How to Do Okanagan Lake and Wine Country in One Day
A woman who knows what she wants: wine, boats, and good times in the Okanagan.
By the Downtown Marina Team | June 2026
Most people visiting Kelowna do the lake or the wineries, and treat them as two separate days. The thing is, Okanagan Lake runs right between them: the downtown waterfront on one shore, the West Kelowna wine trail on the other, a 10-minute boat ride across open water. We've been sending guests across that crossing since 2013, and the ones who figure out how to combine both almost always say it's the best day of the trip.
This is the practical version of how to do it: the route, where to dock, which wineries to target, and how to handle the one question that always comes up when wine tasting and boat operating are on the same agenda.
Quick Answer: Rent a bowrider or pontoon from Downtown Marina at 210 Bernard Ave in Kelowna, cruise south under the William R. Bennett Bridge, dock free at Eldorado Marina for lunch, then cross to the west shore and rideshare 5 minutes up to Quails' Gate, Frind, or Mission Hill for an afternoon tasting. Check which wineries require reservations in summer, and book before you leave home. Plan the full day, not a half-day.
Why Okanagan Lake Is the Best Way into Wine Country
The William R. Bennett Bridge is the only road crossing between Kelowna and West Kelowna, and on a summer weekend, it can back up badly. The boat crossing to the west side is roughly 4 to 5 km of open water, and you're on the other side before the bridge traffic has moved a car length. That's the practical argument, and it's a good one… but we all know the real reason is that boating is really fun.
Okanagan Lake is 135 km long and up to 232 metres deep, and the Kelowna stretch is wide enough to feel genuinely open once you clear the bridge. You're not threading through a marina, you're out on the water, with the West Kelowna hillside and its vineyards rising ahead of you. Most of our guests have never approached wine country from that direction before, and the view of those slopes from the water is something you don't get from a car window. If you want a sense of the full range of what's out there, our interactive boaters' guide covers the lake from Kelowna to Peachland and beyond.
What Boat Works Best for This Trip
A bowrider (speedboat) rental or pontoon is the right call, and which one depends on your group. The bowrider (Chaparral H2O, Cobalt R6 or R7) is quicker and more responsive, better for a couple or a group of four who want to feel the lake under them. The pontoon is the move for groups of six or more, or anyone who'd rather have deck space and shade over speed. Both handle the crossing easily.
For this trip, we recommend a full day if you want to eat a nice meal or two and do a proper tastings rather than rush it. Multi-day rentals drop in rate the longer you book, and include a free water toy. Minimum rental age is 19 for both boat types. No boating licence required: we issue a temporary licence and walk you through the controls before you leave the dock. Arrive 30 minutes before your start time.
What to Know About the Wineries Before You Go
Frind, Quails' Gate, and Mission Hill are all on the West Kelowna wine trail and are among the most visited wineries in BC.
Frind Winery
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Boat access: direct dock and beach tie-up on site (first come-first-serve).
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3725 Boucherie Road, West Kelowna.
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Tie up on the dock. No rideshare needed.
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Beachfront cafe, wood-fired pizza, live music on weekends.
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Tastings from $10. Reservations recommended; book through frindwinery.com.
Quails' Gate Winery
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Lakefront estate in Westbank, tasting room looking back across Okanagan Lake toward Kelowna. (On a clear day you can see roughly where you left the boat.)
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Reservations required in summer. Book through quailsgate.com.
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Old Vines Restaurant gets booked out well ahead in peak season. Reserve it at the same time as your tasting, not the morning of.
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Kids welcome; juice tastings available.
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Rideshare from Gellatly Bay: ~5 minutes.
Mission Hill Family Estate
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Hilltop estate with underground barrel cellars blasted from volcanic rock, a summer concert series, and guided tasting experiences. Bigger and more formal than Quails' Gate.
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Reservations or membership required May through September. Book through missionhillwinery.com.
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Plan more time here than you think you need, and book further ahead than you think you need to.
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Rideshare/Cab from Gellatly Bay: ~3 minutes.
The Best Route, Stop by Stop
The day runs south along Kelowna's east shore first, then crosses to the west side. If you've done our southern scenic route before, you know the opening stretch.
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Downtown Marina (210 Bernard Ave, Kelowna). Head south past City Park Beach. Speed limits apply under the William R. Bennett Bridge, so ease off as you approach and watch for boat traffic around the pylons. Once through, you're on open water.
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Eldorado Resort (east shore, a few km south). Dock free while you dine at the Lakeside Dining Room or Boardwalk patio, both right over the water. First-come, first-served: get there before noon on busy summer days. Docking policies can change seasonally, so confirm with Eldorado Marina before your trip. (Arriving in your own boat? Our downtown moorage is another option for starting and ending closer to Bernard Ave.)
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Gellatly Bay public dock (West Kelowna Yacht Club, 4111 Gellatly Road). Cross straight over from Eldorado and tie up here. Quails' Gate is about a 5-minute ride-share or cab. Mission Hill is about 3 minutes in the other direction… and there are MANY more wineries we aren’t mentioning here. Rideshares are reliable through summer, but have a backup plan on long weekends.
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The wineries. Go directly to Frind and use their dock if you don’t want to bother with rideshares or cabs. Budget 60 to 90 minutes for each stop, longer if you're eating.
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Return to Downtown Marina. Cruise north. The stretch past Bertram Creek Regional Park and Raymer Bay Beach is worth slowing down for: quieter water and better afternoon light.
The Designated Driver Question
This is the one everyone asks about, and the answer is simple: the driver needs to be sober. On an hourly rental, that's the named renter (only they can be at the helm). On a multi-day rental, all drivers listed at booking are covered. Either way, one person skips the tastings or limits to a pour or two, and the rest of the group drinks without any complications.
Downtown Marina has ZERO tolerance for alcohol and drugs while operating the boat. This applies to whoever is at the wheel, always. No exceptions!
FAQ
Do I need a boating licence to rent on Okanagan Lake?
No licence required. Downtown Marina issues a temporary boating licence to all renters and walks you through the boat controls before you leave the dock. You'll need a valid photo ID and a credit card for the damage deposit. Minimum rental age is 19 for bowriders and pontoons.
How far ahead do I need to book a winery reservation in summer?
At least a week out for Quails' Gate or Mission Hill, and earlier on weekends and long weekends. Both wineries fill their summer slots faster than most visitors expect, and walk-ins aren't guaranteed from May through September. Book through each winery's website directly, before you book the boat.
How long does the crossing from Kelowna to West Kelowna take by boat?
The crossing from Downtown Marina to the Gellatly Bay area is roughly 4 to 5 km across open water. In a bowrider or pontoon at normal cruising speed, that's under 10 minutes in calm conditions. The lake can get choppy in the afternoon when the wind picks up, so earlier crossings are typically smoother.
Can I dock directly at Quails' Gate or Mission Hill?
Neither winery has a public boat dock for day visitors. The closest public moorage on the west side is the Gellatly Bay dock at the West Kelowna Yacht Club, 4111 Gellatly Road. Both wineries are a short rideshare from there. The Eldorado Resort in Kelowna offers a docking option, and so does Frind Winery in West Kelowna.
Book Your Boat
Downtown Marina is at 210 Bernard Ave on the Kelowna waterfront, open May through September, seven days a week. Lifejackets included for everyone: passengers, kids, dogs. Top up on snacks and sunscreen at the marina store before you head out, and leave time to fuel up if you're running low on the return.
The winery reservation takes 5 minutes to book online, and so does the boat! Book a boat in Kelowna through Downtown Marina.
Kelowna Downtown Marina is your launch point for unforgettable lake adventures. Located in the city's heart, we offer full-service boat rentals, Sea-Doos, paddle boards, and everything you need for a perfect day on Okanagan Lake. We've got you covered from fuel to gear to expert local tips. Plan your trip today!