Pender Island is actually comprised of two separate islands. Although, North Pender Island and South Pender Island were originally connected by a narrow strip of land, the isthmus was dredged in 1902 to allow the ferry to travel from Hope Bay (on the East side of the North Island) through the sheltered waters of Bedwell Harbour on its way to Sidney. Suprisingly, the bridge connecting the two islands was only built 53 years later, in 1955!
Things to see and do: Anchor at the Beaumont Marine Park and hike up Mt. Norman (typically takes one hour). Explore the Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary, which is one of the last remaining wetland areas in the region. Play 27 holes of frisbee golf at the Golf Island Disc Park. Although the course features a bumpy landscape and many trees, it makes for a beautiful walk through the woods! Visit the Pender Island Museum, and find out more about the rich history of the Penders. Join Pender Island Kayak Adventures on a kayaking tour and explore the hundreds of bays and beaches that make up the 38 miles of coastline.
Marinas and anchorages: Poets Cove Resort and Spa is synonymous with a visit to the Pender Islands. Featuring a fantastic restaurant, a casual pub, an in-house spa (that offers some treatments, such as back massages, in the comfort of your own boat) and a hot tub & swimming pool, Poets Cove is a favourite among boaters! Another great marina is the Otter Bay Marina, which offers bicycle and scooter rentals, laundry, volleyball, badminton, a horseshoe pit, and a kids playground! Moorage is also available at Port Browning Marina and includes the use of the swimming pool. Mooring buoys and anchoring are avaliable at the Beaumont Marine Park, Medicine Beach Nature Sanctuary, Thieves Bay, Hope Bay and Otter Bay.
Hazards in the area: With its low topography and position in the shadow of the Olympic Mountain range, Pender Island is protected from storms and receives much less precipitation than the surrounding areas. One hazard to be aware of: there are some rocks along the west side of the breakwater at Thieves Bay. The area is marked well with many black buoys.
