PENDER ISLANDS LINKS & INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

Organizations: Chamber of Commerce; Community Hall

Magic Lake Estates Property Owners Association (MLPOS)/Thieves Bay Marina

BC Ferries Schedules

Local (CRD/PIPC) Parks

Gulf Islands National Park

Pender Island Golf and Country Club

Golf Island Disc Golf Course

Sea Star Estate Farm and Vineyards

For links to restaurants, accommodations & travel info, see below.

LOCAL NEWS AND WEATHER

Weather Forecast from Environment Canada

Marine Forecast

Tide Tables

Satellite Weather

Victoria Times Colonist

CBC News

UPCOMING EVENTS

See the the Pender Island Arts Culture and Entertainment Facebook page for details on upcoming Pender highlights.

See the Pender Post calendar for the most current Pender Events.

Film Series: Films are at the Community Hall (MAP 3)  (Donation). Subscribe to the Hall's newsletter for movie listings, or see the Pender Post calendar. 
Gulf Islands Concert Series concerts are at the School auditorium at 7:30 pm

Advance tickets for special events are typically sold at Talisman Books and Southridge Country Store. Concerts are at the Community Hall unless stated otherwise.

TRAVEL INFORMATION & LINKS
Ferries
Most travelers arrive on the Pender Islands via a BC Ferries vessel from the Victoria area (Swartz Bay) or Vancouver area (Tsawwassen). Phone: 1-888-BCFERRY; 250.381.5452.

To get from Washington State to the Victoria area, vehicle ferry options include the Washington State Ferry from Anacortes, WA to Sidney, BC (except in winter - and suspended at present at least through summer 2022) and the Coho ferry from Port Angeles, WA to downtown Victoria. A passenger-only ferry option arrives in downtown Victoria in the Inner Harbour via Victoria Clipper  from Seattle.   Victoria-San Juan Cruises from Bellingham suspended service in 2010 and now just does eco-tours out of Bellingham.

Pender Local's Ferry Schedule
Ferry travelers in the know keep updated as to the boats that handle a particular sailing, in order to plan which ferry to take and how early to arrive at the terminal. The Pender kiosk and/or Pender Island Realty may have locals schedules to give out. The BC Ferries website may list ferries where overloads are expected.

Customs
To cross from Canada to the U.S, passports are now required. For the most current information see the Canadian and U.S. customs websites.

Air
To fly into the major transportation hubs, see the websites for Vancouver (YVR), Victoria (YYJ) and Seattle (SEA) international airports. Alaska and Delta Airlines connect Seattle and Victoria airports. Float plane service is also available to Pender Island via Seair from Vancouver airport to Port Washington (N. Pender). Harbour Air /Salt Spring Air from Vancouver downtown and YVR to Poets Cove (S. Pender) on charter basis only, and Kenmore Air from Seattle/Lake Union to Poets Cove (S. Pender, summer only, and now charter only).

Ground
Bus service between points in Vancouver and the Tsawwassen ferry terminal is provided by Pacific Coach Lines, or you can use the public Translink (bus and SkyTrain or new Canada Line). From Victoria airport a taxi is your best bet to get to Swartz Bay terminal. From downtown Victoria, take a taxi or use Victoria Regional Transit, Route 70. Rent a car at or near the airports or in Vancouver or Victoria. Try Avis, Budget, National, Hertz. No car rentals are available on Pender, however, Poets Cove guests can ask the concierge for availability of a van for rent by the day.

Camping

Prior Centennial and Shingle Bay Campground Reservations

Note that Beaumont is temporarily day use only, no camping. Check for updates. 

MARINAS

Otter Bay (Swanson Channel, near the ferry terminal. Seasonal Cafe) 250.629.3579

Port Browning (Browning Harbour, halfway down N. Pender. Restaurant.) 250.629.3493

Thieves Bay (Swanson Channel. Private, MLPOS residents and guests only) 250.629.3686

Poets Cove Resort /Bedwell Harbour Marina (South Pender Island in Bedwell Harbour. Customs, fuel dock, restaurant, pub, hotel) 250.629.2111

RESTAURANTS  all phones 1-250-
Call restaurants for current open days and hours.
The Stand at the Ferry Terminal  250.629.3292
Otter Bay Bistro at the marina 629.3579 (Seasonal)
Golf Course restaurant, changes frequently  

The Hub at Hope Bay 1 250 222 9557 

Southridge Country Store  629-2051

Port Washington Food Truck Closed

Copper Otter Grill at Driftwood replaced Jo's 629.6033

Vanilla Leaf Bakery at Driftwood Centre 629.6453
Slow Coast Coffee (Medicine Beach Ctr)  629.3619

Penderosa Pizza (Medicine Beach Centre) Closed

Truss Farm Foods  Shop and Food truck (Med Beach Ctr)
Coffee + Kitchen (Woods on Pender) 629.3353
Port Browning /Bridgeman's Pub & Cafe 629.3493
Poets Cove: Syrens 629.2114 Aurora 629.2115 (Seasonal)

CHARTERS AND BOATS

Pender Island Kayak Adventures at Port Browning

Tours and Rentals

Dog Mermaid at Otter Bay  Eco Adventures, Kayak Rentals and Retreats

Fishing charters: Inquire at your accommodation or marinas since they tend to change frequently. 

Island Water Taxi (Sidney, comes to Pender)

Also marine life tours.

GOLF COURSE EVENTS Check here  or call the golf course at 629.6659 for course closures due to events or  tournaments. 
Note: Wednesday has been 2-for-1 day to promote course use on a slow day. Not available summer 2025.  Check for current status.