The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world, and the south coast of New Brunswick is the easiest place to see them. This guide covers Saint John, Hopewell Rocks, Fundy National Park, the Fundy Trail Parkway and St. Andrews by-the-Sea. Halifax and the rest of Nova Scotia are covered in their own guide.
Know the seasons first
This is a summer and early-autumn region, roughly mid-May to mid-October. Hopewell Rocks had its last day of 2026 on 25 October, and the 2027 season runs from 14 May to 24 October. The Fundy Trail Parkway ran from 15 May to 25 October in 2026. Kingsbrae Garden's admission season ended on 17 October, the St. Andrews Blockhouse kept summer hours to 31 August, whale-watching tours run from June to October and Parkland Village Inn in Alma is closed from 16 October to 1 May. In November the Reversing Falls viewing parks, the City Market, Rockwood Park and Fundy National Park (with reduced services) are still open.
Let the tide plan your day
Every sight on this coast depends on it. At Hopewell Rocks you walk the ocean floor around low tide, and your ticket is valid for two consecutive days so you can return at high tide. At the Reversing Falls the rapids change with the tide, and Tourism Saint John advises high tide for the rapids and low tide for the exposed rocks. At Fundy National Park the ocean floor walk is at low tide, and Parks Canada notes tides of up to 12 metres or more. Check a tide table before you set an itinerary, and never walk a shore when the water is coming in.
What to book ahead
In July, August and the autumn colour weeks, reserve hotels early, especially the Algonquin Resort in St. Andrews and any inn in Alma. Whale-watching cruises from St. Andrews are small-boat trips, and August is the peak month, so confirm dates in spring. Camping and overnight stays in Fundy National Park are bookable through the Parks Canada reservation service. Hopewell Rocks, the City Market, Rockwood Park and the Reversing Falls viewing parks need no reservation.
Getting around
You will want a car. Saint John has an airport about 18 minutes from uptown, and the coast sights are spread along the highway: the Fundy Trail Parkway is about an hour from Saint John, Fundy National Park and Hopewell Rocks are under two hours away, and St. Andrews is roughly an hour and a half in the other direction. Uptown Saint John itself is walkable, and the Delta Hotels by Marriott puts you within minutes of the City Market on foot.
How many days
Four days is a good first visit. Spend a day in Saint John with the City Market, the Reversing Falls and Rockwood Park. Spend a day on the Fundy Trail Parkway when it is open, May to October. Spend a day on Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park, ideally with a night in Alma. In summer, add a night in St. Andrews for whale watching, Kingsbrae Garden and the Blockhouse.
Where the headline sights fit
Hopewell Rocks is the iconic tide experience, and Fundy National Park is the best place to walk. The Fundy Trail Parkway is the scenic drive. The Reversing Falls and the City Market make the Saint John day, and St. Andrews is the seaside overnight.
Weather and packing
Wind and fog off the bay are common, so pack a windproof, waterproof layer even in summer, shoes that can get muddy for the ocean floor and sturdy boots for the trails. Cell service can be patchy on the coast, so carry a map and tell someone your plans.
