9 Things to do on the Bay of Fundy
The Bay of Fundy is a body of water famously known for having the highest tides in the world.
Each day, twice a day, over 160 billion tons of seawater flows in and out of the bay. Every 12 hours footprints you’d left in the sand are covered with a tidal range that can be as high as 50 feet (15 metres). This is about 5 times more than regular tides on the Atlantic Coast!
Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest average tides, this natural phenomenon can only be seen right here on the Bay of Fundy.
This bright blue bay sits between two Canadian provinces, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This article covers suggestions of 9 things to do on the bay of Fundy in the province of Nova Scotia!
CAPE CHIGNECTO PROVINCIAL PARK
Cape Chignecto is the largest and wildest provincial park in Nova Scotia. With extensive backpacking trails, scenic hikes and unique geological features, the park provides an abundance of outdoor adventures.
Cape Chignecto is 16 square miles (42 square km) and has around 19 miles (30km) of wilderness coastline. This coastline boasts the highest cliffs in Nova Scotia which rise from the Bay of Fundy at a height of 200 metres (600 ft).
Raised beaches, sea caves and sea stacks also create a water wonderland on the Bay of Fundy. Depending on whether you prefer land or sea, Cape Chignecto Provincial Park has an adventure for you.
Below are a couple of activities you can do in Cape Chignecto Provincial Park.
THREE SISTERS WALK
Cape Chignecto Provincial Park’s rugged coastline is studded with unique rock formations including the famous 3 sisters rocks.
These can be seen via land from the Eatonville Day Use Park. This well-maintained trail system offers 3.5 miles (5.5km) of family-accessible trails which lead to viewing platforms which overlook the bay. Views include the 3 sisters’ sea stacks along with Eatonville Harbour, the raised beach at Squally Point, and the upper Bay of Fundy.
Read our article: “A 7 DAY NOVA A 7 DAY NOVA SCOTIA ROAD TRIP” ROAD TRIP” for more ideas of how to spend your time in the province!
2. sea kayaking
If you’d rather explore the miles of pristine coastline, sheltered coves, deep valleys and sea stacks from the water then why not try sea kayaking with Nova Shore Adventures.
Kayak in a geological wonderland as you watch the water level change rapidly with the Bay of Fundy’s extreme tides. Paddle through the famous sea stacks, with a knowledgeable guide and take in the breathtaking scenery of the blue waters surrounding you.
With single-day to multi-day trips, there are a few tours to choose from depending on your ability and budget.
Three Sisters day tour
When: mid-May to mid-October
Duration: 6 hours, including a 1 hour picnic in a remote cove / Price: $159 for adult & $119 for children
LOCAL GUY ADVENTURES
The next couple of activities can be done with Laurie from Local Guy Adventures. Laurie and his family were born and raised right on the coastline of the Bay of Fundy. So who better to explore this part of Nova Scotia with than a local expert?
Laurie truly believes they live in one of “the most beautiful places on the Bay of Fundy” and loves sharing his favourite places and coastal adventures with the rest of the world. Now a guided tour operator within the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark, he offers multiple activities all year round. From cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter to hiking and biking in the summer.
Here are a couple of our favourite activities below.
3. George Fraser Brook Waterfall Hike
This guided hike to these photogenic falls includes a trek through an old forest while following the trickling water upstream to a waterfall.
The falls can be reached by following a rope as you climb to the top of the slot canyon before then repelling down to reach the start of the waterfall. Walk through the 200ft-high canyon walls surrounded by the mossy forest which then opens up to the impressive George Fraser Brook Waterfall.
Duration: 3 hours / Price: $55 per person
4. FAT BIKING & PADDLEBOARDING TOUR
With their oversized tires, fat biking is a great way to explore the diverse terrain of the forest and pebbled beach. Ride along the ocean floor and take in the bright blue views of the coastline while on your guided tour. With Cape Split in the distance and Spencer’s Island sitting just out to sea, the views of the beach and forest are breathtaking.
Local Guy Adventures provides tours for fat biking & paddle boarding combined
Duration: 2 hour tour (around 6km) / Price: $95 per person (Plus 2 hour stand up paddle board rental)
Duration: 3 hour tour (around 8km) / Price: $105 per person (Plus 2 hour stand up paddle board rental)
If you want to venture along the coast at your own leisure and take in the views from the water you can rent paddle boards.
1 hour rentals $25 / 2 hour rentals $40
WILDLIFE
5. WHALE WATCHING
Of all the activities on the Bay of Fundy, whale watching is probably the most breathtaking! With over 12 species of whales visiting Nova Scotia, there are a variety of boat trips to choose from to admire these creatures in their natural habitat.
With humpback, minke, fin, right whales and porpoise (and of course a variety of seabirds) your boat trip is filled with excitement! As you sail along the Bay of Fundy, your trip’s narrated by an experienced naturalist, sharing their extensive knowledge of marine life.
You can catch a boat trip from Digby Neck, Long Island and Brier Island. You can browse Nova Scotia’s whale-watching tours here.
TIP: The best time of year to see whales on the Bay of Fundy is in the summertime
Read our article “10 FREE THINGS TO DO IN NOVA SCOTIA- OFF THE BEATEN TRACK” for more travel ideas!
6. HORSE RIDING AT LOW TIDE
If you love horses then why not ride along the ocean floor on horseback! At the Spirit Reins Ranch they offer a unique guided tour to experience the Bay of Fundy at low tide.
Located near the coastal town of Parrsboro, the ranch offers personalised services for both first-time riders and more experienced riders. They offer multiple horse riding tours including the tidal floor fossil tours, picnic rides and Bay of Fundy beach rides.
TIP: Download the Cliffs of Fundy app to check the tide times! iOS app / Android app
With the tidal floor ride, your guide accompanies you as you ride along the Minas Basin while you learn about the tidal creatures you find along the way.
Duration: 2 hours / Price: $155 for one person or $135 each for two or more people
Read our article “10 INCREDIBLE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN NOVA SCOTIA” for more travel inspo!
WALK ON THE OCEAN FLOOR
7. THE HIGHEST TIDES AT BURNTCOAT HEAD PARK
As previously said, the Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s highest tides. But the bay covers a large area including two provinces, so where can you specifically go to experience these highest tides?
Burntcoat Head Park is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest average tides!
At low tide walk along the ocean floor, explore the caves and tidal pools and look out for fossils. You can even take a guided tour with a local expert who’ll impart their knowledge about ocean life and the delicate ecosystem endangered species call home.
Just 6 hours from where you left footprints in the sand, the mudflats are then covered in up to 42 feet of water! Twice a day in the Bay of Fundy, 160 billion tonnes of water flows in and out of the bay. Here at Burntcoat Head, there is an average high tide of 47.5 feet with an extreme range of 53.6 feet!
You can even dine on the ocean floor and experience the ultimate culinary adventure at low tide. Hosted at Burntcoat Head Park, The multi-course gourmet meal is made up of local and seasonal ingredients and paired with Nova Scotia-produced beer and wine.
Burntcoat Head Park tour
When: Mid-May to mid-October
Price: The park is free to explore on your own or you can take a tour which is $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and $10 for children.
Duration: 1.5 hours
8. FOSSIL HUNTING
With the constant erosion over the tides rising and falling dramatically each day, the world-famous bay of Fundy is always changing. Nova Scotia has around 370 miles (600 km) of coastline to explore, with every low tide creating the possibility of exposing new treasures.
These shoreline cliffs and beaches are home to some of the world’s most complete fossil records from life many, many years ago.
Head to Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can explore the rocky shoreline and uncover and discover a kingdom of fossils. Observe and learn about the incredibly exposed layers of rock along the 15 kilometres of shoreline while you watch the famous high tides dramatically sweep in or out in a rapid fashion.
You can explore the shoreline on your own or join a guided tour. The tours are led by knowledgeable local interpreters who can tell you all about the recent findings, renowned discoveries and why Joggins is so famous for fossils. So put your hard hat on and get fossil hunting!
After your guided tour, head to the Joggins Fossil Centre to see their extensive fossil collections, exhibits and displays.
The Wanderer’s Experience Tour
Duration: 30 minutes / Price: $10 for adults and $9 for seniors or students and children are free
The Explorer’s Experience
Duration: 1h 30 minutes / Price: $25 per person
Read this article “5 Bay of Fundy Geological Treasures to Explore” for more places to visit in Nova Scotia.
9. TIDAL RAFTING
With waves amounting to 4 metres (13 feet) high, and the power of the world’s highest tides, the Bay of Fundy is the ideal place to go tidal bore rafting.
From the Bay of Fundy to the Shubenacadie River, these impressive waves create a roller coaster which can only be found in Nova Scotia. With an expert guide, board a zodiac boat, and cascade down powerful rapids as the incoming ocean reverses the natural flow of the river. An action-packed and adrenaline-filled tour from start to finish!
Browse the tidal bore rafting tours here. Prices vary from $63 to $95 depending on the length of the tour and the intensity.
Our trip to Nova Scotia was in partnership with the Nova Scotia Tourism Board. We explored Nova Scotia for 5 days, capturing the most beautiful sites, exploring the outdoor adventures around the Bay of Fundy!
