Things to Do in New Brunswick

Situated on Canada’s east coast, the Bay of Fundy is known for its extreme tides. Twice a day the tide advances and retreats by as much as 52 feet (16 meters), leaving land previously covered by sea exposed and vice versa. The scenic lighthouse-dotted coastline, whale-inhabited waters, and quaint fishing villages add to the bay’s appeal.

You can witness the Bay of Fundy’s extreme tides along Nova Scotia’s Fundy Shore at places such as the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Joggins Cliffs, where the erosion of coastal cliffs has revealed 300-million-year-old fossils. Saint John and Moncton, both in New Brunswick, also make good home bases, with nearby tide-viewing sights such as Reversing Falls and the Hopewell Rocks. 

Many whale-watching tours take place on the bay, as do rafting excursions on tidal bore rapids—where inflowing rivers meet the outflowing tides, creating waves. Food tours of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick allow visitors to taste fresh Bay of Fundy seafood. 

The Bay of Fundy is situated between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The nearest international airports are in Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, and Halifax. Ferries run across the bay, connecting Saint John, New Brunswick with Digby, Nova Scotia. 

The best time to visit he Bay of Fundy is from June through October, when boat tours run most frequently. To fully appreciate the extreme nature of the tides, try and visit the same location at peak high tide and again about six hours later, at peak low tide. 

At low tide, the exposed ocean floor is accessible at several locations along the coast, including Joggins, Parrsboro, and Grand-Pré in Nova Scotia and St. Andrews, Alma, Hopewell Rocks, and Dorchester Cape in New Brunswick. If you want to walk on the uncovered ocean floor, plan to arrive about an hour before low tide. That way, you’ll have time to explore before the tide begins to creep back in.

A red-brick building spanning an entire city block, Saint John City Market is the oldest farmers market in Canada, with dozens of purveyors offering everything from fish-and-chips to local breads, wine, and cheese. Located just blocks from the Bay of Fundy, the market is an ideal spot to explore St. John’s finest food offerings or grab lunch during a day of sightseeing. 

Most tours of Saint John include a stop at the Saint John City Market, whether you opt for a food-themed tour, city walking tour, or private guided tour. Tours of the broader Bay of Fundy area sometimes stop at the market and may also visit the fishing village of St. Martins, Reversing Falls Rapids, and local area wineries. For cruise ship passengers, most Saint John shore excursions include a stop at the city market. 

The market is located at 47 Charlotte Street in downtown Saint John. You can arrive by guided tour, private vehicle, or Saint John Transit—the area’s public transportation system. 

It’s possible to visit the Saint John City Market year-round, although produce may vary by season. On Saturdays, additional merchants—many boasting locally made crafts—join the usual vendor lineup, and a music series features popular local acts. The market is closed Sundays.

A designated National Historic Site of Canada, the Saint John City Market has a long and storied history. Two fires, in 1837 and 1841, reduced the market to rubble before the current incarnation opened in 1876. The building then survived the Great Fire of 1877, which razed the city of Saint John just a year after the market opened.

Saint John’s Reversing Falls are a natural phenomenon caused by the tides of Canada’s Bay of Fundy, which can differ in height by an astonishing 50 feet (15 meters) at certain times of the year. The huge incoming tides force back the flow of Saint John River, creating white-water-tinged whirlpools, waves, and rapids, before reversing in the opposite direction.

 

The Reversing Falls, aka Reversing Rapids, can be seen from the riverside Fallsview Park. Visitors can also view the falls from a zipline suspended below the busy Reversing Falls Bridge. Reversing Falls Rapids Tourist Centre screens a 13-minute film explaining the phenomenon; it also has a rooftop viewing platform and Skywalk, with transparent viewing panels underfoot.

 

Guided shore excursions and organized tours around New Brunswick commonly stop at Reversing Falls, as well as at other local points of interest, such as the historic fishing village of St. Martins, the fertile Kingston Peninsula, and New Brunswick wineries, and other attractions in Saint John, like Saint John’s Old City Market. Multiday tours of The Maritimes sometimes stop at Reversing Falls, too.

 

 

The best way to get to Reversing Falls, located on Bridge Road in Saint John, is by car or organized tour. If you’re driving from Saint John, head west along Chelsea Drive. The journey takes less than 10 minutes, and you’ll find the visitor center on the far side of Reversing Falls Bridge.

 

The best time to visit is dependent on the tides. In between tidal extremes, Reversing Falls Rapids are calm and still. Time your visit to coincide with high or low tide during full and harvest moons; this is when tides are at their most extreme. The Skywalk and restaurants are open year-round. Ziplining takes place daily throughout July and August, and on select dates in June, September, and October.

 

Despite the falls’ urban setting, there is still plenty of wildlife to be seen. During rising tide, harbor seals can often be spotted hunting the fish that have been pushed upriver, while birdlife, including cormorants and gulls, often circle the skies above the rapids.