Premier Listings for Prior Centennial Park

Prior Centennial Park is located on North Pender Island in the Gulf Islands, set in the shade of a thick forest of ferns, cedar, fir, maple and alder trees.

Prior Centennial Park is a part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, which protects a portion of British Columbia’s beautiful southern Gulf Islands, a landscape of rocky headlands, forested hills and shorelines studded with colourful tidepools.

One of Canada’s newest national parks, Gulf Islands National Park resembles a patchwork quilt of protected lands scattered over 15 larger islands, and many smaller islets and reefs.

The 16-hectare Prior Centennial Park has a small campground – the only public campground on the Pender Islands – providing 17 drive-in vehicle/tent campsites. The campsite is a great base from which to explore the rest of the Pender Islands. Facilities at Prior Centennial include pit toilets, a fresh water pump, fire pits, and picnic tables. Reservations are recommended during the summer months. Campsite reservations can be made by phone at 1-877-737-3783, or through the Parks Canada Reservation Service (www.pccamping.ca/parkscanada/).

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There is a short 1-km walking trail in the campground, the Heart Trail, covering 2 kilometres for the out and back trail. The trail is moderately easy, but does have two steep hills. The trail leads to Ketch Road on the western boundary of the park, where it continues and links up with Schooner Way, Golf Island Disc Park (Disc Golf), and Bosun Way and Galleon Way in Magic Lake Estates.

Within walking distance from the Prior Centennial Campground you can reach Hamilton Beach on Port Browning and Medicine Beach on Bedwell Harbour, both ideal for beachcombing, a picnic, or a refreshing swim.

Prior Centennial Park is located on North Pender Island, in the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia, 4 miles (6 km) southeast of the Otter Bay Ferry Terminal. Access to the park is off Canal Road.

BC Ferries provides a vehicle and passenger ferry service to Otter Bay Ferry Terminal from Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island (Victoria) and from Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver on the BC mainland.

Prior Centennial Park is located close to Mount Norman Park and Beaumont on South Pender Island, both of which are also part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.

The shoreline of North and South Pender Islands attracts kayakers, canoeists, fisherman and scuba divers. Cycling is a great way to explore the islands as there are so many roads and beautiful beaches to discover.

Nearby Regions & Towns

Park Notices

More Information
Parks Canada – British Columbia
Box 129, 23433 Mavis Avenue
Fort Langley, BC, V1M 2R5
Phone: 604-513-4777

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
2220 Harbour Road
Sidney, BC, V8L 2P6
Phone: 250-654-4000

Premier Listings

Photo of Poets Cove Resort & Spa
Poets Cove Resort & Spa
9801 Spalding Road Pender Islands BC V0N 2M3 Home Phone: 250-629-2100Work Phone: 1-888-870-8889Visit Website

Biographical Info

Poets Cove Resort & Marina is the premier luxury resort in the Southern Gulf Islands, hidden away in a secluded bay on Pender Island, offering 15 cottages, 9 villas, and a lodge with 22 rooms looking west toward ocean sunsets. Amenities include a stunning ballroom, an elegant restaurant, world-class spa, heated pools, and a Marina.

Pamper yourself with a specialty treatment at our onsite Susurrus Spa and soothe body, mind and soul in the Eucalyptus Steam Cave. Savour fine dining cuisine and captivating ocean views in one of our distinctive restaurants. Enjoy outdoor activities on the sparkling water from our private marina, soak in our outdoor swimming pools (two), or simply relax in your private cottage villa or lodge accommodations for a rejuvenating West Coast Island experience.

Poets Cove is the perfect escape, offering a luxury boutique retreat framed by charming Arts & Crafts architecture, lush gardens and breathtaking ocean views. Just a short ferry, boat or seaplane ride away from Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle, our small island oasis set in the secluded Bedwell Harbour bay feels a million miles away.

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Photo of Poets Cove Marina
Poets Cove Marina
Poets Cove Resort & Spa 9801 Spalding Road Pender Islands BC V0N 2M3 Home Phone: 250-629-2100Work Phone: 1-888-512-7638Visit Website

Biographical Info

Poets Cove Marina is located in beautiful Bedwell Harbour on Pender Island, one of the top ten anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. Contained within North America’s largest designated marine park, the Marina at Poets Cove offers 110 deep water slips for boats up to 100 feet, with fuel, power, water, and a Canada Customs office right in the Harbour. Heated pool, hot tub, laundromat, and showers.

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