Moncton New Brunswick Tidal Bores and Magnetic Hill
Moncton is the largest city in New Brunswick and a natural hub for exploring the Maritimes. A river that reverses its flow with the tide, a hill where cars appear to roll uphill, a lively Acadian and English culture and the Bay of Fundy shoreline within an hour's drive make it a much more interesting stop than most travelers expect.
By WiserMap TravelUpdated October 20269 places11 min read
Best timeLate spring to early fall, when beaches, trails and the Hopewell Rocks park are at their best.
How longTwo or three days, longer if you add Fundy National Park.
Getting thereFly into Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport or drive on Route 2.
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Why visit Moncton
Acadians first farmed the marshes here in the 1730s, Pennsylvania German settlers arrived in 1766, and the town later grew rich on shipbuilding and then railways. When each boom ended, Moncton reinvented itself, and its Latin motto, Resurgo, means "I rise again".
Today the city is officially bilingual, and neighboring Dieppe is the largest predominantly French-speaking city outside Quebec. You will hear English, French and the local Chiac blend, and you can pair city sights with some of the world's highest tides.
Downtown and the river
Tidal Bore Park
Near the east end of Main Street, an amphitheater-style viewing area overlooks the Petitcodiac River, sometimes called the chocolate river for its brown water. Twice a day the incoming Bay of Fundy tide pushes a wave upstream, and the bore has been recovering since the causeway gates opened in 2010. Check the posted times, because size varies with the tides.
Home to the Moncton Museum and the Transportation Discovery Centre, this downtown museum tells the story of shipbuilding, railways and aviation. It also houses the visitor information centre. The Free Meeting House from 1821, a National Historic Site, stands next door. Allow about two hours.
Designed in 1920 and rebuilt in 1926 after a fire, this Italianate vaudeville house was restored and reopened in 1993. It is described as the oldest surviving theatre in the province and hosts concerts, plays and films. Check the calendar and book a show if your dates line up.
The Capitol Theatre is a restored 1920s vaudeville house in downtown Moncton. Photo: Rowanswiki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Cathedral
Located on rue St George, the cathedral is home to the Monument for Recognition in the 21st century, an interpretation centre that is said to be in the only digital cathedral in Atlantic Canada. It is a short walk from Main Street and works well as a quiet stop.
Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Cathedral stands on rue St George in downtown Moncton. Photo: Krzysztof Golik, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Moncton Acadian Museum
At the Université de Moncton, this museum holds about 35,000 objects and photographs showing everyday Acadian life. Hours change between summer and the school year, so check before visiting.
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Magnetic Hill and nearby
Magnetic Hill
This famous gravity hill sits on the northwest side of the city. Rising and descending terrain creates an optical illusion that makes cars in neutral seem to drift uphill. Follow the instructions at the attraction park, and keep your foot ready for the brake.
Magnetic Hill is a gravity hill where cars in neutral appear to roll uphill. Photo: Mhsheikholeslami, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Magnetic Hill Zoo
The zoo is in the same park and houses more than 400 animals, including native and exotic species, on a forested 16-hectare site. It makes an easy half day with children, and the adjacent water park is popular in summer.
The zoo at Magnetic Hill houses hundreds of animals on a forested site. Photo: Stu pendousmat (talk), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Magnetic Hill Winery
On Front Mountain Road, this estate winery makes fruit wines from strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, blueberries, cranberries and local grapes. The terrace has views toward the Petitcodiac and the entrance to the Bay of Fundy. Hours are seasonal, so call ahead.
Irishtown Nature Park
Billed as the largest urban nature park in the region, this forested park of about 890 hectares lies on the north side of the city. It is a good place for an easy hike or a picnic if you want a break from the attractions. Dress for insects in summer.
Day trips and the coast
Hopewell Rocks
About 45 minutes from the city, these red-brown sea stacks rise 12 to 21 metres from the Bay of Fundy shoreline. At low tide you can walk the ocean floor between them, and at high tide of up to 16 metres the base is submerged. Check the tide table and allow time for a full tidal cycle.
The Hopewell Rocks are sandstone and conglomerate sea stacks shaped by Bay of Fundy tides. Photo: Wladyslaw, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fundy National Park
Roughly another half hour past Hopewell Rocks, near Alma, the park spans 207 square kilometres with more than 25 waterfalls and over 100 kilometres of trails. Dickson Falls is the best known walk. Come in good weather, and pack layers for the coast.
On the Northumberland Strait near Shediac, this is a popular summer beach. Swimming warnings are sometimes posted, so check the latest notice before you go. Plage Aboiteau in Cap-Pelé is a quieter alternative.
Acadian comfort food is the local highlight. Rappie pie is a casserole of grated, squeezed potatoes layered with chicken, pork or clams and broth. Poutine râpée is a boiled potato dumpling with a pork filling, often eaten with sugar or maple syrup. Fricot is a chicken stew with potatoes, onions and dumplings.
On the coast, Shediac lobster is the seafood to try, and the town holds a lobster festival each summer. Back in the city, Main Street downtown is the best place for restaurants, pubs and cafes, with menus ranging from local seafood to global cuisines.
Popular dishes to try in Moncton
Rappie pie Rappie pie is a casserole of grated, squeezed potatoes layered with chicken, pork or clams and broth.Photo: Rappie Pie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0Fricot Fricot is a chicken stew with potatoes, onions and dumplings.Photo: Marianne Casamance, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0Shediac lobster On the coast, Shediac lobster is the seafood to try, and the town holds a lobster festival each summer.Photo: Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Where to stay
Downtown Moncton is the best base for walkers, with restaurants, pubs, the theatre and the riverfront trail close together, plus quick access to Tidal Bore Park. It suits couples and visitors without a car.
Magnetic Hill, along Mountain Road, is convenient for families, with the zoo, the water park and the hill itself nearby. Rooms here are easy to reach by car and parking is straightforward.
Dieppe, east of the city, has a strong French-speaking identity, hotels and quick access to the airport, so it suits travelers with early flights or those who want a more local feel.
Riverview, across the river, offers a quieter setting, a nice waterfront park and the start of the Dobson Trail. It suits hikers and people who prefer a calm base within a few minutes of downtown.
Where to stay in Moncton
Downtown Moncton Where to stayDowntown Moncton is the best base for walkers, with restaurants, pubs, the theatre and the riverfront trail close together, plus quick access to Tidal Bore Park.Photo: Stu pendousmat, Wikimedia Commons, Public domainMagnetic Hill Magnetic Hill, along Mountain Road, is convenient for families, with the zoo, the water park and the hill itself nearby.Photo: Mhsheikholeslami, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Dieppe Dieppe, east of the city, has a strong French-speaking identity, hotels and quick access to the airport, so it suits travelers with early flights or those who want a more local…Photo: SimonP at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domainRiverview Riverview, across the river, offers a quieter setting, a nice waterfront park and the start of the Dobson Trail.Photo: Cononodapotato, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Best time to visit
Summers are warm and humid, with daytime highs around 25 degrees Celsius and modest rain in late July and August. Autumn stays mild until late October, which makes it a good time for hiking and fewer crowds.
Winters are cold but often sunny, with the first snow usually arriving in late November and the stormiest weather between November and mid-January. Spring can be slow to arrive because ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence cools the winds. Hopewell Rocks is staffed from mid-May to early October, and kite fans can visit the Soaring for Peace festival in Dieppe in September of odd-numbered years.
Getting there and getting around
Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM) is in the Dieppe industrial park on Route 15, with direct flights to Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa. A taxi to downtown is short.
By road, Route 2 (the Trans-Canada Highway) links Moncton with Fredericton, Saint John and Nova Scotia, and Halifax is about two and a half hours east. Maritime Bus serves Fredericton, Saint John, Halifax and Charlottetown (with a transfer), and VIA Rail's Ocean train runs three times a week between Halifax and Montreal.
Within the city, Main Street and the Trans-Canada Highway are the primary routes, and Mountain Road leads to Magnetic Hill. Codiac Transit buses serve the Greater Moncton area, and most of the city is flat enough for cycling. For Hopewell Rocks, Fundy National Park and Shediac, a rental car is the easiest option.
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A suggested itinerary
First day
See the Petitcodiac tidal bore at Tidal Bore Park, then visit Resurgo Place and walk along Main Street. In the evening, catch a show at the Capitol Theatre or enjoy dinner at a downtown restaurant serving local seafood.
Second day
Spend the morning at Magnetic Hill and the zoo, then drive to Hopewell Rocks for the low tide. If time allows, continue to Fundy National Park for a short hike to Dickson Falls.
Third day
Head to Shediac and Parlee Beach for a seaside day, with a lobster lunch, then return via Dieppe to visit the Moncton Acadian Museum before heading home.
Practical tips
Check the bore times and the Hopewell Rocks tide table before planning any shoreline visit.
Stay on the marked paths at Hopewell Rocks and leave the beach well before the tide returns.
Greet people in both English and French, as many residents are bilingual.
Carry layers, because coastal weather can be much cooler than in the city.
Check Parlee Beach swimming advisories before entering the water.
Secure your bike when you leave it downtown, especially in the evening.
Rent a car if you want to visit more than one coastal attraction in a day.
