Life on the Penders is closely connected to our surrounding waters. Find the information you need to explore by boat or paddle. Whether you’re sailing, cruising, or paddling along the BC Marine Trail, the Penders offer a welcoming harbour with easy access to island shops, restaurants, and services.
Boaters visiting Pender have a range of options, from full-service marinas and public docks to mooring buoys.
Three full-service marinas are located across the islands: Otter Bay Marina and Port Browning Marina Resort on North Pender, and Poets Cove Marina Resort in Bedwell Harbour on South Pender, offering both short- and longer-term moorage. Summer and shoulder season weekends are busy and space fills quickly, so booking ahead is recommended.
Mooring buoys are available in Beaumont Marine Park, along with limited space at CRD docks in Port Washington, Hope Bay, and Port Browning.
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Pender Island is a popular stop for boaters exploring the Southern Gulf Islands, within easy reach of Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and the San Juan Islands. Provisions and services are available across the islands, and seasonal clearance at Bedwell Harbour makes it a convenient entry point for international arrivals.
Provisions & Services: at marinas, Driftwood Centre, Medicine Beach Centre, and Hope Bay
Fuel: Poets Cove Marina and Driftwood Auto
Pump-out facilities: Sidney and Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island
International arrivals: seasonal clearance at Canada Border Services in Bedwell Harbour
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Whether you’re heading out on the water or exploring along the shore, be sure to check local weather forecasts, tides and currents before you go.
Pender Island and the surrounding Southern Gulf Islands are a popular destination for paddlers, with generally protected waters, easy access from Vancouver and Victoria, and a network of paddle-in campgrounds and local services.
Bring your own kayak, rent locally, join a guided tour, or plan your own route. The BC Marine Trails network supports low-impact coastal travel and offers resources to help you plan your trip responsibly.
Pender Island is a popular stop for boaters exploring the Southern Gulf Islands, within easy reach of Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and the San Juan Islands. Provisions and services are available across the islands, and seasonal clearance at Bedwell Harbour makes it a convenient entry point for international arrivals.
Provisions & Services: at marinas, Driftwood Centre, Medicine Beach Centre, and Hope Bay
Fuel: Poets Cove Marina and Driftwood Auto
Pump-out facilities: Sidney and Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island
International arrivals: seasonal clearance at Canada Border Services in Bedwell Harbour
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Fishing opportunities on Pender range from stocked freshwater lakes to saltwater crabbing, prawning, and sport fishing. Try trout fishing in Magic Lake or head out on the water for a coastal experience.
Be sure to have the appropriate fishing licence and check current regulations, limits, and seasonal closures before you go.
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The Penders offer dozens of beach access points to explore, from sandy stretches to rocky shoreline. Some can be linked together at low tide, making for longer shoreline walks.
Popular spots include Roesland, Hamilton Beach, Medicine Beach, Thieves Bay, Shingle Bay, Mortimer Spit, and Brooks Point/Gowlland Point, among others. Pick up a community parks map and guidebook and start exploring.
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