Rockwater Secret Cove Resort is pleased to offer on-site kayak rentals to help our guests to experience the magic of the Sunshine Coast. Rentals of single and double kayaks are available during the summer months. Spend an afternoon gliding through the surrounding waters to explore inlets, bays, and islands as you observe both wildlife and marine life from a new vantage point.

Please note that all rentals are seasonal.

Visit Secret Cove Paddle Adventures to learn more and book your rental today!

The oldest course is the 18-hole Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club in Roberts Creek, beautifully carved from the coastal rain forest that enfolds the course on three sides. The 18-hole Blue Ocean Golf Club offers lovely views of Sechelt Inlet and the mountains, along with a full length driving range. And to the north, Pender Harbour Golf Course is a challenging nine-hole course in a beautiful coastal mountain setting.

To learn more and book tee times, please contact:

• Sunshine Coast Golf Club – (604) 885-9212
• Blue Ocean Golf Club – (604) 885-2700
• Pender Harbour Golf Club – (604) 883-9541

There are so many good reasons to Dive The Sunshine Coast:

• Crystal clean waters and incredible visibility year-round.
• Colourful and abundant marine life.
• All-weather diving with sheltered waters.
• A variety of dive sites for all experience levels.
• Access to the HMCS Chaudiere Artificial Reef Site.
• Safety-oriented, friendly dive operators offering both shore & boat dives.

The most popular dive spot on the Sunshine Coast is the Skookumchuck Rapids. “Skookum” means strong, and “chuck” means waters. This is a trip for experienced divers only.

The dive is popular due to the amount of growth from the tidal exchange and oxygen content – the marine life includes anemones, rose stars, rock fish, kelp greenlings and, sometimes, Puget Sound king crabs. The best way to dive the rapids is on a charter – most local operators have hundreds of hours of experience diving the Skookumchuck.

Less experienced divers might want to take a crack at the Tzoonie Narrows. The tidal stream here is only three to four knots. Marine life includes sea lemons, ling cod, kelp greenlings, silvery pile perch, wolf eels and even decorated warbonnets with spikes on their heads. Tzoonie is also a popular night-diving spot.

The 366′ foot HMCS Chaudiere was scuttled on December 5 1992 by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia to make a habitat for marine life and a place for divers to play on an otherwise featureless bottom. Commissioned as a destroyer escort and submarine hunter in 1959, the Chaudiere now lays on her port side with the top of the ship 60-90 feet deep.

Although wreck “penetration” requires extra training and experience, the ship has been cleaned and prepared with the safety of divers in mind. Volunteers marked directions on the inside walls of the Chaudiere prior to its sinking in order to aid future divers in navigating through its interior.

Close to Kunechin Point on the north end of the Sechelt Inlet, one of the best dives you’ll ever have in the northwest is diving on the Chaudiere in the winter. After descending a few feet below the surface on one of the ship’s three mooring lines, the entire ship comes into view. One can only stop and admire in awe at the unbelievable winter visibility and their ability to view the entire ship, from one end to another, before continuing down to it.

For those looking to experience the breathtaking views and lush forests of the Sunshine Coast, we are happy to share a variety of hiking trails for all experience levels. Local gems include Smuggler Cove, Mount Daniel, and Homesite Creek, all within a relatively short drive from the resort. Below, find detailed descriptions about some of our favourite hikes!

Skookumchuck Narrows

The Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park was established in 1957. The area provides trails to view points which overlook the incredibly turbulent tidal rapids, spectacular whirlpools and raging whitewater. On a three metre tide, current speeds can exceed 30 km (18.6 miles) an hour and approximately 200 billion gallons of water flow through the narrows connecting the Sechelt and Jervis Inlets. That’s the same amount of water that falls on the Earth each year!

You may also get to watch the most experienced “trick” kayakers from around the world who come here to ride the tide. The rapids and whirlpools can be very dangerous and only those with this level of expertise should attempt to navigate these waters. Crossing the narrows should only be done at a slack or high tide.

Enjoy the well groomed trails through old growth forest. Wet weather will mean some muddy sections so be prepared and wear good shoes or boots. The trail runs adjacent to private property; please respect the land and privacy of owners.

During the tourist season, you may find your way up to Skookumchuck Bakery & Cafe. This quaint little business, located near the beginning of the trail, is your last chance to get tasty provisions before you reach the rapids. You can never go wrong with a cinnamon bun and a coffee!

Directions from Rockwater: Heading north from the resort on Highway 101, follow the signs to Egmont. Take the right-hand turn off the highway just before Earl’s Cove ferry terminal. Follow the Provincial Parks signs to Skookumchuck Narrows and the marked parking area. Driving time – about 45 minutes. Walk to rapids and back – about two hours.

Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park

This cove earned its name with its nearly hidden entrance, which long provided a harbour for illegal marine traffic. From the late 1800s to rum runners during prohibition, Smuggler Cove was an access point and refuge. The trail winds through bogs and wetlands, with bridges built by Parks Canada to protect sensitive ecosystems created by beaver dams. You may see a wide variety of marsh and coastal plants, animals and bird life. Allow 45 minutes for return trip.

Directions from Rockwater: Driving south from the resort on Highway 101, turn right onto Brooks Road as indicated by Provincial Park signs directing to Smuggler Cove. There is a clearly marked parking area at the entrance to the trail.

Homesite Creek

Follow the marked trail along to low-perspective waterfalls perfect for a cool dip in the summer. Some parts can be muddy in the winter months so wear proper shoes or boots. Allow 30 minutes for return trip.

Directions from Rockwater: Heading south on Highway 101, there is a pull-out on the right side of the road just past (about 1.5 KM) Sans Souci Road.

Homesite Caves Trail

The caves are self exploratory, but beware as the floor of the caves can be slippery. The area is protected so be gentle to your surroundings and do not disturb any of the landscape. The route should take 30 min – 1 hour to complete.

Directions from Rockwater: Heading south on Highway 101, Homesite Road is about 1.5 km past Sans Souci Road on the left side. Look for the white trail head sign. The parking lot is located 100 m (328 ft.) past the power lines. Look for an orange rock cairn which is the trail head.

Sargeant Bay

The first is the Colvin Creek Trail and it is an easy, low elevation trail which features a waterfall. The Triangle Lake Trail starts where the Colvin Creek Trail ends and is a 2.5 KM hike starting at 45m elevation and climbs to a 210m elevation. Its destination, Triangle Lake, is not a lake but a true bog surrounded by rocky ridges.

Directions from Rockwater: Follow Highway 101, turn right on Redrooffs Road in Halfmoon Bay. Follow Redrooffs approx 5 km. Access to the hiking trails is on the left side of Redrooffs Road just before the right turn into the park. The trail heads are marked.

Mount Daniel Lookout

Advanced hike. The upward part is unrelentingly steep, sometimes requiring scrambling over fallen trees. The return trip provides its own form of torture as you always have the feeling of putting on the brakes. Allow 1.5 hours to get to the top, another hour to get down, and lots of recovery time to enjoy the view at the summit!

Some of the circles of rocks you will see on the eastern peak of Mount Daniel are remnants of rites of passage practised by the Sechelt First Nations. The payoff to this trail is at the top – the climb is intense, but once you’re there, it’s amazing! From the top, you can see Pender Harbour with its complex inlets and islands. Directly below you can see Garden Bay Lake, Katherine Lake and Mixal Lake.

Directions from Rockwater: Heading north from the resort on Highway 101, turn left onto Garden Bay Road at the Petro Canada Station and turn left around three km onto the old garbage dump road. This is the first on your left after Oyster Bay Road. It is sometimes marked by a sign and/or surveyors tape. Drive up as far as your vehicle will allow and at the fork, take the upper branch.

Pender Hill

This was the lookout preferred by the Sechelt First Nations sentries on watch for parties of Yaouita or Haida war canoes, which might be expected to break into the clear around Cape Cockburn any moment of any day. You can sit for hours beside the bronze Geodesic Survey plate cemented into the top of the dome and watch trollers and plodding tugboats, luxury cruisers and streaking outboards come and go as the busiest harbour on the Coast goes about its day. A three km return trip, this is a very steep hike to the 231m elevation. Watch for slippery spots and loose rocks. Allow one hour for round trip.

Directions from Rockwater: Heading north from the Resort on Hwy 101, turn left onto Garden Bay Road at the Petro Canada Station, and continue onto Irvine’s Landing Road. Follow along until Lee Road on the right and park where you can. There is a sign on the right side of Lee Road marking the trail head. A bluish-green Hydro pole also helps identify the trail head.

The Sunshine Coast is well-known as a mountain biker’s paradise. The wide array of terrain, from adrenaline-pumping downhill to technical cross-country, offers a variety of options to suit every style and level of rider.

Local options include the network of cross-country trails in West Sechelt, along with downhill adventures at Coast Gravity Park. Feel free to ask a member of our team for other local recommendations!

The Secret Cove area has three marinas which, along with the marinas in Pender Harbour, offer some of the best fishing charters in the Lower Mainland. As successful lures, hot spots, and biting times vary greatly in the waterways around Pender Harbour and nearby Jervis Inlet, it’s important to drop by one of the marinas for the inside line, plus charts, licences, restrictions, and limits. Fishing is what the locals do best, and they’re happy to share their wisdom with visitors!

Bordered by the snow-covered Coastal Mountains, this protected coastline stretches 175 Kilometres (105 Miles) along the northeast shore of Georgia Strait, from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound. Clean sparkling Pacific waters bound secluded sandy beaches and bays with red cedar and arbutus trees sprinkled along the coastline. Canada Geese, bald eagles, blue herons and osprey share the sky and shore.

This region offers relatively protected waters for sport fishing on Georgia Strait, with Vancouver Island protecting the area from the open sea. The numerous islands also offer shelter, so you are not subjected to the high seas of the Pacific Ocean (no swells or fog).

The Sunshine Coast offers year-round guided fishing for Chinook salmon. Feeder Chinooks are present during the winter months, and the migratory Chinook start showing up in late spring, with the best fishing from June to September.

Coho are best from June to September, while the Northern Coho are available from September to October. Pink and Sockeye go by from mid-August to mid-September, and Chum Salmon from September through October.

Another big attraction to anglers is the bottom fish fishery; large red snapper (yellow eye), ling cod, rock cod, flounder and Tommy cod. Most of these species are open year-round, with only ling cod being closed from October to May. For the seafood specialists, the prawning and crabbing is excellent year-round all along the Sunshine Coast. Local fishing spots include Halfmoon Bay, Buccaneer Bay, Secret Cove, Lasqueti Island, Texada Island, Seal Reef, Bejji Shoals, Bargain Harbour, A Frame and Quarry Bay… just to name a few.

Unique to the Secret Cove and Pender Harbour area, mooching is the way most of the guides and local anglers fish for these tail-walking salmon. Most of the fishing is done from larger charter yachts from 26 ft. to 40 ft. The salmon fishing techniques are quite different, as we don’t use a cut plug or troll for the salmon…we mooch. This means that we locate the schooling bait fish off reefs and kelp beds with sounders, and anchor the vessel over the bait fish, using live herring, the natural food of the salmon.

Sechelt Peninsula

If you like to pick mussels and oysters, the beach at Roberts Creek Provincial Park’s picnic grounds is a good place to visit at low tide. Just check for red-tide warnings and harvesting closures beforehand at the entrance to the park.

The sandy beach at Davis Bay less than two miles (three km) south of Sechelt may yield clams, but your best bet is casting from the Davis Bay pier for salmon. So successful has the rearing program been at nearby Chapman Creek that it is the only stream on the Sechelt Peninsula where anglers can keep coho and chinook salmon. It’s still best to check local regulations beforehand. While the hatchery has been experiencing good returns, fish stocks in Georgia Strait and Malaspina Strait have been steadily declining in recent times.

Trout Fishing on the Sunshine Coast

When planning your next saltwater fishing trip, this region is arguably one of the best light tackle salmon fishing destinations in British Columbia. The season never ends, it just gets better at certain times.

Mixal Lake

March is one of the few months on the fishing calendar when anglers get to stay home and tidy their tackle boxes, or tie on a fly and try for surface-feeding trout at Garden Bay Lake, Hotel Lake, and Mixal Lake, which are located beside Garden Bay Road, Irvine Landings Road, and Hotel Lake Road respectively, west of Hwy 101.

Trout Lake

Trout Lake is the easiest to locate as it lies just south of Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on the north side of Hwy 101. This beautiful 14 hectare lake is stocked with cutthroat trout. Best fishing from April to July and September to October

The Sunshine Coast boasts more artists per capita then any other area in British Columbia. The coast is dotted with quaint galleries representing creative local artists and their fine work. Spend a day visiting the 40+ galleries showcasing the artistic flair of the Coast.

4381 Parkway in Wilson Creek (up Field Road)
(604) 885-5562
Open Monday to Saturday 9:00am – 3:30pm
Closed from lunch 11:30am -12:30pm

Great for kids of all ages
Admission is free, although donations are always appreciated.

5555 Sunshine Coast Hwy
(604) 885-8991

Located in the Sechelt Indian Band’s central complex beside the Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt. A showcase for the Shishalh Nation’s lengthy history and diverse culture, the Tems Swiya museum offers a great display of artifacts and art including an extensive basket collection. Visit the Tsain Ko gift shop for authentic native art, jewellery and crafts.

5500 Shorncliffe Ave in Sechelt, between the library & RCMP building.
(604) 885-6801

Facilities include a six lane, 25 meter lap pool, a large leisure pool, 250 foot waterslide, sauna, steam room, hot tub, full gym facility, family change rooms, and lots of fun water features for kids.

Directly across from Rockwater Secret Cove Resort lie North and South Thormanby Islands. South Thormanby has a wonderful stretch of white sand beach, while North Thormanby is the site of the Buccaneer Bay Marine Park and campsite. During low tide, you can walk between the two while exploring tidal pools and a variety of wonderfully colourful marine life.

There are two local water taxis that offer pick-up and drop-off during the summer months:

• Buccaneer Marina: (604) 885-7888
• Thormanby Transportation: (604) 885-1212