The Royston Wrecks are a collection of around a dozen derelict vessels deliberately sunk in shallow water along the shoreline south of Courtenay in the early-to-mid 20th century. They were placed as a breakwater to protect a log storage operation, and over the decades they have subsided and rusted into the gravel foreshore, where they are now partially submerged, particularly at high tide.
At low tide you can walk along the beach and see the wooden ribs and steel plates of the old hulls rising from the water — barnacled, draped with kelp, occupied by herons and seals. The combination of industrial history and marine ecosystem makes them one of the more unusual walks on the island.
The site is accessible along the Royston Seaside Trail, which runs along the shoreline and gives good views toward Comox and across the Strait of Georgia. The trail itself is pleasant — flat, with sea views and opportunities for bird watching — and the wrecks are the highlight of a walk that takes about an hour roundtrip from the parking area.