Canada’s stunning Atlantic East Coast

When you think of Canada, your mind may go straight to the famous West Coast, with dynamic Vancouver, charming resorts like Banff and Whistler, and natural wonders such as the Rocky Mountains with their turquoise glacial lakes, but if so, you’ve literally passed right over Canada’s stunning Atlantic East Coast – not only a shorter flight time from the UK, but full of its own amazing sights and experiences - a beautiful, adventure-filled path, and a road much less travelled.

New Brunswick is one of four Atlantic Canadian provinces, bordered by Quebec, Nova Scotia and the U.S. state of Maine, as well as nearly 5500 km of coastal shoreline. About 83% of the land is forested and to the north is the 400-million-year-old Appalachian mountain range, so the area teems with wildlife and opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, both on land and on the water. In addition to the natural attractions, New Brunswick is steeped in First Nations history and culture, and is currently home to 15 First Nations communities, so there is much to learn and explore. Sally, Assistant Manager from Lymington, joined a tour of New Brunswick, hosted by First Class Holidays and Air Canada, to learn more about this gorgeous area and what it can offer as a holiday destination.

“On our first day we immersed straight into the First Nations culture prevalent in New Brunswick, taking an hour’s drive from our base in Moncton to Elsipogtog Mi’kmaq Cultural Centre. Here we learnt all about the Mi’kmaq culture, and got to experience a smudging ceremony, understanding how special this is to many First Nations communities. Smudging involves burning sweetgrass, sage, or cedar, where the hands are ‘cleansed’ with the smoke, with a similar motion to washing hands, then the smoke is drawn over heads, eyes, ears, mouths, and bodies. These actions remind people to think good thoughts, see good actions, hear good sounds, speak good words, and show the good of who they are.

After this we enjoyed a Heritage Path Tour, where we learned the importance of nature to Indigenous cultures, and saw wigwams, a longhouse and sweat lodges. The tour ended with a delicious bannock and hot drink. Bannock is a bread made of flour and water, cooked over fire, and is a staple food of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. The Cultural centre was an amazing experience and gave great insights into the Mi’kmaq way of life.

Following this we visited Olivier Soaps Soapery – as soon as you step inside, the smell is amazing! We learnt the history of their soap making and were shown how their products are made. Next stop was at Dune de Bouctouche, a stunning saltwater beach and eco centre, and finally we headed to Shediac, for a photo opportunity to the world’s largest lobster statue! Lobster fishing is at the heart of many of New Brunswick's coastal communities, and there are a variety of lobster experiences in the region, with fresh seafood a major staple on the local menus.

That evening we visited Magnetic Hill Winery, just a 15-minute journey from Moncton. The views from this winery are spectacular, and we enjoyed a three-course dinner, prepared in front of us, with each course paired with a different wine.  After dinner we had the opportunity to ‘squash grapes’ with our feet in their preparation room! This was an experience no-one had done before, but probably won’t do again!

Our second hotel was at Hopewell Rocks, in the Bay of Fundy. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world, with 160 billion tonnes of seawater ebbing and flowing over thousands of years to shape the unique coastal landscape. Hopewell Rocks is a great base to appreciate this, as here the differential between low and high tide can reach up to 50 feet, which is the equivalent of a five-storey building! The bay is a feeding ground for minke, finback and humpback whales, and there are plenty of water-based or outdoor activities to enjoy in the immediate area.  Our tour took us around Flowerpot Rocks, dramatic sea cliffs and some amazing rock formations, following which some of us enjoyed a sea-kayaking trip to further explore this extraordinary place from the water.

Later that day we drove to Fundy Trail Provincial Park, passing Fundy Alma, which is a quaint and charming little lobster fishing village. Fundy Trail Provincial Park is a slow, cliffside drive that offers many beautiful views looking down on the coastline of the Bay of Fundy.  It took 25 years and $100 million to build and it was finally completed in 2020. Not only does it include 21 scenic roadside stops, but there are also hiking & biking trails, beaches and waterfalls and lots of picnic areas. This is a perfect place for anyone to spend time, especially families. After the tour we continued to our overnight stop in Saint John.  

After an early start we boarded the ferry for a 2-hour crossing to Digby, Nova Scotia. The ferry was spacious with plenty of sitting areas to relax, with shops, cafes and a bar. On arrival we headed to Wolfville for lunch at the Le Caveau for food and wine tasting. This was another stunning location, with delicious food and we learnt about their wines and enjoyed a tasting.

Travelling on to Halifax, we checked in to our hotel and did some exploring along the boardwalk. Halifax city centre was just how I had imagined, and the boardwalk was the perfect place to shop or sit with a drink and watch the world go by.  Later that evening we met up with the other groups on the trip. Each had visited a different province of Atlantic Canada and I loved hearing about their experiences in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia & New Foundland. It was fantastic to discover the Atlantic side of Canada, as I feel that this is probably an area that people are less aware of. The locals were so friendly, and nothing was too much trouble. The open spaces and scenery were breathtaking and even at a busy time, it is still so peaceful. The roads are very clear, so hiring a car and driving wouldn’t be an issue, and there is has plenty to enjoy, from history and culture to National Parks and vibrant city centres. In October, when I visited, the weather was fantastic, very mild and dry, but a waterproof is a must when visiting the Bay of Fundy. Any age-group would enjoy this area of Canada, it has so much offer. With only a relatively short flight, it would be a great place for families with young children. Our flight with Air Canada was only 6 hours outbound and 5.5 hours inbound.  There was plenty of leg room, food was good and the customer service was excellent with plenty of choice on the inflight entertainment. Make sure to apply for your Canadian ETA visa in advance, which lasts up to 5 years, and I’d recommend prebooking your seats and doing online check in, as this saves time at the airport. First Class offered a seamless experience, and the hotels were all of a very high standard, with large rooms and plenty of amenities.

The Atlantic coast was absolutely stunning, especially in October. The scenery outside the city was just like something out of a film, and I feel very lucky indeed to have been part of this trip.”

If you would like to plan a trip to Canada please contact your local branch.

‍