Top Attractions in New Brunswick, Canada

New Brunswick, Canada’s best attractions are an outdoor enthusiast’s haven. Visit the coast to see the natural phenomenon created by the Bay of Fundy’s extreme tide including at Hopewell Rocks and Ministers Island. Go hiking in places like Fundy National Park to enjoy the natural beauty of New Brunswick. Make a side trip to the Acadian Peninsula, which features a unique culture and history created by French immigrants that is demonstrated at the Historical Acadian Village, and then visit Campobello Island to see U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s summer home. These are just a few ways to get to know the provincial attractions at this scenic locale.

The best time to visit New Brunswick is May through October when the weather is beautiful, the flowers are blooming, and New Brunswick’s best attractions are open to visitors. Keep reading to learn about the rich culture and the best attractions to visit in New Brunswick.

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Roosevelt Campobello International Park is the site of Franklin D. Roosevelt's summer home from his childhood into adulthood. While the island is in Canada, the park is jointly owned and operated by the Canadian and United States governments. After arriving at the park, head to the visitor center to view the exhibits on FDR and tour the 34-room cottage, where interpretive guides will talk to you about the house, FDR and his family.

On the island there are 8 miles of trails and gardens full of colorful flowers that bloom mid-July through August. Eleanor's Tea, held twice daily, offers visitors the chance to delight in a tea service while listening to a lecture about Eleanor Roosevelt and her accomplishments.

Though Campobello Island is open to visitors year-round, Roosevelt Campobello International Park is open from late May to mid-October. The park is free to enter, making it not only one of the best attractions in New Brunswick but also a budget-friendly attraction.

Courtesy of New Brunswick Tourism

On 27 acres with some 50,000 perennials, Kingsbrae Garden has themed areas that combine beauty, education and whimsy. Among the many areas, the Rose Garden is home to a wide variety of roses; the Container Garden demonstrates the kinds of plants, both ornamental and edible, that can be grown on patios and decks; and the Gravel Garden highlights drought-resistant plants. The Fantasy Garden appeals to kids.

This popular New Brunswick attraction is open from mid-May to mid-September.

Courtesy of New Brunswick Tourism

Location: 199 Carriage Rd., St. Andrews, NB

The tides make visiting Ministers Island a unique attraction in New Brunswick. The island is open for only a few hours a day while the tide is low and a section of the ocean floor is exposed, allowing people to drive cars, walk or bike from the mainland to the island. Once on the island, you can visit the Van Horne mansion, a 50-room mansion, the summer home of Sir William Van Horne, president of the Canadian Pacific Railroad in the late 19th century. If time allows, you can venture out on some of the 12 miles of trails on the island. Birders will have fun spotting the migratory birds that make the island their home for part of the year.

Plan ahead when visiting the island. Opening times vary by day based on the tides.

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Head to Fallsview Park or Wolastoq Park to witness the Reversing Falls Rapids, a natural phenomenon and a unique thing to do in New Brunswick. At low tide, the Saint John River crashes into the Bay of Fundy creating whirlpools. At high tide, the rising water in the Bay of Fundy, known for having the highest tides in the world, pushes back against the river, reversing the flow and creating rapids and eddies.

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On the coastline of the Bay of the Fundy, Fundy National Park offers New Brunswick visitors a chance to venture out onto the coastline to see the bay's extreme tides. Concessionaires rent kayaks seasonally, so you can experience the bay from the water and at low tide, walk the exposed ocean floor. There are also trails for hiking and mountain biking that offer scenery of the trees and chances to view wildlife.

Fishing is permitted with a national park fishing license, and in winter, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding are popular activities. If you are traveling with kids, stop by the visitor center for a Fundy Xplorers booklet. After completing the national park activities in the booklet, kids can return it for a souvenir.

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The tides at the Bay of Fundy are renowned for the high tides. The water level between high and low tide can range from 30 to 45 feet. This phenomenon makes Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park a must-visit attraction in New Brunswick. At high tide, the rocks are nearly submerged by the churning ocean water and at low tide the 30- to 70-feet-tall rocks are exposed along with the muddy ocean floor.

The Hopewell Rocks are sea stacks frequently called flowerpot rocks because their reddish color resembles terra-cotta, and they are topped with trees, as if they were a potted garden for giants. At high tide you can take a guided kayak tour with the park's concessionaire, while at low tide, you can walk down the steps or a ramp down to the exposed ocean floor.

Before visiting Hopewell Rock Provincial Park, check the tide tables. If time allows, you should visit at high and low tide. Admission tickets are valid for two consecutive days, giving you plenty of opportunity. Wear sturdy shoes that can get messy. The ocean floor is muddy, and your shoes will get dirty. There are well-marked paths to and from the Hopewell Rocks, and there is a shuttle for a fee.

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In the town of Bouctouche is a boardwalk path about a half mile long over a dune. Along the shore, you might see a great blue heron in the summer and other migratory birds, depending on when you visit. The boardwalk allows visitors to enjoy the dune while protecting its ecosystem. To learn more about the dune, stop at the interpretation center. There are picnic tables and a barbecue available for visitors' use. The boardwalk also features an observation area, which provides wide views of the bay and the dune.

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The New Brunswick attraction of Acadian Historical Village is a living history museum that delves into the history of French settlers and their descendants from 1770 to 1949. The museum is open June through September for self-guided tours. Interpretive guides are located throughout the village, sharing information and answering questions. Visitors learn about the Acadians, artisan crafts and more.

There are two on-site restaurants, and one serves traditional Acadian dishes, a must-try New Brunswick cuisine. You also can purchase goods made by the artisans who staff the village. If traveling off-season, visitors may tour the site free of charge to walk the nature trails and take in the natural landscape.

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Located in Edmundston, the New Brunswick Botanical Gardens is a beautifully curated space where you can enjoy 12 themed gardens. The Flowery Brook bursts with color in summer when the flowers bloom. The Alpine Garden is full of plants that thrive in mountainous regions, while the Shade Garden has trees whose canopies offer relief from the sun. You'll also find creative topiaries and works of art throughout the space.

The New Brunswick attraction also hosts annual events that are fun for the whole family. If you are traveling in the fall, don't miss the Grande Grouille d'automne, or the Great Autumn Grow, when the garden is decked out with fall decorations and pumpkins.

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The collection at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery includes work by Canadian, Indigenous and international artists. In addition to the permanent exhibits, the museum features temporary exhibits with focuses on a variety of media including beadwork, jewelry, sculpture and painting from a variety of artists. Outside of the museum is a sculpture garden with large works. Expect to spend an hour or two on your visit to Beaverbrook Art Gallery.

Courtesy of New Brunswick Tourism

There are many lighthouses in New Brunswick along the coastline. Today, most of the lighthouses are no longer functional, but they continue to stand as a marker of history and attractive decoration near the water's edge. Here are a few lighthouses to see on your New Brunswick trip.

Swallowtail Lighthouse: The Swallowtail Lighthouse is located on Grand Manan Island and is accessible by ferry in July and August and sometimes in September. The 1860 lighthouse is probably the most photographed lighthouse in the province. Grand Manan Island also has trails and birdwatching.
Head Harbour Lightstation: On the northern tip of Campobello Island, Head Harbour Lightstation, built in 1829, is accessible only during part of low tide from June to late August. There is a small fee to enter the grounds and the lighthouse.
Cape Enrage Lighthouse: North of Fundy National Park along the coast of the Bay of Fundy, the Cape Enrage Lighthouse is located in an adventure park. The cape is open year-round, but the park is only open from mid-May through September and has a fee to enter. Aside from the lighthouse, visitors to Cape Enrage can zipline and rappel down the cliffside (for an additional fee); reservations for these activities are recommended.
Mulholland Point Lighthouse: Mulholland Point Lighthouse, built in 1885, is part of Roosevelt Campobello International Park on Campobello Island. The grounds are open year-round, but the visitor center and Roosevelt Cottage are only open from late May to mid-October.
The Lighthouse by 540: Located in Fredericton, The Lighthouse by 540, built in the 1980s, was never a functioning lighthouse, but today it is a restaurant, where you can eat on the lighthouse's patio overlooking the Saint John River. There is also an ice cream shop next to the lighthouse.