Variety of Water Experiences on the Sunshine Coast BC

Sunshine Coast BC Has a Wide Range of Water Activities.

On the Sunshine Coast, in British Columbia (BC), we enjoyed a variety water experiences.  On previous trips, we have enjoyed the parks on the Sunshine Coast.  We planned several fun activities to do on the water for this trip.  We had a great time with our family!

One day we rented out a boat from the Pender Harbour ResortWe explored the coast.  We also booked a boat ride along the Princess Louisa Inlet, to Chatterbox Falls. Sunshine Coast Tours.  We found so many wonderful ways to get on the water along the Sunshine Coast.

Ferry is required to reach the Sunshine Coast

We always need to bring a camera with us when we travel to Sunshine Coast. BC Ferries trip.  There are no roads that connect the Sunshine Coast to the rest of the BC mainland.  People often mistakenly think that the Sunshine Coast is an Island.  Locals have a variety of signs that remind people this is not an island.

From Vancouver, we took a ferry at Horseshoe Bay and went to the Langdale Ferry Terminal Gibsons Landing from the outsideOn the Sunshine Coast.  We have also been to the northern part Sunshine Coast. From Comox, on Vancouver Island, to Powell River.  

The ferry ride along the Sunshine Coast offers a scenic route with many sights to see.  In the season, Orca whales were sometimes spotted in the channel.

The first of our water experiences was on the Sunshine Coast. We arrived there and got to experience it.

Renting a boat to explore the Agamemnon Channel

On every Sunshine Coast, FloridaWe talked about renting a vessel to explore the coast.  But we never found the right boat rental place.  We found the perfect boat rental at the Pender Harbour Resort.   The resort had a variety of accommodations.  We also found that they rented kayaks and 19 foot motorboats.  We drove up to Pender Harbour for a quick look at the boats, and to confirm the rental requirements.  We booked a boat to be available for 3 hours on the following afternoon.

Nick was with me.  We had no fixed destination in mind when we set out on the water.  We knew we wanted a slow, circular trip around Pender Harbour to see the area.  We wanted to go out along the coast.  We decided to start heading north along shoreline, and then head into Agamemnon Channel.

As we left Pender Harbour we saw the first of the incredible houses perched on the rocks.  We were fascinated by the variety of stairways leading down to water and dock designs.

Agamemnon Channel For Water Experiences on the Sunshine Coast

We turned onto the Agamemnon Canal at the mouth Jervis inlet and headed inland.  We enjoyed the rugged shoreline that we passed.  We could see mountains covered in snow.

We passed Earls Cove as well as the spot on the Sunshine Coast where the ferry crossed to Saltery Bay.  We took this ferry before when we went up north to Powell River. Vancouver Island is a great place to visit.  We stopped at the Backeddy Resort on our way further inland.  Next day, our boat trip began from that point.

The Agamemnon Channel offers a variety of water activities on the Sunshine Coast.

Pender Harbour Viewed from the Water

At this point, we headed back up the Agamemnon Channel into Pender Harbour.  We slowed down the boat in this “no wake”We slowly moved along the shoreline and coves.  We looked at different docks and houses.  We even found a funicular to help us get above the water level.  

We drove past Madeira Marina to find that there were other marinas in Pender Harbour.  The display included every size and type boat, along with their fun names.  There was a dispute going on when we visited about the number docks in the harbour.  Signs were prominently posted in protest.

We headed back to the hotel when our 3 hour boat rental was over. Pender Harbour Resort.  It was a beautiful, sunny day to be on the water. We were able to move at our own pace.  We had a lot of fun on the Sunshine Coast.

Jervis Inlet Boat Tour

We also planned a tour of the Sunshine Coast to learn about the area and see a different side of the coast.  Sunshine Coast ToursThe Backeddy Resort Marina in Egmont offered us a 5-hour tour that was exactly what we were looking.  

We headed north to Egmont for an hour. It was another bright, sunny day.  We learned after parking that there were 2 boats full for the tour.  We were assigned to Captain Kevin’s boat and were soon on our way.  Kevin was an excellent guide who had a wealth of knowledge about the area.  He provided a continuous commentary for the entire journey along the Jervis Inlet to the Princess Louisa Inlet then on to Chatterbox Falls.

We moved slowly along the steep sided fjords of Jervis Inlet.  The sheer granite walls rose up to the mountains that we saw along the route.  Kevin talked about the mountains that we passed.  Kevin said that while we were amazed by the snow on top, the snow cap was much smaller than normal at this time of the year.

Many points along the channel, we saw waterfalls cascading from steep cliffs into the trees.  Kevin pulled us in close to see the waterfalls better.

We learned a lot about the history of this area.  Two sets of pictographs were shown to us by him twice, thought to be among the oldest pictographs found in all the inlets.  Kevin had given us directions but we never found the second pictograph.

On our boat tour, we saw a lot of things along the Jervis Inlet.  Another of our water adventures on the Sunshine Coast started off with a bang.

Heading Along Princess Louisa Inlet From Chatterbox Falls

Kevin slowed his boat down as we approached the end Jervis Inlet. He then turned the boat to the Princess Louisa Inlet.  The Malibu Rapids had moved quickly by the time we arrived.  On the banks, we saw the Young Life Malibu Club.  This was a summer club for teenagers, which was once a luxury escape for the wealthy.

We moved quickly along the Princess Louisa Inlet to the large dock. Princess Louisa Marine Park.  We had our first glimpse of the Chatterbox Falls.  Kevin docked his boat.  We had 90 minutes to wander around the park. 

We were surprised to see a small floatplane land on the water while we were docked.  The plane was taxied directly to the Chatterbox Falls beach.  This was a cool way to get to this remote location.

Enjoying Princess Louisa Marine Park

We packed lunch for the park.  We went to the park and chose a picnic area on the beach.  When we arrived, the tide was low.  We were careful to watch our steps as we walked across the soft sand.  We could see Chatterbox Falls from this vantage point.

After our picnic, after we had eaten, we went into the Princess Louisa Marine ParkFor the 500m (1/3-mile) loop.  The path was flat and easy to navigate.  The dense vegetation was covered with moss.  We found a covered shelter in the middle of which was an open bbq pit.  

The sound of Chatterbox Falls’ thundering drew me closer.  We were able to see the waterfall as it slid down the cliff and the water flowing out into the inlet.  We scrambled closer to get a wet view at another point.

We slowly walked to the boat.  Kevin kept a steady pace when we were all back aboard.  No commentary was made on the return journey.  Kevin answered many of the guests’ questions. 

Kevin gave us one last treat as we approached the marina.  Kevin took us to the island off-shore for a quick look at the large seal group on the rocks.

Kevin said goodbye, and we went to the bar on the dock.  Our boat tour with Sunshine Coast ToursIt was a great experience on the Sunshine Coast.

Sechelt Rapids At Skookumchuck Narrows In Egmont

Sunshine Coast ToursAlso offered was a tour to nearby Skookumchuck.  Skookumchuck was a narrow 4 mile passageway that connected the inner inlets to the ocean.  Sechelt Rapids, in the Skookumchuck narrows, reached speeds of up to 16 knots due to tide changes (the fastest in North America).  Tours lasting one hour were scheduled for forecasts with currents exceeding 10 knots.

On a prior visit, We hiked in Skookumchuck National Narrows ParkThe Sechelt Rapids were visible at their maximum strength from the land.  The surfers and the kayakers enjoyed playing in the rapids.

Visit the Skookumchuck Snare by land or water to experience the wild waters of the Sunshine Coast.

Sunshine Coast BC: Some Great Water Experiences

On this trip, we had a lot fun with the water on the Sunshine Coast.  We loved being able to rent a boat, and explore the coast at our leisure.  And our tour was with Sunshine Coast ToursWe learned so much and were taken to a new place.  

On the Sunshine Coast, we had one last thing to add to our list of water activities.  We checked out several different kayak rental spots.  When we visited Pender Harbour ResortWe found that they rented kayaks.  When we went to the Lighthouse Bar at Porpoise Bay Sechelt for dinner, we saw that kayak rentals were nearby.  We simply ran out time on this trip.  

We also considered a flightseeing excursion to see the inlets surrounding the Sunshine Coast.  Harbour AirThe airport in Porpoise Bay offered a range of different flights.  But we had to return for another visit.  

Have you tried any new water activities along the Sunshine Coast?  What would you recommend we do on our next trip to the Sunshine Coast?

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