Wellington Bay is a large, open coastal bay on the south coast of Victoria Island in Nunavut, forming part of the Coronation Gulf. It is a remote, high-Arctic marine environment characterized by extensive ice cover that persists well into July. The bay is part of a multi-week, advanced canoe route that begins inland and drops to sea level at Wellington Bay. The primary access point for paddlers is the mouth of the Surrey River, where the river flow meets the bay. The entrance to Wellington Bay is very shallow, with sand shoals prevalent near the shores, especially at the river mouth. Beaches are sandy but strewn with some boulders. Navigation on the bay can be extremely difficult due to persistent fog and ice, making a GPS unit strongly recommended for any crossing. The bay represents a significant ocean crossing within the longer route, and paddlers have reported being far out on the water surrounded by ice and fog, indicating high exposure and potential for disorientation. The water is deep in the centre of the bay but becomes shallow near the shores. The area is entirely uninhabited with no cell coverage, necessitating a satellite communication device. The region is rich in Inuit archaeological sites, including tent rings, stone caches, kayak stands, fox traps, and Inukshuit on eskers and points of land. Wildlife sightings include abundant muskoxen, peregrine falcons, rough-legged hawks, tundra swans, sandhill cranes, and common loons. The best season for paddling is very narrow, constrained by ice conditions, typically beginning in late July when temperatures range from 3 to 11 degrees Celsius and 24-hour daylight prevails.