Enjoy a slower pace of life at a beautiful fishing village that encompasses nature reserves, beaches and a spa in the forest.
Escape the crowds and relax amid the natural beauty of Chance Harbour, a 300-year-old fishing community. Go wildlife spotting on coastal hikes, stretch out on beaches and unwind in a nature spa.
There are lots of ways to experience nature when you visit Chance Harbour. Put on your hiking boots and explore Belding’s Reef Nature Reserve, which extends for 14 acres (5.7 hectares) along the Fundy coastline. Trek through the coastal forest where you will come across several tree species, including mountain ash, red spruce and balsam fir.
Nearby is the Thompson Marsh Preserve, an 11-acre (4.5-hectare) rocky beach peninsula. Walk through its cemetery filled with crumbling gravestones. Stroll on the beach where you will see abandoned fishing boats and a barge.
Look for crabs and starfish in the tidal pools of New River Beach, which sits on the Bay of Fundy. Kayak on the sea, take the boardwalk through a bog and hike on cliff-top trails. While you are here, walk along the sandbar, which almost stretches to the nearby islands. During your hikes in and around Chance Harbour, you may see lots of local wildlife, including raccoons, coyotes, moose, deer and many kinds of migratory birds.
After your excursions, reward yourself with a pampering treat at Spa Chance Harbour, a nature spa on the Bay of Fundy’s shores. Enjoy a soak in the wood-fired hot pool in the forest floor and relax in the sauna. Then cool off in the bay or under the waterfall.
For more relaxation, head to Saint John’s Port and watch cruise ships come and go and local fishermen bringing home their catches.
Another pleasant way to spend some time is to get in a rental car and cruise scenic roads that wind around the coast. They will take you to small villages and coastal communities.
Chance Harbour is situated on New Brunswick’s southern coast, about a 30-minute drive from Saint John. It is where you can explore the great outdoors and relax among nature.
