Nestled in the northern tip of the Bruce Peninsula, Tobermory is a special vacation spot for Ontarians and visitors alike in the summer months. There is a plethora of things to do up here in Tobermory and the Bruce Peninsula National Park. Hikers can enjoy the world-famous and best stretch of the Bruce Trail.
The National Park has such a variety of terrain – jagged edged rocks, amphitheater like overhangs, caves, and your choice of boulder or sand beaches. Visitors can ride a car-bearing ferry, the Chi-Cheemaun, across to Manitoulin Island or a speedboat out to Flowerpot Island and along the way take in the bay floor which is littered with ship wrecks of a different era.
In the main town of Tobermory is a cute collection of quaint restaurants, art galleries, shops and adventure outfitters. Want to scuba dive? Tobermory has that too! It is truly the jewel of the north!
Getting away from the big city
This past weekend was actually my first time up to the Bruce Peninsula and the Tobermory area and what perfect timing it was because I had been itching to do some Ontario camping and get away from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. I had done Algonquin numerous times and explored the Collingwood area quite thoroughly and even up north to Sudbury but I had no idea there was such immense beauty in our own province up north.
I think what impressed me the most was just how crystal clear the water was. I could literally see straight down to the rock floor – something which you see on tropical beaches of the south. Despite not being a long weekend, we made the best of our two days and two nights. Driving up late Friday afternoon, we were able to make camp at our Cyprus Lake campsite as the sun was going down.
For the next two days we split our time between Saturday in Tobermory and Flowerpot Island and Sunday in the National Park itself and around the Grotto area of the Bruce Trail. Despite it being a super short trip, our group of friends had a blast and was one of those camping trips that we’ll remember for a long time to come!
How to get up to Tobermory
Google Map screenshot of the 4 hour journey from Toronto to Tobermory.
Photo journey awaits
Day 1 – Saturday June 21, 2014
The guys getting ready to chow down on some delicious fish & chips for lunch.
The Fish & Chip Place menu.
The family platter of fish. Notice how it’s not overdone with batter. It was oh so good!
The fried shrimps + fries.
Large bowl of fries.
The must-do Fish & Chip Place in Tobermory.
A giant among kid sized picnic benches.
A little ice cream pit stop.
The northern end point of the Bruce Peninsula – Northern Terminus
The gorgeous Tobermory port.
Marco Polo Trading Company
Walking around the Tobermory Pier area.
Our boat to Flowerpot Island waiting.
Onboard the Blue Heron Co. jetboat.
Passing by a lighthouse with a bunch of divers either getting ready to get in or just got out.
We looked up and saw this crazy double rainbow ring thing in the sky. WHOA!
Would love to be able to rent one of these cottages at some point.
The first shipwreck that we went to on our way to Flowerpot Island.
The lighthouse on Flowerpot Island.
The big flowerpot in front and smaller one in the background.
The water is so clear that you can see the dramatic rock cliff drops underwater.
Welcome to Flowerpot Island.
Starting our hike through the island.
Inukshuk on the beach.
The big flowerpot up close and personal.
A little further down we decided to take a dip in the water. It was ridiculously cold. My feet were hurting real bad just to take this shot!
There was one cave to explore on the island. These are the steps leading up to it.
The Flowerpot Island map just by the lightstation.
Old rockers by the Lightstation house.
I wasn’t joking about crystal clear waters.
The Blue Heron jetboat after getting back to Tobermory.
A nice quaint town with lots of small mom and pop shops.
A look back at the Tobermory Pier.
Hanging out at Singing Sands as the sun sets.
Day 2 – Sunday June 22, 2014
Our very basic Cyprus Lake campsite.
The massive 15-man tent we pitched.
Starting our hike along the Bruce Trail towards The Grotto.
Rock serenity.
Rocks with a view.
Checking out The Grotto.
A mini arch! Beautiful views all around here.
Wide angle view of The Grotto area to the right.
View from Grotto level. Pristine and beautifully colored.
Inside the Grotto. I thought it was much too cold to jump in but a whole bunch of people did as we left.
The climb back up to the top from the bottom of the Grotto.
We then walked further north towards Overhanging Point. This was shot right above the amphitheater below. Loved the combination of the lush green forest with the jutting overhang and the blue in the background.
After taking the rabbit hole down, we got under Overhanging Point.
A look back at the hole we had to climb down to get down to the Amphitheater.
We then kept walking further and discovered an even larger amphitheater next door. Even my wide angle lens wasn’t enough to capture the immenseness of this place.
Walking back to the original amphitheater, we then had to figure our way back to the top and this point was it.
The view we were treated it when we got to the top. I still can’t get over how clear the water is up here!
Boulder Beach.
Heading back to the parking lot
Costs
A lot of people ask about the costs for trips so trying to be more diligent about capturing this info. This is the cost per person.
Car gas – $20
BBQ foods – $20
Drinks – $15
Misc. Camping Supplies – $10
Flowerpot Island Tour – $45
Fish & Chips – $10
Total Costs: $120
Tips & Tricks
Reserve early – We booked really late and there were literally only 1-2 campsites left for us to pick from. If you want your pick of sites or a chance to book yurt huts, I would do it as soon as bookings are available. Reservations can be done with Parks Canada.
No showers – Keep in mind that there are no shower facilities in the park so just a heads up.
Gets cold – This is after all the north and when we were there in late June, nights dropped down to 10C. Water temperatures were ice cold at 3C. We talked to a few locals and they said at most the water only gets to 10C in late August. Packing wise, be prepared to layer up at night.
Down the rabbit hole – There’s hidden rabbit hole that can get you down into the Overhanging Point amphitheater down below. It’s easy to miss and a little daunting but totally worth the detour.
If you’re thinking about heading up to Tobermory and looking for an alternative to camping, there are a ton of properties available that are great for large groups, families, and couples.
While this is further south and located right by Lions Head Provincial Park, this is a comfy place to stay that comes with breakfast included. This os more of a traditional bed and breakfast type of place. It is also cheaper than staying inside Tobermory.
Will is the Chief of Awesome at Going Awesome Places which is focused on off-the-beaten-path, outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring others to travel, writing detailed trip itineraries to help others plan their own trips, and providing helpful tips and tricks to guide readers to travel better. He is based in Toronto, Canada but you'll find him on the road more often than not. Make sure to learn more about Will to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.
