Living Off the Grid: The Floating Island
A couple of Canadians left the city life wanting to live on a floating colored grille, a place that could be used as a home and garden, but also a place where their dreams come true. Wayne Adams and Catherine King created a completely self-sustainable float which they named “Liberty Cove”. This strange property consists of 12 platforms – some are wooden structures, where the house, solariums and living spaces are all interconnected by bridges. The floating house represents excellent shelter from wild animals, one of the reasons that made them quit growing chickens and other poultry.
The pink/turquoise floating structure on the coast Tofino, British Columbia, was built since 1992, and the couple, who have two children, managed to get the award for “house of the year”. Wayne Adams and Catherine King have been living on their own floating island since 1992 and they never thought about leaving this oasis.
They are both artists and passionate about gardening, Adams is a sculptor and King, a retired ballerina who loves painting, writing and music. Although living on an island, the water comes from a nearby waterfall in the summer, and the other part is collected from rain in the winter. This dynamic duo loves to grow fish for food preparation and grow their own vegetables in floating gardens, which have five greenhouses. The entire island is designed to use the energy produced by a series of 14 solar panels and a photovoltaic power generator. This system provides the owners almost total independence and natural food. The 5 greenhouses produce vegetables and fruits all year round. In fact, this system has been self-sustained for the past 20 years.
Their lifestyle made the known worldwide and the curious who want to see how Wayne and Catherine live can get there by boat under a package tour organized by local authorities, with the consent of the owners.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Freedom Cove floating home and gardens, Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, Canada (boat tour destination; departs from Tofino)
- Coordinates
- 49.26345, -125.85506
- Access
- Freedom Cove is reached by pre-arranged guided boat tour with the hosts; it is not a drop-in site. Jamie’s Whaling Station lists departures Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with at least two adult tickets needed to confirm. The operator lists its Tofino contact address as 606 Campbell Street; confirm the exact boat boarding point at booking rather than going to the cove independently. Riders aged 12 and under must be at least 142 cm tall for the Zodiac.
- Admission
- Current Jamie’s Whaling Station fare: CA$147.34 adults 19–64; CA$136.74 seniors 65+, students 19+ with valid ID, and youth 13–18; CA$126.14 children 4–12 who meet the 142 cm Zodiac height requirement. Prices are per person and can change; confirm when booking.
- Time needed
- Jamie’s lists the guided Freedom Cove boat tour and hosted visit as 2.5 hours total; it does not break out time on the water versus time at the cove.
- Best season
- No preferred season or fixed season dates are published specifically for Freedom Cove. Jamie’s lists Wednesday, Friday and Saturday departures by pre-arrangement, while the Tofino Arts Council says visitors are hosted by charter boat each year. Ask the operator which dates are running for your trip.
- Opening hours
- No daily walk-in hours: Freedom Cove is a private floating home visited only by pre-arranged tour. Jamie’s Whaling Station currently lists Wednesday, Friday and Saturday departures and requires at least two adult tickets to confirm; exact tour times and dates are set at booking.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-07
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-07
Map marks the area, not a visitor entrance.
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I have always wanted to live in a floating house. I lived on a boat in Southeast Alaska but a boat is a pain in the butt. This looks like a nice community and peaceful.