New Brunswick: discover the Bay of Fundy and its warm-water beaches

To the point New Brunswick is a great destination for family vacations by the water.

Canada: Bay of Fundy Tides at Hopewell Rocks Park The Fundy Trail The tidal bore

Hot-water beaches Top 4 warm-water beaches Well-kept secrets

Accommodation, hotels and flights: save with points

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Discover the Bay of Fundy and the warm-water beaches of the Acadian coast. Water temperatures can soar to 28 degrees Celsius in summer!

Here are our suggestions for must-see places to visit.

Canada: Bay of Fundy

Tides at Hopewell Rocks Park

The region is famous for its tides, which range from 10 to 14 meters: the highest in the world.

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is the ideal place to walk on the seabed while admiring the cliffs.

It’s here that you can see the region’s emblematic icons. Do you know these huge rocks called “flowerpots”?

At low tide, you can walk two kilometers around it. Put on your rain boots or water sandals and set off on your adventure.

The season runs from May to October. For tide times, click here.

The Fundy Trail

The Bay of Fundy Scenic Drive is a must. Along the way, several lookouts provide access to almost twenty trails of varying levels and superb views.

Discover this 30 km linear park by car, bike or on foot. Kayak in the bay.

Among the easy trails, you could try Walton Glen Gorge. Some call it the “Grand Canyon of New Brunswick”.

The tidal bore

Here’s an unusual natural phenomenon: the meeting of the tide and the flow of the river, known as a tidal bore.

When the rising tides of the Bay of Fundy meet the Petitcodiac River, they exert a counter-current pressure on the river. Surfing Moncton’s tidal bore is one of the must-do activities! It’s the longest wave in North America.

Hot-water beaches

Saint John and Moncton in New Brunswick are only 90 minutes apart by car.

You’ll be able to enjoy the attractions of these two cities, as well as those of the Bay of Fundy and the warm-water beaches of the Acadian coastline.

Saint John is Canada’s oldest incorporated city, so don’t hesitate to book a guided tour.

Why is the water so hot? Simply because the sea is shallow. What’s more, the warm Gulf Stream marine current from Florida reaches this level.

Top 4 warm-water beaches

Among the 50 beaches, here are the most beautiful with warm waters:

Aboiteau Beach, Cap-Pelé. With its five kilometers of shoreline, the site is ideal for swimming and strolling along the boardwalk while admiring the dunes by the sea;
Miscou Island beach: wild and beautiful, it’s accessible to people with reduced mobility thanks to a footbridge. Families with young children will also appreciate the warm, shallow water;
Parlee Beach: 20 minutes from Moncton, located in Parlee Provincial Park. It is considered one of the most beautiful and warmest in North America, but is very crowded;
Bouctouche Dune Beach: 12 km of beach on the great dune of the Northumberland Strait. A two-kilometre-long wooden footbridge allows you to explore the flora and fauna.

Well-kept secrets

Finally, here are two lesser-known beaches for lovers of the great outdoors:

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 not only a beach, but also a playground, a lighthouse and interpretation panels;
Murray Beach: located in Murray Provincial Park. This is another unsupervised and lesser known beach. The water is warm and there are beautiful shells. The magnificent Confederation Bridge can be seen in the distance.

A guided kayak tour of the Bay of Fundy, or an upscale land excursion to discover the natural wonders along the shores of the Bay of Fundy, are just some of the activities to try out in the area.

Accommodation, hotels and flights: save with points

Marriott Bonvoy is Canada’s best-known hotel loyalty program. As a member, you earn points that can be exchanged for free nights.

There are two of the brand’s hotels in the area to discover: The Algonquin resort St. John’s Andrews by-the-sea, Autograph Collection and The Delta hotels Saint John.

The following two credit cards earn Marriott Bonvoy points directly:

These cards include a handsome welcome bonus, numerous insurance benefits and an annual one-night free certificate worth 35,000 points.

If you’re not going to a Marriott hotel, there are also strategies for saving money by booking independent hotels.

Several credit cards offer annual travel credits that can be applied to accommodation expenses, including the BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege* Card.

Finally, if you’re more of an Airbnb person, travel points will be needed to save on your booking. Among the best travel points programs, you could opt for American Express Membership Rewards.

In terms of transportation, you’ll need to use at least 6,000 Aeroplan points, departing from Montreal, for a one-way economy flight to Saint John airport, according to Air Canada’s points predictor.

Is the Bay of Fundy worth the detour?

New Brunswick is famous for its impressive tides in the Bay of Fundy. Visitors come here to observe this phenomenon, but also to hike one of the many trails leading from the Fundy Scenic Byway. Saint John also has a lot to offer. The warm-water beaches of the Acadian Peninsula are also worth a visit.

How do I get to New Brunswick?

The New Brunswick border is about a 6-hour drive from Montreal. We reach Moncton in 9 hours. If your time is limited, Air Canada flies to Fredericton or Moncton.