Read this post for the ultimate guide to Tobermory, Ontario.
Did you know that only 3.5 hours away from Toronto you’ll find some of the most breathtakingly clear and blue waters that will make you instantly feel like you’re on a vacation in the Caribbean or Mediterranean islands? Lying on the Northern Tip of the Bruce Peninsula along the Niagara Escarpment, Tobermory is a lakeside town where the coastal waters of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron meet. It is home to the Flowerpot Island, as well as Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park.
Planning a road trip or a weekend getaway to Tobermory, Ontario? Then keep on reading…
WHERE TO STAY IN TOBERMORY
Earlier this summer in August, I visited Tobermory with a friend for my first ever camping trip which was super exciting as it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while. We camped for two nights at Harmony Acres, a beautiful private campground nestled in the woods, in the heart of the Bruce Peninsula. Make no mistake that camping spots in Tobermory get filled up really quickly in the summer, especially on the weekends, so make sure to book yours in advance. You can either reserve a public campsite directly with Parks Canada or if these are sold out then you can stay at private campgrounds like Harmony Acres, Happy Hearts or Lands End Park.
Another extremely popular option if you’re traveling with family or in a big group is to book a cottage home on Airbnb. There are also a few small hotels and resorts in the area that you can book online.
Use my link to get $95 CAD off your next qualified booking on AirBnB.
WHAT TO PACK
Having the right travel gear and vacation essentials is incredibly important for any trip so you can enjoy your time hassle-free. See below for some non-negotiable items you are going to need for your trip to Tobermory.
Comfortable shoes – you are going to be walking and hiking A LOT in Tobermory and the last thing you want is bruised feet because you didn’t pack the right pair of shoes. Trust me, I’ve been there. My favourite hiking shoes so far are by Merrell as they are affordable and effective yet trendy. But you also can’t go wrong with a pair of Nike Air Force 1s by Nike or shoes by Adidas.
Sunscreen – no matter what season it is we always need to make sure we are protecting ourselves from the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun, especially more so in the summer. Click here and here for my favourite body and face sunscreen.
Bikinis & swimwear – you’ll basically be living your best life in these so bring as many as you can and get that tan on! My favourite brand is Revolve as they have so many different designers on their website.
Other more exclusive brands that I love are: Monday Swimwear, Bikini Village & 437 Swimwear.
For more affordable options, click here and here.
Light jacket – it can get quite chilly in the evenings or early mornings so make sure to pack a light jacket incase it gets cold. Click here for the jean jacket I love!
For a full list of packing recommendations for hiking essentials, check out my blog post.
THINGS TO DO IN TOBERMORY
Hike along the Bruce Trail
You can’t visit Tobermory and not hike the Bruce Peninsula National Park. This over 150 square kilometre National Park forms the core of UNESCO’s Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve and is home to many hiking trails offering some of the most majestic views along the shoreline, especially the Bruce Trail.
Check out this article for some of the most popular trails on the Bruce Peninsula.
Visit the Grotto
Located in the Bruce Peninsula National Park, the Grotto is one of the main tourist attractions in Tobermory and one that certainly can’t be skipped for good reason. Perched on the Georgian Bay shoreline, the Grotto is a large scenic limestone cave overflowing with crystalline turquoise waters that make for the perfect tropical summer escape in Ontario.
The main way to get to the Grotto is from the Cyprus Lake parking lot entrance to the park along the Georgian Bay trail, which is approximately a 30 to 45 minutes hike.
As of 2019, Parks Canada has a new timed parking reservation system in place for the 4-hour Grotto parking time slots so you must book these in advance if you plan on visiting the Grotto. Click here for more information on parking reservations. This system has been put in place to stop overflowing tourists and ensure a more enjoyable experience. Regardless, the Grotto gets packed really quickly so come here as early as possible if you want to enjoy it without crowds. Otherwise, try to avoid the hot summer months and instead visit during fall or spring season.
Other ways to get to the Grotto:
If you’re out of luck and unable to reserve a parking slot, you have a few more options, but these are for the more adventurous souls or moderate to intense hikers.
1) Be there already as a camper – you can hike up to the Grotto if you’re staying at the Cyprus Lake Campground, or at one of the backcountry sites along the Georgian Bay like Stormhaven, which allows full day access to the Georgian Bay shoreline.
2) Half way log dump to the Grotto hike – you can park your car at the Half way log dump parking lot, where you’ll pay a parking fee of about $11.70 per vehicle, and then start your 4.8km hike to the Grotto which will take about 3 hours each way. This part of the Bruce Trail is labelled difficult so be prepared if you plan on doing this hike. Also, the log dump parking lot gets fills up quickly so make sure to arrive early before opening hours at 9am or you may be in for disappointment.
3) Little Cove Beach to the Grotto hike – you can also try and park your car at the Little Cove parking lot and then take the Bruce Trail along Driftwood Cove and Loon Lake all the way up to the Grotto. This hike is long and can easily take around 5-6 hours each way so you would need to start this hike early. If you decide to only do the hike one way or get exhausted, you can always hitch hike or cab back to your parking spot which people are known to do.
Visit the Flowerpot Island
The Flowerpot Island makes for a perfect day trip if you’re visiting Tobermory and is definitely an experience I recommend due to the island’s unique “flowerpot” rock pillar formations and pristine blue waters. The island is only about 6km from Tobermory harbour and is located in the Fathom Five National Marine Park which was the first National Marine Park in Canada. To visit the island, you must book a return tour with one of the two private tour boat companies. You can click below to check out their schedules and rates:
Flowerpot Island Boat Tours: Bruce Anchor, Blue Heron Company
In addition to the boat tour ticket, there is a small admission fee to enter the Flowerpot island.
If you don’t want to get off and explore the island, both companies also offer scenic glass-bottom stay aboard cruise tours to see the shipwrecks that lie at the bottom of the Georgian Bay and explore the mesmerizing sights of Fathom Five National Marine Park including the flowerpots and light station.
This is another tourist attraction that is highly popular so if you want to avoid crowds then make sure you book the first boat tour out to the island. You can easily spend a whole day here exploring the flowerpots, cave, light station, hiking the loop trail, swimming and snorkeling in the blue waters.
Note: There are no garbage facilities on the island so please act responsibly and don’t litter, instead take the garbage home with you. There is also no tap water available on the island so make sure to pack your own.
You can also camp at the Flowerpot Island and stay up gazing at the stars or fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves. There are six campsites on the island near the Beachy Cove that you can reserve on Park Canada’s website.
Spend Time in Town
There are also many tourist attractions in the town of Tobermory. You can visit the Bruce Peninsula National Park Visitor Centre and climb the stairs all the way to the top to enjoy the magnificent 365-degree view of the Bruce Peninsula. While you’re there, you can also take a 10 minute walk down the trail to the Dyers Bay lookout point.
Be sure to also visit Tobermory’s two picturesque harbours, known as Little Tub and Big Tub Harbours. While you’re there, stop by and shop at some of the unique stores and restaurants around the harbour.
Best Beaches in Tobermory
Little Cove Beach
The Little Cove was one of my favourite beaches in Tobermory. This cobblestone beach with overhanging rugged cliffs and deep blue Georgian Bay water will definitely make you feel like you’re on a vacation outside Canada. Parking here is free but make sure to come early to grab a spot. You can hike from the Little Cove along the Bruce Trail to other spots including Driftwood Cove, Loom Lake all the way up to the Grotto.
Driftwood Cove Beach
We found out about the Driftwood Cove from a local and hiked up to here from the Little Cove Beach parking lot which took about 3 hours each way. It was my favourite place we went to as we were literally the only ones there. Driftwood Cove lies in one of the many protected areas along the Bruce Peninsula and is home to some of the oldest trees in eastern North America including some rare bird species. The cove used to be a private property up until it was purchased by Parks Canada in late 2018 making it their newest addition to the national park.
Indian Head Cove
Indian Head Cove is a scenic inlet besides the Grotto at and is also a popular place for swimming along the Georgian Bay Trail. You can stop over here when visiting the Grotto.
Singing Sand Beach
This is the largest beach in the area facing the Lake Huron side. It is a sandy beach with shallow warm water and is apparently called “singing sand” because as of the sound of the wind as it whistles through the sand dunes. The water here apparently stays pretty shallow for quite some distance, but I would still advise to be careful and not walk really far into the water as there can be unexpected tides. There is a parking fee for here, but if you’ve already paid for parking in one of the other lots, you can use the same parking pass if you plan on going the same day.
Dunks Bay Beach
This is a small sandy beach located west of Little Cove beach. Parking here is free and spots are limited so make sure to come early.
Nearby Attractions to Visit
Lion’s Head Lookout Trail
Another great hike is to the Lion’s Head lookout which is also in the Bruce Peninsula just south of Tobermory. The Lion’s Head Trail has two loops – the main trail and inland trail for a total of about 18km. You can park your car at the McCurdy parking lot, which is the main trail entrance, and then hike up to the lookout point from where you can see stunning views of Cape Dundas and Barrier Island, cliffs of White Bluff, Cape Chin, and Cabot Head (note that the side trail on Moore St. is currently closed). Make sure to check Trip Advisor for updates if you’re planning on doing the hike.
Devil’s Monument Loop Trail
If you plan on avoiding crowds and are looking for a short but challenging hike, then you should definitely add Devil’s Monument to your itinerary. This was another recommendation made to us by a local and was the perfect ending to our trip to Tobermory on our way back to Toronto. Devil’s Monument is a 44-inches flowerpot formation located on the shores of Georgian Bay formed over 5,000 years ago by wave action from a post-glacial lake. You can find more information on the hike here.
At the end of the trail, you can relax in the blue waters of Georgian Bay and find some really cool rock formations on the Devil’s Monument Beach.
Greigs’ Caves
Head to the Greigs Caves if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous. These limestone caves formed millions of years ago are located on the Bruce Peninsula in the Lion’s Head area. The caves are privately owned and operated and everyone must sign a waiver before entry. You can find the schedule and pricing here.
I hope you’ll have an amazing trip to Tobermory and I’ll make sure to update the post as I discover new spots and hikes
LOCATION MAP
PIN THIS POST!
Pin this blog post if you are planning a trip to Tobermory in the future.
Leave a Reply