Poets Cove Resort & Spa

A full resort on Bedwell Harbour, where cottages come with hot tubs and the marina takes yachts.

what it is

oceanfront resort, cottages & villas (romantic splurge)

the damage

from ~CA$189/night

from Victoria

~40-min direct ferry from Swartz Bay

Poets Cove is the closest thing the Southern Gulf Islands have to a full service resort, with 22 lodge rooms, 9 villas and 15 cottages arranged above Bedwell Harbour and a marina holding 110 deep water slips for boats up to 100 feet. There is a Canada customs dock right there, in case you arrive by yacht from Washington, as one apparently does.

Lodge king rooms have a fireplace and a private balcony over the harbour, while the 840 square foot cottages add vaulted ceilings, full kitchens and a hot tub on the patio. Dining rotates with the seasons, Aurora in winter and Syrens Bistro & Lounge in summer, plus the Moorings Café, and the patio hot tub remains the correct way to end any of those evenings.

Fair warning from the review pile: guests love the setting, the spa and the marina, but some report worn furnishings and slow service on busy nights. Hotels.com guests average it at 8.6 out of 10 while Tripadvisor sits lower, so calibrate expectations to waterfront resort in a remote cove, not city hotel with a concierge army.

The setting

At the end of Spalding Road on South Pender Island, wrapped around Bedwell Harbour, reached from the Otter Bay ferry via the one lane canal bridge that joins the two Penders.

Getting there

Victoria to Swartz Bay is a 30 minute drive, then the ferry to Otter Bay runs 40 minutes direct; reserve a vehicle spot in summer. From the terminal it is roughly a 20 to 25 minute drive on hilly, winding roads over the canal bridge to South Pender. The resort also runs a shuttle to and from the ferry.

good to know

Rooms from about CA$189 a night depending on season. Cottages and villas have full kitchens and suit multi night stays. Review scores split, strong on Hotels.com against a middling Tripadvisor average, with upkeep and staffing the recurring complaints. Aurora is the winter restaurant, Syrens the summer one.

Why it works

1Cottages with vaulted ceilings and private patio hot tubs
2Lodge rooms with fireplaces and harbour view balconies
3Marina with 110 slips and a customs dock
4On site spa, pool and seasonal restaurants

Back to the Pender Island (Otter Bay & Bedwell Harbour) getaway →

Details as of 2026-07-05. Rates, seasons and policies drift, so confirm when you book.