Port of Iona · Pitu’paq / Bras d’Or Lake · Unama’ki / Cape Breton Island
Discovery Centre reopens in June 2027
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Port of Iona, 2583 St. Columba Road, Iona, NS
Admission by donation · Open June to October
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Plan Your Visit
Come to Iona. Stay long enough to discover more.
Àros na Mara is at the Port of Iona on the Barra Strait, overlooking Pitu’paq / the Bras d’Or Lake. Start indoors at the Discovery Centre, then step outside to explore the Port and shoreline. When it’s open, enjoy something from the Iona Port Café. You don’t need to enter the water to discover what lies beneath the surface.
Make More of Your Visit to Iona
Baile nan Gàidheal (Highland Village)
A Gaelic living history museum overlooking the Lake and the Barra Strait, minutes from the Port.
Barra Strait and Grand Narrows
Where the Lake narrows between Iona and Grand Narrows, a crossroads for boats, paddlers and travellers.
Paddling the Trans Canada Trail
The Port is a lake access point on the Trans Canada Trail’s Bras d’Or Lake water route.
Shoreline and parks nearby
Beaches, parks and shoreline walks close to Iona for a longer stop.
A wider journey around Pitu’paq
Make Iona part of a wider journey around Pitu’paq / the Bras d’Or Lake.
Getting here and parking
Àros na Mara is at the Port of Iona, on St. Columba Road just off Route 223, overlooking the Barra Strait and the bridge to Grand Narrows.
Address
Àros na Mara Discovery Centre
Port of Iona, 2583 St. Columba Road
Iona, Nova Scotia B2C 1A8
Parking
On-site parking is shared with other Port and beach users. Please arrange bus, RV or other large-vehicle visits in advance. Overnight RV parking is not offered.
Use the Get Directions map pin for the Discovery Centre; some older online listings may show different civic information.
Get directionsAccessibility
The Discovery Centre is step-free and wheelchair accessible. The Port includes hard-surface areas, but the natural beach and shoreline have uneven terrain and are not fully accessible.
Please contact us before visiting if you have specific accessibility questions.
Contact us →Families, groups and schools
What can we enjoy without entering the water?
Plenty. The Discovery Centre, its underwater imagery, the Port and the shoreline can all be enjoyed from land.
A suggested family visit (1–2 hours)
Explore the touch tank, displays and underwater imagery, walk the Port and shoreline, then stop at the Café when it’s open. Wear suitable footwear and supervise children near the water; shoreline surfaces can be uneven or slippery.
Schools and groups
Schools and groups are welcome by advance arrangement through the contact form. Please give as much notice as possible; group size depends on staffing, space and the program requested, and any charge for a facilitated program is confirmed when booked.
Use the contact form →
At the Port
Iona Port Café
A break by the water.
Open seasonally; the Café accepts cash and cards.
Menu highlights
Coffee and cold drinks, breakfast items, baked goods, light lunches, small-batch specials and Chapman’s ice cream and treats. Offerings change with availability.
Season and hours
2027 dates and hours will be confirmed before reopening.
Weather and what to bring
The weather on the Lake can change quickly. Bring a layer, sturdy shoes for the shoreline, and sun protection in summer.
Enjoy the outdoor Port and picnic areas. The Café accepts cash and cards.
Questions people ask
Is the Discovery Centre wheelchair accessible?
Yes. It is step-free and wheelchair accessible. The natural beach and shoreline are uneven and not fully accessible.
Can we come by bus or RV?
Yes, by advance arrangement so arrival and parking can be coordinated. Overnight RV parking is not offered.
Can schools and groups visit?
Yes, by advance arrangement through the contact form.