Havelock

Havelock offers several reasons to spend time outdoors while getting to know the character of the community. In Mathison Conservation Area, forests, wetlands, and open fields meet short walking trails. There are also recreational amenities at George Street Park and a historic streetscape around the former railway station. When choosing a vacation rental in Havelock, you can consider which of these aspects of the community you’d most like to shape your stay.

Forests, wetlands, and short walking trails

Mathison Conservation Area covers 100 hectares of scenic forest, quiet wetlands, and open fields. These varied landscapes give the area its distinctive character: you can enjoy natural spaces during your stay without being limited to a single setting. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you’ll find ten well-marked trails here. Each is less than one kilometre long and suitable for a short walk.

The trails were improved in 2023 and are wheelchair accessible. This means you can also take trail conditions into account when planning your day. The individual routes remain short; the ten marked trails give you a specific choice for a walk or short hike, rather than requiring you to plan for one long route. Mathison Conservation Area is directly behind the HBM Community Centre in Havelock—a helpful landmark when adding this natural area to your plans.

Recreational amenities at George Street Park

George Street Park has had a splash pad and upgraded play amenities since 2022. These include a new swing, a flying saucer swing, and a climbing structure with a protective impact-absorbing surface. The facilities offer accessible activities for people with different levels of mobility. For families, they provide several ways to spend time outdoors together, from splashing in the water to playing on the upgraded equipment. The amenities are specifically named, so you can assess which ones might interest your travel group.

Softball and local history

The George Street Park and Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Community Centre include the ballpark at 39 George Street East. Its softball field is fully fenced and lit. If you’d like to use the field, you can book it through the Parks and Arena Department at 705-778-2891. This is a distinct option alongside the short trails and recreational amenities: the ballpark focuses on softball, while the conservation area and park offer other ways to spend time outdoors.

Railway history is also part of the community’s character. The former railway station is on the south side of Ottawa Street and is a prominent landmark as well as a valued part of the community’s visual identity. It was designated a historic structure in 1991. Together with the adjacent, operating rail yard, the former station shapes Havelock’s heritage and character. The combination of the former station and the active rail yard makes two distinct periods visible without confusing the station’s historic status with the rail yard’s current operations.

Whether you’d like to focus your trip on short nature trails, recreational amenities, softball, or local history, Havelock offers several distinct points of interest.

More destinations to choose from: Peterborough, Woodview, Curve Lake, Ennismore, Keene, Norwood and Bailieboro.

For the broader travel overview: Peterborough County.