Jillian, Justin, Charles and I snuck away for a kid-free trip to Nimmo Bay a few weeks ago, and it was PURE magic! From the world-class food to the breathtaking adventures, I wanted to share it all with you here today.
Nimmo Bay Resort is a family owned small resort on the that is nestled in the Haida Gwaii Islands in the heart of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest in the Gwawenuk Territory. The Murrays have been welcoming guests to this stunning area for nearly 40 years! Fraser (the eldest) and his beautiful wife Becky, have transformed the original fishing lodge that his parents Craig and Deborah established into a world-class wilderness resort that we were blessed to experience.
I stumbled upon the Nimmo Bay Instagram account 3 years ago when Charles sent it to me (haha, hint hint). My jaw dropped – I couldn’t believe such a place existed. One look and you’ll see what I mean! I actually got tears in my eyes going back onto their site as a source for this post. The whole trip was simply too incredible for words, but I will do my best.
After 3 years of planning (and plans falling apart for us time after time), we finally were able to coordinate a couples trip with Jillian and Justin with NO KIDS. From tip to tail, the entire trip was filled with joy, laughter and awe. They are memories I will forever cherish.
How to Get to Nimmo Bay
There are a few ways to get to Nimmo Bay. There are a few moving parts, but in all honesty, getting there is a part of the adventure. Their team is awesome and can help you figure it out based on what works for you! We chose to drive to Richmond and take a private float plane using Private Sky Aviation. The flight took just under 2 hours and brought us right to the dock at Nimmo Bay. The flight alone was such a beautiful experience. Flying over the gorgeous coastline gave me a new appreciation for our crazy-awesome province.
Accommodations at Nimmo Bay
There are a variety of accommodations at Nimmo Bay: and none disappoint. We ended up staying in ocean-front cabins that were too cute for words. The cottage was adorned with velvet curtains, a dreamy soaker tub, rocking chairs to enjoy the morning coffee and the perfect touch of antiques that Fraser has collected. It was my kind of perfect!
Our Nimmo Bay Adventures
We quite literally had the time of our lives at Nimmo Bay. I had no idea that this type of experience existed in truth – it’s one of those things that is hard to explain. The entire resort has such a warm welcoming feel to it, from the bay it is nestled in to the beyond lovely staff that made our trip beyond special. From sitting on the dock by the fire in their Adirondack chairs to flying high over the mountain tops, here is a summary of my highlights!
Ocean Kayaking, Whale Watching & Beach Picnic
The resort has THE coolest boats I’ve ever seen. We took off on one of them to explore the ocean, where we saw whales breaching, sea otters playing, beautiful aboriginal markings on the cliffs from the First Nations. We spent the balance of the day kayaking in a bay followed by a decadent lunch of chilli, homemade cornbread and wine.
Waterfall Hot Tub
One of the things that I was most looking forward to was the hot tub that was nestled at the foot of a waterfall in the resort. And it didn’t disappoint. Sipping morning coffee in that hot tub was absolute goals. I can’t describe the serenity of that space. We all took turns freezing our buns off under the VERY COLD waterfall and laughing at our expressions.
Glacier Helicopter Ride with Champagne & Oysters
This had to be one of the most breathtaking experiences I could ever imagine. It was Charles’ first time in a helicopter (it was a surprise part of the trip – poor guy was a bit nervous). All I have to say is that when we landed he was in tears… the good kind. Seeing the world from the top of that mountain, with our best friends, was one of the highlights of our lives. We were quite literally on top of the world and my heart is forever grateful for those moments.
The lake that we sat above was the most incredible blue I’ve ever seen, and the fact that they brought a chef up to the top… my mind was blown.
Spa on the Dock
The resort is literally filled with hidden gems that are tucked away from sight. Apparently we didn’t even come close to experiencing them all (how is this possible?). In any case, we took turns as couples getting dropped off on the dock of a floating sauna where we ate lunch in robes, had a couples massage and soaked up the heat in the cedar sauna. I had to basically drag Charles off – he had found his happy place!
Hiking (among the bears!)
On the same day we went to the dock spa we took a small boat to hike into a special place. When we pulled into the bay we saw a total of NINE bears! Talk about trust. Our guides were incredible: Irvin is a local resident from Heghmus (Hopetown) who knows the land like the back of his hand and is a wildlife expert. Between him and Chris, we were in the best hands as we hiked into the forest to explore the nature. It was magical: I thought that ferries were going to fly out of the forest at any moment!
Foraging for Food
Much of the food that is served at Nimmo Bay is sourced from the region by their talented chefs and the owner Fraser who grew up in the resort and is an experienced diver. We took off one day to forage for food, eating some of it fresh from the ocean, and had the best time. I was in foodie heaven!
Picnic in the Woods on the Ocean & Champagne Sabering
On our last day we were whisked away by boat to have lunch. We pulled up to a rocky nook where we were greeted by our new friend Kyle (best. server. ever) with a bottle of champagne and a saber. Jillian took the honour of sabering the bottle (bandaids may have been used) and we hiked up to a full-on gourmet picnic in the woods. What a way to end the trip!
Dining at Nimmo Bay Resort
I can’t even begin to express how incredible the food was at Nimmo Bay Resort. I was warned to pack my stretchy pants from those who had been there before! The food is as fresh as it gets and the best kind of gourmet: completely unpretentious and letting the flavours of the ingredients shine. From fresh lobster, homemade flaky biscuits and crisp flavourful salads, I was blown away! I will be sharing a couple of recipes from their chefs here soon.
What to Pack for Nimmo Bay
I read everything on the website (including what to pack), but was still a bit unsure about some of the things to bring. How fancy was the restaurant? How dirty and wet would we be getting? Depending on how you are getting there, you may be limited to a smaller bag so you have to be a bit of a packing ninja here! I ended up not wearing any of my fancier clothes (the restaurant is gorgeous but super chill, there is no dress code), and a pair of nice sandals and a cool pair of boots like Blundstones are all you need for footwear. They have all the rain gear and hiking boots etc for you there! Here is what I packed (minus the sparkly outfit and heels that I should have left behind):
- Jackets (rain coat & light jacket)
- Shirts (plaid flannel & waffle shirts)
- Jeans
- Leggings
- Warm socks
- Boots: Blundstone or Hunter or similar
- Sneakers
- Swim Suit
Thank you Nimmo Bay Resort for hosting us!
Consider removing the reference to the Queen Charlotte Islands, that’s the colonizer name.
Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention!