Oliver Cove Marine Park, also known as Port Blackney, is at the south end of Don Peninsula near the junction of Milbanke Sound and Mathieson Channel. BC Parks says the park is accessible by boat only.
The cove offers excellent all-weather anchorage and a sheltered inside route that provides protection for small boats.
Oliver Cove is a marine stop for boaters and experienced paddlers travelling the central coast. It is not a serviced destination: BC Parks says there are no landing docks or other facilities, and potable water is not available.
The park can work as a protected anchorage, a cold-water swim from a boat, a kayaking exploration point, or a scuba and snorkel stop. The surrounding waters are popular for fishing, though the park itself is not described as a fishing destination. BC Parks also notes that the park and the entire North Coast area are closed to harvest of bivalves.
Wildlife viewing can include orcas, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea lions, other marine mammals, Columbia black-tailed deer, mink, black bear, and wolves. At low tide, visitors can observe sea cucumbers, nudibranchs, chitons, sea stars, molluscs, urchins, and multicoloured algae without disturbing them.
Anchor, kayak if experienced, swim from your boat without lifeguards, scuba dive or snorkel, watch marine mammals, study intertidal life, and fish only under current regulations outside closures.
Use Canadian Hydrographic Charts 3710 and 3728. Follow charts closely because a large rock creates a hazard at the south entrance to the cove. Bring drinking water, keep pets leashed, and avoid moving rocks or disturbing intertidal creatures.
