Free
Big Tub Lighthouse
A small wooden lighthouse at the mouth of Big Tub Harbour, with flat rocks for watching the sunset.
Bruce Peninsula, Ontario
Tobermory
At the very tip of the Bruce Peninsula: clear Georgian Bay water, the famous Grotto, shipwrecks you can see from a boat, and an island of flowerpot rocks.
Photo: The Grotto sea cave, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Mhsheikholeslami, CC BY-SA 4.0
Drive Highway 6 until the road runs out and you're at the very tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Lake Huron meets Georgian Bay here, and the water is so clear you can see shipwrecks from a boat. Two national parks share the spot: Bruce Peninsula National Park on land, and Fathom Five National Marine Park in the water, with Flowerpot Island offshore.
Summer is busy, and the Grotto needs a parking reservation. Be curious and be early. Book ahead, and save a whole day just for the water.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Bruce Trail northern terminus
Canada's oldest and longest marked footpath ends here, with a cairn in town. Walk a few kilometres south along the shore.
Cheap
The Grotto and Indian Head Cove
A sea cave and cliff-edge cove of blue-green water along the Georgian Bay shore in Bruce Peninsula National Park. Rocky trail; timed parking reservations in season.
Cheap
Singing Sands
A shallow sandy beach on the Lake Huron side of the national park, with boardwalks through fen and rare plants. Gentle and family-friendly.
Cheap
Halfway Log Dump
A quieter cobble beach and cliff-top stretch of the national park on Georgian Bay, reached by a short trail.
Paid
Flowerpot Island
Take a tour boat to the island's famous rock pillars, a light station and hiking trails. Boats run in the warmer months; landing details are on the Parks Canada page.
Paid
Glass-bottom boat over the shipwrecks
Several Tobermory operators run boats over the shipwreck Sweepstakes in Big Tub Harbour, often combined with Flowerpot Island.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Little Tub Harbour
The village harbour, where the tour boats leave from. Shops, ice cream and boat-watching.
Cheap
Visitor centre and lookout tower
The Parks Canada visitor centre has exhibits on the peninsula and lake, short trails, and a tall lookout tower over Georgian Bay.
Paid
Chi-Cheemaun ferry
The big car ferry to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island runs in season, watch it arrive, or ride it.
Paid
Scuba diving the wrecks
Fathom Five is one of the best freshwater dive sites around, with many wrecks. Divers must register with Parks Canada.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Flowerpot Island and shipwreck boat tour
Glass-bottom and fast boats run to Flowerpot Island and over the Big Tub Harbour wrecks.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Blue Heron Cruises
Another long-running Tobermory operator with glass-bottom and island drop-off trips.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Grotto parking reservation
Timed parking for the Grotto trail, required in the busy season.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Chi-Cheemaun ferry Ferry
Part of our Bruce Peninsula guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The Grotto hike and a Flowerpot Island boat trip each take a full day, so do them on different days.
- It's a long drive from most cities. Staying the night turns a rushed out-and-back into a real trip.
- Sunset at Big Tub Lighthouse is one of the best on the Great Lakes, so stay for it.
Nearby and worth the drive
Lion's Headabout 45 min · Guide ↗
A village with a famous Bruce Trail lookout over Georgian Bay cliffs.
Manitoulin Islandabout 2 h · Guide ↗The Chi-Cheemaun car ferry crosses from Tobermory in season.
Ready-made trips with Tobermory
2 days · Tobermory
The tip of the Bruce
The Grotto one day, Flowerpot Island and the shipwrecks the next.
3 days · Collingwood and Blue Mountain → Tobermory
Escarpment and Georgian Bay
Caves and lookouts at Blue Mountain, then up the Bruce Peninsula to the Grotto.
3 days · Tobermory → Manitoulin Island
Tobermory to Manitoulin Island
The Chi-Cheemaun ferry to the world's largest freshwater island.
Good to know
- Parks Canada: Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park.
- Grotto parking: In season, timed parking reservations are required. Book on the Parks Canada site.
- Tourism: tobermory.com.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: The Grotto sea cave, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Mhsheikholeslami, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: A flowerpot rock pillar on Flowerpot Island, Enoch Leung, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Big Tub Lighthouse, Tobermory, Martin Cígler, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Little Tub Harbour, Tobermory, Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: The MS Chi-Cheemaun arriving in Tobermory, MBi, CC BY-SA 4.0