Sunset Retreat at Pender Island is the perfect destination for family vacations or a peaceful haven from the hectic pace of big city life.  Pender Island offers many delightful sights and attractions--boat rentals, sport fishing, cruises along the coastline, kayaking, scuba diving, swimming, golfing, tennis, hiking trails, and nature watching.  Sparkling blue water, idyllic scenery, and majestic forests are some of the things that can be found on Pender Island.

Boat or swim at Mortimer Spit.  Take a plunge in one of the outdoor pools at Port Browning or Bedwell Harbour, or from the public wharf at the south end of Magic Lake.  Enjoy an old fashioned picnic at Hamilton Beach on North Pender, or at Mortimer Spit on South Pender.

Laze with a good book by the sea.  Play a game of tennis or a round of golf.  Cool down with a swim in the ocean.  Kayak with the seals.  Snorkel for crab and dine on a remote sunset islet. 

Stroll around the 4-hectare waterfront conservation area at Brooks Point on South Pender.  Experience hiking Mount Elizabeth, Mount Norman Regional Parks and the Enchanted Forest Trail. 

Enjoy local markets and sample locally grown vegetables at roadside stands or browse through art and craft shops and galleries. From May to October the Farmers' Market at the Community Center is popular for both tourists and residents and provides everything from fresh produce to whimsical folk art.  Craft fairs, poetry readings, and exhibitions are held throughout the year.

Local artisans offer their wares  at the Farmer's Market at the Driftwood Mall

The islands have attracted a varied and talented group of artisans and the local studios of potters, painters, weavers and spinners, and wood carvers produce products that are distributed worldwide.  Music is a major part of the island's makeup, and local groups, when not on the road, play to audiences in small pubs and cafes.

From the deck at Sunset Retreat you will watch passing boats with white sails fluttering, like giant swans basking in the sun

Recreational activities abound in the Gulf Islands.  Fishing, boating, kayaking and diving provide entertainment for the water lovers while hiking, cycling, golf and tennis provide activities for those who wish to remain on land.

Pender Islands' easily accessible public beaches are a paradise for beachcombing, picnicking, swimming, kayaking and scuba diving.   Gorgeous, secluded, romantic beaches and picturesque coves are tucked along the coastlines of these islands, making the Penders popular for family vacations, romantic getaways, and lazing-on-the-beach-with-a-book holidays.

Pender Islands' beaches are a paradise  for beachcombing, picnicking and swimming

There's an 9-hole golf course near Otter Bay, a 27-pin disc-golf course in Magic Lake Estates and tennis courts are available at three locations.   There is also a ball diamond and several children's playgrounds.

Scooters and bicycles are available for exploring the islands’ safe and scenic roads. There are kayak rentals or you can rent a boat and cruise the coastline or fish for salmon and cod.  Guided fishing charters are available as well as boat charters for marine wildlife cruises.  Pacific Shoreline Adventures offers fishing, whale watching and marine wildlife viewing charters with an on-board picnic lunch at beautiful Marine Park.

You can rent a kayak and tour the coastline and surrounding waters.  The Gulf Islands contain some of the best ocean kayaking areas anywhere. The water is pristine, the wildlife abundant, and views of the surrounding islands are stunning. Sightings of seals, sea otters, and various sea birds are common, and most animals will let you get quite close. Kayaks can be rented on the island for anywhere from an hour or two to several days.  As you explore the waters around Pender Island, the only sound you will hear is that of your paddle dipping into the water and the gentle lap of the waves against your boat.  

Your views of the islands from a kayak will vary from completely wild forested areas roaming with deer, to picturesque bays populated with cottages at the waterline. There are several restaurants that will let you beach your boat so you can stop for a restful lunch or you can paddle across the short, protected Bedwell Harbour to South Pender Island where you can hike the interpretive Enchanted Forest Trail, followed by a gourmet dinner at Poet's Cove Resort.  The resort is also accessible by road.

Bring diving gear and explore a magnificent underwater world.  The cold waters of the Pacific are a scuba diver's wonderland and with two underwater marine parks and a modern dive shop awaiting your visit there is no shortage of spectacular dives.  The protected inlets and numerous narrows found throughout these islands are perfect for dive enthusiasts. Marine life abounds, ranging from seabirds and eagles to Stellar and California sea lions and sightings of Orca (killer) whales. The waters are host to a rich collection of sea sponges and invertebrates.

For the boaters, there are private marinas and a government wharf.  The Canada Customs office for boaters is on the wharf at Bedwell Harbour.

The Pender Islands boast many marked hiking trails from the easy to the challenging.  Hike various trails that range in degree of difficulty from novice to experienced.  Mount Elizabeth Regional Park and Mount Norman Regional Park have established trail systems. The roads on the island are very quiet, so a walk along a road can also be a pleasant hike.  Since there is no hunting on the island, the wildlife is tame and you are sure to see deer and other animals on your walk.

If you'd like to bring bikes to the island, there are plenty of quiet roads to cycle along. They are somewhat hilly, so you'll certainly get a workout. You can also take bikes on the ferries that travel to the other Gulf Islands where there are many more miles of excellent biking roads. 

Relax to the soothing sound of gentle waves against the shore.  Play a round of golf or a set of tennis.  Swim in the ocean or fresh water lakes.  Cycle along pastoral country lanes or hike through the quiet woods.   Enjoy a leisurely stroll down a quiet country lane.  Stop at a roadside stand to sample local fare and shop for local arts and crafts at galleries and shops that are dotted throughout the Islands.  Relax your mind, body and soul on a sunset paddle as you soak up the last of the day's sunshine

Wildlife is abundant and deer often wander by.  A curious fawn checks the lunch menu just outside the front door at Sunset Retreat

Deer, seals, bald eagles and otters thrive in the unspoiled and beautiful environment.  The wildlife are friendly and deer will often wander by.  You can watch seals and Orca Whales from the deck at Sunset Retreat and you can hear them barking at night. You can also see bald eagles soaring overhead, and sea otters are occasionally seen at the water's edge.

	Sea Lions bask on the rocks in the sunshine

A vacation at Sunset Retreat on Pender Island has something for everyone. Save the glitzy, high paced vacation for another time.  Spend quality time at Sunset Retreat where you will soon relax, get back to nature and enjoy!