No trip to Parry Sound is complete without getting out on the water, and the Island Queen Cruise is the classic way to do it. Departing from the town dock, the 550-passenger Island Queen — Canada’s largest sightseeing cruise ship — carries visitors into the heart of Georgian Bay’s 30,000 Islands, the largest freshwater archipelago in the world and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Two sightseeing cruises run daily from June through mid-October. The two-hour morning cruise meanders around Huckleberry Island, past grand summer cottages and through narrow, shallow channels many locals call the most picturesque on the Bay. The three-hour afternoon cruise ventures further, following the wake of early explorers into the remote outer islands. Full commentary explains the geology, wildlife and human history along the way.
The ship itself is built for the job: 132 feet long but drawing only six feet of water, so the captain can slip through tight passages like the famous Hole in the Wall, where 80-foot granite cliffs rise on either side. Large viewing windows, open observation decks, a snack bar, wheelchair accessibility and heat for fall colour cruises keep everyone comfortable.
Newer still is the Islander, a 40-passenger vessel offering lunch tours to Henry’s famous fish restaurant on Frying Pan Island and eco-tours to Huckleberry Island with naturalists from the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve. Book early in summer — these cruises are popular for good reason. Parking at dockside is free.