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Tucked away in the Southern Gulf Islands, Pender Island is a must visit for food lovers, nature seekers, and anyone craving a slower pace. The Southern Gulf Islands Passport Tour invites you to explore this charming island through its vibrant local flavours and unforgettable experiences. Start your journey at the beloved Saturday farmers’ market, where island-grown produce, handmade goods, and community spirit are on full display. Sip your way through the island’s offerings with stops at a scenic vineyard and winery, a small-batch cidery, and a cozy restaurant serving the freshest local fare. Between tastings, paddle along the shoreline by kayak, hike the trails of Gulf Islands National Park, or challenge your friends to a round of disc golf. Whether you’re here for the weekend or just the day, the Southern Gulf Islands Passport Tour is your perfect guide to eating, sipping, and playing your way through paradise.
Don’t forget to download the BC Farmers’ Market Trail app and start exploring this tour yourself! You’ll earn points for every stop you check-in at, level up, and earn rewards!
Your first stop is the Pender Island Farmers’ Market, a a cherished Saturday tradition running from 9:30 am to 1 pm at the historic Recreation and Agricultural Hall on Bedwell Harbour Road. This vibrant market celebrates local bounty with everything grown, baked, or crafted right on Pender Island, like fresh vegetables, fruit, pasture‑raised lamb, eggs, honey, dairy, baked goods, jams, plants, and artisan crafts. Visitors can also enjoy prepared food like sushi, local cider, and hot meals. Plus, you can catch some live music! Rain or shine, the market welcomes families, pets, and those using public transport or arriving by boat from nearby Gulf Islands.
Seastar Vineyard and Winery
Perched on a scenic bluff with sweeping views of the Salish Sea, Sea Star Vineyard & Winery offers a peaceful and picturesque escape on Pender Island.
Its 26‑acre terraced vineyard climbs from shoreline vineyards to the summit of Mount Menzies—well‑suited for cool‑climate varietals like Ortega, Siegerrebe, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Noir. The tasting room, a harmonious blend of cedar, stone, and panoramic windows, opens Tuesday to Sunday afternoons, offering flights, glasses, bottles, and picnic‑style bites on the patio (dogs welcome too).
Visitors can delight in award‑winning wines such as the bright and aromatic Ortega, the elegant Blanc de Noir, and the crisp Stella Maris—each reflecting the island’s terroir. Sustainability is at the heart of their operation: organic farming practices, rainwater capture, and eco-conscious plans including B Corporation certification and contributions to coastal conservation. With sweeping ocean vistas, resident sheep grazing among the vines, and a laid‑back island atmosphere, Sea Star is a must‑visit stop on any Pender Island tasting tour.
Coffee + Kitchen Restaurant
Coffee + Kitchen is a cozy, farm-to-table coffee bar and restaurant nestled within the WOODS on Pender resort. Open for breakfast and baked goods on weekend mornings (using Fernwood beans and in-house pastries), it evolves into a modern comfort food kitchen serving handcrafted dinners, cocktails, BC wines, and local craft beers on Friday through Sunday evenings. With most produce sourced from Pender Island farms and from its own greenhouse, the menu features rotating small plates perfect for sharing. Some dishes include aged-prosciutto pizza, chuck steak burgers, hearty bowl meals, and delicate seasonal salads, with gluten-free and vegan options available too. Its laid-back, rustic-modern vibe, full bar service, and spacious outdoor deck make it a standout farm-to-table experience on the island.
Twin Island Cider
Twin Island Cider is a nano‑scale, land-based cidery on Pender Island that captures the spirit of place with slow, natural methods and deep orchard stewardship. They tend and harvest century-old apple and pear trees scattered across North and South Pender. Some of these trees were planted by settlers over a century ago, and others are chance seedling heirlooms, turning their fruit into expressive, terroir-driven ciders fermented exclusively with native yeasts . Their small tasting room, built from reclaimed old-growth fir, welcomes visitors Thursday through Sunday, 12–5 pm, for free tastings and relaxed pours by the glass in a sunny outdoor picnic area.
Roesland North Pender Island – Gulf Islands National Park, British Columbia
Roesland, nestled on North Pender Island within Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, is a charming mix of history, forest and shoreline. Once the Roes family’s 1908 farm‑resort, today it features the restored Roe House (now Pender Islands Museum), original cottages, picnic spots, and pit toilets, all reached via a short and easy 500 m trail that crosses a footbridge to a scenic islet lined with arbutus trees. Wander the forested uplands to discover peaceful Roe Lake, stroll the rocky beach at Ella Bay, bird‑watch passing BC Ferries, or let kids play on the shore. The site blends natural beauty, cultural heritage, and gentle recreation perfectly . Dogs are welcome (on leash), and the museum welcomes donations rather than admission, making Roesland a must‑see highlight on any Pender Island adventure.
Golf Island Disc Park
Nestled in the forested hills of North Pender, Golf Island Disc Park is a legendary 27‑hole disc golf course beloved by players of all skill levels. Designed in 1980 with volunteer-driven expansions through the ’80s, the course features a front nine with classic tone‑pole targets and 18 challenging basket holes winding through steep, rocky, tree‑lined terrain. Amenities include a clubhouse with picnic tables, water fountain, restrooms, benches, and on-site disc borrowing from lost-and-found donations. Best of all? It’s free, dog‑friendly, and open to the public, no tee‑times or fees required. Whether you’re a seasoned disc golfer or new to the game, Golf Island Disc Park offers a fun, rugged, and unforgettable 2–4 hour loop through Pender’s lush wilderness.
There are plenty of places to stay across the Southern Gulf Islands. Discover cozy cottages, charming inns, seaside resorts, and more at SouthernGulfIslands.com
Get out there and enjoy the Southern Gulf Islands Tour! Download the BC Farmers’ Market Trail App, and earn points and rewards when you check in at farmers’ markets across the province!