Variety Of Water Experiences On The Sunshine Coast BC

We Found A Variety Of Water Experiences On The Sunshine Coast BC

We enjoyed a variety of water experiences on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia (BC) on this road trip around BC.  On previous visits we have enjoyed the parks and waterfront areas on the Sunshine Coast.  For this trip, we planned a number of fun activities on the water.  And we sure had a lot of good family fun!

One day we rented a boat at the Pender Harbour Resort and explored along the coast.  On another afternoon, we booked a boat tour along the Princess Louisa Inlet to Chatterbox Falls with Sunshine Coast Tours.  We found so many great ways to get out on the water on the Sunshine Coast.

Getting To The Sunshine Coast Required A Ferry

When we travel to the Sunshine Coast, we always need to take a BC Ferries trip.  While the Sunshine Coast is actually part of the mainland in BC, there are no roads to get you there.  Because of this, people often think the Sunshine Coast is an island.  But locals have all kinds of signs that clearly remind people it is not an island!

From Vancouver, we took the ferry at Horseshoe Bay to the Langdale Ferry Terminal outside of Gibsons Landing on the Sunshine Coast.  We have also travelled to the northern part of the Sunshine Coast from Comox on Vancouver Island to Powell River.  

The ferry ride to the Sunshine Coast is always a picturesque route with lots to see along the way.  In season it was even possible to find Orca whales in the channel.

We got the first of our water experiences on the Sunshine Coast just travelling there.

Renting A Boat To Explore The Agamemnon Channel

On every visit to the Sunshine Coast we talked about renting a boat to explore the coast from the water.  But we never found a good boat rental spot.  On this trip, we found the perfect boat rentals at the Pender Harbour Resort.   The resort offered a number of different types of accommodations.  But we found they also rented both kayaks and 19-foot motorboats.  We did a short ride up to Pender Harbour to see the boats and check on the rental requirements.  And booked a boat for 3 hours the next afternoon.

Our son Nick was with us.  When we headed out on the water, we had no firm destination in mind.  We knew we wanted to slowly go around the Pender Harbour basin and see the area from the water.  And we wanted to head out along the shoreline.  We finally decided to start north along the shoreline and head into the Agamemnon Channel.

As we headed out of the Pender Harbour, we got our first view of the amazing houses sitting on the rocks above the water.  The variety in stairways down to the water and dock designs fascinated us.

Agamemnon Channel For Water Experiences On The Sunshine Coast

We turned into the Agamemnon Channel at the mouth of Jervis Inlet and headed inland.  We loved looking at the rugged shoreline we passed.  Ahead of us we saw mountains still covered with snow.

We passed Earls Cove and the spot where the ferry crossed on the Sunshine Coast to Saltery Bay.  We took this ferry on a previous trip when we went north to Powell River to head to Vancouver Island.  Heading further inland, we stopped off of the Backeddy Resort.  That was our starting point for our boat tour the next day.

Boating along the Agamemnon Channel provided fun water experiences on the Sunshine Coast.

Checking Out Pender Harbour From The Water

At this point we headed back down the Agamemnon Channel and into Pender Harbour.  We slowed the boat right down in this “no wake” zone and slowly moved along the coves and shoreline.  We looked at the different homes and docks.  And even found a long funicular as a way to get up from the water level.  

We went past Madeira Marina and found were many other marinas in Pender Harbour.  Every size and type of boat was on display with fun names on display.  When we visited, there was a big dispute in progress about the number of docks in this harbour.  Signs were prominently displayed in protest.

When our 3 hour boat rental drew to a close, we headed back to the Pender Harbour Resort.  It was a beautiful day to be out on the water moving at our own pace.  We sure had some fun water experiences on the Sunshine Coast.

A Boat Tour On The Jervis Inlet

While it was a lot of fun to rent a boat and explore on our own, we also planned a boat tour to see a different part of the Sunshine Coast and learn a little more about the area.  Sunshine Coast Tours offered a 5 hour tour from the Backeddy Resort and Marina in Egmont that perfectly fit what we were looking for.  

It was again a bright blue sunny day as we headed north for the one hour trip to Egmont.  After we parked, we learned there were 2 full boats for the tour.  We were assigned to Captain Kevin’s boat and were soon on our way.  Kevin was a great and passionate guide with huge knowledge about the area.  He provided a running commentary for the full trip along the Jervis Inlet into the Princess Louisa Inlet and on to Chatterbox Falls.

We moved slowly up the steep sided fjords on Jervis Inlet.  The sheer granite walls rose to the mountains we saw along the way.  Kevin talked about many of the mountains we passed.  While we were amazed with the snow on the tops, Kevin noted the snow cap was far smaller than normally at this time of year.

At many points along the channel we saw waterfalls cascading down the steep cliffs and through the trees.  Kevin pulled us close for a better look.

We learned much about the history of the area.  Twice he pulled the boat close to shore for us to see two sets of pictographs thought to be the oldest pictographs in all the inlets.  We saw the first one but despite directions from Kevin never located the second one.

We found lots to see on our boat tour along the Jervis Inlet.  A great start to another of our water experiences on the Sunshine Coast.

Heading Along Princess Louisa Inlet To Chatterbox Falls

As we neared the end of the Jervis Inlet Kevin slowed the boat and turned into the Princess Louisa Inlet.  When we arrived, the Malibu Rapids we moving quite quickly.  On the banks we saw the Young Life Malibu Club.  This was a summer camp for teenagers that was once a luxurious escape for the very wealthy.

We moved along the Princess Louisa Inlet and quickly came to the large dock at the Princess Louisa Marine Park.  We got our first look at the Chatterbox Falls.  Kevin docked the boat.  We had 90 minutes to wander in the park. 

While we were docked, we were surprised when we saw a small float plane land on the water.  The plane was taxied right to the beach by the Chatterbox Falls.  This was an even cooler way to travel to this out of the way spot.

Enjoying Princess Louisa Marine Park

We packed a lunch for our stop at the park.  So we headed into the park and found a picnic spot on the beach.  The tide was very low when we arrived.  We watched our steps as we walked on the very soft sand.  From this spot we got another view of Chatterbox Falls.

After our picnic, we headed into the Princess Louisa Marine Park for the 500m (1/3 mile) loop.  The path was level and easy to walk.  The dense greenery was covered in moss.  We found a covered shelter with an open bbq pit in the middle.  

The sound of the thundering Chatterbox Falls drew us closer.  We got a great view of the waterfall from the bottom and the water as it headed out to the inlet.  At another point, we scrambled even closer for a final wet view.

We slowly wandered back to the boat.  When we were all back on board, Kevin set a steady pace back to the Backeddy Marina.  There was no commentary on the return trip.  Although Kevin answered many questions from the guests. 

With the marina in sight, Kevin had one more treat for us.  He took us close to the offshore island for a quick view at the large group of seals on the rocks.

We said goodbye to Kevin and wandered up to the pub on the dock.  Our boat tour with Sunshine Coast Tours was definitely one of our fun water experiences on the Sunshine Coast.

Sechelt Rapids At Skookumchuck Narrows In Egmont

Sunshine Coast Tours also offered another tour to nearby Skookumchuck Narrows.  Skookumchuck Narrows was a 4 mile long narrow passageway between the inner inlets and the ocean.  Tidal changes caused the Sechelt Rapids in the Skookumchuck Narrows to reach up to 16 knots (the fastest in North America).  One hour tours were scheduled when currents of 10 knots or more were forecasted.

On a previous visit, we hiked in the Skookumchuck Narrows Park and got a close view of the Sechelt Rapids at maximum current strength from land.  The surfers and kayakers loved playing in the fast rapids.

A visit to see the Skookumchuck Narrow by land or boat is one of the wild water experiences on the Sunshine Coast.

Some Great Water Experiences On The Sunshine Coast BC

We sure had a lot of fun water experiences on the Sunshine Coast on this visit to BC.  We loved the chance to rent a boat and wander along the coast at our own pace.  And our tour with Sunshine Coast Tours took us to a great new spot and we learned so much.  

We had one more thing on our list of water experiences on the Sunshine Coast.  We checked out a couple of different spots to rent kayaks.  When we visited Pender Harbour Resort we found they rented kayaks.  And when we had dinner at the Lighthouse Bar on Porpoise Bay in Sechelt, we saw kayak rentals close by.  But we simply ran out of time on this visit.  

The other thing we considered was a flightseeing trip to see the inlets around the Sunshine Coast from above.  Harbour Air offered a number of different flights right from Porpoise Bay.  But we sadly left this too for a return visit.  

Have you had some different water experiences on the Sunshine Coast?  Anything you would recommend we try on our next trip?

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