With five world-renown Marine Parks within one hour of the Resort there is a vast array of scenery and wildlife that can only be accessed and enjoyed by boat.  No trip to the area would be complete without taking to the water to enjoy the natural wonder of these world famous marine parks including Desolation Sound. 

The crown jewel of the parks is Desolation Sound Marine Park which is BC’s largest marine park encompassing 8,449 hectares. Desolation Sound Marine Park boasts over 60km of shoreline with many islands, bays and coves that are only accessible by boat. This untouched wilderness offers majestic forests, sandy coves, rock bluffs and towering mountains providing a collage of the rugged BC coastline that will delight photographers, explorers and sightseers alike. Each year boaters travel from all over the world to experience the pristine waters and unique eco-system found within Desolation Sound Marine Park. Protected from the prevailing winds and currents, seas are unusually warm in the summer months making ideal conditions for observing an abundance of coastal and marine life. You have to come and experience this area to understand the natural beauty it has to offer, neither words nor pictures can do it justice.

The Ragged Islands Marine Park (also known as the Copeland Islands) has a unique eco-system. The 437-hectare archipelago is comprised of four islands and fourteen islets which make for excellent touring as there are many sheltered bays, coves and passages to explore. Some of the islands have vertical cliffs that plunge 150 feet straight down into the water while others have gently sloping rocky beaches creating the perfect habitat for oyster and clam beds. The waters in and around the archipelago support a wide variety of marine life which we can see directly from the boat as we wind along the waters edge.  As the 16ft tide changes new areas of the inter-tidal zone become visible providing a constantly changing panorama of marine life to explore. In the water you are likely to see many different types of sea stars, urchins, anemones, oysters, crabs, clams, sea cucumbers, jelly fish and seals. Above the water the park also supports a variety of sea birds including several species of gulls, ducks, loons, pipers, plovers and cormorants. Many of the birds are migratory so different species congregate in the Park throughout the year. In the summer, it is not uncommon to see bald eagles soaring above the islands.

Mitlenatch Island Nature Preserve is home to the largest seabird colony in the Strait of Georgia and a thriving year-round seal colony.  This small rocky island is located mid way between the Mainland and Vancouver Island in the center of the Strait.  The abundance of bait fish around the island make it attractive a wide array of marine life.  The year-round seal colony is thriving making for great photography opportunities when they haul out on sunny days during low tides.  There are a number of Bald Eagles nests on the island which usually provide the opportunity to see both adult and juvenile eagles.   From late fall to early May both Steller and California sea lions call the island home.  Weighing in at over 2,000 pounds these large sea mammals can be heard roaring and barking for miles.   In the spring and early summer the island is ablaze with a wide range of colorful wildflowers.

The highlight of the 128-hectare Teakerne Arm Marine Park is the 30m drop of Cassel Falls. During the spring run-off their are roaring dual falls but the single fall visible in the summer is still an impressive site.  A short, but steep, trail up the side of the falls leads to Cassel Lake which is one of the best fresh water swimming  spots on the Sunshine Coast.

The 247-hectare Roscoe Bay Marine Park is accessible only at high tide as a shallow oyster bed guards the entrance to the park.  The protected warm water bay in the center of this park make it an exceptional area for viewing the hundreds of thousands of moon jellies which congregate in the bay.