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New Brunswick travel guide — Where the tides rewrite the shore twice a day.

Atlantic Canada · NB · Pillar Guide

New Brunswick Travel Guide

Where the tides rewrite the shore twice a day.

Home to the highest tides on Earth, covered bridges, and bilingual Acadian villages.

789K

Population

72,908 km²

Area

AT

Time zone

2 NPs

National parks

Overview

Home to the highest tides on Earth, covered bridges, and bilingual Acadian villages.

  • Coast
  • Wildlife
  • Food & Wine
  • Road Trip

01 — Key attractions

What you came for.

No. 01

Bay of Fundy

Tides that rise the height of a four-story building.

No. 02

Hopewell Rocks

Walk the ocean floor at low tide; kayak the formations at high.

No. 03

Fundy National Park

Coastal cliffs, waterfalls, and Acadian forest.

02 — Suggested itineraries

Routes that flow.

Drive times

  • MonctonHopewell Rocks

    45m

  • Saint JohnSt. Andrews

    1h 30m

  • MonctonHalifax (NS)

    3h

03 — Signature experiences

Only here.

Adventure

Tidal bore rafting

Surf the wave that races up the Petitcodiac.

Food

Lobster boil on the shore

Just-caught Atlantic lobster with melted butter and ocean air.

04 — When to go

Month-by-month.

Jan

Quiet, cold; Acadian winter festivals.

Feb

Last winter month.

Mar

Maple sugaring begins.

Apr

Mud season — wait it out.

May

Whales return to the Bay of Fundy.

Jun

Lupines bloom; lobster season opens.

Jul

Peak summer — Acadian festivals in August.

Aug

Tintamarre on Aug 15 — Acadian National Day.

Sep

Shoulder — warm days, no bugs.

Oct

Fall colours along the Fundy Coast.

Nov

Quiet shoulder.

Dec

Cosy winter inns.

PeakGoodShoulderOff / closed

05 — Editor's picks

Operators, lodges & hotels we trust.

Editorially curated — we don't accept payment for placement.

Hotel

Algonquin Resort

St. Andrews

Historic seaside resort with Stanley Thompson golf course.

Operator

Fundy Tidal Bore Adventures

Moncton

Surf the Petitcodiac's daily bore wave.

Inn

Inn on the Cove

Saint John

Cliffside B&B with Bay of Fundy views.

Park

Roosevelt Campobello Park

Campobello Island

FDR's summer cottage and Quoddy Head views.

06 — Budget

What it costs.

Smart

$160–250 / day pp

Provincial park camping, lobster suppers in church halls.

  • Fundy NP camping
  • Roadside lobster pound
  • Saint John City Market
Most popular

Mid

$250–450 / day pp

Coastal inns, guided sea kayak, full Fundy circuit.

  • Boutique seaside inn
  • Hopewell Rocks guided kayak
  • Cape Enrage zipline

Premium

$450+ / day pp

Algonquin Resort + private whale charter + golf.

  • Algonquin Resort Stanley Thompson room
  • Private whale charter
  • Half-day golf with cart

07 — Prep & logistics

Before you go.

What to pack

  • Tide tables (or NS/NB tide app)
  • Layers for cool marine mornings
  • Rain shell — Atlantic squalls
  • Walking shoes for the ocean floor

Permits & passes

  • Parks Canada Discovery Pass for Fundy & Kouchibouguac
  • Hopewell Rocks day pass

Getting around

  • Fly Moncton (YQM) or Saint John (YSJ)
  • Rent a car — coastal drives are the point
  • Ferry to Grand Manan if you've time

Insider tips

  • 01Time the Hopewell Rocks for low + high tide on the same day for the full effect.
  • 02Drive Route 114 around Fundy NP in early October.
  • 03Aug 15 in any Acadian town is unforgettable — bring red, white & blue.

Good to know

Frequently
asked.

Practical answers for planning a New Brunswick trip.

When is the best time to visit New Brunswick?

June–September.

How long should I spend in New Brunswick?

Most travellers spend 5 days in New Brunswick on a focused trip. Combine with a neighbouring province for 10–14 days.

How much time do I need in New Brunswick?

4–6 days for the Fundy Coastal Drive. Add a few days to combine with PEI or Nova Scotia.

How do tides actually work at Hopewell?

Tides shift ~12 km vertically twice daily. Plan to walk the ocean floor at low tide, then return ~6 hours later to kayak the same formations.

Live · Parks Canada

National park status in New Brunswick.

Trail closures, fire bans, wildlife sightings, and access advisories — pulled from Parks Canada's official alerts feed. Check before you head out.

Live · Ferry routes

Ferry crossings to & from New Brunswick.

Schedules, fares, and live sailing status from each operator. Book vehicles weeks ahead in peak summer.

Time it right

Nearby events & festivals

Signature events happening across New Brunswick.

Browse all events

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