The defining image of Harbour Island is Pink Sand Beach: the beach lies on the eastern Atlantic side, stretches for more than three miles and is between 50 and 100 feet wide. Its pale pink colour comes from microscopic coral organisms called foraminifera. The pink hue is more pronounced in the wet sand at the water’s edge—a useful guide if you want to take a closer look at the colour.
Dunmore Town and The Lone Tree
In Dunmore Town, picturesque New England-style architecture shapes the townscape. Bay Street offers harbour views. The narrow streets are easy to navigate by golf cart. This gives you several concrete ways to explore the town, from its architecture and harbour views to its narrow streets.
A striking landmark is The Lone Tree: the large piece of driftwood stands alone on the sand and looks like an art sculpture. It stands at Girls Bank on Bay Street and is considered a distinctive relic of the island’s history. Its location and unusual material make it a very different subject from the historic buildings in Dunmore Town.
Historic sites and buildings
The Landing on Church Street is a historic estate dating from 1800. The house of Dr. Thomas W. Johnson and his family once stood on Church Street, too. The original doctor’s residence is also there: a white, two-storey wooden building that is about a century old. These three details point to different aspects of local history—a dated estate, a former family home and a building with a medical past.
St. Johns Anglican Church on Harbour Island is considered the oldest religious foundation in the Bahamas. Together with the houses and estates on Church Street, it broadens the view beyond the coast: the history of religious institutions and former residences is also part of the island’s character.
Bahamian cuisine and evening atmosphere
At the Boathouse Restaurant in Valentines Resort, classic Bahamian dishes with a gourmet twist are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Beyond The Reef has two waterfront bars, one of which overlooks the harbour. The menu includes cracked conch, fried snapper and grilled lobster. On weekends, the venue offers live entertainment by the local band 123. The experiences are distinct: meals at three times of day at the Boathouse, and a waterfront setting, regional dishes and weekend music at Beyond The Reef.
Getting there
From mainland Eleuthera, Harbour Island can only be reached by ferry or boat. Check the current ferry service and departure times before you travel. This lets you factor the journey into your plans without having to set a fixed order for the other experiences on the island.
Discover more destinations: Central Abaco, South Abaco, North Abaco, Central Andros, City Of Freeport, South Andros, Central Eleuthera
Return to the main travel overview: Bahamas.
