Ontario’s Highlands: Wonders Of Our Earth

Geology is like an intriguing detective story — if you can learn to read the rocks you will uncover the secret history of our Earth.

The tourism region called “Ontario’s Highlands” (OH) is on traditional Algonquin territory and is acknowledged by Indigenous Peoples as unceded. To the southeast, OH is also on Mohawk territory. To the west/southwest, OH is on the Ojibwe territory. We are grateful that Indigenous peoples have been stewards of this land and beyond from time immemorial. We are called to treat this land, its waterways, plants, animals, stories, and its Peoples, with honour and respect. All my relations.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL

WOE Guide meets the group at a designated meeting place or place of stay. Transfer north to Haliburton Highlands along with the Wonders of our Earth Route with your Wonders of our Earth (WOE) Passport. Arrive, check-in, receive an orientation of Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve. Lunch is a la carte at The Cookhouse. Afterwards, learn about Haliburton Forest’s wild side. Participate in a Walk in the Clouds Canopy Tour in an old-growth forest. Visit the Wolf Centre, observe a wolf pack and learn about their roles and behaviour. Dinner is a la carte at The Cookhouse. Enjoy a campfire (weather permitting) and overnight.

DAY 1: ALTERNATIVE DAY 1: ARRIVAL

WOE Guide meets the group at a designated meeting place or place of stay. Transfer northeast to the City of Kawartha Lakes OR Peterborough & The Kawarthas with your Wonders of our Earth (WOE) Passport. Arrival, guided tour of South Pond Farms OR The Canadian Canoe Museum’s watercraft collection. After lunch, participate in a pre-arranged Culinary or Artisan Workshop. Transfer, visit the Peterborough Lift Locks, the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world. Continue east or south, check-in for dinner and overnight.

DAY 2: DAILY ACTIVITIES

Early morning Voyageur Canoe paddle, weather and lake conditions permitting. After breakfast, check-out, receive your first WOE Passport Stamp, transfer to meet your guide for an exclusive Haliburton Rocks, OR Maple Experience. Tour Greenmantle Farms to observe natural crystals exposed on the earth’s surface, OR learn how to make your own Maple Syrup. Enjoy a picnic lunch and transfer. Outfitted with hammer, goggles, gloves and pail to rockhound for your own gem at Schickler Occurrence. Receive your WOE Passport Stamp. Transfer, check-in, dinner and overnight.

DAY 3: HIKING & GEMS

After breakfast, hike local trails to a lookout. Afterwards, check-out and transfer. After lunch, visit the Bancroft Gem & Mineral Museum located in the newly renovated train station in Hastings County. Guided tour of the finest collection of gems and minerals discovered in Ontario’s Highlands. Receive your WOE Passport Stamp. Transfer and visit the Princess Sodalite Mine Rock Shop, named after the British aristocracy’s fascination with the royal blue gem - sodalite. Rockhound for your own sample souvenir! Receive your WOE Passport Stamp. Transfer, stop short hike to take-in Eagle’s Nest Lookout. Arrive at your accommodation for check-in, dinner and overnight.

DAY 4: DAILY ACTIVITIES

After breakfast, outfitting of a wetsuit, lifejacket, helmet and paddle for two hours raft excursion on the Madawaska River. Following raft excursion, return to MKC to change and return equipment/accessories. Enjoy a fireside or patio lunch prior to check-out. Receive your WOE Passport Stamp. Pre-arranged and meet with the
Patterson’s to rockhound and collect at Beryl Pit OR experience the Spirit of the Crystals with Karen Moonbeam at the Rose Quartz Quarry. Collect your WOE Passport Stamp. OR Visit the Bonnechere Caves, take a one-hour underground tour of karst limestone caves whose walls are embedded with Orodovician pre vertebrate marine life. Receive WOE Passport Stamp. Transfer into the heart of the Ottawa Valley, Whitewater Capital of Canada. Arrive at your accommodation for check-in, dinner and overnight.

DAY 5: RAFTING EXUCURSION

After breakfast, transfer to your next activity. Outfitting of wetsuit, booties, lifejacket, paddle and helmet and pack for the return trip. Participate in Soft Adventure River Excursion down the world-famous Rocher Fendu Rapids. Transfer to river put-in with your guide, preparation and paddling instruction on a raft. Commence 4 or 6-hour rafting excursion, upon completion return via a leisurely Pontoon Boat cruise. After a BBQ lunch, change clothing, relax and enjoy resort setting and waterfront activities. Check-out, receive your WOE Passport Stamp and Transfer, Return to the place of stay.

DAY 6: DAILY ACTIVITIES

After breakfast, check-out, receive your WOE Stamp. Transfer through Lanark County to Perth. Enjoy a walking tour of the heritage town. After lunch, transfer and visit the Silver Queen Mica Mine and Lally Homestead at Murphys Point Provincial Park. Learn about the beginnings of Ontario’s mining heritage, the importance of the Rideau Canal and the role played by the local farmer. Receive your WOE Passport Stamp. Return to Perth, check-in Hotel or Inn for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7: DEPARTURE

After breakfast, check-out, transfer east to Smith Falls visit Parks Canada Rideau Canal Visitor’s Centre OR transfer west for matinee afternoon musical performance at Westben Concerts at the Barn. Transfer to Toronto or Ottawa.