A bit of inside information and advance planning can ensure that your visit to Pender Harbour is an enjoyable one, without any unpleasant surprises.

The Basics

Nothing is open 24/7 in Pender Harbour, so plan your dining, fuel-ups and shopping accordingly. Wherever you are in Pender Harbour, remember that we do not have a sewage system— please do not flush anything but biodegradable material and nothing that will clog the pipes. We also ask that you do your best not to waste water because our demand is in danger of exceeding our supply.

Public Transportation

There is no public transportation in Pender Harbour; no cabs, no busses, no SkyTrains, subways or railroads. Chances are, wherever you want to go, it will be a walk on a narrow, gravel shoulder. Your public transportation options are limited to hiring a water taxi or hitchhiking.

A Malaspina Coach Line bus makes a daily run between Vancouver and Powell River, stopping briefly in Madeira Park and Kleindale. Schedule changes are not uncommon, so be sure to check the current version. Call them at 1-800-386-4456.

Special-needs Travelers

We have few sidewalks and many businesses lack wheelchair access. Be sure to discuss your needs, in advance, with businesses you intend to visit, especially for accommodations and dining.

Motorists

Give yourself lots of time to reach the ferry terminal, and be aware that getting to the terminal on time doesn’t guarantee boarding— lineups are common in peak season. Our only gas station is at Hwy. 101 and Garden Bay Rd. so top up your tank before heading off to explore. The good news is, Pender Harbour has no traffic lights or parking meters. Bet you won't miss either.

Dining & Accommodations

Most dining establishments, including pub kitchens, shut down by 10 p.m. Make reservations for accommodations. You can always find good pub food if you’ve not made a restaurant reservation but, without a room, you might end up sleeping in your car, and that means you won’t be a pretty sight in the morning. Check our Business Directory (navigation bar at the top of this page) for all Pender Harbour and area businesses.

Nightlife

If you're coming from a city, you'll surprised at how dark our night is (at last count there were only about a dozen streetlights in the entire area). This makes for great star-gazing, but navigating back to your room or dock without a flashlight can be tricky. Oh, you meant THAT kind of nightlife! Check out our Calendar. If you’re from outside British Columbia, you may not be familiar with our drinking (alcohol) and smoking laws:

Alcohol

British Columbia is tough on drinking drivers, and we don’t miss the irony that they sell alcohol, tax it heavily and issue licenses to establishments that resell it for them.

If an RCMP officer suspects that you have been drinking, consuming drugs or that you are impaired, he or she can issue a 24-hour suspension, have your vehicle impounded, handcuff you and put you in jail, regardless of any accident having occurred or any traffic laws being broken, and without going to court and being convicted of any crime. This can happen even if you’re sitting in your vehicle, parked, with the ignition off and the keys in your pocket.

If your blood:alcohol level reading is .08 or more, you can lose your license for another three months, still without a trial or conviction.

If you are convicted of impaired driving, refusing a Breathylizer test or of having a blood:alcohol level over the legal limit, even on a first offense, if no laws were broken and you were not involved in an accident, you will lose your license for at least one more year, be fined at least $600 and you will have a criminal record. You will be informed that your license is suspended indefinitely and, before you apply to have it reinstated, you must successfully complete a rehabilitation program and equip your vehicle with an interlock system, all at your own expense.

Smoking

Smoking is illegal inside or near entrances to public buildings, including restaurants and pubs, and inside your car if children are passengers. Your accommodations host may or may not allow smoking in your room or on the premises; best to ask before making reservations.

Man’s Best Friend

There is no dog-control bylaw in Pender Harbour. Technically you don’t have to have your dog leashed or licensed, but we hope that you keep your dog under control at all times, and that you clean up after him. A dog can be legally shot to protect livestock on private property, or if it is chasing deer. Both deer and domestic livestock are common in Pender Harbour.