Beach at Dundarave

Dundarave is a seaside village in West Vancouver with a shopping street, children’s play area, seawall along the ocean and both sandy and rocky beaches.

This article includes the following information about Dundarave:

Dundarave Beach and Village

Located in affluent West Vancouver on the North Shore, Dundarave is a small and attractive neighbourhood. It comprises a couple of blocks of quaint shops and restaurants, a pier and one of Metro Vancouver’s best areas for walking – the seawall that stretches along the waterfront all the way to Ambleside.

Dundarave Village — The Village at Dundarave

Things to do at Dundarave

Dundarave is a nice place to visit if you are on the North Shore and looking for a flat place to walk any time of the year with stunning views of the ocean. Dogs are welcome, although not on the beach.

West Vancouver’s Seawall

The seawall at Dundarave and all along West Vancouver’s waterfront is exceptional.

Some areas along the pathway are canine-friendly and others are not. This is a bit inconvenient for dog owners. The views though are spectacular. The seawall stretches all the way from Dundarave to the far end of Ambleside. There are only a few minor disruptions along the way.

If you’re looking for a place for a stroll, the seawall is highly recommended! The walk is about half an hour one-way from Dundarave Beach to John Lawson Park.

The Beach House Restaurant

At the waterfront in Dundarave is the Beach House Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in the area and well worth a visit. The Beach House is in a landmark building. It has a heated outdoor patio overlooking the ocean and Dundarave Pier. Interestingly, the venue is part of the Earls chain of restaurants and boasts a wine list of just over 100 wines.

The Beach House makes a great destination after various activities. This may include a walk along the seawall, an afternoon at the beach and fishing on the pier. The restaurant also makes for an enjoying an evening out while the kids swim down the street at the West Vancouver Aquatic Centre. This facility has one of the Lower Mainland’s best indoor swimming pools for children and families.

Dundarave Beach House Restaurant — Beach House Restaurant

Dundarave Beach and Seawall Video

The following video is of Dundarave Beach and West Vancouver’s seawall. It was filmed in the late afternoon in winter.

The video starts with a scene of the seawall and finishes with a view of the beach at dusk. As you’ll see, the area is beautiful and the sunsets are stunning.

In the video, the person is walking along the seawall in the direction of Ambleside. The park is about a half-hour walk away.

Special Events at Dundarave

A number of special events take place at Dundarave over the course of the year. This includes fireworks displays on Canada Day in July and Christmas tree decorations and live entertainment in December.

Fireworks at Dundarave

The waterfront at Dundarave is a good place to see the fireworks from during the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks displays in English Bay in late July and the beginning of August, especially if you’re living or staying those nights on the North Shore. The Fireworks are in the distance, but there are thousands of fewer people watching at Dundarave than in Vancouver’s West End (which is at the heart of the fireworks action and shouldn’t be confused with “West Vancouver”).

An even better time to see fireworks at Dundarave is on Canada Day. This used to happen on July 1st each year (but not recently). In years when it happened, not only could you see the Canada Day fireworks being set off in front of downtown Vancouver, but simultaneously a second set of pyrotechnics were launched from a barge just off Dundarave Beach.

(Note: The Port of Metro Vancouver has funded the fireworks for the last few years, but has announced that they no longer plan to do so. As a result, 2019 was likely the last year for the pyrotechnic displays on the North Shore. Sadly, the fireworks by Canada Place also no longer happen.)

Dundarave Hoedown

The Dundarave Hoedown is a block party-style event in West Vancouver in August. In 2023 it took place on Marine Drive between 24th Street and 25th Street in Dundarave Villlage. Admission is free. The event features pony rides, a photo booth, face painting station and live music. There is also a barbecue, beer garden and other activities.

Dundarave Festival Bonfire Night — A Christmas bonfire at Dundarave

Christmas Time at Dundarave

Another good time to visit Dundarave is in December during the Dundarave Festival of Lights. It’s a small festival featuring dozens of beautifully decorated Christmas trees outside in the park.

During the Dundarave Festival of Lights there is live entertainment on three or s0 Saturdays before Christmas Day. The final event in the series is Wassail and Bonfire Night which features music, Santa and a giant bonfire at the beach.

Ocean at Dundarave — The Beach at Dundarave

How to get to Dundarave

Dundarave Village is located in the 2400 block of Marine Drive in West Vancouver. The beach, pier and Beach House Restaurant are all on the water at 150 – 25th Street.

To get to Dundarave from Vancouver via the Lions Gate Bridge, cross the bridge and head into West Vancouver along Marine Drive. Past Park Royal shopping mall (on both sides of the street), the turn-off to Ambleside at 13th Street, and the West Vancouver Aquatic Centre on your right at 21st.

Alternatively, you can just park your car at Ambleside or John Lawson Park at 15th Street and enjoy a fabulous walk to Dundarave along the seawall.

To get to Dundarave via the Trans-Canada Highway (a.k.a. the Upper Levels Highway), head west toward Horseshoe Bay. Take the exit at 21st Street and then turn right when you get to Marine Drive.

There is free parking in Dundarave along Marine Drive and Bellevue Avenue, as well as by the beach.

Child on Swing Sunset — Children’s Playground at Dundarave Beach

Dundarave Sunsets

Dundarave Beach is a fabulous place to admire the sunsets, either from the beach or from the patio or window seat at The Beach House restaurant. The best times for sunsets are from October to March, but evenings at Dundarave can be beautiful any time of the year.

Check out February North Shore Sunsets for more Dundarave sunset photos, as well as some from Ambleside and North Vancouver.

Other Information

Click West Vancouver to learn more about the city and its other great attractions, or see North Shore to learn about other places of interest in the area.

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