Every Real-Life Location Behind Netflix’s ‘Crew Girl’ Uncovered

Netflix’s latest teen sports drama has captured the attention of viewers, revealing that its stunning East Coast backdrop is actually set in British Columbia. ‘Crew Girl’ was filmed entirely in Victoria and surrounding areas on southern Vancouver Island, transforming Canadian scenery into a fictional Massachusetts prep school, sparking curiosity among fans eager to discover where their favorite scenes were filmed.

The series centers on 16-year-old Teagan Tao, a gifted rower who moves with her mother Ella after her father’s financial troubles come to light. Upon arriving, she finds her new school lacks a girls’ rowing team, compelling her to join the boys’ varsity crew as coxswain. With the show now available for streaming, interest in its breathtaking waterfront locations has surged.

The production utilized real sites, including Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University, to depict the fictional Easton Prep campus. Fans of period dramas and superhero films may recognize the castle grounds from previous productions, but in ‘Crew Girl’, it serves as the heart of the elite boarding school atmosphere.

Showrunner Vivian Lin, known for ‘SkyMed’ and ‘The Lake’, developed ‘Crew Girl’ with Morwyn Brebner as a high-stakes, soapy teen sports romance set in the competitive world of East Coast rowing. The grandeur of Hatley Castle’s architecture and manicured grounds effectively represent a prestigious New England institution.

Filming took place at Royal Roads University and various locations along the Gorge Waterway, with rowing sequences requiring precise water operations and choreography. The castle setting enhances the show’s class divide tension, as Teagan’s outsider status contrasts sharply with the old-money elegance surrounding her.

Scenes showcasing the rowing races were filmed at Elk Beaver Lake Regional Park and the Gorge Waterway, both of which became the show’s athletic proving grounds, representing the fictional Easton crew course. To capture the races’ intensity, the crew employed innovative equipment, including a floating camera barge for close-ups and drone photography for independent rowing shots. This combination allowed for a balance of sweeping aerial views and intimate moments within the boat.

The cast often spent 8 to 10 hours a day on the water, utilizing a techno crane to capture the rowing footage. This dedication contributes to the authenticity of the rowing sequences in ‘Crew Girl’, making them feel genuine rather than staged.

Additionally, the production utilized the Victoria City Rowing Club and Gorge Narrows Rowing Club as real facilities, providing access to authentic equipment and coaching resources, enhancing the realism of the show’s athletic program.

Downtown Sidney and its waterfront were transformed into the fictional Eagle’s Cove, Massachusetts, the small town where Teagan and her mother begin anew. This charming waterfront location adds a cozy, close-knit backdrop that contrasts with the pressures of the prep school environment.

In the narrative, Teagan and her mother Ella leave California behind for Ella’s small Massachusetts hometown of Eagle’s Cove following a family scandal. Sidney’s picturesque harbor significantly contributes to the fresh start atmosphere depicted on screen.

Other filming locations include Selkirk Trestle, Tillicum Road Bridge, and Point Hope Maritime, which, alongside Sidney’s waterfront, helped create a believable East Coast town using entirely West Coast Canadian geography.

Principal photography commenced on September 8, 2025, and concluded on November 21, 2025, with the production initially operating under the working title Easton Prep. This fall shoot aligns with the crisp, autumnal aesthetic of many scenes in the series.

Produced by Blue Ant Studios, the show blends high-stakes sports rivalry, soapy teen romance, and class divide issues, immersing viewers in the competitive world of prep school rowing. The significance of the location choices is paramount, as the series requires both grandeur and intimacy in its settings.

Miku Martineau stars as Teagan Tao, alongside Sam Braun and Kyle Clark, with Jessica Paré portraying her mother Ella. All eight episodes of ‘Crew Girl’ are now streaming on Netflix, providing fans ample opportunity to spot every Victoria landmark cleverly disguised as part of the story.

With Hatley Castle, the Gorge Waterway, and the streets of Sidney all serving as stand-ins for a fictional Massachusetts prep school town, which ‘Crew Girl’ filming location surprised you the most for being shot in British Columbia?