New Brunswick: Open For Travel?

New Brunswick, Canada, is open for travel and offers a wide range of attractions for visitors, including outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, and historical sites. The province is known for its stunning natural areas, such as the Bay of Fundy, which boasts the highest tides in the world, and Fundy National Park, with its miles of hiking trails and rugged coastline. Visitors can also explore the charming town of Saint John, with its famous Reversing Falls Rapids, and the unique Roosevelt Campobello International Park, once the summer retreat of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. New Brunswick offers a variety of outdoor activities, including ziplining, kayaking, and walking trails, as well as cultural experiences such as food tours and winery visits. With its mix of natural beauty, history, and cultural offerings, New Brunswick is a captivating destination for travellers seeking an authentic East Coast experience.

Travel tips

Planning your trip

New Brunswick is in the Atlantic Time zone, UTC/GMT -4 hours, which is 4 hours behind London time and 5 hours behind European time. Don't forget to set your watch an hour ahead if you're travelling from Ontario, Quebec or Maine! The province also observes Daylight Savings Time.

Getting around

If you're already on the road, you can stop at a Visitor Information Centre for free services to make your travel in the province stress-free.

Money

The sales tax in New Brunswick is called the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and is applied at a single rate of 15% to goods and services. A tip of 15-20% of the total bill (before tax) at bars and restaurants is customary, and tips are also given to tour guides, taxi drivers, and for spa treatments and haircuts.

Things to do

New Brunswick is full of things to see and do, from whale-watching in the Bay of Fundy to exploring historic sites like the Village Historique Acadien, a living museum portraying the daily lives of the Acadians from 1770 to 1949.

If you're looking for outdoor adventures, you can go ziplining, hiking, or kayaking. There are also plenty of cultural experiences to enjoy, such as food tours, winery visits, and exploring the local art scene.

Where to eat

For a unique shopping and dining experience, check out the Saint John City Market, where you can find everything from fresh produce to handmade local crafts and international cuisine.

Where to stay

From camping under the stars to glamping in comfort, there are plenty of options for where to stay in New Brunswick. You can also find accommodations ranging from cabins to treehouses.

Outdoor activities

New Brunswick is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a range of activities all year round. Here are some of the best outdoor activities to enjoy in New Brunswick:

Hiking

Fundy National Park offers over 25 waterfalls and 60 kilometres of trails, catering to all skill levels, from easy strolls to challenging climbs. Mount Carleton's Sagamook Peak is another great hiking destination, with a 5.1-kilometre trail that ascends 820 metres, offering a rewarding 4-5 hour climb. For a multi-day hiking adventure, try the Dobson Trail, which spans 62 kilometres from Riverview to Fundy National Park, crossing diverse terrain and ascending up to 1500 metres.

Biking

For mountain biking, head to Kouchibouguac National Park, which boasts over 60 kilometres of trails, including the challenging Major Kollock Trail. Sugarloaf Bike Park, part of Sugarloaf Provincial Park, offers thrilling downhill rides with features like dirt tracks and narrow wooden boardwalks. For a more relaxed biking experience, try the trails at Mactaquac Provincial Park or Centennial Park in Moncton.

Kayaking and Canoeing

Adventure High Kayaking on Grand Manan is a renowned kayaking operator, offering tours for both beginners and experienced paddlers. For a unique perspective of the Bay of Fundy, try sea kayaking with Bay Mount Adventures. If you prefer canoeing, head to Kouchibouguac National Park to explore the Richibucto River or venture onto the Restigouche River with Canoe Restigouche.

Ziplining

Get your adrenaline pumping at Zip Zag Ziplining in Grand Falls, where you can soar over the churning waters of the falls or the gorge below. For another thrilling zipline experience, check out Cape Enrage, which offers courses that zip over open water.

Wildlife and Nature Experiences

The Bay of Fundy is a wildlife hotspot, with tours like Fundy Tide Runners offering a 95% chance of spotting whales. For birdwatching, visit the Hyla Park Nature Preserve in Fredericton, which is dedicated to preserving the habitat of rare bird species. Sackville Waterfowl Park is another birdwatcher's paradise, attracting many species of birds and waterfowl. Ministers Island is a cultural and environmental destination, offering a glimpse into the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the summer estate of Sir William Van Horne.

These are just a few examples of the plethora of outdoor activities that New Brunswick has to offer. Whether you're a hiker, biker, paddler, or nature enthusiast, there's something for everyone to enjoy in the beautiful outdoors of New Brunswick.

Food and drink

New Brunswick is a foodie's paradise, offering a diverse range of culinary delights that showcase the province's cultural heritage and local produce. Here's a guide to the food and drink scene in New Brunswick, Canada:

Local Delicacies and Produce

New Brunswick's cuisine reflects the cultural influences of its English, French, Scottish, Irish, and First Nations settlers. Some unique foods to try include fiddleheads, which are unfurled ferns foraged in the spring and considered a local delicacy. The province is also known for its seafood, including lobster, clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. The tiny village of St. Martin's, just outside Saint John, is famous for its seafood chowder, with several restaurants claiming to have the world's best recipe.

In addition, New Brunswick is a major producer of potatoes, with its centre being potato country. The province also boasts wild blueberries, bursting with antioxidants and vitamins, which can be found at roadside stands, markets, and on restaurant menus during the season.

Dining Options

Whether you're looking for fine dining or casual eats, New Brunswick has something to offer. The province is known for its seafood restaurants, with the Saint John Ale House being a popular choice for fish and chips and elevated seafood dishes. For a more casual meal, try one of the many fish and chip shops or roadside takeaways.

New Brunswick also has a variety of international cuisine options, including Greek, Italian, Mexican, and Japanese restaurants. The Boyce Farmers' Market in Fredericton is a great place to sample local produce and dishes, including those from the province's Francophone and Acadian communities.

Drinks

When it comes to drinks, New Brunswick has a lot to offer beyond just its food. The province is home to several craft breweries, with Fredericton being the epicentre of the craft beer movement. Some popular breweries include Petit Sault Brewery in Edmundston and Picaroon's in Fredericton.

In addition, there are a number of wineries in New Brunswick, although they tend to be small-scale. Richibucto River Wine Estate in Rexton and Motts Landing Vineyard in Cambridge-Narrows are great places to taste unique, dry red wines and fruit wines made from apples, pears, and blueberries.

For something truly unique, visit Sunset Heights Meadery, which produces sweet wines from honey. Their meads are available at the Craft Beer Festival in Fredericton and other local events.

Culinary Experiences

New Brunswick offers a range of culinary experiences beyond just dining out. The province is known for its apple orchards and U-picks, where you can pick your own apples. There are also a number of chefs and restaurateurs who offer unique culinary experiences, such as the Tournée Foodie Tour in Saint John, which showcases the best of the local culinary scene.

In addition, the province has a number of food-focused festivals and events, such as the New Brunswick Lobster Festival in early July, which celebrates the province's famous lobster industry.

So, whether you're a foodie looking for unique culinary experiences or just someone who enjoys good food and drink, New Brunswick has something to offer everyone.

Culture and history

New Brunswick, Canada, is a culturally rich and historically significant province with a diverse range of attractions for visitors. Here is an overview of its culture and history:

New Brunswick has a unique cultural landscape shaped by its bilingual status, indigenous heritage, and historical migrations. As Canada's only official bilingual province, it has an unofficial linguistic divide, with Fredericton, Saint John, and southwestern New Brunswick predominantly English-speaking, while the north-eastern regions are home to French Acadian natives. This linguistic diversity is a defining feature of the province's cultural landscape.

The province's indigenous heritage traces back to the Maliseet and Mi'kmaq people, whose history is preserved at the Augustine Mound near Metepnákiaq. These First Nations groups were the first residents of the land encompassing present-day New Brunswick, and their presence dates back millennia. The Passamaquoddy people also inhabited the region, particularly the southwest area around Passamaquoddy Bay.

In the 16th century, French explorers arrived, and the province's first permanent European settlement was established after Samuel de Champlain claimed the area as part of the French colony of Acadia in 1604. Over a century of battles between France and Great Britain ensued, leading to Acadia becoming a British territory in 1710. The British expelled over 5,000 residents, with many fleeing to the United States or other lands, while those who settled in present-day eastern New Brunswick became the ancestors of the province's current French-speaking population.

Southern New Brunswick has a distinct history as it became a safe haven for Loyalists fleeing the United States after the American Revolution. This group included people of British, Dutch, German, and African American descent. The influx of Loyalists led to the establishment of New Brunswick as a separate province from Nova Scotia in 1784, with Saint John becoming Canada's first incorporated city the following year. Fredericton was designated as the new capital.

The early 19th century saw a wave of Irish and Scottish immigrants, and in 1867, New Brunswick became one of the four original provinces of the Dominion of Canada. Despite setbacks like the Great Fire of 1877, which destroyed much of Saint John's shipbuilding industry, the province continued to develop. Moncton became a vital rail hub, and northern New Brunswick established several pulp mills.

In 1960, Louis Robichaud, New Brunswick's first elected Acadian premier, significantly increased French services and made the province officially bilingual in 1969. This ensured that all government services were available in both English and French, solidifying the province's commitment to linguistic equality.

Today, New Brunswick's cultural offerings include the vibrant music scene within its pubs and local homes, as well as performing arts venues such as Symphony New Brunswick in Saint John and the Atlantic Ballet Theatre in Moncton. The province also boasts impressive architectural gems, particularly within Fredericton's Historic Garrison District. Additionally, New Brunswick is known for its culinary delights, offering fresh seafood and local produce to visitors and locals alike.

Transport

New Brunswick is easily accessible by air, water, and land.

Air

The Greater Moncton International Airport is New Brunswick's primary airport for commercial flights. The Fredericton International Airport and Saint John Airport also accommodate commercial air traffic.

Water

Ferry services run between New Brunswick and Maine, including the Quoddy Loop Ferry and Northumberland Bay Ferries.

If you are travelling to New Brunswick using a private boat, you must report to customs immediately upon arrival. You will need to provide the customs officer with passports for each person on board, declare all personal goods being imported (including firearms and weapons), and pay duties and taxes if necessary.

Land

New Brunswick has a well-developed transit system, with local shuttles, bus and train services. Over 90 NJ Transit trains stop in New Brunswick each day, serving two stations: New Brunswick Station in downtown New Brunswick, and Jersey Avenue in the southern portion of the city.

NJ Transit operates five bus routes through New Brunswick: 810, 811, 814, 815, and 818.

CoachUSA/Suburban Transit operates three commuter bus routes in New Brunswick with service to NYC: Lines 100, 500 and 600.

Frequently asked questions