| Duration: | 6 Day(s) - 5 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Seasonal Events Tours |
6 Day New Brunswick’s High Tides and Acadian “Joie de Vivre”
Style: Independent Touring
Day 1: Montreal - Bathurst
Cross time and space in a single day on Via Rail’s Ocean line between Montréal and Bathurst, where you’ll see the sun streaming in the sky, morning mists, and tree-blanketed hills. During your journey, enjoy Canadian wine deliciously paired with your meal which features regional specialties.
Stretch out in your cozy accommodations, look out the window, or up through the scenic dome. Make new friends and bask in the warmth of the famous Maritime hospitality. Whatever kind of traveler you are, traveling by rail is the best way to discover the East Coast.
Day 2: Bathurst – Grande-Anse – Caraquet
Bathurst is the northern gateway to New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula and is surrounded by plenty of natural beauty and attractions. Visit Daly Point Nature Reserve (free admission) Both experienced and novice nature enthusiasts will be delighted with this natural expedition. Together, with a local guide (charges applied), you’ll explore a 40-ha (100-acre) protected site that is home or breeding ground to 110 bird species as well as 75 plant species, 16 types of butterflies, and 12 species of mammals.
Your guide will share her vast knowledge and expertise with you while hiking over salt marshes, across old farm fields, and through mixed forests. When you’re done, share your learnings with your new friends over homemade bread, rhubarb preserves, and herbal tea. Travel to Grand-Anse to see one of the most famous lighthouses in the province. This lighthouse is painted to resemble the colorful Acadian flag and is the ideal spot to take a picture of the gorgeous vistas along the picturesque Bay of Chaleur.
Last year, the bay became a member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club. Drive to the town of Caraquet, where the Acadian heart beats strongest! This colorful coastal community is genuinely inviting with undeniable Acadian and Maritime charm, a vibrant cultural and artistic life, and savory regional cuisine.
Day 3: Caraquet – Miscou Island – Shippagan – Miramichi
Drive to Miscou Island where we recommend a stop at the Eglise Ste-Cecile Church. This uniquely painted church resembles a box of crayons inside, it’s so colorful! Excellent acoustics make it an ideal home to the annual international baroque music festival at the end of July. Miscou Island features miles of untouched shores, unspoiled and uncommon beauty.
This premier coastal island is home to spectacular beaches, fascinating trails just waiting to be discovered, and vast peat bogs that turn scarlet red in the fall. Continue your drive to Shippagan and make an optional visit to the New Brunswick Aquarium and Marine Centre, the largest public aquarium in the Atlantic provinces. You’ll see the wonders of marine life of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, observe more than 100 species of fish, invertebrates, and the famous BLUE Lobster!
Drive to Acadieville for the Famous Little Big Bear Safari where you can spend a couple of breathtaking hours amid birdsong and playful squirrels and watch beautiful black bears in their natural habitat from a secure and comfortable 14-m (45-ft.) viewing tower.
Day 4: Kouchibouguac - Ste-Anne-de-Kent – Bouctouche – Moncton
Visit Kouchibouguac National Park, a fascinating mosaic of bogs, salt marshes, tidal rivers, sparkling freshwater systems, sheltered lagoons, abandoned fields, and tall forests which characterize the Maritime Plain Natural Region. Participate in a Voyageur Canoe Adventure. The adventure recreates the trips of the region’s courageous first settlers.
Historical facts and folklore permeate your trip as your interpreter talks about the history of the area and the Mi’kmaq way of life. You’ll see grey seals and a blanket of black and white common terns Later, as you drive into the town of Shediac, make sure you stop to take a picture with the World’s Largest Lobster. For a perfect end to the day, hop aboard Shediac Bay Cruises for the evening cruise and lobster dinner. Overnight in Moncton or Shediac.
Day 5: Hopewell Rocks
The Hopewell Rocks are considered one of the Marine Wonders of the World and are the site of some of the World’s Highest Tides. You can walk on the ocean floor in the shadows of the majestic flower-pot rocks, unique formations carved by erosion over thousands of years. Then, if you’re up for adventure at high tide– try a little kayaking with Baymount Adventures! You’ll begin with a dry land kayaking school and then climb into the double kayak for on-water training.
Once you're comfortable, the journey begins! Skirt the world-famous flower-pot rocks as you follow the route to Staircase Cove, then on to Shepody Bay. You’ll marvel at panoramic views as your guide provides an interpretation of the Bay of Fundy ecosystem, the rocks, the remarkable tides, and the local culture. Suggestion for dinner tonight: Pumphouse Brewery Restaurant. The Pump House made a huge splash during its first appearance at the annual Canadian Brewing Awards in 2005.
The brewery captured 9 medals in 6 different categories, included in this were 6 gold and 3 bronze. By gaining the first spot in both gold and total tally, Pump House won the coveted title of Canada's Brewery of the Year.
Day 6: Moncton Departure
Depart Moncton.
Package Includes:
5 nights of accommodation, 6-day mid-size car rental including unlimited kilometers (special conditions apply), VIA Rail Ocean in economy class from Montréal to Bathurst, sightseeing, and attractions as listed above.
Highlights:
Voyageur canoe tour
Kayak trip at Hopewell Rocks
Shediac Bay cruise
Little Big Bear Safari
Pricing is per person (does not include applicable taxes)
