Bay Of Fundy: New Brunswick's Adventure Coast

The Bay of Fundy is a bay between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine. It is home to the highest tides in the world, which can rise up to 16 metres (52 ft) and occur twice a day. The best place to experience these tides is at Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, where you can walk among giant sea stack monoliths at low tide and kayak around them at high tide. The Bay of Fundy also offers scenic lighthouses, dramatic cliffs, islands, sandy beaches, and charming coastal villages. Visitors can explore sea caves at low tide, go whale watching, visit museums and galleries, and discover historic sites.

Explore the Hopewell Rocks

The Hopewell Rocks, also known as Flowerpot Rocks, are a highlight of New Brunswick's Fundy Coast. The Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park showcases the world's highest tides, with a recorded difference of over 16 metres (53 feet) in the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy. This natural phenomenon is caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun, as well as the unique geography of the bay, which resembles a huge funnel.

Getting There

The Hopewell Rocks are located in Hopewell Cape, along the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada. The most convenient way to get there is by car. The park is about a 40-minute drive from Moncton and a two-hour drive from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Alternatively, you can join a day trip from Moncton, which includes a guided tour of the site and the Fundy National Park.

Entrance Fee and Opening Times

The entrance fee for the Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is $15.54 CAD for adults, $12 CAD for seniors, and $8 CAD for children. Tickets are valid for two consecutive days, allowing visitors to experience both high and low tides. The park is open from May to October, with varying hours depending on the season. From May 20th to June 23rd, it is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. During the peak season, from June 24th to August 19th, the hours are extended to 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. In the early fall, from August 20th to September 4th, the park is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Finally, in late fall, from September 5th to October 29th, the hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is recommended to pre-book tickets online.

What to Do at Hopewell Rocks

The Hopewell Rocks offer a unique natural experience with both high and low tides. Here are some things to do and see:

• Walk the Ocean Floor at Low Tide: Explore the various rock formations, such as the iconic arch, and walk among the "flowerpot" rocks. It is recommended to wear sturdy footwear as it can get muddy.
• Kayaking at High Tide: Get up close to the flowerpot rocks and paddle through Lover's Arch. Guided kayaking tours are available and start at $65.
• Visit at Both High and Low Tide: The park admission is valid for two days, allowing visitors to experience both tides. It takes about six hours for the ocean floor to transform from low to high tide.
• Explore the Trails: Discover the well-groomed, wheelchair-friendly trails that offer stunning lookouts, secluded vistas, ocean floor access, and natural forests. There are three primary access points to the ocean floor: Main Deck, with a staircase and viewing platform, North Beach, which has a ramp, and the trail behind the Interpretive Centre that leads to Demoiselle Beach.
• Interpretive Centre: Enjoy the multi-media exhibit, scenic walking trails, and lookouts. The centre also has a gift shop and a café.
• Night Photography (seasonal): Join a guided tour by a local photographer to capture the beauty of the Hopewell Rocks at night. Please note that this tour may not be available at all times.
• Taste The Tides - A Low Tide Dining Experience: This new offering invites visitors to enjoy a unique dining experience at the Hopewell Rocks.

Go whale watching

The Bay of Fundy is a prime location for whale-watching, with its tides—the highest in the world—carrying huge quantities of plankton, krill and fish, providing an ideal environment for whales to feed and raise their young. The bay is home to a dozen whale species, including the Fin Whale, the second-largest species in the world; the Humpback Whale, the most playful; the Minke Whale; and the famous and endangered North Atlantic Right Whale.

There are several whale-watching tours and excursions available from Saint Andrews, Grand Manan Island and Campobello Island. Here is some more information about these locations and the tours they offer:

Saint Andrews

Saint Andrews is a great option for families or those looking for a day trip, as it is easily accessible from major New Brunswick cities. It is 2 hours and 30 minutes from Moncton, 1 hour from Saint John, and 1 hour and 40 minutes from Fredericton. There are several whale-watching tour companies operating in Saint Andrews, including Quoddy Link Marine and Fundy Tide Runners Whale Watching.

Quoddy Link Marine offers evening and morning whale-watching cruises on a catamaran with three spacious decks and indoor/outdoor options. The catamaran is stable and safe, making it a good choice for families with small children, and it is also wheelchair accessible. The average cruise time is 2.5 to 3 hours, and prices range from $180 for a couple to $300 for a family of four during peak season.

Fundy Tide Runners Whale Watching offers tours on a zodiac boat, which can move quickly through the water when a whale is spotted. All passengers over 90 lbs must wear a full-length flotation suit, and children under 5 years old are not permitted on the vessel. Cruise times are 2 hours in length, and prices range from $180 for a couple to $330 for a family of four.

Grand Manan Island

Grand Manan Island is another great destination for whale watching, accessible by a 1.5-hour ferry ride from Blacks Harbour. It is recommended to plan an overnight stay if you choose this option, as the cruises are longer and you will want to avoid rushing back for the ferry or driving home after a day at sea.

Sea Watch Tours, owned and operated by Captain Peter Wilcox, offers whale-watching cruises on the M.V. "Day's Catch", a lobster fishing boat with lots of seating for guests and some canopy protection from the sun. Blankets are provided if you need something extra to keep warm. Whale tours are about 4 to 5.5 hours in length, and prices range from $160 for a couple to $260 for a family of four.

Campobello Island

Campobello Island is a great option for those looking for a whale-watching experience off the beaten path, as it involves taking a couple of ferry rides. To get to the island, you first take a free 20-minute ferry ride from L'Étete to Deer Island, and then a paid 30-minute ferry ride from Deer Island to Campobello Island.

Island Cruises Whale Watching, owned and operated by Captain Mackie Greene, offers whale-watching cruises on a fishing boat with ample seating and great views of the whales. You will also get to see the Head Harbour Lighthouse, only accessible on land at low tide. Cruises are approximately 2.5 hours long, and prices range from $135 for a couple to $220 for a family of four.

Tips for Whale-Watching Cruises

No two whale-watching tours will be the same, so if you have the time and budget, consider booking multiple tours to increase your chances of different experiences and sightings.

The best days to go whale watching are sunny and warm, and the late summer offers fantastic sightseeing opportunities as the conditions are less foggy, increasing the possibility of seeing a wide variety of whales.

Keep in mind that capacity on most vessels is limited, so you will likely have a more intimate experience with plenty of space and fresh air to enjoy the Bay of Fundy and its incredible wildlife.

Visit St. Martins

St. Martins is a charming fishing village, an hour outside Saint John on the Fundy Coastal Drive. It is a great place to visit for a day trip, with plenty of sights and activities to enjoy.

The village was founded in 1783 by soldiers from the disbanded loyalist King's Orange Rangers and was once a hub for shipbuilding. Today, tourism is the major industry, with visitors coming to explore the natural beauty of the area.

St. Martins is known for its sea caves, which can be accessed at low tide. The Fundy Trail, a 30km coastal parkway, offers stunning views of the Bay of Fundy and access to previously unreachable areas of coastline. The trail has lookouts, short trails, and stairs leading to beautiful beaches, such as Melvin Beach and Pangburn Beach. The Big Salmon River Suspension Bridge is another highlight, with an interpretive centre and a freshwater river flowing into the ocean.

Other attractions in St. Martins include the Quaco Head Lighthouse, the Quaco Museum and Library, two covered bridges, and the start of the Fundy Trail. Popular activities include biking, bird watching, hiking, nature walks, rock hounding, and sea kayaking.

For dining, there are convenience stores and gas stations, as well as restaurants serving fresh seafood and coastal cuisine, such as the Caves Restaurant and the Seaside Restaurant.

When planning your visit, keep in mind that the weather can be unpredictable, so it is recommended to dress in layers and bring comfortable walking shoes.

See the Reversing Falls

The Reversing Falls are a series of rapids on the Saint John River in Saint John, New Brunswick, where the river runs through a narrow gorge before flowing into the Bay of Fundy. The Reversing Falls are famous for the tidal phenomenon that forces the river to flow backward when the Bay of Fundy reaches high tide. This occurs because the semidiurnal tides of the bay force the flow of water to reverse against the prevailing current when the tide is high. The rapids are created by a series of underwater ledges that churn the water in either direction, creating a significant navigation hazard.

The Reversing Falls have been an important industrial site for over a century. The Canadian Pacific Railway constructed the Reversing Falls Railway Bridge in 1885, which was replaced in 1922 and is currently used by the New Brunswick Southern Railway. The bridge crosses the gorge immediately downstream from the falls, parallel to the Reversing Falls Road Bridge. The location of the falls has also been a site for light industrial operations and a foundry, with a large pulp mill on the west side operated by J.D. Irving since the late 1940s.

The Reversing Falls are best viewed at low or high tide to see the spectacular rapids and whirlpools. You can also see the waters start to reverse direction at slack tide. Views of the falls are available on either side of the Reversing Bridge or at Fallsview Park off of Douglas Avenue, with each view offering a unique perspective. Fallsview Park was created by the city government in the 1980s and 1990s on former industrial foundry lands on the east side of the gorge.

The Reversing Falls are also a popular whitewater kayaking location, made unique by the changes in the formation of the rapids during incoming or outgoing tides.

Tour the Fundy National Park

Fundy National Park is a beautiful coastal park with plenty of hiking trails along rugged shores and bubbling forest streams. The park has a large trail system of over 30 trails with soaring coastal views showcasing the highest tides in the world and the Acadian forest. Here are some tips to help you tour Fundy National Park:

Explore the Bay of Fundy

Paddle in a kayak as the waters rise up to 12 metres or more, or walk the ocean floor at low tide. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world, and you can witness the power of nature as 160 billion tonnes of seawater rush in and out of the bay twice a day.

Venture Inland

Discover the beauty of the Acadian forests and find trails that lead to waterfalls. Fundy National Park has a variety of trails, including shorter ones like the Dickson Falls and Matthews Head loop, which are great for those short on time or travelling with family. There are also more challenging trails that involve river crossings and steep climbs.

Camping Options

Fundy National Park offers a range of camping options, whether you prefer to camp in a tent, trailer, accommodations, or the backcountry. You can also explore nearby accommodations if you prefer not to camp.

Plan Your Visit

The park is always open, but the information centre and campgrounds have specific hours. Check the hours of operation before your visit to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.

Consider a Guided Tour

Consider taking a guided tour or participating in programs and workshops offered by Fundy National Park's staff and local partners. They can provide insights and enhance your experience of this unique landscape and culture shaped by the Bay of Fundy.

Frequently asked questions