Five Must-Visit Resorts on The Sunshine Coast

Whether you need a break from the helm or cruising away for a weekend, these series of shore side retreats are tough to beat with the utmost comfort and boating-friendly services.

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Words by Michael McLaughlin

The Sunshine Coast is renowned for intimate and spectacular natural settings within easy sailing distance from BC’s population centres. A series of coastal islands, the solitude of Jervis Inlet, the majesty of Princess Louisa Inlet, and the intoxicating waters of Desolation Sound all provide a variety of settings where you can bond with your boat, your crew, and with nature at its utmost finest.

Throughout this natural tableau are five marine resorts offering comfort and recreation, each with a distinct personality. So, whether you’re on a leisurely cruise or you’re a weary mariner seeking a deserved reward, here is a tour of the hospitality you’ll find on the Sunshine Coast.

Painted Boat Resort and Spa

From the moment you moor in the tranquil lagoons of Madeira Park, Painted Boat Resort will ignite your hedonistic desires. The Lagoon Restaurant, perched above the marina, beckons with its spacious outdoor deck, an extensive wine list and creative menu featuring west coast favourites with a European twist. While some may choose to “dock and dine,” you won’t want to miss a restorative visit to the SPA and SPA Serenity Garden.

Treatments are infused with the ocean’s bounty of mineral-rich seaweed and salts, refreshing your mind, body and soul. A team of trained professionals, including Registered Massage Therapists, provide personalized service guidance in relieving stress through holistic wellness. Before or after your treatment, spend some time in the serenity garden, relaxing in the pools or by the warming fire pit.  For the ultimate treat, spend a night or two in one of the spacious, warmly appointed waterfront villas, complete with a fully-equipped kitchen, spacious living and dining rooms, and a deck with a BBQ. With an infinity pool, fitness centre and event room – the resort is also an ideal choice not only for a retreat, corporate meeting, or a destination wedding.

Sunshine Coast Resort and Marina

Tucked into the cozy head of Pender Harbour, Sunshine Coast Resort and Marina offers a range of packages and activities, including kayak rentals and a shellfish excursion. During your visit, treat yourself to relaxing spa services, including a variety of esthetics and massage treatments, romantic couples massage, and other therapeutic treatments such as hot stone, deep tissue, and relaxation massage.

The whole family will enjoy the outdoor hot tub high above the docks. There are a variety of accommodation packages to suit your budget and party size. Every room has a lofty ocean view, and some are even pet-friendly. From the resort, it’s a 500 m (1,640 ft) tender ride to shopping and dining in Madeira Park. There are grocery stores, breakfast cafes, restaurants, a post office, gift stores, a bank, and a pharmacy and liquor store. The Grasshopper Pub is next door to the resort and across the water lies the Garden Bay Pub. Get a taste of the Pender Harbour spirit.

Backeddy Resort

The Backeddy Resort is your base for exploring Jervis Inlet, Princess Louisa Sound and Skookumchuk Narrows. It’s more rustic and remote than others yet accommodations include a small hotel, a variety of cabins, and geodesic domes overlooking the marina.

One of its claims to fame is the local pub where good food, music and a chance to meet fellow boaters and locals makes for lively fun. If you are in the mood for five-star dining, then take the short walk to West Coast Wilderness Lodge with its dazzling architecture and views. The resort offers a variety of activities including kayak, SUP and bicycle rentals, plus hiking options that include Skookumchuk Narrows. Guided kayak eco-tours and a guided boat tour of Jervis Inlet and Princess Louisa Sound operate from the resort.

Laid-back, fun and refreshing describe the Backeddy experience.

Beach Gardens Resort and Marina

The location of Beach Gardens Resort is ideal after leaving Jervis Inlet, then travel north along the Sunshine Coast to Desolation Sound and back. It’s one of the last (or first) opportunities to refresh and restock.

The seawalls create a cozy haven on the edge of the open sea. Moorings are within a stone’s throw of the lodge and boaters frequently socialize on the floats. Every room at Beach Gardens Resort has a panoramic ocean view from a private balcony. Marine guests are welcome to use the indoor swimming pool and Better Bodies Gym. The menu at Seasider Bistro has everything a hungry mariner could ask for. There is a wine/liquor store dockside, and shuttles to shopping in Powell River are arranged during summer.

Lund Resort at Klah Ah Men

This is essentially your last chance to get some comforts before heading to Desolation Sound and beyond. There are really no words to describe how charmingly picturesque Lund Harbour is. It’s lined with a boardwalk connecting local artisan shops and eateries. One place worth checking out is 13 Moons Marina that’s close at hand to the Lund Resort at Klah Ah Men.

The heritage of the Tla’amin people is expressed with its interior decor, dining menu, and 31 rooms, completely re-imagined and inspired by Tla’amin art and culture. Treat yourself to a locally foraged, delicious West Coast meal, noting that many of the menu items are curated and cooked in the slow food style, using a blend of Klah Ah Men traditional and modern recipes. Activities include Zodiac and kayak tours, and bike rentals. Aboriginal culture is on display throughout the resort. Your necessities and extravagances are covered at the newly expanded Stock Pile Market and Sweet Shack.

Your excursion into nature’s finest, punctuated by well-earned rewards at comfort stops, is why the Sunshine Coast epitomizes the wild, yet civilized coast of BC.