The 8 Best New Brunswick Beaches
When most people think of Canada, they picture snowstorm-filled winters and vast forests, but there's more to America's northern neighbor than moose and maple syrup. Natural beauty abounds in every part of this country, and something that people may not know is that Canada has the longest coastline in the world.
New Brunswick is one of the ten provinces (and three territories) of Canada. It sits right above Maine on Canada's east coast and the official languages are English and French. While the winters are generally snowy, the summers are far more appealing for sunbathing sessions.
With over fifty saltwater and freshwater beaches to discover, there's a tonne of choice when it comes to soaking up some sand and sea.
If stunning coastal scenery is what you're after, you won't want to miss Dennis Beach - a stretch of sand that goes for just over 1km and is in the sheltered Bay of Fundy. Aside from a walk along the edge of the rolling surf, you can enjoy rock pooling, kayaking and swimming in the clean, but chilly waters. There's a 7km trail nearby too, if you fancy some hiking and nature-spotting.
For a popular beach with relatively warm, sheltered waters, head over to Parlee Beach. There's a fee to enter, it's open daily and lifeguards are on duty in the summer for safe swimming. All the essentials are in place here, such as toilets and showers, a restaurant, picnic area, and a playground for the kids.
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1. Parlee Beach
© Claire Madison Great for:- Swimming
Said to be the best beach in New Brunswick, Parlee Beach Provincial Park is a popular beach with everything you could possibly want. This certified Blue Flag Beach (awarded in 2020) is located in Pointe-du-Chêne and is open daily. Admission fees apply.
The sandy beach has relatively warm sheltered waters (it claims to have the warmest saltwater in Canada). There are lifeguard patrols for safe swimming in summer and daily activities… read more »
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2. Dennis Beach
© James Mann / CC BY Dennis Beach, New Brunswick is in the sheltered Bay of Fundy, close to the town of Waterside and within sight of the greenery-topped stacks at Hopewell Rocks.
The narrow sandy beach runs parallel to the 915 highway and access to the beach is from the parking area. Walk back towards the road and take the trail on the left that leads down to the sand.
The beach is popular for… read more »
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3. Dune de Bouctouche
© Ultimograph5 / CC BY Located on Route 475 in New Brunswick, the Dune de Bouctouche is in a remote and uncrowded area. The name comes from a native Mi'kmaq word meaning "Great little harbour" which refers to the nearby riverside town of Bouctouche.
Stretching for 12km, Bouctouche is one of the longest dunes on North America's East Coast. The dunes and golden sandy beach are home to many birds and plants including the endangered… read more »
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4. Black Beach
When we think of black sand beaches we tend to think of tropical islands with jungle-fringed volcanos rising precipitously from the ocean - or at least not Canada. But here we are, in New Brunswick, not far from Lorneville looking at a beach with undeniably black sand.
The point is not all black sand beaches are volcanic. The imaginatively named Black Beach in NB is actually the result of graphite deposits.
The beach… read more »
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5. Hopewell Rocks
© Graham Hobster Also called Flowerpot Rocks because of the shape of its natural pinnacles and arches, Hopewell Rocks is located in a provincial park of the same name in the Bay of Fundy at Hopewell Cape. The other-worldly rock formations can be enjoyed from a two kilometre beach appearing at low tide on what is technically the ocean floor.
The 20 or so wave-formed stacks can be reached by a wheelchair-accessible ramp or… read more »
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6. Mispec Beach
© Bill Lapp / CC BY Great for:- Surfing
Located 15 minutes southeast of the town of Saint John, Mispec Beach is always crowded in summer. Accessed from Red Head Road down a manmade staircase, it is one of the best beaches in New Brunswick.
Overlooking the chilly waters of the Bay of Fundy, it has a massive tidal range of around 43 feet (13 metres) with some of the highest tides in the world. It reveals plenty of golden… read more »
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7. South Kouchibouguac Dune
© Yasehtor / CC BY South Kouchibouguac Dune lies to the south of the Kouchibouguac River estuary where it empties into the Northumberland Strait. Located in Kouchibouguac National Park, it is on the east coast of New Brunswick.
Pronounced "kooshi-boog-wac", the word "Kouchibouguac" in Mi'kmaq means "River of long tides". Like the neighbouring North Kouchibouguac Dune, this south dune is an offshore island or sand spit connected only by a boardwalk/footbridge to the mainland. The… read more »
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8. North Kouchibouguac Dune
© Larry / CC BY Located in Kouchibouguac National Park, North Kouchibouguac Dune is a famously long sandy dune beach stretching for 25km. Named after the Kouchibouguac River, the word in Mi'kmaq appropriately means "River of long tides".
The sensitive dunes and bogs are protected by the park system since 1969 when the land was expropriated from local families with one notable exception; Jackie Vautour refused to move and still lives in the park.
North Kouchibouguac Dune… read more »
