New Brunswick offers a range of ways to experience nature: coastal views along a parkway, a boardwalk to the beach, the “Ocean Floor (Low Tide)” route, and a network of trails through forests, past waterfalls and along river valleys. When planning your trip, consider what kind of outdoor experience you want to shape your stay. These places differ in their landscapes and activities. You can choose a hotel based on the experience that interests you most, rather than basing your search solely on a general nature theme.

Coastal Park and Seasonal Visits

Fundy Trail Provincial Park covers 2,559 hectares. Its 30-kilometer-long parkway runs along New Brunswick’s southern coast and offers striking views of the Bay of Fundy. The park’s area and the parkway’s length represent two different measures. The park is open seasonally from mid-May to mid-October, so plan your visit during this period. Fundy Trail Provincial Park is also listed as one of New Brunswick’s Signature Trails. The seasonal schedule is especially useful if the Fundy Trail is to be the focus of your stay.

Beach Access at Kellys Beach

At Kellys Beach in Kouchibouguac National Park, the approximately 500-meter-long Kellys Beach Boardwalk leads to the beach. Its length is on a different scale from the Fundy Trail’s 30-kilometer parkway, even though both are coastal attractions. The boardwalk focuses on access to a named beach, while the parkway follows the southern coast and offers views of the Bay of Fundy. If beach access is a priority for you, the boardwalk offers a clearly defined alternative to a long parkway.

Ocean Floor and Trails Through Fundy National Park

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park has three main access points to the Ocean Floor. The park’s “Ocean Floor (Low Tide)” route is 1.9 kilometers long. The number of access points and the length of the named route describe different things: the three access points lead to the Ocean Floor, while the 1.9 kilometers refers to this route. If you compare places by a specific route length, the named route provides a clear sense of scale. Its name also keeps the focus on the Ocean Floor.

Fundy National Park’s trail network offers a different focus. It features coastal views and vistas of the highest tides in the world, as well as Acadian forests, waterfalls, moss-covered river valleys and backcountry swimming pools. Its landscape features therefore extend from the coast to the backcountry. When comparing parks, you can choose between the coast and tides, or forests, waterfalls and moss-covered valleys. This offers a different focus from the dedicated beach access at Kellys Beach or the named route at Hopewell Rocks.

Kayaking in Fredericton

Fredericton offers another specific activity: kayaking on the Saint John River. This differs from park trails and the boardwalk, as the focus here is kayaking on a river. It’s a distinct option for planning your trip if you’d rather find an on-the-water activity than a walking route or beach access.

Choose Your Accommodation Focus

Then match your overnight location to that priority. This way, you can start with the experience that matters to you and use it to guide your accommodation choice.

Explore more destinations: Westmorland County, Northumberland County, Sunbury County, Albert County, Charlotte County, Restigouche County, Kings County, St John County, Madawaska County, Carleton County, Kent County, Victoria County, Gloucester County, York County, Queens County, Nauwigewauk.

Back to the main travel overview: Canada.