Blessed with buzzing cities, breathtaking natural wonders, culinary delights, cultural connections and year-round seasonal appeal, the Canadian province of Ontario has you covered for urban sights and adventurous highlights. Here are five ways to go with the flow in Ontario in 2026 and beyond.
Located in eastern Canada, Ontario is a must-visit destination for Australians looking for cultural immersion and epic natural exploration. Beyond the three well-known drawcards of Toronto, Ottawa and Niagara Falls, there’s so much more to discover that will surprise and delight even repeat visitors.
What you might not know is that while this province lacks a coastline, you won’t miss the H2O here – in fact, Ontario contains almost one-fifth of the world’s fresh water with four of the five Great Lakes as borders. And the Indigenous name for Ontario? “Sparkling water”, naturally.
Ready to make a splash in Ontario on your next holiday? Here are five ways to go with the flow in Ontario in 2026, soaking up all the highlights and hidden gems.
1. Tap into iconic cities
Ontario is home to three of Canada’s most recognised cities – the capital, Ottawa, its most populous, Toronto, and Niagara Falls – all with distinctly different urban experiences.
Toronto is packed with big city energy. It was the first Canadian centre to receive a coveted Michelin Guide, and you’re guaranteed a great feed when you visit, thanks to its multicultural influences and farm-to-table philosophy. The city is also gearing up to host matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Spend a few days in Toronto to go up the CN Tower, check out the historic markets and catch a sports game. You can also experience Toronto on the waterfront and even the car-free Toronto Islands located in Lake Ontario and accessible by ferry.
Niagara Falls is another must-see – the best view is from the Canadian side, naturally, and you can gain different perspectives of the mighty cascades by air, land and sea. Choose your own adventure with Niagara City Cruises, Journey Behind the Falls, Zipline to the Falls and Niagara Helicopters.
Make your day trip an overnighter, and spend some time in the city, too. Niagara Falls offers other immersive and regenerative tourism options, such as the historic Niagara Parks Power Station and the new Niagara Takes Flight cinematic VR experience that will see you soar (virtually) over the entire river corridor without getting wet.
Ottawa is more than Parliament Hill – although you should definitely visit and join the lunchtime yoga on the lawn in summer. It’s full of world-class cultural institutions (think seven of the country’s nine national museums) and the UNESCO Heritage-listed, picturesque Rideau Canal, which becomes an outdoor ice rink in winter. You can also bike 800km of pathways connecting to major attractions.
2. Dive into natural wonders
The aforementioned Niagara Falls is just one of the many natural attractions in Ontario. The province abounds with awe-inspiring and easily accessible landscapes that are nurtured and shaped by water.
There are more than 250,000 crystal-clear lakes and over 100,000km of rivers running through Ontario, plus 346 provincial and national parks.
If numbers are your thing, the 1000 Islands blends dramatic landscapes and cultural landmarks, including castles and coves, best viewed on heli tours or cruises.
If you’re into leaf-peeping, Ontario in autumn is the place to be.
You can see the fall foliage up close in national and provincial parks, such as Algonquin Provincial Park. Other top spots include 1000 Islands and Kingston, Blue Mountain Resort (only two hours from Toronto), Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve (home to wolves) and many more.
You can also witness seasonal changes on customisable road trips – the classic Ontario circle tour takes in all the faves – and hop aboard VIA Rail’s scenic routes, such as the Corridor, The Ocean, and the epic The Canadian, for contrasting landscapes.
Destination Ontario has also achieved GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Gold Certification, one of only two Canadian provincial tourism organisations to reach this milestone and is cementing its commitment to preserving the natural beauty, culture and landmarks for years to come.
3. The source of Indigenous culture
The abundance of water in Ontario gave rise to the first canoes and kayaks. The province’s important waterways, such as the Ottawa River, connected Indigenous communities, facilitated trade and have spiritual significance. These days, you can enjoy the rush with OWL whitewater rafting!
Visitors can learn about these traditions and ongoing links through guided tours and immersive experiences, like the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough (between Toronto and Ottawa), which has the world’s largest collection of paddled watercraft.
In Ottawa, explore the First Peoples Hall within the must-visit Canadian Museum of History, while Toronto’s McMichael Canadian Art Museum also has an array of Indigenous art on display within a stunning suburban park-like setting.
Visitors can also see the influence of the landscape on Ontario’s artists, such as the famed Group of Seven, both at McMichael and within the Art Gallery of Ontario.
4. (Ice)wine and dine
Local chefs across Ontario also tap into the province’s abundant resources, dishing up regionally sourced freshwater fish, wild berries and farm-fresh fare on tables in cities (see Toronto and Ottawa’s markets) and the countryside, paired with local wines.
Niagara Peninsula is home to Canada’s largest and most comprehensive viticulture region, from the signature icewine (Ottawa is the world’s largest producer) to other cool climate drops in the likes of Twenty Valley and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
With more than 100 wineries within 45 minutes of Niagara Falls, you can easily add vino sampling to your Ontario itinerary, alongside in-depth culinary exploration.
Take a road trip to ‘cottage country’, aka the Muskoka Region. Not only is this spectacular lakeside area famous for fall foliage and cranberry harvesting (wholesome!), it’s also the filming location for “the cottage” in Heated Rivalry (IYKYK).
The popular streaming series was mostly shot in Ontario, if you really need another incentive to book your holiday.
5. Open all year round
While autumn is undoubtedly a delightful time to visit, Ontario is definitely a four-season destination with different visitor experiences on tap and a jam-packed event calendar to inspire your travels.
Get festive all year round with events and festivities that will appeal to all travellers, from winter festivals to multicultural and foodie celebrations, sporting events to cinema showcases.
Build your itinerary around Winterlude in Ottawa, Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Ottawa PoutineFest, Niagara Icewine Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, or ask your travel advisor about what’s on in Ontario during your visit.
Of course, no trip to Canada is complete without a National Hockey League game, and you can see the two pro teams (and rivals) – Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators – in action on the rink.
Ready for Ontario? Discover more at destinationontario.com
This article is brought to you by Destination Ontario:
