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Beaches, lakes, and lush parks are why they call the Sunshine Coast “Beautiful B.C”. Heading north, let’s explore the natural delights at Pender Harbour.
Sunshine Coast Road Trip
The Sunshine Coast is so easy to navigate.
You’ll find Madeira Park on Highway 101, where boat tours of Pender Harbour commence.
Pender Harbour
The SloCat Boat tour by Slocat Harbour Tours has been recommended by Martin, the manager of Up The Creek in Roberts Creek.
He advises that all the small areas around Pender Harbour were historically not reached by wheels; there was no paved road access until the ’60s!
Slocat Harbour Tours
We met our captain, Mark, at 3pm and set sail with another group of five.
The boat was comfortable with padded seats and was equipped with a hand-drawn map, Mark putting his Geography degree to use and binoculars, which we used to spot bald eagles and blue herons, but unfortunately not killer whales like the week before.
The beauty of the tour was not only what we could see – the mountains, the animals, fancy boats and plush houses but Mark’s knowledge and charm!
Mark’s tour is a geography, historical, cultural and political tour of the harbour.
He told us stories about shipwrecks, pressure for the input of First Nations, the Sechelt Indian Band and the bust and boom of the housing market.
Mark is originally from Vancouver but fell in love with Pender Harbour – the small drinking town with a fishing problem after he accidentally stumbled across the area, mainly Ruby Lake, on an impromptu cycle trip.
His previous resume includes a Geography degree, tours around Whistler and a radio announcer, so the transition to the captain of the Slocat Tour was logical.
It’s easy to see why he transitioned from life in the big city to the waves of Pender Harbour.
Be sure to reserve your seat on a small boat tour of Pender Harbour during your trip to the Sunshine Coast, BC.
- Address: 12967 Madeira Park Road
- Contact: 1-604-741-3796
- Email: slocat@slocat.com
Our Sunshine Coast BC Guides
Thanks to Mark at Slocat Harbour Tours for our ride, honest review as always.
It really makes a difference if you have a knowledgeable and charming tour guide. I agree, sometimes, the place is so beautiful all you need to do is take it in and appreciate it. However, you know nothing about the place. Now, if you have an entertaining tour guide to educate you on that, then you not only see a beautiful place but you learn something or the story behind it which is also interesting. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Karla. I know some travellers like to wander and take everything in on a blank canvas but I am far too nosey for that! I wash the insider scoop before I start to investigate.
For some reason we always seem to end up on boat tours when we travel! We did a great trip around Lake Como when we were in Italy a few months ago. Not really a tour. Just a public ferry but still amazing!
I would love to see more of Italy. Especially for the food, I’d put on two stone easy!
Cool stuff again guys!
Love to see a bit more of Canada through your eyes now that we’ve left! 🙂
Hmmm, best boat tour we’ve taken?
Not best value by any means, but 5 days boating around the Galapagos was an incredible experience (closely followed by a slow boat down the Mekong… or the even slower boat from Iquitos in the Amazon, back to civilisation)!
I read your Galapagos post. I am so jealous! It looked well worth the money. I’ve never done a slow boat. Does it feel claustrophobic at all?
Can’t go wrong with a local guide on a boat trip. It certainly gives you a great view of the backdrop that is beautiful B.C. and I cannot lie, I am a sucker for little Canadian fishing towns
We’re living in Roberts Creek just now! Such a beaut.
This looks like tons of fun even without spotting the whales!! LOVE BC and hope to get back soon – there’s just so much to see and so much natural beauty and since I want to go whale watching, we’ll be looking for this tour when we do! One of my favourite boat tours was down the Seine River in Paris – It was a great way to see the city and, like your boat ride, our guide was great as well!
Oh I never even knew you could do boat tours in Paris, if I find myself there again I will check that out.
I’ve never heard of the Sunshine Coast in BC, but now I want to check it out.
I love your adventure. Want a 3rd 30 year old to tag along?
Hop aboard Valerie. Craig is now 32 so too old for our gang!
Sad that you didn’t see any whales! 🙁 That is such a treat. I think you’ll have to do another tour while you’re staying there! 😉
I recently watched the Youtube clip of the whale who was set free by some Joe Publics and then did a magical display for them. Made me smile!
another 2 Scots who visited this cracking place with our friends Jim and Brenda Peever from Vancouver way back in 1976.Great memories
Love it!
Great post – Mark looks like a lovely chap! It really does make a difference when a tour guide adds a little something extra. A bit more background and detail makes all the difference. Shame you didn’t spot the killer whales on this trip but great photos none the less :).
Gabby
He was a dude, you are right. The guide makes it! It’s been the same on all of our walking tours too.
You are indeed fortunate to be spending time in Pender Harbour! I’ve explored much of Beautiful BC, but not yet the Sunshine Coast. Enjoy!
Ah you’ll need to make it a priority if over again.
Looks like a beautiful and relaxing way to spend a day!
It really was!
Love the pics! There’s something about the water that calls to me.
There were a few people in the small group who dozed off!