Travel, Tourism, and Camping Adventures in Fathom Five National Marine Park and Tobermory, Ontario
A guide to shipwrecks, Flowerpot Island, lighthouses, and eco-conscious travel near Tobermory, Canada
Adventures in Tobermory, Ontario – After a magical Manitoulin Island family camping experience, it was decided not to head home to Kingston but to extend our vacation by exploring the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario. This choice led us on a week-long camping adventure in the heart of Ontario's wild beauty in Tobermory, Ontario.
On Manitoulin Island, we boarded the Chi-Cheemaun ferry in the village of South Baymouth. Loading our truck and camping trailer onto the ship and making the crossing was an adventure in itself. The 1.5-hour cruise across Lake Huron was smooth and scenic, offering breathtaking views of Georgian Bay and many islands. Tobermory, a charming harbour village at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, welcomed us with crisp, fresh air and a genuine small-town vibe.
The transportation ferry, Chi-Cheemaun, coming into dock at Manitoulin Island, Ontario
The ferry travels southeast from Manitoulin Island, between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, to the village of Tobermory, which sits at the top of the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada.
From there, it was a short drive to Lands End Park Campground, our home-base for the week. Charmingly, this family-run campground is known for its clean, natural setting, and eco-conscious amenities. Offering large sites nestled among towering cedars and maples, Lands End has been thoughtfully restored to preserve native vegetation. Appropriately, campers are encouraged to follow bear-safe practices, making this an ideal destination for responsible adventurers.
We were welcomed to Lands End Park, our campground for the week, by this painted sign at the entrance.
Our long camping trailer fit perfectly in this long site at Lands End Park in Tobermory, surrounded by woods.
Adventures in Tobermory, Ontario: Fathom Five National Marine Park and Flower Pot Island
Our adventures in Tobermory began with a morning glass-bottom boat tour with Blue Heron Cruises, the perfect introduction to the region's aquatic treasures. The clear waters of Fathom Five National Marine Park are famous for shipwrecks, many of which are visible from the surface. This protected area is Canada's first national marine park and encompasses 22 shipwrecks, over 20 islands, and 1,131 square kilometres of lakebed and shoreline within Lake Huron, Ontario. For these reasons, Fathom Five National Marine Park receives over 400,000 visitors annually, making it one of Canada's most visited underwater parks and is a key part of exploring Bruce Peninsula, Ontario.
This sign, located at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre in Tobermory, provided one of the clearest descriptions of the mainland portion of Fathom Five National Marine Park, including descriptions of the ferns, flowers, and forest birds of the area.
A family selfie aboard the Blue Heron Cruises glass-bottom boat. In addition to the outdoor upper level, there was plenty of seating in the lower level of the boat, which was positioned around the glass-bottom section ensuring every had a good view.
This is what the glass section of the glass-bottom boat looks like! The floor in this area is glass, allowing viewers to look through to the hull of the ship, which has numerous glass panels built-in, allowing direct viewing of everything to boat passes over.
The glass-bottom boat took us to Flowerpot Island, named for its iconic sea stacks, natural "flowerpots" sculpted by wind and water, where we were able to get off the boat at Beachy Cove. From here we hiked the Lighthouse Trail past the cabin, taking in close-up views of both the small and large flowerpots. From here we hiked up to one of the large caves found on Flowerpot Island, this was my first time exploring a cave so much higher than sea level!
Information signs on the docks at Beachy Cove on Flowerpot Island, shared facts and photos of the caves, flowerpots, ship wrecks and lighthouses in the area.
On the trail between Beachy cove and the flowerpots is a small wooden cabin. The view of Georgian Bay out of what would have been the cabin's window is breathtaking.
On the way to the small flowerpot, we passed the remains of an old stone fireplace and smoke stack on the shore, overlooking Georgian Bay.
Or first glimpses of the small flowerpot island has us wondering in awe of how they were formed and still stand today.
Selfie with the large flowerpot on Flowerpot Island! Although it looks tempting, climbing on these natural rock formations is not permitted.
All smiles as we travelled along the shores of Georgian Bay, exploring Flowerpot Island. The smooth rock shoreline is inviting for adventurous swimmers, but beware, the bottom can drop-off quickly and the water is very cold!
Then, we continued on the Lighthouse Trail which took us to the Flowerpot Island Lightstation. Here visitors can tour the lightkeeper's museum, operated by the Friends of Bruce District National Parks. When volunteers from the Friends of Bruce District National Park are present, they operate a small drink and snack stand to raise money that goes toward the operation of the museum and lightstation grounds. TIP: Bring cash, there is no service for credit or debit transactions. After exploring the museum, we travelled to the Lightstation Observation deck where panoramic views took our breath away!
I survived the climb to one of the caves on Flowerpot Island! Although it was a very sunny and warm day, the cave was damp and cool.
Friends of Bruce District Parks sponsor many signs on the island, helping visitor navigate their way between features, trails and attractions.
The rambling walkway to the area of the former lightstation at Flowerpot Island allows visitors to travel through the dense woods.
The area of the Flowerpot Island Lightstation includes numerous interpretive signs in such as this one that depicts the history of lighthouses on the island since 1897, ending in total automation in 1987.
This signs shares the history of the original lighthouse and fog alarm buildings of Flowerpot Island, including that the first lighthouse was a square wooden cottage with a wooden tower. Coal oil lanterns were used here prior to electricity!
This interpretive sign shared information about the view from the Flowerpot Island light station, including the names of islands seen on the horizon, and the location of two shipwrecks: the Marion L. Breck and the Forest City.
With an hour to spare before our boat returned, we headed back to the rocky beaches near the Flowerpots where we could put our feet in, or take a quick dip, in the chilly waters of Georgian Bay to refresh. Something we learned while on Flowerpot Island is that it hosts six unserviced campsites, making it a rare and exclusive backcountry camping experience for Parks Canada adventurers exploring adventures in Tobermory, Ontario, Canada.
Back in Tobermory, we grabbed a delicious meal and craft beer flight at the Tobermory Brewing Company and Grill, a rustic yet modern spot perfect for post-hike refuelling and quality family time. Interestingly, this beer flight included five samples: Chi-Cheemaun Light Lager, Bruce Trail Blonde, Fireban Amber, Fathom Five Dark-Ale and Sweepstakes IPA (names after one of the most famous Fathom Five shipwrecks). Each more delicious than the last. We definitely left the Tobermory Brewing Company and Grill with cans of craft beer to go.
Like many Parks Canada destinations, at the trailhead on Flowerpot Island there was a trail map with key features and cautions described. The Marl Trail was closed during our visit, so we focused on the Lighthouse Trail.
Now that's a good looking flight! Five samples of the Tobermory Brewing Company's craft beers including a light lager, a blonde, amber, dark and IPA.
Exploring Tobermory, Ontario: Must-Do List
Parks Canada Visitor Centre
One of the most impressive indoor attractions in Tobermory is the Parks Canada Visitor Centre, built to celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of both Bruce Peninsula and Fathom Five National Parks. Opened in 2006, the Parks Canada Visitor Centre sees an estimated 100,000 visitors each year and is a great way to research all the adventures in Tobermory, Ontario, Canada.
Here, the centre includes interactive exhibits, a theatre, and features an outdoor 20-meter observation tower, Lookout Tower, which offers sweeping views of the islands and shoreline. The smoky horizon that day was a subtle reminder of the impact of Northern Ontario wildfires. Yet the view was still unforgettable, layers of green and blue stretching as far as the eye could see.
A map of the area surround the Parks Canada Visitor Centre in Tobermory, Ontario, including numerous hiking trails, a Lookout Tower and an actual lookout! All steps from downtown Tobermory.
The 20-meter observation tower is a great way to experience the vastness of Fathom Five National Marine Park, from dry land! Once you pay for parking, the tower is free to use.
From the top of Lookout Tower, numerous islands of the Fathom Five National Marine Park can be seen, in addition to lush green forests and shining blue waters. Canada is beautiful!
Big Tub Lighthouse
While in Tobermory, we chanced a visit to the Big Tub Lighthouse. Built in 1885 to guide ships into the rocky entrance of Big Tub Harbour, this six-sided wooden lighthouse stands 14 meters tall and has been a beacon of maritime history for over a century. Its red roof and trim pop against the grey sky and turquoise water, making it a favourite for photographers and history buffs alike. Today, the lighthouse is powered by solar energy and maintained by the Canadian Coast Guard, symbolizing a shift toward more eco-conscious stewardship of our natural and historical landmarks. Interpretive signs along the short shoreline trail share stories of the area's shipping past, while encouraging respectful interaction with this fragile, protected environment. Whether you're stopping for a quick photo, soaking in the panoramic views, or simply enjoying the serenity of the Georgian Bay shoreline, Big Tub Lighthouse is a must-see stop for anyone undertaking adventures in Tobermory, Ontario.
Tucked at the end of a residential peninsula, this cheerful sign from the Friends of Fathom Five National Park helps guide visitors to safe access to explore the Big Tub Lighthouse.
The Big Tub Lighthouse is the quintessential Canadian white-sided, red-trimmed lighthouse. Originally built in 1885, the lighthouse had only a few keepers until it was automated in 1952.
Lighthouse history is shared through signage, including this one describing the original light as being a lantern on a high pole! The operator of the lantern and pole was paid $100 for a year of service in the early 1880's.
Family Fun at Lands End Park Campground
In addition to hiking, touring and sightseeing while having adventures in Tobermory, Ontario, Canada and the Fathom Five National Marine Park, our time at Lands End Park Campground was anything but dull. The sandy beach and sheltered bay provided ideal conditions for paddleboarding and kayaking. Additionally, the clear waters let us spot fish, driftwood, and sunken stones below. We were lucky enough to see a blue heron amongst the marshes while out paddling, and the floating dock was a perfect launch pad for cannonballs and lazy sunset floats.
Panoramic view from the beach at Lands End Park in Tobermory, Ontario. To the left are campground-use boat docks and put-in, straight ahead is the floating dock. The sandy beach is surrounded by nature and crystal clear waters.
The campground is clean, quiet, and spacious, with sites that balance privacy and community. As well as convenient amenities like ice cream at the camp store, and a well-marked hiking trail featuring Bruce Peninsula rocky terrain and apparently the occasional Ontario rattlesnake. Our kids loved the pirate ship-themed playground and massive sandy beach volleyball court, while we all enjoyed metal detecting along the beach (with surprising success, but mostly nails!). Nature is front and centre at Lands End Park Campground, in the call of owls at night, the hum of bees during the day, and the sight of stars unfiltered by city lights.
Keeping cozy at our campsite at Land End Park in Tobermory, Ontario.
Cooling off by paddle boarding and kayaking in the crystal clear waters off the Lands End Park beach.
The campground had an epic pirate ship-themed playground, suitable given the number of shipwrecks in the area!
A 5-star sandy beach volleyball court can be found at the Lands End Park campground in Tobermory, Ontario.
Why Tobermory Stole Our Hearts
Extending our vacation to explore Tobermory proved to be one of the best decisions of our summer. From the shipwrecks and sea stacks of Fathom Five National Marine Park to the historic charm of Big Tub Lighthouse and the family-friendly comforts of Lands End Park Campground, every experience highlighted the unique character of this region. What struck us most was the balance between adventure and relaxation — one day we were hiking trails and exploring caves, the next we were kayaking calm bays and sharing laughs around the campfire. Tobermory's mix of natural beauty, cultural history, and small-town hospitality made it the perfect destination for family camping. Whether you come for the rugged cliffs, the crystal waters, or the star-filled skies, the adventures in Tobermory offer memories that linger long after the trip is over.
Photo Credits: Anja Cahill
Travel, Tourism, and Camping in Tobermory and Fathom Five National Marine Park, Ontario, Canada
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