Tobermory Canada. a place with refreshing water, nature untouched by man, and enough seclusion to make you forget civilization. If this sounds like a dream then Tobermory Canada was made just for you! Tobermory has everything a nature lover could want. Tucked away on Ontario’s peninsula Tobermory is a true hidden gem!
I was messing around with Google Maps one day when I came across this beauty. Noticing it was a quick road trip away my friends and I packed the car then hit the road! What we found surpassed anything we could’ve dreamed up. Now I’m excited to share these findings with you! Below we will look at all Tobermory has to offer. Coffee, kayaking, hiking, boating, the best mini cabins around, and more!
Food and coffee
Coffee
Let’s start with the most important of them all… Coffee! Let’s be real coffee is the first thing I seek out anywhere I go, so off we went searching all of Tobermory for the best cup of coffee. Little did we know Tobermory only really has one coffee shop, Tobermory Coffee Company Cafe. You can’t miss it as she sits right downtown and is the only coffee shop for miles around.
Here you can get your caffeine fix with no problem. However, since this is the only coffee shop you’ll notice the prices being a bit steep. Nothing crazy but you can expect to pay around $7USD for a latte. They do have the cutest merch if that’s something you like to collect. “Explore Caffeinated” is their adorable logo that you will also see plastered all over town!
You may be able to find a cup of black coffee at a couple of the small dinner-like places around town, but if you are a person who likes fancy coffee you will disappointed. All this being said if caffeine is something you’ll need bringing your own coffee might be the way to travel in this secluded wonderland!
Restaurants
When it comes to restaurants in Tobermory I hope you like fish! While in Tobermory you are on a peninsula so fresh fish and chips is the thing to get. After a long day of hiking, we hit up The Fish and Chip place right downtown. We were lucky enough to go on an all-you-can-eat $24USD fish and chip night! I can promise you we definitely got our money’s worth and it was well worth it. With cute picnic tables outside it was the perfect way to wind down the night.
Don’t worry if fish doesn’t sound appealing to you, another great place is Tobermory Brewing Company & Grill. Here you can find more of your typical burgers and fries. Also located right downtown and close to the water it has all the makings to watch the sunset while enjoying a glass of your favorite draft!
Sweet Tooth? One thing Tobermory does not lack is ice cream shops! If you want to reward yourself after all the hard hikes head to Peninsula Ice Cream and Treats or BeaverTails Tobermory. Both are located downtown with easy access to grab your desired treat and stroll the docks!
Activities
Tobermory Canada has activities for any outdoor lover! If you’re not a fan of nature 24/7 this might not be the trip for you. Due to the location of Tobermory there isn’t much out here. in town, you’ll find a couple of shops, some shacks to rent boating equipment, a park, and a single small grocery store.
Shopping
Little boutiques line the streets of Tobermory. you can find local art, cute clothing, and little knick-knacks to take home! With the town only being a handful of streets there are not many but the Tobermory Trading Post is worth checking out!
Water Activities
Water activities are Tobermory’s sweet spot! Kayaking, Boating, and canoeing are among the most popular in town. With an ever-growing list of options, there is an adventure for everyone here.
Boating–
When it comes to boating Tobermory has you covered. If you are looking to learn about the past one of the famous shipwreck tours off Tobermory’s coast may be for you! Tobermory Wave Adventures is the top-rated shipwreck tour in the town. They have multiple options to choose from. If you want an afternoon on the water their Grotto and Flowerpots tour sits at 2hrs and 20mins. Wanting something just a bit longer? Their Nor’Light Grotto and Flowerpot tour is 3hrs and 30min. If you have a larger party you can also book a private tour for the afternoon. For these tours, You will need to book tickets online before showing up.
Blue Heron Tours Is another great option for a boat tour around Tobermory. Blue Heron Tours also offers glass-bottom tours of the shipwrecks! If you want to see the shipwrecks up close through the crystal clear water this adventure has your name on it! One of the top attractions in Tobermory is Flowerpot island (well touch on this later). however, Blue Heron do offer tours that take you to the island and let you get off the boat and explore the island!
Kayaking –
Boating not your thing? Try Kayaking! Tobermory offers some great kayaking locations. If you didn’t bring your kayak don’t worry Tobermory Kayak Rental has you covered! You can reserve a kayak right on their website. there you can also see every type of kayak they offer with prices for each one. There are plenty of cool places to kayak around Tobermory. With cool cliffs and grottos to check out this can keep you entertained for hours plus give you a great workout!
Paddle Board and Canoeing –
If you would rather paddle board or canoe On the Water Kayaks would be your go-to! I will say paddle boarding is more enjoyable along the coastline of Tobermory as the deeper waters tend to get a little rough. It is a great way to see Tobermory, Canada from a different angle and spend a lazy afternoon exploring the untouched rocky beaches. Canoeing is also a great option if you want to pack a lunch and have a cute date on the rocks!
Flowerpot Island
Flowerpot Island is one of the top tourist attractions in Tobermory Canada. Located 25 minutes off the shoreline, Flowerpot Island hosts rare plants to the region and natural rock pillars drawing people in who crave the off-the-beaten trail feel. There are multiple ways to get to this small island. The most popular is the many tour boats that stop here. While the boat tours tend to be a little more pricy most will have other stops along the way to get the most bang for your buck. There are booths all along the dock downtown showcasing all of your tour options. You will be able to find many options for times and pricing there.
While it is possible to Kayak to the island it’s not always advised as the water can get quite choppy. I will say you probably do not need much time out here. This could easily be done in one afternoon but is still a fun stop and a must-see while visiting Tobermory!
Lighthouses
Along with Flowerpot Island Tobermory is home to three main lighthouses. people like to visit, Cove Island Lighthouse, Big Tub Lighthouse, and Flowerpot Island Lighthouse. Cove Lighthouse and Flowerpot Island Lighthouse can only be accessed by boat or kayak. That being said, this is where the tour boats will be your best friend. It is common to find tour packages that will take you to all three lighthouses and that will be the most affordable way to see the lighthouses if you don’t have a boat of your own. Tub lighthouse is still located on the peninsula so you can drive or hike to it. Since it is close you can also kayak along the shore to see it from the water!
Scuba Diving
Tobermory, Canada is surprisingly a very popular scuba diving destination! With all the shipwrecks surrounding the town people come from all over to get an up and close look at all the sunken treasure. If you want a unique Scuba diving experience Divers Den is the place to go! Divers do need to be 10 or older for this expedition. On their website, you can find all the excursions offered and the differing prices. This may be one of the pricier things on our list of activities but definitely a one of a one-of-a-kind adventure! The diving season starts May 11th and goes throughout the summer season. If you want a fun and different travel story to go home with Diving Dans has you covered!
Hiking
Now for the star of the Tobermory show, Hiking! If you love to spend your time exploring rocky shorelines, hidden grottos, and dense woods, Tobermory has all you need and then some.
the most popular hiking spot is Bruce Peninsula National Park! This hot spot is home to miles and miles of trails. exploring this park you will find famous grottos, stunning views, and crystal clear water. You can camp here for a fee and at the time we went you did have to book spots in advance through their website. All current prices, hours, and more information can be found here.
Lions Head Lookout Trail is another can’t miss spot! This stunning trail takes you on the top of cliffs along the Georgian Bay. The views are jaw-droppingly beautiful. This is definitely the trail to pack a picnic for a rewarding lunch at the Tobermory Lions head lookout!
Little Cove Provincial Park was one of my favorite spots in all of Tobermory Canada! The way the cove jutted in made for a feeling of being secluded from the rest of the world. The trees created the perfect barrier and the trails all along the edge of the water made for countless hours of exploring. Here we laid out a towel on some of the big rocks to soak in the sun. When I revisit Tobermory this will be the first place I come back to!
The last place I’ll highlight is Singing Sands. Tobermory can be quite rocky but on the other side of the peninsula, you will find soft sand and stunning sunsets. We went here every night to see the sunset! this beach is on Lake Huron so the water is a bit warmer and not rocky like the Georgian bay.
So to recap some of the best trails in Tobermory…
- Bruce Peninsula National Park
- Lions Head Lookout
- Little Cove Provincial Park
- Singing Sands
If you have extra time these trails are also worth checking out!
- Burnt Point Loop
- Cameron Lake
- Bruce Trail
- Flowerpot Island Loop
Accommodation
When it comes to accommodation in Tobermory you have a handful of options. From airbnb, camping, and hotels you can find a wide price range.
Airbnb
This is what we chose to do during our time in Tobermory, Canada. We stayed in a mini cabin providing two queen beds, a mini fridge, and a campfire pit. This was perfect for us and cost about $70 USD a night. We were balling on a budget here and didn’t mind where we stayed as we wanted to focus on just being outside.
That being said you can find many rentals here through airbnb. Beautiful houses right on the lake range from $150 – $250 USD a night. some with hot tubs, kayaks, fire pits, and stunning views with big porches.
There are tiny homes for $37 USD a night, barns for $111 USD, and boathouse for $150 USD. Really something for any party size!
Camping
Camping is one of the most popular forms of accommodation. Tobermory provides many options, you can find multiple campgrounds from Lands End Park, Tobermory Village Campground, Little Cove Adventures, to Harmony Acres Campground.
The most popular is camping in Bruce Peninsula National Park. Here they offer yurts, backcountry camping, and front-country campgrounds. Everything here does require reservations that can be made here.
For camping in Bruce Peninsula, you can see the price breakdown here as of 2024…
- Backcountry camping = $14USD a night
- Frontcountry camping = $48USD a night
- Yurt camping = $150USD a night
Not to mention some extra fees…
- Daily parking pass = $15USD per vehicle
- Fire permit = $13USD per day
- Reservation fee = $11.50USD
Hotels
If hotels are more your style don’t worry Tobermory has a selection to pick from! Right downtown you have the Blue Bay Motel, which will run you about $85USD a night. The Bruce Anchor Motel & Cottage is another popular pick among families running around $160USD a night. On the Rocks Guest Inn is a little outside town but provides 5-star service when it comes to unwinding. Mermaid in Tobermory offers the bed and breakfast feel while being right by the action usually for around $117USD a night.
To put it simply these hotels/motels are the ones worth checking out…
- The Blue Bay Motel
- Bruce Anchor Motel & Cottage
- On The Rocks Guest Inn
- Mermaid in Tobermory
Most of what you will find in Tobermory Canada for accommodation will be small family-owned motels or bed and breakfasts. This just adds to the charm of the town!
Point Pelee
If you are going to visit Tobermory, you should also visit Point Pelee! This is Canada’s southernmost tip and it’s also found in Ontario. You can find the complete guide for Point Pelee here.
There we have it!
Now geared up with everything you need from food, accommodation, activities, and more you are ready to hit the road for Tobermory! I promise this true hidden gem will be well worth the time and effort it takes to get there. You can’t beat the true secluded feeling, adventure around every corner, and crystal-clear water! Happy Travels! – Olivia Grace❤️
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