A visit to Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick is the ideal way to appreciate one of the earth’s natural wonders – the tides of the Bay of Fundy.
The Bay of Fundy, which stretches for 270km between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on Canada’s Atlantic coast, is home to the world’s highest tides and one of the most popular places to experience and appreciate this natural wonder is Hopewell Rocks.
Our first family visit to Hopewell Rocks was before my younger daughter, Emma, was born so we decided that a return trip was necessary during our Atlantic Canada trip last summer. We stayed in Moncton and drove out to Hopewell Cape to spend the day. Visitors should plan to spend several hours to fully experience the park as the ideal visit includes walking on the ocean floor at low tide and observing (or kayaking) the world’s highest tides at full tide.
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We arrived in the morning at low tide and opted to walk from the Visitors’ Centre down to the viewing platforms and beach, pausing to take photos along the way. There is also a shuttle bus that runs down to the viewing platform for anyone who isn’t up to the 15-30 minute walk.
We spent about an hour and a half walking the ocean floor which can be safely explored by visitors from 3 hours before until 3 hours after low tide. It’s wise to have sturdy footwear that can be hosed off afterward as the beach is quite muddy and squishy in places. A few areas were roped off due to the danger of falling rocks from eroding cliffs so visitors should exercise some caution when walking cliffside.
Emma was particularly fascinated by the mounds of seaweed on the ocean floor.
The red cliffs at the Hopewell Rocks were first formed millions of years ago and the incredible 40-70 foot high rock formations that we see today are a result of steady erosion of the soft sandstone along the shoreline by the daily tides.
The Hopewell Rocks are also known as the Flowerpot Rocks as many of the intriguing rock formations have trees and plants growing at the top creating a resemblance to large flower pots.
The rock formations that have been sculpted by the tides are spectacular and I took close to 200 photos while we were there in an attempt to capture the incredible natural beauty.
As the tide slowly started to come in we headed back up to the Visitors’ Centre to browse the educational displays, do a little souvenir shopping and have some lunch at the High Tide Café. As we made the climb back up to the upper level of the park, we looked back to discover that the tide had already started to swallow the beach.
As high tide approached we walked back down to the observation area and were fascinated to see how the tide had encroached on the area where we had been walking just a short time earlier. I dare you to find a kid that doesn’t think that it’s incredibly cool to watch the water rise and cover a beach that they had played on earlier.
We found a spot near the bottom of the staircase to the beach in order to watch the tide rise and the kayakers paddling around the rocks with their guide. I had been too concerned about trying kayaking with Emma to book an excursion ahead of time but after observing the group I felt certain that we could have managed and will definitely try this the next time we visit.
In our fast-paced world of electronic distractions and short attention spans, Hopewell Rocks is the perfect place to introduce kids to the wonder and the power of nature.
What You Need To Know
- An interesting fact is that each day 100 billion tonnes of seawater flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy during one tide cycle – that’s more than the combined flow of the world’s freshwater rivers.
- The Hopewell Rocks is a self-directed park open seasonally from mid-May to Mid-October. Interpretive staff are available to answer questions.
- The park also has picnic areas, walking trails and two sandy beaches for visitors.
- There is ample free parking and an in-park shuttle service (7 passenger golf carts) available.
- The park has an educational multi-media Interpretive Centre; clean washrooms (with diaper changing facilities); and a restaurant, snackbar and gift shop.
- The park is located about an hour from Moncton, New Brunswick in Hopewell Cape. Directions are available here.
- Entrance rates are available here and are valid for two consecutive days so that visitors may choose to visit a high tide one day and low tide the next.
- The park is pet-friendly but guidelines must be followed.
- The park is wheelchair and stroller accessible apart from the beach area which is accessed via a set of stairs.
- There is a children’s playground outside the Interpretive Centre.
- Always check tide tables prior to visiting as high and low tides occur at different times each day. Tide Tables are available on the Hopewell Rocks site for the open season. Anyone visiting during the off season should check the tide tables on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website.
- It’s best to book kayaking ahead of time as it’s a popular excursion that can sell out.
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Leigh
I am so looking forward to checking out the Hopewell Rocks especially after seeing your photos. I plan to do the kayaking for three hours and take the time to explore & snap a zillion photos as well. Good to know about the cafe.
Emma looks like she is enjoying herself!
Salika Jay
What an amazing place. It’s fascinating how the rocks form this way. And it’s also nice to see the rocks during low and high tides.
Muza-chan
Beautiful place to visit 🙂
Sophie
We crossed the Bay of Fundy a few years ago – on the ferry from Saint John to Digby, but didn’t have time to explore much of the area, even though it looked interesting. Hopewell Rocks look very unique. Something for next time…
Wendy [mapsgirl]
I loved our visit to the Hopewell Rocks. We went when my oldest daughter was 9 months old. Since the girls are 8 and 6 now, I think it’s time to go back!
Jackie Smith
An area I knew nothing about, thank you so much for such an informative and well illustrated post – it goes on the bucket list now!
Lisa Goodmurphy
You are going to love it, Leigh – it is such an amazing place! I really regret not doing the kayaking – I’m a very weak swimmer (Emma’s far better than I am) so I worry about tackling something like this with her but we watched the kayakers for quite some time with their guide and it looked manageable. Emma loved Hopewell Rocks!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thank you, Muza-chan!! 🙂
Marisol
Hi Lisa, what a fun post on Fundy! I’ve been wanting to visit. There used to be tourism posters of it plastered in NYC subways that I liked staring at. It must be amazing to walk on the ocean floor. I like your before and after tide flow photos. What a difference and what an amazing wonder of nature.
Lisa Goodmurphy
There never seems to be time to do everything – I always have a long list for “next time”!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Our first visit had been 10 years earlier in 2002 when my older daughter was almost 6 so we had to make a return trip for the younger one to see the rocks last year. Your girls would love it – it’s such a cool experience!
Lisa Goodmurphy
You’re welcome, Jackie – Hopewell Rocks is definitely bucket list-worthy!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Marisol! Walking around the rocks on the ocean floor is a truly incredible feeling but, for me at least, it’s the return later to see how high the tide is that really makes me say “Wow”! You should definitely visit and it’s not even that far from New York!
Mary {The World Is A Book}
I have heard of Hopewell Rocks and Bay of Fundy from one of those travel shows featuring phenomenal nature occurences and have always wanted to go. All that seaweed is awesome! Love the before and after pictures and despite not being a good swimmer (so much for growing up in the islands), I would love to kayak there. It’s beautiful!
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista
This is an area I’ve wanted to explore for quite some time and one of the big draws is Bay of Fundy and its tides! Thanks for sharing this very interesting information.
Lisa Goodmurphy
I’m not a good swimmer either and that’s why I was hesitant to kayak with Emma. Once I watched, it didn’t looks so difficult – there was a guide and it was fairly calm and the people who were kayaking didn’t appear to all be experienced.
Lisa Goodmurphy
You’re welcome, Debbie! You should definitely plan a visit and when you’re tired of the tides then you can go whale watching or any number of things.
jenny@atasteoftravel
‘m used to the tides varying 8 or 9 meteres in the Kimberlys but I didn’t realise that you had this variance in Canada as well. The rocks are amazing structures…great to see them when the tide comes in as well!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It is amazing to see the rocks up close and realize that the tides have worn away the cliffs to this extent – really gives you a sense of the power of the tides.
Krista
What a gorgeous place to go exploring! I’d love to tramp all over, especially on those squishy mounds of seaweed. 🙂
budget jan
The Bay of Fundy was on our radar in 2010 when we were in Quebec City, but we could not make it happen. It would be a sight to see and I am sure we will get there one day. I am with Emma – those mounds of seaweed ARE amazing. 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
And I didn’t realize that you had tides quite so high in Australia!
Lisa Goodmurphy
The seawood is really cool – Emma loved looking at it but she wasn’t really sure that she wanted to touch it! 😉
Lisa Goodmurphy
Jan, you are definitely going to need a return visit to see some of the places that you missed the first time around!
Jessica
I want to go here so badly. I can’t believe how big those piles of seaweed are!
Ann
What a cool looking place! This is also something that I never knew about. I think I need a road trip in Canada when my kids are a little older.
Seana - Sydney, Kids, Food + Travel
What an interesting read, and I really enjoyed your photos. When I was a girl we spent our summer holidays sailing around the west of Scotland so knew all about the tides. The tidal range seems much less where we live now in Sydney.
Tonya
That is incredible and something that I know my teens would enjoy seeing as well. I want to do the kayaking too!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Your boys would love it, Jessica!
Lisa Goodmurphy
There are so many beautiful places to visit in Canada, Ann – definitely plan a long road trip!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Having grown up far from the oceans, I am completely fascinated by the tides!
Lisa Goodmurphy
The kayaking looks like so much fun – I really wish that we would have done it now!
Ann
I know! I already know from you to go to PEI… But first I need to read the books. I have a big fascination with Yellowknife. I need to go back to Montreal and Niagara Falls, then there’s the Rockies, Vancouver, Banff. Plus my father in law is from Canada. We have family in Windsor, Toronto… I want to see Quebec City… Newfoundland. So much. But it’s on my plans once the kids are older or when we move back to the states.
Charu
An ideal place to educate kids about tides, seaweed and freshwater! Sounds like you did all of the above AND had a great time!
Christina Gmyr
Those rock formations are amazing! What a great place to bring your family 🙂
EverywhereAmy
I love those rocks! The Bay of Fundy has been on my list forever. One day – hopefully soon!
Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel
I’ve always wanted to go there! Love your pictures. I didn’t know there was a museum as well- great to take kids to explore nature and learn about how these are created.
Thank you for linking up to Travel Tuesday!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It is a great place to visit, Christina – seeing with one’s own eyes how the tide has eroded the rocks is memorable in a way that reading it in a text book will never be!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I hope you get to the Bay of Fundy soon, Amy – it’s a place that you would absolutely love!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Kerrie – it’s an amazing learning experience for kids!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Yes, it’s educational and fun at the same time!!
Marcia
Wow, talk about seaweed! It’s amazing watching via your photos how the tide came in and just reclaimed its space. Nature’s just so amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa Goodmurphy
The tide is amazing – I don’t think that I would ever grow tired of watching it come and go!
Lisa Wood
how crazy does those big piles of Seaweed Look? And what happens if there was someone on the beach when the tide comes in…guess you would want to be a good swimmer 🙂
Hopewell Rocks looks like a great place to explore, and for kids to learn while having fun. Would also help everyone to sleep better at night time, after exploring!
Indiatourcity
Very nice and useful information of travel with kids , thank you for sharing with us .