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26 Best Things to do in New Brunswick

There are so many wonderful things to do in New Brunswick – I absolutely fell in love with this Canadian province. From whale watching St Andrews to fantastic New Brunswick tours to staying in some charming hotels in New Brunswick Canada, I had such a wonderful time.

I spent 8 wonderful days in New Brunswick. Every day I saw fantastic and photogenic sights, ate fantastic food (and at least one lobster roll per day) and constantly encountered some of the genuinely nicest people I have ever met.

My trip took me up the Acadian Peninsula and along the Bay of Fundy and my camera was going mad. Here are 26 of the best things to do in New Brunswick Canada.

⇒ Here’s a map of New Brunswick to help you plan your trip.

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Hopewell Rocks New Brunswick at 10 pm

26 Best Things to do in New Brunswick

1. Visit Kingsbrae Garden – Saint Andrews

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Cool sculptures at Kingsbrae Garden St Andrews

This 27-acre garden has over 50,000 perennials, shrubs, and trees. Kingsbrae Garden also has an award-winning restaurant where Llamas often visit at lunchtimes! I only had time to visit the sculpture garden which was very instagrammable!

Kingsbrae Garden New Brunswick has been named one of Canada’s top 10 public gardens.

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Sculpture at Kingsbrae Garden

2. See The Blockhouse – Saint Andrews

St Andrew’s Blockhouse was built as a coastal border defense during the war of 1812 and is now a national historic site. It was one of 12 remaining blockhouses built by the townspeople who were fearful of an American invasion.

The St Andrew’s Blockhouses were quickly constructed with a focus on security which is what created their distinctive shape.

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St Andrews Blockhouse

I also got some lovely shots of St Andrew’s Blockhouse New Brunswick around here on the beach at low tide. I was down there at about 830am on a summer morning so it wasn’t particularly early. But the light against the ocean floor was just gorgeous.

3. Drive the Ocean Floor to Ministers Island – Saint Andrews

When it comes to what to do in nb, experiencing the ocean floor is one of the top things – in many different ways.  Ministers Island is just a stone’s throw outside St Andrews.

This small island can only be reached at low tide when it is possible to drive across the ocean floor – which is beautiful.

The turn off for Ministers Island New Brunswick is either just before you arrive into St Andrews or just after you leave St Andrews.

Do be careful driving over to Ministers Island. I was in a 4 wheel drive and still found it a bit tricky. I saw standard 2 wheel drive cars heading over so it is possible – just avoid the sandy areas.

And of course, it is possible to walk over to Ministers Island. The ocean floor itself is very photogenic particularly with the island in the background – this is definitely one for your New Brunswick Bucket List.

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The barn on Ministers Island

Upon arrival, it is necessary to pay to get access to Ministers island. You will also be advised what time you need to leave the island in order to escape getting stuck once the tide comes up!

Ministers Island was the home of the rather eccentric and quite amusing Sir William Van Horne. Van Horne is best known for being the man who built the Canadian Pacific Railway. He bought land on Ministers Island in 1891 and then made sure he had an easy commute.

The Van Horne family home, Covenhoven, is in the south of Ministers island (when I say south if it is about a 4-minute drive!). The home is beautiful – so many rooms.

Van Horne only slept 4 hours a night so he had a little bedroom at the front of the house. There are regular free tours of the Van Horne house on Ministers Island.

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The ocean floor with Ministers Island in the background

At the other end of Ministers island is the old barn which is also a beautiful building and it has tours as well. Van Horne was quite the character – when he noticed that his workers in the barn were looking out the windows when they should have been working he had the windows raised so they couldn’t see anything.

The house and the barn on Ministers Island are very photogenic – particularly the barn.

Ministers Island Tide Schedule

4. Take a New Brunswick day trip to Campobello Island from Saint Andrews

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Campobello Island is most well known as the childhood summer home of US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He and his wife Eleanor and their children continued to travel to Campobello island New Brunswick and visited a couple of times after he became the US president.

Thanks to the Bay of Fundy the island is much cooler than many other islands in the area so it is a great place to escape the heat.

Campobello Island is part of Canada but can only be reached from Canada by sea. However, the island has a highway bridge that connects it to Lubec Maine – the United States.

There are many stories as to why Campobello Island is part of Canada rather than the US – mostly involving a few too many drinks. But hey it is.

After FDR died Eleanor asked JFK to turn their old summer home into a memorial to FDR and have it free.

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The Roosevelt House

Campobello international park is jointly administered by the United States and Canadian government and was established in 1964.

Part of Campobello island was converted into a National Park where it is possible to cycle and/or hike and the Roosevelt Cottage was restored and turned into a living museum.

There is a visitor’s center next to Roosevelt Cottage Campobello Island which has loads of information and a couple of films.

They have a restaurant in the Prince’s house and I had a lovely lunch of lobster roll and seafood chowder sitting on the veranda.

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View to Lubec Maine from Campobello Island New Brunswick

It is only possible to visit Roosevelt Cottage New Brunswick on a guided tour but these run every 15 minutes and are free. And there is also an afternoon tea with Eleanor on offer if you would like to learn more about Mrs. Roosevelt.

Some of my favourite photos from Campobello Island Canada are those showing lovely Lubec Maine. This super cute village looks great with the water in the foreground – as does the bridge linking Campobello island and the US mainland.

Of course, Campobello Island has a very cute red and white lighthouse that is begging to be photographed. And Liberty Point provides some nice shots.

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The bridge between Campobello Island and the US

Campobello Island is one of the most beautiful places to go in New Brunswick. I took a water taxi from St Andrews to Campobello Island which took about 35 minutes.

There are many beautiful spots on the island and some lovely beaches. There are also great views of the picture-postcard town of Lubec Maine.

I took a tour of Campobello Island with lovely local Peter Harwerth. He drove me around and filled me in on his island home. Check out Peter’s blog and contact him to take you around Campobello island here.

It is possible to stay the night on Campobello Island but there are not many choices for hotels. Renting a cabin is the best option – check out the Sea Urchin Cottage

Try The Pier near Wilson’s Beach for a meal and The Porch Campobello Island is known for great blueberry pie.

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Foggy times on Campobello Island

5. St Martins Harbor at low and high tide

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St Martins New Brunswick covered bridge

St Martins is a village at the heart of the Bay of Fundy and a bit of a photographer’s dream. The first part of St Martins you will encounter is its very photogenic harbor.

Do look to time your visit to St Martin’s harbour to be there for either high or low tide – and then plan your trip to the St Martin’s sea caves and the Fundy Trail further down the road so when you return the water level will be different so you will have a couple of tide options.

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Low tide at St Martins harbour New Brunswick

St Martins harbor contains very photogenic and colourful boats. And as if that wasn’t enough there are also two covered bridges.

Personally, I arrived at St Martins New Brunswick for low tide which I do think has the best shots as it is more impactful to see the boats essentially sitting on the seafloor.

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The tide coming back in at St Martins harbour

I then came back about 3 hours later and there was some water in St Martins harbor – enough for kayaks to head out – but it wasn’t at high tide. It did still make for some good contrast photos – in my opinion! Check them out here and see what you think.

6. St Martins Sea Caves at Low and High Tide

After you have driven through the harbour continue along the road and you will reach the stunning St Martins Sea Caves. At low tide, it is possible to walk along the beach and into the caves – with a small amount of water to cross.

The St Martins Sea Caves New Brunswick are extraordinary – the colours reminded me of Petra in Jordan. To call the colours red or pink just seems insufficient – they are deep and rich. In my opinion, this is one of the best things to do in New Brunswick. 

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St Martins sea caves New Brunswick at low tide
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Looking out from the St Martins sea caves

It is possible to walk through quite a few St Martins Sea Caves if you do arrive exactly at low tide. I wore flip flops and they worked quite well in terms of having to walk through some water but the floor can be quite slippery.

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Up close and personal in the St Martin sea cave

After seeing the St Martins Sea Caves at low tide I went and had lunch at The Caves Restaurant. The Caves restaurant St Martins is known for its seafood chowder which was very flavorsome and very very creamy.

It is quite a casual set up with seating on the deck with great views across the sea caves. I also had a lobster roll which was, of course, fantastic because I was in New Brunswick.

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A lobster roll overlooking the St Martins sea caves

After lunch, I headed to the Fundy Trail (see below). I then pulled back into the St Martins car park on the way back and got some shots of the St Martins sea caves at what I would call mid-tide.

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Some of the tide is back!

7. Drive The Fundy Trail Parkway

The Fundy Trail Parkway is a 6,323-acre park that has a 30 km drive with stunning views. The trail is so well set up.

The Fundy Trail Parkway New Brunswick is accessed through the lovely little town of St Martin’s above. Keep driving past the St Martins Sea Caves and you will arrive at the entrance (you will need to pay to enter).

After entry, you are essentially on a long road with fantastic views and loads of great places to stop. There are 18 different well sign-posted viewpoints on the Fundy Trail and many have picnic tables and facilities.

It is very easy to drive in and take a quick photo or head into one of the parking bays if you are keen to go for a walk.

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One of the many amazing views along the Fundy Trail

The first stop on the Fundy Trail Parkway is Fownes head where there are flowerpot rocks. It is not possible to see these from the viewpoint – a 1.5km walk down is necessary to get to the beach and the shot.

I was short on time so I wasn’t able to get down to Fownes Head on the Fundy Trail but do email me and let me know if it is worth visiting and I will update this post.

Next up was the Long Beach – which is very well named. I thought the best photos were from the viewpoint after the long beach lookout – the actual lookout was blocked by trees.

I was short on time so I didn’t head all the way down to the end of the beach but I think this may have offered some nice views.

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Fundy Trail suspension bridge

Fuller Falls is a cute little waterfall that is a very short hike from the viewpoint. As you head along the Fundy Trail you will come across the Interpretation Centre. From here it is a fairly short walk to the photogenic suspension bridge.

The river itself is beautiful with almost pink rocks, trees, sky and gosh wow. Very Canadian. The suspension bridge photographs well and it is also possible to take some nice shots from it.

I would allocate a good couple of hours to explore the Fundy Trail – more if you want to do some hikes or cycle.

And it is continually being extended so check out what is on offer and how far you can go along the trail before you go! It is a great stop on any New Brunswick road trip.

8. Visit McKay’s Blueberries

I was given a tip by a local to visit McKay’s Blueberries. McKay’s blueberries New Brunswick is near St John New Brunswick. If you’re heading down the main road it is a short diversion and well worth it.

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Not only are there fun blueberry signs and blueberry people there are many blueberry products available for purchase. McKays Blueberries are best known for their pies and their shortcake. I tried the shortcake and it was rather fantastic.

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Blueberry Pies!

McKays Blueberries also have blueberry wine, jams, and many other blueberry based products which looked pretty fantastic. The signs, the stall, and the products are all extremely photogenic and rather delicious.

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Blueberry shortcake!

9. See The Reversing Falls of Saint John

Another way to experience the unique tides of New Brunswick! The Reversing Falls are in Saint John New Brunswick. They are conveniently located just off the main road so very easy to visit. The Reversing Falls New Brunswick are created by the collision of the Saint John River and the Bay of Fundy.

At low tide, the Saint John River empties into the Bay of Fundy which causes a series of whirlpools and rapids. In between the tides, the Reversing Falls rapids are peaceful and like a lake in appearance.

When high tide comes the whirlpools and rapids start up again – but this time they go in reverse. This can generate large waves as well.

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Check out this whirlpool!

The tide cycle of the reversing falls is roughly 12.5 hours. The moon has the largest effect on the rapids. A full moon can produce swings in the water level of 9 metres.

In terms of capturing the best photos of the Reversing Falls Rapids, it is ideal to visit at high or low tide or near those times. A peaceful lake is lovely but it does not make for great photos.

There are several ways to experience the Reversing Falls Rapids Saint John. It is very easy to get to the visitor area by car as it is just off the highway. It is difficult to see the phenomenon clearly from the car park.

The visitor center has a Skywalk. I got fantastic views here. And they show a video on the falls for more tide geekiness.

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The Reversing Rapids

Or best of all, get up close with this amazing phenomenon of nature on a speed boat.

The See Sight Jet Boat will take you out to see the Reversing Rapid falls up close in a 45-minute tour.

10. Visit the lovely town of Alma

Alma New Brunswick is an extremely cute and very photogenic town at the entrance to Fundy National Park. It is essentially one long photogenic road.

Here are some of the highlights:

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Kelly’s, home of the Alma sticky bun!

Buddha Coffee/Holy Whale Brew Pub – these are both in a very cute old church building

Molly Kool – known for kitchen parties, being able to walk straight out onto the ocean floor at low tide and good sunsets

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Beer or coffee in Alma

⇒ More lobster roll photos at the Alma Boathouse – voted number one lobster roll in New Brunswick by me

⇒ Cute signage at Kelly’s Bakery – and try one of their famous sticky buns

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I was devastated that no lobsters actually worked behind the bar – false advertising!!!
  • The Alma Lobster shop – fantastic for all forms of lobster photos – from the real things pre-cooking to a large plastic lobster out the front
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Alma harbour New Brunswick

Tipsy Tails – a great sign, a fantastic deck that is perfect for taking photographs of the very photogenic Alma harbor at low tide.

Disappointingly, there were no lobsters working behind the bar at Tipsy Tails Alma when I visited despite the quite frankly misleading sign. They also have great seafood.

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Lobsters galore at the Alma lobster shop

11. Fundy National Park

Fundy National Park sits on the Bay of Fundy. This means that Fundy National park New Brunswick not only has 80 square miles of gorgeous parkland, but it also has the fantastic Fundy Coastline, hiking trails, the highest tides in the world and 25 waterfalls.

When you enter Fundy National Park there are two roads. If you head right you will be on the main road which runs through the park and takes you on to St Andrew’s.

Along this road, there are several stopping points. Some are lakes and some are the base points for walks to explore the park.

There is just so much to do at Fundy National Park. Of course hiking but also kayaking, bike hire and even a saltwater pool for swimming.

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Adirondack Chairs in Fundy National Park New Brunswick

From a photography point of view, I had three highlights. The first was the wonderful and colourful Adirondack chairs which have been placed at all the key viewpoints in the park. They make for a nice foreground or fun selfies.

The second was Dickson Falls. Take the road to the left when you enter the park and you will be heading for Dickson Falls New Brunswick. It is quite a short walk to get there. Do take the option of heading all the way to the top of Dickson’s falls as this is where there are the best views.

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Fundy National Park waterfall

The final spot for photography is the Point Wolfe Red covered bridge. This was my photographic highlight of the park. Cross the bridge and park and then cross the road to be on the same side as the bridge. There is then a path that leads out and down towards the bay (it is very short).

Take this path and walk to the bottom. From there, your shot will show the Point Wolfe Red covered bridge “floating” in the air. This was my favourite perspective on the bridge.

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Covered bridge at Fundy National Park

12. Harvey Bank Heritage Shipyard Park

When it comes to what to see in New Brunswick, the Harvey Bank Heritage Shipyard Park doesn’t show up on any lists. It is on the little 915 road that takes you from Hopewell Rocks to Cape Enrage.

The shipyard park is also home to the Andersen Hollow Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1889 and has been relocated several times.

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Andersen Hollow Lighthouse at Shipyard Park

Shipyard Park New Brunswick was built in 2006 as a monument to this area’s shipbuilding past from the 19th century.  In addition to Andersen Hollow lighthouse, the park has a wharf and a nearly full-scale replica ship. Very insta friendly.

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Shipyard Park

13. Cape Enrage

Cape Enrage has been sitting at the southern tip of the New Brunswick side of the Bay of Fundy for 140 years. The name Cape Enrage comes from the ferocity of its nearby reef. As the Cape Enrage lighthouse is located at a tip the views are fantastic and 180 degrees.

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Cape Enrage New Brunswick

The lighthouse itself is also extremely photogenic with its red top. The restaurant at Cape Enrage is also white in body and red on top so they work nicely together in a shot. And they have a shop and even a Cape Enrage zip wire.

14. Waterside Beach

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Stunning views along the 915 road at Waterside New Brunswick

Just past Cape Enrage on the 915 road heading towards Alma is what is called Waterside on the map. I hadn’t read anything about Waterside before I drove past. It is a community of just 100 people. But wow what a beach.

Waterside Beach is absolutely stunning. the colours, the rocks, the views – wow wow wow. Park the car and get snapping.

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The beach at Waterway New Brunswick

15. Hopewell Rocks

Hopewell Rocks are visited by millions each year and are one of the best places to visit in New Brunswick. The park is open from Mid May to the middle of October. There is a lot to do – and multiple visits required to really experience Hopewell Rocks.

I highly recommend visiting Hopewell Rocks New Brunswick at both high tides and at low tide for photos. Both will result in very different shots.

 Hopewell Rocks Tides Table

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Hopewell Rocks from the stairs

The easiest way to experience Hopewell Rocks at low tide is to head to the park and walk down the staircase. Once low tide has been reached it is possible to walk between the rocks and get some nice shots. The appearance of Hopewell Rocks is most dramatic when low tide is at its peak.

Beat the queue and Book your Hopewell Rocks ticket here

Kayaking Tours in Hopewell Rocks

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Hopewell Rocks Kayaking at high tide

A great way to experience Hopewell Rocks at high tide and get some great photos is to go on a kayaking tour. This allows you to get in and out of the rocks and provides some great angles. Plus the kayaks themselves look great against the water and the rocks.

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View of Hopewell Rocks from the kayak

The tour has lots of stops so there is plenty of time to get your kayak stable and take photos.

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View from the kayak

All of the Hopewell Rocks kayaking tours are run by Baymount Outdoor Adventures. I was very impressed with how professional and organized they were as on operation.

Read more reviews of Baymount Outdoor Adventures on Trip Advisor

Hopewell Rocks Night Photography Tour

The third way to experience Hopewell Rocks is through a night photography tour. This was such a special experience. The Hopewell Rocks night photography tour is guided by the amazing Kevin Snair.

Not only is Kevin a very talented photographer, he actually works at Hopewell Rocks and runs their social media.

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Hopewell Rocks lit by the moon

He is so passionate and knowledgeable about Hopewell Rocks. And he is a brilliant teacher. I learned new things about a camera that I have owned for 15 years.

I met Kevin just outside the Hopewell Rocks gate as the sun was going down. We were then able to go into the park – the only people in there. After parking, we walked down to the ocean floor and set up our tripods and watched the moon rise and took different shots of Hopewell Rock.

We moved around to a few positions which of course Kevin knew and he had brought a specialist light to help with getting the lighting just rocks. This was such a special and unique experience and for me one of the top things to do in New Brunswick.

If you are interested in photography I highly recommend you take this wonderful tour – click here to read more reviews which are just as positive

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Me strutting my stuff during the Hopewell Rocks night photography tour!

The ability for the Hopewell Rocks night photography tour New Brunswick to run is very much weather dependent. To begin with, there are only a few days each fortnight where the tides allow for the tour to happen. And then if the weather is too cloudy the tour won’t go ahead as without seeing the moon there isn’t much to photograph.

I felt very lucky to be able to take this night photography tour as I had only one night in Hopewell Rocks. The other people on the tour had planned several nights in Hopewell Rocks to make sure they would be able to take the tour.

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Hopewell Rocks at 10pm

I am afraid that an iphone doesn’t have the ability to cut it when it comes to night photography. A DSLR or similar level camera is required for the Hopewell Rocks night photography tour – just email Kevin and ask. He will consider loaning out a camera. I borrowed a tripod from him.

And do make sure you wear good solid walking shoes – it is quite rocky and slippery on the ocean floor and the dark highlights this. And bring a warm jacket.

If you’re staying in Saint John and want to visit Hopewell Rocks click here for a day tour to Hopewell Rocks from Saint John.

16. Village Historique Acadien

Opened in 1977, the Village Historique Acadien was a tourism attraction ahead of its time. The village was opened to celebrate and preserve the way of the life and customs of the Acadians.

It is a theatrical village in that all the staff are in character and in costume. Village Historique Acadien New Brunswick really does feel like going back in time.

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Village Historique Acadien New Brunswick

This Acadian village is now divided into the 19th and 20th centuries and has more than 40 houses. The actors/staff at Village Historique Acadien are each assigned to one house for each summer season.

These actors then learn the actual craft they will be practicing like how to pull apart and die wool, milling grain etc etc. Note that actors from the 20th century are absolutely not allowed to enter the 19th-century area.

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There are loads of photographic opportunities at the Village Historique Acadien New Brunswick. The buildings themselves are very attractive.

Having the actors inside actually doing the activities makes for some good shots too. And then best of all you can dress up in your own Acadian costume from the time and get a sepia coloured photo taken.

Click here to see the different prices and packages on offer to visit the Village Historique Acadien.

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Embracing Acadian life at the Historique Village!

17. Pays de la Sagouine

Author Antonine Maillet wanted to show what it was like to live the Acadian life of New Brunswick and has written over 40 novels. She won the prestigious Prix Goncourt and has an international reputation.

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Pays de la Sagouine island

Pays de la Sagouine New Brunswick is essentially a theatrical village that celebrates her works. The village brings to life a traditional Acadian village with its buildings – including the barber’s shop which is original. Plays are then held regularly at Pays de la Sagouine featuring Maillet’s stories and characters.

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Bridge at Pays de la Sagouine

The Acadian town which is reached via a bridge is very photogenic – particularly the lighthouse. And there are great guides/actors dressed in costume.

I was extremely lucky in that Antonine Maillet was actually at Pays de la Sagouine on the day that I visited and I got a photo with here as well. This is one of the slightly off the beaten track New Brunswick Canada points of interest for those looking for nb vacations but well worth doing.

Find out all about visiting Pays de la Sagouine here

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Meeting the famous Antonine Maillet!

18. Eat and See Lobster

I must confess, I became a bit obsessed with lobster on my trip to New Brunswick Canada. And quite frankly it was in all of its forms.

I began my visit to New Brunswick in Shediac – home to the world’s biggest lobster and an immediate photo opportunity. I also enjoyed my first lobster roll in Shediac New Brunswick at the Sandbar.

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The big lobster at Shediac

I pretty much had at least one lobster roll a day whilst I was in New Brunswick and photographed all of them. And I was on the lookout for more giant plastic lobsters to photograph. My next photographic lobster highlight was in Alma on the Bay of Fundy.

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Lobsters galore at the Alma lobster shop New Brunswick

The Alma Lobster shop has a wonderfully large and friendly lobster out the front. Once inside, there are loads of pre-cooking lobsters on display. And then, of course, it is possible to eat those lobsters in different forms!

My third and final favourite lobster photo opportunity was in St Andrews at The Gables restaurant. Upon entry to The Gables, you will be greeted by this very friendly-looking lobster. I then enjoyed a lobster roll here – of course – and its location right on the beach in St Andrews made for a very nice shot as well.

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The slightly mad lobster at The Gables
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The Gables lobster roll

19. Bouctouche Sand Dunes

Not far north of Shediac is the beautiful Bouctouche sand dunes. There is a lovely long wooden jetty just made for strolling. The beach at Bouctouche dunes New Brunswick is made for lounging.

It is also the site of the Irving Eco Centre. And of course, it is made to be photographed. I went late morning but I think it would be very much worth heading here for sunset.

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Bouctouche Dune New Brunswick

20. Grand Anse Lighthouse

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Acadian lighthouse at Grande-Anse New Brunswick

Grande Anse sits at the top of the lovely Acadian Peninsula not too far north of Caraquet. Upon entry into the town,  you will see the Grande Anse lighthouse which has been painted in the colours and style of the Acadian flag – a photo begging to be taken.

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Grande-Anse

21. New Brunswick Sunsets

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Walking in the Shediac sunset

I visited New Brunswick in July so sunset was happening quite late. My two hot spots for great sunsets were Shediac on the East coast and St Andrews on the west coast. Shediac had some stunning and deep orange colours across its beach. I took my shots from Shediac’s Point du Chene wharf.

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Shediac sunset

St Andrews offered some beautiful colours across its waters which can be seen whilst whale watching on boats or from the shore.

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Whale watching boats at sunset in New Brunswick
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A hint of tail in the New Brunswick sunset

22. Covered Bridges

I do love a covered bridge – they are just so photogenic. I had three great covered bridge encounters in New Brunswick – but I believe there are loads more New Brunswick covered bridges that I didn’t see.

Two of my covered bridges New Brunswick have already been mentioned in this post – one was in Fundy National Park (Point Wolfe) and the second was in lovely St Martins on the Bay of Fundy.

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Sawmill Creek Covered bridge near Hopewell Rocks

The third didn’t appear on any maps or in any tourism brochures. The Sawmill Creek Bridge was by the side of the road just after Hopewell Rocks on the way to Alma. I took this shot on my way to the Hopewell Rocks night photography tour.

23. Saint Andrews Harbour at low tide

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Low tide at St Andrew’s New Brunswick

When you head down to photograph the St Andrews Blockhouse (2nd in this post) try to time it with the low tide. The St Andrew’s ocean floor becomes clear and is just lovely. The colours are fantastic and every day there are new patterns and items to photograph.

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St Martin’s low tide with some floral foreground

24. Visit Distillerie Fils du Roy

Acadie’s first distillery is run by the fantastic mother and son team of Diane and Sebastian Roy. They opened Distillerie Fils du Roy in 2011 with the aim of providing reasonably priced great quality spirits for the people of New Brunswick.

Gin and Absinthe were the two launch products. Since then, they have added whiskey, all types of beer, fruit-based liqueurs, vodka and many more.

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The pumping Distillery Fils du Roy New Brunswick

Distillerie Fils du Roy is open almost like a bar during the day – and it was pumping when I was there. Tours of the brewery are also on offer. The barrels make for some nice shots. There are also some great stories and labels on the Distillery Fils du Roy products.

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The fabulous Sebastian

My favorite was the story of Evangeline and Gabriel, a nut-brown Ale and a spruce beer. This is the story of a couple who were separated by the deportation of the Acadians. They searched the USA for each other. They came close to meeting again once but alas they died without being reunited.

The graphics on the packaging mean that when these two products sit next to each other they are united – and the two beers can be combined to make a cocktail.

That is just one of the many fabulous stories shared by Sebastian at Distillerie Fils du Roy. I could have listened to him all day.

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Romantic beer!

And it all makes for some great photos!

Plan your tour of Distillerie Fils Du Roy

25. Whale Watching in St Andrews

So I think I have mentioned the amazing tides of the Bay of Fundy New Brunswick a couple of times in this post. As if they didn’t do enough already for amazing photo opportunities, the height and movement of the tides also mean that loads of plankton come into the bay twice a day – which means food for whales.

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The full Humpback breach Whale Watching in St Andrews!

St Andrews is the base to see whales in New Brunswick. I enjoyed this so much I have written an entire blog post on it. When it comes to what to do in New Brunswick Canada put whale watching high on your list.

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The beautiful Humpback tail

Read my post on Whale Watching St Andrews.

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Tail slapping seen during Whale Watching New Brunswick

26. Confederation Bridge

I flew into halifax Nova Scotia at the beginning of my trip to New Brunswick. I then picked up a hire car and drove across nova scotia and into New Brunswick. I can’t resist a road that runs along a coast.

I was heading to Shediac but decided to take the longer route and drive from Sackville along the coastline to the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island.

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Cute house near the Prince Edward Island bridge

I am so glad that I did! The area of Botsford New Brunswick around where the bridge is was just beautiful. Soft green grass and flowers in the foreground with the Northumberland Strait and the bridge in the background made for some lovely photos.

When to visit New Brunswick to get the most out of the World’s Highest Tides

160 million tonnes of water rush in and out of the Bay of Fundy twice a day, creating tides reaching as high as 16 metres. This generates the highest tides in the world. I knew very little about tides before I visited New Brunswick. I have now become a complete tide geek.

The reason I became really interested in the New Brunswick tides was the amazing photographic opportunities this provides. Along the Bay of Fundy, many key attractions can be visited at low tide where they can be walked up and then at high tide when you will need to be on some form of water vessel.

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Excellent shop name!

The water rushing in and out means that the Bay of Fundy ocean floor is “new” every time low tide is reached. This can produce fantastic photos in good light.

So how do you try to maximize your photographic opportunities? Plan to visit New Brunswick around the full or new moon when both the lunar and solar high tides are aligned. This is when you will see the highest high tides and the lowest low tides.

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A golden St Andrews sunset New Brunswick

Then once you have arrived check the tide tables and times for the areas that you are visiting. I have noted several of the Bay of Fundy tide calendar websites above. This will help you figure out when to do which activities.

Your New Brunswick bucket list is probably quite long after reading this post. When it comes to what is there to do in New Brunswick Canada it is a wonderfully long list.

⇒ For some more great photogenic locations in North America check out my posts on the most instragrammable Baltimore attractions and photogenic places to visit in Philadelphia.

Where to Stay in New Brunswick

I have written a whole blog post about hotels in New Brunswick Canada

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How to get to New Brunswick

There are 3 international airports in New Brunswick: Saint John (1.5 hour drive from St Andrews), Fredericton (1 hour 45 mins drive) or Moncton (2.5 hours). The other option is to come in from the US through the airport in Bangor, Maine (2 1/2 hour drive).

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Amazing surf and turf at the Rossmount Inn New Brunswick

I landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which possibly has the best overseas flight options. However, this was a part of spending 8 days in Nova Scotia. A direct drive from Halifax airport to the border with New Brunswick takes about 3 hours.

Flights to New Brunswick

I highly recommend you hire a car to get around Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. They are both big areas and a car makes it much easier to get between places.

Who Paid for What in this Post

My trip to lovely New Brunswick was hosted by Tourism New Brunswick. They covered all my accommodation and car hire costs as well as the majority of my meals and activities. I paid for a few extra whale watching tours as well as more lobster rolls of course. New Brunswick tourism paid for my flight to New Brunswick and part of my flight back to London (I upgraded).

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Shediac’s Big Lobster

But as always my opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on them and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. I just wanted to make sure you knew.

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From the Acadian Peninsula to the length of the stunning Bay of Fundy and the world's highest tides, here are 26 Instagrammable things to do in New Brunswick Canada #canada #newbrunswick #instagram
From the Acadian Peninsula to the length of the stunning Bay of Fundy and the world's highest tides, here are 26 Instagrammable things to do in New Brunswick Canada
Planning a New Brunswick Road Trip? Here are my top 25 things to do in New Brunswick from the northern coast of Acadia down to the Bay of Fundy and St Andrew’s – from whale watching to quirky museums to new Brunswick restaurants and where to stay in new Brunswick #NewBrunswickroadtrip
Planning a trip to New Brunswick Canada? Here is my Instagram guide to the top things to in New Brunswick – from where to eat lobster to New Brunswick national parks, whale watching, restaurants, boutique hotels, beer and much more! #NewBrunswickCanada
Looking for the best places to visit in New Brunswick Canada? Here are my 26 places to go in New Brunswick Canada and take some great photos – from lobsters to whale watching to the Bay of Fundy to the best New Brunswick National Parks – plus boutique hotels, great restaurants and more! #NewBrunswickCanadaplacestovisit
Looking to do some New Brunswick Canada Photography? My photography guide covers where to go in New Brunswick to get the best photos – with advice on when to visit and time of day to take them. From the reversing falls of St Johns to whale watching st Andrews to lobster in alma to Hopewell Rocks and more #NewBrunswickCanadaphotography

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Terri Steffes

Saturday 12th of October 2019

I would go here in a heartbeat. All my favorites in one spot. I love the water, whales, lobster and quaint places to sleep!

Rena

Friday 11th of October 2019

I've never been to Brunswick, but we're planning a trip there next summer and I am so excited! This is an amazing list and I've pinned it.

Beth

Friday 11th of October 2019

I love Novia Scotia but haven't visited New Brunswick. Your photos have me daydreaming about a visit there ASAP.

Tee

Friday 11th of October 2019

New Brunswick is a place I'd like to visit after seeing this post! The photos are incredible and I'm all about seafood so this town is a place that definitely has seafood spots. Thanks for the idea!

Ruth I

Friday 11th of October 2019

These are all fantastic photos! The Roosevelt house seems so well done. So much to see and take pictures of.

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