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Tobermory is a small harbor village at the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, where Georgian Bay meets Lake Huron. Turquoise water, limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment, and dozens of shipwrecks in the surrounding waters have made it one of Ontario's top outdoor destinations. Two national parks, Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park, protect the area.
Life revolves around Little Tub Harbour, where tour boats depart and the cairn marking the northern end of the Bruce Trail stands. The Fathom Five visitor centre explains the region's geology and shipwrecks, and its lookout tower gives a broad view over the islands. Glass-bottom boats pass wrecks in Big Tub Harbour on their way to Flowerpot Island, famous for its sea stacks, while the Big Tub Lighthouse marks the harbor entrance. In the national park, trails from Cyprus Lake lead to the Grotto, a sea cave with brilliant blue water, and the Burnt Point Loop and Dunks Bay Lookout offer quieter walks. Dark skies make stargazing a highlight.
Tobermory suits hikers, divers, and kayakers. The Grotto area requires advance parking reservations in summer, and crowds are heavy on weekends. The Chi-Cheemaun ferry sails from here to Manitoulin Island, and Owen Sound is the nearest larger town.
WiserMap travel guideTobermory Ontario Flowerpot Island and Shipwreck DivingTobermory guide: Flowerpot Island, the Grotto, shipwreck diving and the Chi-Cheemaun ferry at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, with food and stays.Read the guide
Little Tub Harbour is the centre of Tobermory, with tour boats, shops, ice cream and fish and chips around the water. A stone cairn here marks the northern end of the Bruce Trail, which runs about 900 kilometres to Niagara. Parking fills fast in summer, so arrive early.
A short drive from the village, the hexagonal Big Tub Lighthouse from 1885 stands on rocks at the entrance to Big Tub Harbour. The flat limestone shore is popular for watching sunsets and passing boats. It is a good spot for photos, but the rocks are slippery near the water.
About 40 minutes from Tobermory at the end of a scenic road past Dyer's Bay, the restored Cabot Head Lighthouse has a small museum, a keeper's house and a lookout over Georgian Bay. Volunteers run it in summer. The final road stretch is narrow and gravel, so drive slowly.
The wreck of the schooner Sweepstakes, which sank in 1885, lies in shallow, clear water at the head of Big Tub Harbour. Glass-bottom boat tours pass right over it, and snorkellers and divers visit it too. It is one of many wrecks protected within Fathom Five National Marine Park.
Several operators run glass-bottom boat cruises from Little Tub Harbour, passing over shipwrecks in Big Tub Harbour and circling islands of the marine park. Some trips drop passengers on Flowerpot Island for a few hours. Book ahead in July and August, and bring a jacket as it is windy on the water.
Little Cove is a small, sheltered pebble cove inside Fathom Five National Marine Park, with clear water, white limestone ledges and a trail link to the shoreline. It is a nice spot for a swim or a picnic. Parking is very limited and permits are needed in season, so check with Parks Canada first.
A quieter section of Bruce Peninsula National Park where an old logging site gives access to a rugged, cobbled Georgian Bay shoreline with clear water. A short walk leads to the beach. Parking is limited and must be booked in summer, and the cobbles make water shoes useful.
On the Lake Huron side of the peninsula at Dorcas Bay, Singing Sands has a shallow, sandy beach and boardwalk trails through fens rich in wildflowers and orchids. The warm shallow water suits young children. It is a calm contrast to the rocky Georgian Bay side of the park.
Near the village, the Burnt Point Loop is a forest and shoreline trail with views over the islands of Fathom Five, and the nearby Dunks Bay Lookout overlooks a sheltered bay. Both are good, less crowded alternatives to the busy Grotto area. Bring bug spray in early summer.
Bruce Peninsula National Park is a designated dark sky preserve, and on clear nights the Milky Way is easily seen from the shoreline and campgrounds near Tobermory. Parks Canada sometimes runs astronomy programs in summer. Use a red light, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust.
A small local history museum just south of Tobermory, set in a former schoolhouse, with displays on early settlers, fishing, logging and shipwrecks of the area, plus a pioneer log cabin on the grounds. Open in the summer season, it makes a good rainy-day stop of under an hour.
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