Located close to Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle, the Pender Islands are friendly, unhurried and surrounded by beautiful nature: the perfect place for you to unwind and relax. Originally Pender was a single island, but today a tall single-lane bridge crosses a canal, which was excavated in 1903 creating two islands, North and South Pender.
Pender Island is one of the Southern Gulf Islands located along the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Pender Island consist of two islands, North Pender and South Pender, which are separated by a narrow canal connected by a one-lane bridge. Pender Island lies between Vancouver, BC and Victoria, BC. Pender island is a 2-hour ferry ride from Vancouver and a 40-minute ferry ride from Sidney, BC.
Everything at a Glance
Pender Island enjoys a sub-Mediterranean climate and features open farmland, rolling forested hills, several lakes and small mountains, as well as many coves and beaches.
Pender Island is a popular destination for cycling, fishing, hiking, boating, sailing, scuba diving and other outdoor pursuits. The island also boasts a 9-hole golf course as well as a 27-hole disc golf course (frisbee golf). Pender Island also has numerous art galleries, shops, and restaurants and hosts a variety of local events throughout the year.
Pender is a choice weekend and year round holiday destination. Summer is generally a busy time, while the island pace slows down considerably during the winter months. Spring and fall are pleasant times of the year with fewer tourists and mild weather.
North Pender and South Pender were originally one island connected by an isthmus. This is a site that was used by the Coast Salish Nations for thousands of years, and has a rich history. A canal was dredged in the early 1900’s to allow the ferry and boats quicker and safer passage between the islands.
Pender Island Visitors’ Guide
Chamber members’ businesses will be featured in the Pender Island Visitors Guide. This guide is distributed on BC ferries as well as several tourist information centres.
