The Rooms at Gabriels on Gambier Island
Wood and big exposed beams give our accommodations a rustic and comfortable feel, perfect for creating that getaway-from-it-all atmosphere our guests from busier places crave. The house is hexagonal with massive beams, brought by barge from Texada Island to the north. At Gabriels on Gambier Retreat, the guests have the run of the house, so you can pull up a chair in the kitchen, lounge in the orchard, or just pluck a book from the shelves and enjoy the views of the pond or woods from your own bedroom - whatever your pleasure!

The Sitting Room is for our guests' use and is furnished with armchairs and comfortable couches. And more books! The couches pull out to make extra beds for small workshops and retreats. There is a shared bathroom with soaker tub and shower.

The Walden Room

"In the midst of a gentle rain while these thoughts prevailed, I was suddenly sensible of such sweet and beneficent society in Nature, in the very pattering of the drops, and in every sound and sight around my house, an infinite and unaccountable friendliness all at once like an atmosphere sustaining me, as made the fancied advantages of human neighborhood insignificant..."
- Henry David Thoreau, Walden

This book-lined room is paneled in warm woods, with great light to read by and easy access to the orchard and Walden Pond. Even if you do nothing but eat, drink and sleep away your stay at Gabriels on Gambier Retreat, the Walden Room has served its purpose... busy executives, small business proprietors, harried mothers, refugees from daily commutes and digital paraphernalia . . . all leave Gambier Island regenerated in body and spirit. Our aim is to restore you to yourself! There is a double and a single bed.

The Douglas Room

"The day advanced as if to light some work of mine; it was morning, and lo, now it is evening, and nothing memorable is accomplished. Instead of singing like the birds, I silently smiled at my incessant good fortune. As the sparrow had its trill, sitting on the hickory before my door, so had I my chuckle or suppressed warble which he might hear out of my nest."
- Henry David Thoreau, Walden

The Douglas Room is so-named for the old-growth Douglas Fir, "Norm", visible from the bedroom window. It towers over the property like a sentinel from the past, a beacon to days gone by when fisherman plied the sea in rowboats, steamers tramped up the Coast, and life moved to a different rhythm. Explore the bookshelves, wander through the orchard, say hello to Norm, borrow the binoculars for some marvelous birdwatching and enjoy rare peace and tranquility far from the madding crowd. Twin beds, which together make a King-sized bed.

While Margaret is trained primarily in the foods of Provence, the repertoire has expanded over the years to include foods from around the world served either by theme or in a wild celebration of eclectic choices.

A sample breakfast menu (included in your stay) might include

• Fresh half grapefruit or orange slices
• Homemade apricot/ginger granola
• Blueberry or blackberry sourdough pancakes served with butter and real maple syrup/or stuffed French toast with orange sauce
• Lemon-poppyseed muffins
• Homemade plum jam and Dundee marmalade
• Tea or coffee

For those with smaller appetites homemade Granola and Muesli with fresh fruit is available. We also have a large selection of herbal teas.

We also do special lunches, dinners and special occasion evenings upon request. We offer a gourmet soup and sandwich meal for lunches ($15/pp), and can provide a three-course dinner for your party for $30 per person. Dinners include tea or coffee but we would ask you bring your own wine - call us in advance with your menu preferences and we'll help advise you on what would best accompany your meal.

For very special occasions we go all out in the kitchen... give us a budget and an idea of your tastes and we'll put together a most memorable meal for your stay! We also cook meals to suit vegetarians, diabetics, those on low-fat diets, etc.

We take great pride in working with you to make your occasion memorable, and can provide music taped or live to accompany your meal - ask us about designing a "theme" evening!

Catering is also available to boats - a unique service in the Coastal area offered from the kitchen of Gabriels on Gambier Retreat. Call us in advance with your preferences and the number of people traveling in your party and we'll deliver it to the dock in Gambier Harbour for you to pick up boatside!