--- title: "Brockville: Waterway Adventure Guide" date: 2026-04-18T11:41:00-04:00 author: "South Eastern Ontario / Sud-Est de l'Ontario" canonical_url: "https://www.southeasternontario.ca/itineraries/brockville-waterway-adventure-guide/" section: Itineraries --- ![](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/images/transforms/_maxWidth2400px/RLP-233-medium.jpg) # Brockville: Waterway Adventure Guide South Eastern Ontario / Sud-Est de l'Ontario Did you know that the gorgeous 1000 Islands in the St. Lawrence River actually comprise 1,864 islands? (To qualify as an island, a piece of land must be above water every day of the year and support at least one living tree.) And further, did you know that the City of Brockville is the only community that owns any of these islands? You can visit them by private powerboat, kayak or canoe, or take a water taxi operated by the Dive Brockville Adventure Centre. You’ll also see some of them aboard a sightseeing trip with 1000 Islands and Seaway Cruises, or Dive Brockville. That’s not the only unique way to get out on the water in Brockville. Just offshore, you’ll find the Centeen Underwater Dive Park, where you can scuba among more than 45 sculptures created by local artists and students. Notably clear water also draws freshwater divers to the many shipwrecks along this stretch of the St. Lawrence. And multiple beaches, including a large one at St. Lawrence Park, are popular with swimmers on hot summer days. Once you’ve had your fill of water fun, you’ll find lots more to enjoy on shore. Learn about the ecology of the St. Lawrence at the Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing. See the free sound and light show inside Canada’s oldest railway tunnel. Catch a show at the Brockville Arts Centre. For a bit of history, visit the Brockville Museum or tour opulent Fulford Place. Or just enjoy a meal with a river view, watching ships go by. - [Anthophile Café and Patio (waterfront patio) Waterfront patio in St. Lawrence Park serving summer classics, cafe fare and exciting daily specials. Explore ](https://www.facebook.com/people/Anthophile-Cafe-Patio/61560124824348/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=XZhPZKluvLDWTcSi&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F18zaHi6rGF%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr) - [Café and Bistro at Tall Ships Landing (waterfront deck) Enjoy a coffee or ice cream on the waterfront. Explore ](https://tallshipslanding.com/restaurants/cafe-and-bistro/) - [Fat Les Waterfront Patio Beautiful licensed patio right on the St. Lawrence. Warm, family-friendly environment. Explore ](https://www.facebook.com/30blockhouseisland/) - [Moose McGuire’s Pub and Grill (waterfront deck) Moose McGuire's is your quintessential neighbourhood hangout. Enjoy the warm, laid-back atmosphere. Explore ](https://moosemcguires.ca/brockville/) - [Brockville Arts Centre Live theatre, music, movies, and more! Visit the Heritage Theatre located in the heart of historic downtown Brockville! Explore ](https://brockvilleartscentre.com/) - [Brockville Museum Explore the social and industrial history of Brockville with exhibits that share the stories of the people, products, and events that have shaped this riverfront community. Explore ](https://brockvillemuseum.com/) - [Brockville Railway Tunnel Canada’s First Railway Tunnel passes half a kilometer from Brockville’s waterfront, right under the City. Explore ](https://www.brockvillerailwaytunnel.com/) - [Blockhouse Island This island gem just out into the mighty St. Lawrence River at the eastern edge of the world-famous 1000 Islands. Explore ](https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/plaques/blockhouse-island) - [Centeen Underwater Dive Park Dive benches and a dedicated stairway offer divers easy access to the St. Lawrence River and nearby shipwrecks. Explore ](https://divebrockville.com/charters/centeen-memorial-dive-park) - [Hardy Park This park features beautiful trees, a fully accessible playground, accessible public washrooms, bocce ball and volleyball courts, a gazebo, and a walkway along the waterfront. Explore ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/parks-trails/) - [Fulford Place Designed by American architect A. W. Fuller, it was the spacious residence of Senator George T. Fulford (1852-1905), who made his fortune in patent medicines. Explore ](https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/properties/fulford-place) - [St. Lawrence Park The park has a beautiful, safe sandy beach ideal for children, which is supervised during the summer period. Explore ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/camping/) ## Places to stop Skip section Brockville offers so many ways to enjoy its St. Lawrence River waterfront—whether you’re eating a meal, strolling in a park, learning about the river or even diving below the waves! And just a few blocks from the shore, you can take in a show at an arts centre, delve into history, see a unique sound-and-light show in an old railway tunnel and more. WORTH CHECKING OUT - [ Anthophile Café and Patio (waterfront patio) ](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560124824348) - [ Café and Bistro at Tall Ships Landing (waterfront deck) ](https://tallshipslanding.com/restaurants/cafe-and-bistro/) - [ Fat Les Waterfront Patio ](https://www.facebook.com/30blockhouseisland/) - [ Moose McGuire’s Pub and Grill (waterfront deck) ](https://tallshipslanding.com/restaurants/moose-mcguires/) - [ Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing ](https://www.aquatarium.online/) - [ Brockville Arts Centre ](https://brockvilleartscentre.com/) - [ Brockville Museum ](https://brockvillemuseum.com/) - [ Brockville Railway Tunnel ](https://brockvilletourism.com/visit-the-tunnel/) - [ Blockhouse Island ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/parks-trails/) - [ Centeen Park ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/parks-trails/) - [ Centeen Underwater Dive Park ](https://brockvilletourism.com/scuba/) - [ Hardy Park ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/parks-trails/) - [ Fulford Place National Historic Site ](https://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/en/index.php/properties/fulford-place) - [ St. Lawrence Park ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/parks-trails/) ## **Logistics** Eager to get out on the water with a motorboat, canoe, kayak or standup paddleboard—or to find a great place to swim? This section has the information you need. - [St. Lawrence Park The park has a beautiful, safe sandy beach ideal for children, which is supervised during the summer period. Explore ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/camping/) - [Centeen Park Located at the east end of the city, Centeen Park is a popular location in the summer months, especially for scuba divers. Explore ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/parks-trails/) - [Cunningham Park A popular spot for swimming, with a seawall and ladder for access, and also offers opportunities for fishing, sunbathing, and picnicking. Explore ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/recreation/) - [Hardy Park This park features beautiful trees, a fully accessible playground, accessible public washrooms, bocce ball and volleyball courts, a gazebo, and boat launch. Explore ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/parks-trails/) - [Henry Street Boat Launch A public boat ramp is available in Brockville for launching your boat, located at the base of Henry Street. Explore ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/islands/) - [Mac Johnson Creek Conservation Area Located north of Brockville, just two kilometres from Highway 29, it consists of 532 hectares of wetland, field, and forest. Explore ](https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/mac-johnson) ## Beaches & Boat Launches Skip section ## **Beaches** You can jump into the St. Lawrence River from [several Brockville spots](https://brockvilletourism.com/five-places-you-have-to-go-swimming-in-brockville/). Centeen Park doesn’t have a beach but does offer river access; it’s best for strong swimmers. Cunningham Park offers a seawall (not a beach) in the west end. Also in the west end, you’ll find a sandy beach at St. Lawrence Park. - [Centeen Park](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/parks-trails/) - [Cunningham Park](https://brockvilletourism.com/five-places-you-have-to-go-swimming-in-brockville/) - [St. Lawrence Park](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/parks-trails/) ## **Boat Launches** It’s easy to launch your boat into the St. Lawrence River in Brockville. You can put a canoe, kayak or standup paddleboard into the water at these locations, too. - [Hardy Park](https://maps.app.goo.gl/rUNu2fd4YfZw7odz8) - [Henry Street Boat Launch](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GbCChnXAgXGqLrwE8) - [St. Lawrence Park](https://maps.app.goo.gl/G2hCCcqsQeL7skMc7) ## **Other Paddling Put-Ins** As well as the boat launch sites listed above, you can also launch canoes, kayaks and standup paddleboards at the [Mac Johnson Creek Conservation Area](https://cataraquiconservation.ca/pages/mac-johnson). ## **Water Services** For an unforgettable experience, book a scenic cruise among some of the 1000 Islands, departing from Brockville’s downtown waterfront. Other ways to get out on the St. Lawrence River include renting a boat, hopping aboard a water taxi and going scuba diving. And if you’re bringing your own boat, you’ll probably want to find a marina in Brockville. This section has all the links you need. ## Boat Cruises Standing on the deck of a [1000 Islands and Seaway Cruises](https://www.1000islandscruises.com/) ship, admiring countless islands scattered across the St. Lawrence River like green jewels, is one of Brockville’s iconic experiences. Some islands are so tiny they only have one tree, while others are large enough to support multiple cottages—some of them quite grand! The company offers a wide range of trips, including brunch cruises, dinner cruises and themed events. The [Dive Brockville Adventure Centre](https://divebrockville.com/trips/boat-cruise) also offers one-hour sightseeing trips that can be tailored to your interests, such as history or shipwrecks. [ Sail away ](https://www.1000islandscruises.com/) ![](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/images/transforms/_maxWidth960px/42-medium.jpg) - [Brockville Tourism (kayak rentals at St. Lawrence Park) Offering rentals out of St. Lawrence Park, including single kayaks, a tandem kayak, and a paddleboard to help you get out on the River with ease. Explore ](https://brockvilletourism.com/kayakrentals/) - [Dive Brockville Adventure Centre A full-service dive shop that offers everything you need, along with dive charters that operate out of Brockville, Rockport, and Picton! Explore ](https://divebrockville.com/) - [Gilbert Marine Gilbert Marine is an historic marina located in beautiful Brockville, in the Thousand Islands. Explore ](https://gilbertmarine.com/) - [Brockville Municipal Harbour The municipal harbour is located on Blockhouse Island Parkway along the St. Lawrence River behind City Hall and is open from May to October. Explore ](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/boating-harbour/) - [Tall Ships Landing Marina Beautifully located on Brockville’s Thousand Islands, our marina is a great launching pad to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. Explore ](https://tallshipslanding.com/marina/) ## Boat Rentals, Dive Shops & Marinas Skip section ## **Boat Rentals** If you dream of paddling a canoe through the Thousand Islands—or setting out in a kayak or motorboat, or on a standup paddleboard—the following Brockville organizations and companies rent out watercraft. - [Brockville Tourism](https://brockvilletourism.com/) (kayak rentals at St. Lawrence Park, in collaboration with Dive Brockville) - [Dive Brockville Adventure Centre](https://divebrockville.com/adventurers) - [Gilbert Marine](https://gilbertmarine.com/) ## **Dive Shop** Known for its large number of shipwrecks and its fascinating underwater dive park, Brockville is a popular scuba destination. The [Dive Brockville Adventure Centre](https://divebrockville.com/) runs local dives and sells scuba and snorkelling equipment. ## **Marinas** When you’re out on the water in Brockville, it’s easy to find marinas where you can get gas, repairs or boating supplies, or tie up your boat at a rental slip (note that not all services are available at all listed marinas). - [Brockville Municipal Harbour](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/boating-harbour/) - [Gilbert Marine](https://gilbertmarine.com/) - [Tall Ships Marina](https://tallshipslanding.com/marina/) ## **Water Taxi** Wondering how to get out to some of the islands off Brockville’s shore? The [Dive Brockville Adventure Centre](https://divebrockville.com/) offers a water taxi service. ## **Other Services** Feeling hungry? In Brockville, you can find everything from casual fish-and-chip shops to elegant steakhouses, as well as international cuisine. Downtown’s King Street and surrounding blocks are home to locally owned shops and cafes, and you’ll find big chain retailers on Brockville’s outskirts. Banks, gas stations and grocery stores are plentiful, too. ## **Accommodations** From campgrounds and motels to restful inns and brand-name hotels, Brockville offers [accommodations](https://brockvilletourism.com/stay/) to appeal to just about any visitor. If you’d like a water view, check out the following. WORTH CHECKING OUT - [ Brockville Islands (camping) ](https://letscamp.ca/camps/cob-islands-camping) - [ St. Lawrence Park (camping) ](https://letscamp.ca/camps/stlawrence-park) - [ Tall Ships Landing ](https://tallshipslanding.com/vacation-rentals/) ## Visitor Information Downtown, the [Brockville Tourism Visitor Information Centre](https://brockvilletourism.com/contact/) (16 Market Street East) provides maps, guides, brochures and more, year-round. Check the website for hours. Online, [Brockville Tourism](https://brockvilletourism.com/) has visitor information for the city, and the [South Eastern Ontario](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/) regional tourism organization promotes the entire waterfront from the Bay of Quinte to the Ontario-Quebec border. [ Plan your visit ](https://brockvilletourism.com/) ![](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/images/transforms/_maxWidth960px/Brockville-Tourism.jpg) ## Plan more fun! The links below may help you further in planning your vacation in Brockville. Check [Brockville Tourism’s calendar of events](https://brockvilletourism.com/events/) for even more ideas! - [Brockville Boating and Harbour Guide](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/boating-harbour/) - [Brockville Ribfest](https://biggerevents.ca/brockville-ribfest.php) - [Brockville Tall Ships Festival](https://tallshipsbrockville.com/) (every three years) - [City of Brockville Islands](https://brockville.com/things-to-do/islands/) - [Paddlers Place Brockville and Area](http://facebook.com/groups/paddlersplace) - [St. Lawrence Writers Festival](https://sites.google.com/downtownbrockville.com/st-lawrence-writers-festival/home) - [Scuba Diving](https://brockvilletourism.com/scuba/) - [Ship Watching](https://brockvilletourism.com/ship-watching/) - [1000 Islands Regatta and Festival](https://www.1000-islandsregatta.com/) READ ALSO - [ ![](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/images/transforms/_maxWidth250px/brockville_tourism-Instagram-2351-ig-17970394955238348.jpg) Entertainment Get to know Brockville: History, adventure, and scenic views await! ](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/articles/get-to-know-brockville-history-adventure-and-scenic-views-await/) - [ ![](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/images/transforms/_maxWidth250px/FINAL-BLOG-IMAGES-1-1080-x-685-px-1.png) Arts & Culture Brockville Arts Centre: Weaving Culture, Arts And Community ](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/articles/brockville-arts-centre-weaving-culture-arts-and-community/) This content was created in partnership with [Ottawa Road Trips](https://ottawaroadtrips.com/) and is current as of June 2025. Certains de ces lieux sont saisonniers et leur fermeture varie de la fête du Travail à la fin de l'automne. Veuillez consulter les liens avant de partir à l'aventure et planifier en conséquence.