Things To Do at New Burnswick
New Brunswick is the outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Travel through one of the many scenic parks by foot or on bike, pitch a tent and pick out the constellations at night, or test your abilities on the water kite or windsurfing.
Rent a kayak or canoe and head out on the water for an afternoon paddle. Bring a fishing rod and hook a King of all Fish, the Atlantic Salmon.
The province is rich in interesting flora and fauna from towering trees to rare marine life and everything in between. See over 100 different species of birds around the province and 15 different types of whales. The parks act as a sanctuary, protecting and nourishing the local wildlife.
Head out on the green for a day of golf on any of the excellent golf courses around New Brunswick, or tour the number of events, festivals and attractions the area has to offer.
Winter may be a bit colder here but it certainly doesn’t mean there’s less to do. Bundle up and test out the numerous snowmobile, Nordic skiing and snowshoe trails or head to a local ski hill to test your legs on the steeps. Try tube sledding, or tobogganing, or even ice fishing.
There are many excellent knowledgeable guide and outfitting companies in New Brunswick that will show you the ropes, whether it’s rappelling down a sand dune or taking an interpretive walk through the forest.
Why waste time? New Brunswick, and the Bay of Fundy have so many activities ready for you to partake in.
Pack up the family or even head out here on your own. The friendly locals and charming setting will set you at ease immediately, well long enough for you to strap on a helmet and charge down a hill on a mountain bike.
Out on the Water
Being that we are a coastal province we love our water, and there’s tons of it everywhere! Whether you want to dive in and paddle through rapids or take a dip and relax on the beach your opportunities await you.
How about a dinner cruise? Head out on Shediac Bay and learn the ropes of lobster fishing. Enjoy your catch, professionally prepared and paired with excellent cold beer and local wines. Get some exercise and have great fun at the same time on a guided kayak tour winding around “flowerpot” land formations and inspecting caves on the Bay of Fundy.
Rent a tube or try geo-tubing, essentially a scavenger hunt with an inner tube as your vehicle between clues, on the Miramichi River. Journey along the Restigouche river in the Appalachian Mountain Range by canoe.
Search for that giant Atlantic salmon or smallmouth bass on a fishing expedition on the Miramichi River, or tour the River Valley Scenic Drive to find that perfect swimming spot. There are 13 beaches along the route and you certainly can’t miss any!
Club Wind & Kite, the leading kiteboarding school in Canada, will take you out for the trip of your lifetime. From Lameque Island (near Shippagan) you will learn the strategies of kiteboarding and have a blast testing your abilities on the water.
Experience the reversing tides of the St. John River firsthand on an exhilarating jetboat ride or visit one of the sailing schools around New Brunswick and learn how to captain your own ship!
With over 60,000 km (37,282 mi.) of rivers, lakes and streams to dip into New Brunswick is a water lover’s dream. Come get your feet wet!
Eco-Tours
Surrounded by the Bay of Fundy, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and countless parks and nature reserves it’s easy to see that New Brunswick really cares about its natural habitat and all living things in it. There are many ways to visit these places without harmfully effecting them and it’s a great way to learn about the biology of one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
There are 15 different species of whale, including the rare Right Whale, Orca, Humpback and even Blue Whales on occasion that visit the nutritious Bay of Fundy every year, plus four different species of dolphin and countless other marine animals. Following a strict code of ethics, knowledgeable tour guides will take you to catch a sight of these awe-inspiring creatures by tall ship, yacht, zodiac, or catamaran.
On land take a tour to see burly bears and experience your guide engaging with these wild creatures, or visit the only buffalo ranch in the Maritimes.
The islands off of New Brunswick are a birwatcher’s paradise. Pack your binoculars and bird book and head out by ferry to Grand Manan and White Head islands where you can see puffins, bald eagles, sandpipers and the endangered Piping Plover.
Make sure to visit the Irving Eco-Centre: La dune de Bouctouche where a sand dune stretches 12 km (7.5 mi.) across Bouctouche Bay. Stroll the board walk paths to view to home of over 300 protected ecological sites, home to shorebirds, marine life and more. The Irving Nature Park offers trails and special activities like moonlight snowshoeing, meteor shower watching, mud flat ecology workshops and other great educational opportunities for the whole family.
As with anywhere when visiting New Brunswick ecological areas bring in what you take out and respect the natural environment and species living in it. Take only photographs, leave only footprints and enjoy the natural flora and fauna of New Brunswick!
Lighthouses
Lighthouses are both beautiful and essential landmarks. They protect ships and their staff and provide a beacon of light for those lost at sea. The system of lighthouses along the lower St. John River used to guide old paddlewheeler steamers along the rivers safely.
Today there are around 50 lighthouses, all providing exquisite backdrops and nearby activities. Visit them during sunset or sunrise for the ultimate photo opportunity or have a picnic near the base while you watch the sea and possibly spot a whale spout in the distance.
Lighthouses of particular note in New Brunswick include the oft-photographed and still active Swallowtail Lightstation on Grand Manan Island; the Cape Enrage Lighthouse with its interpretive centre and “The Keepers” restaurant; and the Miscou Island Lighthouse which is available to tour through and located on picturesque Chaleur Bay.
Take a birdwatching trip by the Inch Arran Lighthouse, or kayak near the Oak Point Lighthouse on the St. John River.
Known by many in New Brunswick these “sealights” offer a great day trip or a quick stop along your journey here. Many people plan a lighthouse tour of New Brunswick stopping to stay in some of the quaint cottages and hotels along the way.
Exploring N.B.’s Parks
Outdoor recreation is a huge attraction in New Brunswick and visitors and locals alike flock to the many municipal, provincial, national and international parks. This year is New Brunswick’s 75th provincial parks anniversary and to celebrate famed wildlife artist Robert Bateman has produced 3,000 copies of his painting, “Family Hike”. While it’s hard to fit all the parks into one trip here are some highlights you might like to include.
Visit Mactaquac Provincial Park for a variety of activities from golfing and windsurfing, to hiking and camping, and more. The Great Canadian Beaver Pond Voyage will take through a nature reserve that looks like a beaver reserve with many beaver ponds, dams and lodges. An interpretive guide will take you starting at the Park Administration building into the wetlands to explore the lives of these Canadian creatures.
Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada, along the Acadian Coastal Drive is a protected Canadian Heritage park, and the name comes from the Mi’kmaq people meaning “river of the long tides”. Find 60 kilometres (37 mi.) of cycling trails, pick up a paddle, camp, bird watch or swim in this beautiful 238 square km (148 mi.) park. From mid-June to September take part in a guided canoe tour past sandy barrier islands and sight birds and grey seals along the way.
Mount Carleton Provincial Park features the Maritime’s highest peak, and the trail to get there takes about an hour to an hour and a half depending on where you park. You’ll have the chance to see woodpeckers, martens, porcupines, moose, deer, bears and the elusive lynx here so keep your eyes peeled and cameras ready. Camping, mountain biking and paddling are also available here. The many hikes in the area offer varied difficulty ratings and lengths so you can spend a few hours, a whole day or stay overnight in Mount Carleton.
In Fundy National Park of Canada hike over 100 km in trails, swim, fish, mountain bike, bird watch or boat around this area to take in all there is. Picnic areas and camping are available and in the winter cross country skiers or snowshoers can head out to the Point Wolfe Campground for a true outdoor experience. The cabin sleeps four and has a wood stove and firewood but not much else. In the summer guided interpretive hikes are available and when the sun sets the Outdoor Theatre near the pond puts on an hour of entertainment for visitors.
Sugarloaf Provincial Park is an all season playground with lift-serviced mountain biking in the summer and alpine skiing and snowboarding in the winter. Snowmobile, cross country ski, snowshoe, sliding and ice skating are also available in the winter. For a real hiking experience head out on the Restigouche Trail, a 25 km (15.5 mi.) stretch from Campbellton to Glencoe.
Come winter, summer, spring or fall-there will be a New Brunswick Park awaiting your arrival with a whole bunch of fun and adventurous things for you to do!
Winter Activities
New Brunswick is a winter playland. With the snowiest areas in the Maritimes, the province is home to an abundance of snowmobile, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing tracks. Ski hills provide the acquired adrenaline rush for those on one stick or two.
With over 1,000 km (625 mi.) of snowmobile trails around the province you’ll never have to track the same place twice. New Brunswick’s Northern Snowmobile Odyssey will take you through Miramichi, Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston and everywhere in between on a snowy adventure unlike any other.
Winter here generally lasts from December until the end of March, and we receive between 300 and 400 cm (10 to 13 ft.) of snow annually in the northwestern regions. Crabbe Mountain has the highest vertical in New Brunswick with 22 alpine trails, 2 terrain parks and 30 km (18 mi.) of Nordic ski trails.
Check out the many parks throughout New Brunswick for more Nordic and snowshoe trails. Many of them also offer snow tubing and skating for all your winter fun needs!
Extreme Activities
Do you live on adrenaline or are you looking to try something out of your comfort zone? New Brunswick has a bunch of activities for you to try and test your courage.
Open Sky Adventures offers thrill seekers a run for their money either jet boating up the Grand Falls Gorge or deepelling. What is deepelling? Rapelling face-forward! Descend the 135 foot rock wall in the Grand Falls Gorge while a trained professional talks you through it. You can make six trips in total so by the end of it all you’ll be feeling like Spiderman.
Head to Cape Enrage for the view of a lifetime. Rapell down a 43 m (140 ft.) cliff with the World’s Highest Tides swelling below you. After you’re done that you take a quick break and then head up a sandstone cliff about half as high. It’s a workout but an experience of a lifetime.
Club Wind & Kite, the leading kiteboarding school in Canada, will take you out for a day on the water. From Lameque Island (near Shippagan) you will learn the strategies of kiteboarding and have a blast testing your abilities on the water. Learn to master the kite and in no time you’ll be jumping waves and skimming the flat.
Want to try a real extreme sport? Head to the Sugarloaf Bike Park to test the trails and watch the hardcores. Designed by Gravity Logic (Whistler, B.C.) this lift serviced bike park has a combination of obstacles, downhill track, and exciting scenery to keep you moving all day long. Bring your own gear or rent nearby. Remember your helmet!
Want to explore high up in the trees? Head to Treego, rig yourself up to a zip line and fly through the tree tops, tip toe across high boardwalk trails and overcome that supposed fear of heights you have.
Make your trip to New Brunswick a memorable one by challenging yourself in our natural terrain and trying something you never thought possible. Defy gravity and give yourself an adrenaline rush of a lifetime. Who need coffee when you could have this kind of rush?
