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The MV Uchuck III, a 136-foot passenger and freight vessel providing service through Vancouver Island's historic Nootka Sound, Esperanza Inlet and Kyuquot Sound. Relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Wild West Coast as you tour its inlets, witness the MV Uchuck III deliver freight to remote fish farms, logging camps and remote resorts. Our schedule provides day cruises through some of Vancouver Island's most spectacular scenery, perfect for a short adventure or family vacation. Explore the shores and waterways of isolated inlets, and see a variety of wildlife - black bears, eagles, sea otters, Pacific dolphins, gray and killer whales. Like to get adventurous? Take advantage of the Uchuck's route to wet launch your kayak or be dropped off at the Nootka trailhead for a four to five day hiking trip along Vancouver Island's most remote and pristine coastal trail - without the long wait list of the famed West Coast Trail.
Gold River, British Columbia, Canada
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
364 reviews
Excellent
314
Very good
40
Average
3
Poor
6
Terrible
1
SunloverScotland
United Kingdom6 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We had a fabulous day trip to Friendly Cove the boat & scenery were amazing. The boat is very stable everyone on board were very friendly. It was interesting watching them load the boat especially the kayaks straight from the water. Don’t hesitate to book.
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
haggar5050
Victoria72 contributions
Sept 2021
From the warm greeting at 6:45 am on September 2nd to the sad disembarkation early in the evening on September 3rd, our journey to Kyuquot and return was filled with amazing sights and tasty adventures. Numerous whale and otter sightings. The captain provided “whale Alerts” and a history lesson for the many points of interest we passed. There were at least a dozen stops along the way, dropping off essential supplies at logging camps and fish farms. The Kayak loading with the paddler still in the Kayak is fun to watch.
The cook (She should be called a Chef) in her 4’X8’ galley is where the magic continued, Full breakfasts, a multi course dinner, the tempting smell of fresh baked blueberry muffins and warm chocolate chip cookies, were enough to forget about dieting for a couple of days.
The cook (She should be called a Chef) in her 4’X8’ galley is where the magic continued, Full breakfasts, a multi course dinner, the tempting smell of fresh baked blueberry muffins and warm chocolate chip cookies, were enough to forget about dieting for a couple of days.
Written September 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike
2 contributions
Jun 2022
Our trip went from 5 (Day) to 0 (Night). The crew were great, the sleeping arrangements were, to put it bluntly, atrocious. It was like sleeping in1/4 of a caboose. The only place to sit and read was a couple of deck chairs outside where the mosquitos were hungerly waiting. I did bring this to the crew's attention the next day and was told, "We'll have to look into this". They credited me with my food bill, a whole $50. The bed was close to double size and sank to a 'V' in the middle. The crew told us that they should have mentioned , small, tiny or cozy or something to that effect when we made our reservation. Nothing was mentioned to us until they showed us where we were going to sleep. It could be they always use this excuse. The only chairs inside were a couple of wooden stools for a 12 inch deep table. For excitement we killed 4 carpenter ants inside and hoped we didn't bring any home with us.
Written July 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacqueline L
Vancouver, Canada39 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We usually take the friendly Cove day trip to Yuquot every year as a family and we’ve been missing it the last couple years due to Covid. We are so glad to be back! The cruise is a wonderful relaxing trip which allows us as a family to be together with no Wi-Fi, just us and the ocean and the beautiful views. The crew are wonderful and the boat is a very interesting piece of history. We always enjoy the beach at friendly Cove and the trail that meanders along the ocean side. There are beautiful carvings in the church and there is a Carver who is often on site. Three hours seems like a long time but it really isn’t. We always feel like we could stay longer. Thanks for having us and I’m sure will be back next year! Thank you especially to the Nuu-chah-nulth people for welcoming us to their territory.
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Myrna L
Grand Forks, Canada12 contributions
Sept 2021
Had a great day out on the Uchuck III with friends. The weather ended up being great after the fear of rain all day. The real upsides were, the staff is amazing and friendly. They are busy working all day but still take the time to chat if you ask them questions. It is a working boat so you can expect to do some hanging out while they are loading and unloading. It can be up to an hour at a stop and depending what is on their delivery schedule that day, you may not be "cruising all day" but you will be on a boat and there is beautiful scenery to look at. While we were at one fish farm we saw three orcas. If you are looking for people to entertain you all day and you are the focus, book a different kind of trip. If you are happy to just be out on a boat for a day at a great price, have some good food and see some beautiful scenery this is a very good deal.
Written September 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl M
Victoria, Canada39 contributions
Jul 2020
We booked return transport for a kayak trip to Nuchatlitz Provincial Park on the West Coast of BC, Nootka Island. The crew was professional and friendly. Dave, Bob, Christine and Captain Spencer all were very helpful and easily struck up conversation. The trip down the inlets was rainy on the way out and full sun on the way back. Stopping along the way to drop supplies and pick up outgoing items was a great way to appreciate how much less 'just in time' there is in these small communities and on the various fish farms that dot the inlets. We would definitely use them again and travel on the Uchuck III.
Written July 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JimG
Victoria, Canada4 contributions
Sept 2022
It is a fabulous way to experience some of Vancouver Island's west coast.
The scenery, abundant wildlife and weather were all remarkable on our trip.
It is also a great way to see first-hand the significant economic activity the area generates through the fish farms, logging operations, kayaking support, and sport fishing lodges.
To see the positive and cooperative interaction between First Nations and non First Nations at Kyuquot was inspiring.
Julie who looked after booking the trip was professional, personable and knowledgeable. The Uchuck III is a wonderful old boat full of history and colour. Captain Spencer and the rest if the Crew were all first-class.
The scenery, abundant wildlife and weather were all remarkable on our trip.
It is also a great way to see first-hand the significant economic activity the area generates through the fish farms, logging operations, kayaking support, and sport fishing lodges.
To see the positive and cooperative interaction between First Nations and non First Nations at Kyuquot was inspiring.
Julie who looked after booking the trip was professional, personable and knowledgeable. The Uchuck III is a wonderful old boat full of history and colour. Captain Spencer and the rest if the Crew were all first-class.
Written September 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan B
Nanaimo, Canada37 contributions
Aug 2021
What a fabulous trip up to the western inlets and Nootka Sound. The Uchuck is a 1942 built converted minesweeper that is very smooth in the water. The skipper is outstanding in his ability to maneuver the ship into various logging camps and fish farms. The crew is professional, engaging and very knowledgeable. Three of us took the overnight trip to Kyuquot and thoroughly enjoyed the voyage, the accommodations in Kyuquot, and the food.
The trip entailed visiting fish farms and logging camps to launching kayakers and picking up hikers from the Nootka Island Trail. There were even a few whale sightings.
Would highly recommend this. Huge shout out to Spencer, Dave, Frank and Cullen (?).
The trip entailed visiting fish farms and logging camps to launching kayakers and picking up hikers from the Nootka Island Trail. There were even a few whale sightings.
Would highly recommend this. Huge shout out to Spencer, Dave, Frank and Cullen (?).
Written August 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet L
4 contributions
Jun 2022
Had an absolutely fabulous time! The scenery was spectacular and I was very impressed with the crew and how hard and efficiently they worked as a team. I was amazed with how Captain Spencer not only did an outstanding job navigating, but how he jumped in to helping the crew that attended to the delivery of the goods to the various stops during the voyage. The interaction between the crew and passengers made the trip worthwhile. I really liked it when at the end of the adventure we were thanked by Captain Spencer, Jesse and Dave as we left the gangway.
Written June 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave W
Courtenay, Canada9 contributions
Jul 2021
Beautiful day, all sun and little wind. Visited 3 fish farms outgoing delivering supplies fish food etc. Also visited two resorts delivering groceries and supplies, picking up empty propane cylinders etc. On our return we again visited fish farm ally to pick up empty pallets, water bottles etc from a couple of farms. Hard working crew and watching them load and unload was very interesting, the young man on the crane was incredible. Lunch a little slow but that was fine, she is there by herself and that is the way it has to be with a small galley. Food more than made up for the minor wait.
Written July 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How was the overnight accommodation? We are planning a trip in June and would like to prepare. Thank you
Written February 6, 2020
We did this in September and were so lucky to have a beautiful blue sky warm day. We arrived at Gold River the night before our one day trip on the Uchuck and stayed at a nearby hotel. There’s a great bar right beside that hotel. The dock was about a 15 minute drive away. You are a passenger on working boat, and you get to observe this activity while admiring the incredible scenery. You should bring binoculars. The top deck of the boat is open air but with a roof top cover and has bench seating. There is lots of room to bring a backpack, bringing a lap blanket, layers of clothing, gloves, would be helpful. When the boat is travelling, the wind can be chilly. When you go below the top deck there is another passenger area with the bathroom, a tiny cafe where you can buy the most amazing muffins, sandwiches, coffee, water etc. They take visa. And then there is booth style seating where you can sit and eat or take food back upstairs. The boat stops and delivers supplies at fish farms, lodges etc, (you can’t get off the boat) The return time back to dock would be a bit unpredictable based on the number of stops and cargo. I was amazed at how much cargo that boat can actually hold. I believe we got back around 7 pm. It was great west coast experience.
Written February 5, 2020
Trying to decide whether to do the Friendly cove route or Kyuquot . Any opinions or pros or cons?
Written June 15, 2019
We really enjoyed our trip to Nootka Sound. Learned so much about supplies being taken to fish farms, lodges etc. The crew was helpful and a wealth of knowledge. Always willing to talk to us., food very good. Next time we will take the Friendly cove route. Weather was perfect too.
Written July 3, 2019
I would like to know if you stayed in any local accommodations before or after your day trip? If so, would you recommend it? Thanks!
Written September 1, 2018
We also stayed at the Gold River Chalet. Highly recommend it for the same reasons as below.
Written September 1, 2018
Is the crab $45 PER PERSON, or can a couple order it for the same price?
Written September 21, 2015
I have no idea what crab has to do with taking a cruise on the MV Uchuck III Sorry, can't help you.
Written September 22, 2015
Wednesday and Saturdays. Saturday is the best as you get to spend more time at Friendly Cove.
And , they go to yuqulot on Thursdays, that's an overnight trip.
Great fun.
Written August 20, 2015
Marylou S
Victoria, Canada
What time do you depart and return?
Are reservations needed & if so, how far in advance?
Can you accommodate a senior with walker?
Do you pick up & deliver from our hotel?
When are the tours available (days & months)?
Written August 18, 2015
Departures and returns vary from trip to trip, all of that info is on our website.
Reservations are ALWAYS encouraged as we are experiencing a busy summer due to the fantastic weather.
We can accommodate a senior with a walker but keep in mind these are open seas and the vessel does rock so anyone with mobility issues should sit night and not walk around too much. There is a short flight of stairs to the Galley and upper deck.
tour schedule is on our website as well.
Thanks for inquiring, hope this helps!
Written August 18, 2015
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