Travel in Canada: New Brunswick - Bay of Fundy and Warm Saltwater Beaches (2024)

This is it! The Maritime Province of New Brunswick is opening up to visitors. The Bay of Fundy and the warm water beaches of the Acadian seashore will of course be in the spotlight. No kidding, the water here is warmer than Old Orchard in the United States. In fact, it can go up to 28 degrees Celsius.

This article details some of the must-see places in this province. I had the pleasure of going there a few years ago.

There are two conditions that must be met to ensure entry into New Brunswick:

• Anyone over 12 years of age must have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Evidence of this must also be presented. Naturally, the youngest are exempt from all conditions.
• Register in advance (at least one week before departure). Otherwise, there is a risk of being turned away at the border.

Whether you bike, walk or drive, the Bay of Fundy Scenic Drive is a MUST SEE. It stretches for about thirty kilometres.

Several lookouts along the way provide access to nearly twenty trails and superb viewpoints. There is also a suspension bridge, waterfalls, streams and stairs that lead to uncrowded beaches. The one in Long Beach stretches for a kilometre at low tide. Bring your own picnic!

Next, I’d like to suggest checking out another uncommon natural phenomenon. I’m talkin about where the tide and the river meet, which is called the tidal bore.

Every day, the powerful Bay of Fundy tide pushes the flow of the St. John River in the opposite direction, creating rapids. Waves and whirlpools can be seen at their best from the Reversing Falls Bridge (200 Bridge Road).

But if you want to see a larger tidal bore, to the point where you can ride the wave, you’ll have to go to the Petitcodiac River in Acadia.

Il n’y a à peine que 90 minutes en voiture qui séparent les villes de Saint John et Moncton au Nouveau-Brunswick.

Il vous sera donc possible de profiter des attraits de ces deux villes, en plus de ceux de la Baie de Fundy et des plages à eaux chaudes du littoral acadien.

Pensons-y. L’eau salée pour se baigner est la plus chaude de tout le Canada, voire même du Nord de la Virginie. Prêts à oublier la côte Est américaine ?

Do you know why the water is so warm on the saltwater beaches of the Acadian Peninsula?

• This is because the sea is shallow in front of the strait where they are located (Northumberland).
• In addition, the warm “Golfstream” marine current that arrives from Florida reaches this level.

That’s it. I now recommend 5 warm water beaches. There are others of course, but these are my favourites in New Brunswick

Here are the most beautiful warm water beaches in New Brunswick:

I live in the Village of Cap-Pelé (15 minutes from Shediac) and I would venture to say that the Aboiteau Beach is the #1 of all. Blue Flag certification (environmental), Restaurant à la dune and CAVOK Brewing Co. on the terraces. Very relaxed and there is beach for miles and miles.

Francois Richard

• Miscou Island Beach : beautiful and wild, it is accessible to people with reduced mobility thanks to a footbridge. Families with young children will also appreciate its warm and shallow water. Toilets and showers on site and… dogs are allowed.
• Parlee Beach : 20 minutes from Moncton, this beach is located in Parlee Provincial Park. Therefore, there is a $13 fee per car to park there. It is considered one of the most beautiful and warmest in North America but is very crowded. The beach is supervised, there are many activities and a campsite is nearby.
• Bouctouche Dune Beach: Here you can enjoy 12 km of beach on the large dune of the Northumberland Strait. A wooden footbridge over 2 km allows you to explore the fauna and flora. This avoids trampling on the wilderness and salt marshes, which remain protected.

Finally, here are two other lesser-known beaches for lovers of wide open spaces.

• The Parc-de-l’île-aux-foins: Access to this small island is via a bridge. And its beach would be among the best kept secrets of Acadia. Families will be delighted as the park offers a playground, a lighthouse and interpretation panels.
• Murray Beach is located in the provincial park of the same name. This is another unsupervised and lesser known beach. The water is warm and there are beautiful shells. Finally, the icing on the cake is the magnificent Confederation Bridge in the distance, linking New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island.

As Quebec goes green and our neighbouring provinces open up again, let’s take advantage of the end of the lockdown by exploring them. In a few months we should be able to leave the country again and give tourists from outside the country a chance to come and discover Canada.

Check out our other articles for inspiration:

What to do in New Brunswick

How long can I stay in New Brunswick?

How do I get to New Brunswick?