After exploring the coastal charm of Nova Scotia and the red sands of Prince Edward Island, the final leg of our Maritimes road trip brought us to New Brunswick.
New Brunswick is a province defined by nature’s extremes. It is home to the highest tides on earth, lush national parks, and arguably the best lobster in the world. If you are planning an East Coast road trip, you cannot skip this province.
From walking on the ocean floor to grabbing street food in a waterfront container village, here is how we wrapped up our epic 7-day journey in New Brunswick!
Walking on the Ocean Floor: Hopewell Rocks
We started our New Brunswick adventure at the incredible Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park on the Bay of Fundy.
Because the Bay of Fundy experiences the highest tides in the world (rising up to 50 feet!), the landscape completely transforms every six hours. We arrived at low tide, which meant we could literally walk on the ocean floor. We spent a good couple of hours wandering around the massive, towering “flowerpot” rock formations carved by the tides. It is a wildly humbling and amazing experience that you can’t really comprehend until you are standing down there.
- Good Journey Tip: Always check the tide tables before you visit! You want to make sure you arrive during low tide to explore the ocean floor.
Lunch in Alma & A Scenic Drive Through Fundy
After dusting the ocean sand off our shoes, we headed toward the cute, small coastal town of Alma.
Alma sits right on the Bay of Fundy, making it the perfect spot for fresh seafood. We grabbed lunch at the Tipsy Tails Restaurant and sat outside on the patio. We ordered a lobster roll and the seafood chowder, and both were absolutely amazing. The best part? Sitting on the deck and watching the local fishing boats roll into the harbor while we ate.
From Alma, we continued our drive right through Fundy National Park of Canada. The scenic drive through the park is breathtaking, winding through lush Acadian forests and offering spectacular coastal viewpoints.
Saint John & AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village
Our scenic drive took us down the coast to the city of Saint John. (Important Good Journey Tip: This is Saint John, New Brunswick. Do not confuse it with St. John’s, Newfoundland—a mistake many tourists make when booking flights!)
We headed straight to the waterfront to check out a very cool new spot called the AREA 506 Waterfront Container Village. Built entirely out of shipping containers, this vibrant village is packed with local vendors, shops, and food trucks. We used this stop to try a famous New Brunswick Donair, a heavily spiced meat wrap smothered in a sweet, garlicky sauce. It is the ultimate East Coast street food and an absolute must try!
Checking in: Moncton, NB
After exploring Saint John, we drove up to Moncton for the night and checked into our hotel, the Residence Inn Moncton. This was the perfect, comfortable home base to rest up after a massive day of exploring the coast.
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The Grand Finale: Shediac, The Lobster Capital of the World!
The next morning, we took a short drive to the town of Shediac, proudly known as the “Lobster Capital of the World.” Naturally, our first stop was to get our photo taken with the town’s famous Giant Lobster statue—an absolute rite of passage for any Canadian road trip!
For our final Maritime meal, we drove down to a local marina and found The Sandbar restaurant. Being on the water in the lobster capital of the world, we knew we had to go all out. We ordered the massive seafood platter, which came loaded with delicious, locally caught seafood. It was the ultimate feast to cap off our trip.
Heading Home
The next day, with our hearts (and stomachs) completely full, we made the drive back to the Halifax Stanfield International Airport to catch our flight home, officially completing our 7-day Maritime adventure.
If Canada’s East Coast isn’t on your travel bucket list yet, it absolutely needs to be!
Have you ever walked on the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks?
Did you miss the beginning of our trip? Read the Ultimate 7-Day Maritimes Itinerary here or check out our guide to Prince Edward Island here!