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Friday, October 24, 2014

Hopewell Rocks..a Weekend in New Brunswick

We love going to Canada. Here in New England, we are within a reasonable drive of the eastern provinces, and we have wanted to explore Atlantic Canada for a long time. 



Over the Columbus Day weekend, we traveled to Saint John, New Brunswick to explore Hopewell Rocks, at the Bay of Fundy, near Moncton. 



Also called the Flowerpot Rocks, these rock formations stand 40-70 feet tall and, like the rocks at Cathedrals Beach in Galicia, Spain, are covered by water at high tide. 

The Bay of Fundy is reported to have the highest tidal range in the world, rising over 50 feet at high tide.  


So lucky to have walked on the Atlantic Ocean floor on two continents...in Europe, in Spain at Cathedrals Beach and in North America, in Canada, at Hopewell Rocks. 


The ocean floor is accessible for up to three hours before and three hours after low tide. 







At high tide, visitors can kayak the same area where they previously walked. 



According to the Park's Learning Center, the tides vary because of the shape of the shoreline and the depth of the water. The Bay of Fundy is funnel shaped and fairly shallow, which facilitate higher tides because the water has nowhere to go. 



The water appears brown as it moves across the mud flats, resulting in a  "Chocolate River" effect.

The mud flats that produce the "Chocolate River."


There are some unique caves and structures to explore, and plenty of places that are "selfie" and "Instagram-ready." 




I like big rocks and I cannot lie...







If you meander too long, there is emergency shelter, but I'm guessing it's not recommended. 



Interpretive staff are stationed on the beach, providing guided tours and advice on issues related to the incoming tide.  

When we were there, one of the staff members was sharing this time lapse of the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, captured at Hopewell Rocks on September 12th. 



Hopewell Rocks are open to visitors from May to October.  Your entrance fee ($9 CAD) allows you two consecutive days, in order to see both high and low tides. And don't forget to see the cute mascot near the gift shop, who is always ready to bid you adieu. 




Just down the road, along the Fundy Trail, is the Cape Enrage lighthouse, one of the oldest in New Brunswick, built in 1840. 


Today, it is a popular spot for rappelling, zip lining and rock climbing.

Have you been to Hopewell Rocks or any other places in the Atlantic provinces of Canada? What are your recommendations?









22 comments:

  1. For how close it is I have never been to Canada. Looks like a great place to visit!

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    1. Bring your passport. There are so many places to explore. So much fun! Have a great weekend.

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  2. Replies
    1. It was a really fun weekend. Thank you for stopping by, Rebecca. :-)

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  3. Pinning this for future travels, thanks!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Marci. I hope you do get to visit someday. :-)

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  4. I live in Canada (Ontario) but have only been to New Brunswick once. We were in this area, but due to time constraints we weren't able to actually explore much. Hoping to get back someday with our kids. Thanks for sharing all your pictures!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Hilda. We love Ontario too. We have friends outside of Toronto, and we spent a long weekend in Ottawa. Fun. :-)

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  5. Gorgeous! Love the "big butt" rocks :)

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Sharon. We thought it was funny too. :-)

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  6. beautiful photos of a beautiful trip!

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  7. Beautiful photos! I would love to visit NB one day. I took the ferry from Maine to Nova scotia in the past.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Liana. There is another high speed ferry, but we opted to drive. Nova Scotia is on our short list for the next place to visit.

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  8. We've discussed the Bay of Fundy many times and would love to travel there. Thank you for your photo tour. I really want to get out there now. Our plan was to leave from Bar Harbor on the ferry for one trip and return home via Quebec City and then into the states.

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, JJ. There is another high speed ferry, but we opted to drive. We love Quebec City...so French!

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  9. I love your photos! We've driven through New Brunswick a couple of times, on our way to and from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, but while we stopped by the Reversing Rapids in St. John, we haven't stopped by Hopewell Rocks. Maybe next time, since, as you said, the Maritime Provinces are so close to New England it's a shame not to go visit at least once in your life. Our next trip, however, will be to Montreal (I hope).

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    1. Thank you! Montreal is so much fun, with so much to do, being a city. But Hopewell Rocks is a beautiful place of nature, where you can just walk and look and be amazed. :-) I'm so happy we went. I can't wait to explore more of New Brunswick and the rest of the Maritimes. Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. I have longed to explore Canada for a long time, and hopefully will get to soon with a move to New England coming up. I love the places you wrote about, and will definitely add them to my must-see list.

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    1. Welcome to New England! Where will you be living?
      Hopewell Rocks is a beautiful place of nature, where you can just walk and look and be amazed. :-) I'm so happy we went. I can't wait to explore more of New Brunswick and the rest of the Maritimes. Thank you for stopping by, and welcome, again.

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  11. That's amazing the rock formations from the tides and the color of the water. I haven't been that north on the Eastern Coast yet. I've definitely have to check it out in the future. Thanks for sharing and linking up to the #WeekendWanderlust.

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    1. Hopewell Rocks is a beautiful place of nature, where you can just walk and look and be amazed. :-) I'm so happy we went. I can't wait to explore more of New Brunswick and the rest of the Maritimes. Thank you for stopping by, Carmen. And thank you for the opportunity to link up.

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