Amphibious City and Harbour Tour Halifax

Downtown Halifax by road

The first half of the tour, about 30 minutes, is a sightseeing drive through downtown Halifax. Sitting high in the amphibious vehicle, you get an unusual view of the city's mix of historic stone buildings and modern glass towers. Your guide talks about the founding of Halifax in 1749 as a British naval town, the hill crowned by the Citadel, the old churches and the streets that climb up from the harbour.

Expect a quick, cheerful pace with plenty of jokes and stories rather than a long history lecture. You will hear about the 1917 Halifax Explosion, which flattened much of the north end, and about the city's long links with the sea, from privateers to navy ships. It is a good orientation if you are wondering what to see in Halifax in a single day, because you will spot many places you may want to return to on foot.

The splash into Halifax Harbour

The highlight for most passengers is the moment the vehicle rolls down the ramp and splashes into the water. These boat-and-truck hybrids were built for military use and have been retrofitted for sightseeing, so they float steadily while the wheels tuck out of sight. From here the tour continues for about 25 minutes on Halifax Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world and ice-free all year round.

From the water you see container ships, ferries, tugs and naval vessels at work, as well as the sailing ships that often moor along the waterfront in summer. Keep your camera ready: the low angle on the water gives excellent photos of the skyline and the bridges across the harbour. Many people ask whether this Halifax harbour tour is worth it compared with a regular boat trip; the land-and-water combination is what makes it unique.

Halifax Waterfront

The tour starts and ends on the Halifax Waterfront, a boardwalk of several kilometres that runs past restored wooden warehouses, piers, food stalls and small museums. Historic Properties, a group of 19th-century stone and timber warehouses, shows what the old merchant port looked like, while further south you find the maritime museum and the cruise terminals.

From the vehicle, especially on the water, you see the whole length of the waterfront at once, which helps you plan the rest of your day. After the tour, the boardwalk is the natural place to continue on foot, with benches facing the harbour and plenty of places to eat. The best time to walk the Halifax Waterfront is on a summer afternoon or early evening, when the light is soft and the boats are coming in.

Georges Island National Historic Site

In the middle of the harbour rises Georges Island, a small drumlin island crowned by Fort Charlotte and a white lighthouse. For more than two centuries it was a key part of the harbour defences, armed with cannons and later linked to a network of forts and underground tunnels designed to protect the naval base. During the 1750s it was also used to hold Acadians who were being deported from Nova Scotia.

Today Georges Island is a national historic site, and the amphibious tour gives you a close view of its fortifications and lighthouse from the water. Your guide explains how the island fitted into the defence of Halifax and points out other landmarks around the harbour. It is one of the most photographed views in the city, especially with the downtown skyline rising behind it.