned for its colourful starfish and other marine life—don your snorkel or freediving gear, and be mindful of the currents, tides, and slippery seaweed on your way out.
Quick Bites and Picnic Plates
Willow Point has some eat-in foodie offerings, but it excels in providing the perfect ingredients for a picnic on the foreshore. Dave’s Bakery has been an immensely popular pitstop since its doors swung open in 2013. Here is where you’ll find fresh bread, generously filled deli sandwiches (don’t skip the in-house sauerkraut!), and an abundance of baked goods both sweet and savoury that showcase the region like creamy salmon croissants and Nanaimo bars.
The new bakery kid on the block is the aptly named Sourdough Whisperer that stocks all things…sourdough. An abundance of different breads, chocolate chip cookies, bagels, and muffins can be picked up on different days of the week—stay up-to-date via their Instagram. Mattone Italian Kitchen may have closed its doors, but it now offers take-home meals and—most importantly—its gelato. Meanwhile, Asian-inspired food enthusiasts will want to stop by Miki’s Sushi and the recently opened Jin’s Kitchen which serves up Korean cuisine like Fried Chicken, Dakgalbi, and Bokkeum, as well as poke.
Soak up Artistic Inspiration
The shorefront at Willow Point is where you can find the cottage of late artist Sybil Andrews and the studio shed that hosted her husband Walter Morgan’s carpentry business. The Sybil Andrews Cottage today is home to the Campbell River Arts Council and on occasion facilitates an artist-in-residence. In the summer, the intimate apple garden is the stage for performances from local musicians. Next door, the public Frank James Park is the location of the annual Chainsaw-carving competition—Transformation on the Shore—which has delighted locals and visitors alike since its inception in 1997 with imaginative creations and impressive carving skills.
If you’re a budding, or expert, artisan yourself and are looking to top-up your supplies during your trip to Campbell River you’ll want to stop by the Island Sewing Centre and the Crow’s Nest Artist Collective. The latter hosts various classes and workshops and also has local art and other wares for sale. If you’re looking for uniquely Northwest-inspired gifts to take home with you, Bough and Antler celebrates “locally-made goodness,” RavenSong makes small-batch candles and soaps, and Willow Point Old & New is a treasure chest of antiques and second-hand homewares (happy hunting!).
Accommodation in Willow Point, Campbell River
Extend your stay at a perfectly central location with impeccable ocean views like Beachway Vacation Rentals or the Seaside Cottage. Soak in the quieter pace and start each day with a walk along the Seawalk—uncovering beaches and tucked-away parks like Jaycee, Larwood, and Ken Forde.
