Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Shediac is a lively Acadian seaside town in southeastern New Brunswick, famous for lobster, warm-water beaches and a short drive from Moncton. This guide covers the sights, beaches, food, lodging and timing for a first visit.
Shediac is a small Acadian town on the Northumberland Strait that has built its identity around lobster. It is only a short drive from Moncton, which makes it an easy addition to any trip through southeastern New Brunswick, yet it feels like a proper seaside holiday town once you arrive.
The draw is simple: sandy beaches with some of the warmest sea water on the east coast of North America north of Virginia, a working wharf, French-speaking Acadian culture and a lively summer calendar. The name itself comes from a Mi'kmaq word, and the local French dialect known as chiac is believed to be named after the town.
Every visit starts at the western entrance to town, where a giant lobster sculpture greets drivers. It is about 11 metres long, 5 metres tall and weighs roughly 90 tonnes. Stop for a quick photo, since it takes only a few minutes, and park well off the road so you do not block traffic in summer.
The sculpture at the western entrance to Shediac is about 11 metres long and weighs roughly 90 tonnes. Photo: Shuffle Kat, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Main Street connects most of the town's attractions, with inns, bistros, shops and older houses converted into guest accommodation. It is easy to cover on foot or by bicycle, so allow an hour or two for browsing and a meal. Traffic is heavy in July and August, so walk rather than drive between stops.
The yacht club sits at a wharf that has been in use for nearly a century, and the site is listed on Canada's Register of Historic Places. It is a pleasant place to watch sailboats and get a sense of the bay's boating culture. Visitors who are not members should simply enjoy the view from the public areas nearby.
Just east of town, the wharf at Pointe-du-Chêne is where fishing and pleasure boats tie up. Dockside restaurants serve seafood with a view of the water, and locals are known to jump off the pier to cool down on hot afternoons. Come in the early evening when the light is soft and the boats are returning.
Pointe-du-Chêne wharf is the base for fishing boats, restaurants and bay cruises. Photo: Verne Equinox, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Parlee Beach is one of the most popular beaches in New Brunswick, a long stretch of sand with a canteen, changing houses, showers and a restaurant. The shallow Northumberland Strait warms up quickly, so summer swimming is genuinely comfortable. Lifeguards patrol from early June to Labour Day, and parking fills fast on sunny weekends, so arrive early.
Parlee Beach is patrolled by lifeguards through the summer season. Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
If Parlee is too busy, drive about ten minutes out of central Shediac to Plage L'Aboiteau. It is another sandy beach with a restaurant and changing facilities only steps from the water. It tends to feel calmer, which suits families with young children.
Plage L'Aboiteau is a sandy beach a short drive from central Shediac. Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Boat cruises leave from the Pointe-du-Chêne wharf and explain how the lobster industry has supported local families for generations. Check the operator's website for the current summer schedule and book ahead on busy weekends. A light jacket helps, because the wind on the bay can be cool even on warm days.
The town's best-known event takes place for a week in mid-July and mixes rides, live music and, naturally, lobster. The festival has chased records for the longest lobster roll, including a 180-foot version in 2017. Book accommodation early if you plan to attend.
The Shediac Lobster Festival is held in mid-July each year. Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Cocagne Bay, north of town, is quieter and more rural, with cottages and fishing wharves. It is also tied to Acadian history, because the French officer Charles Deschamps de Boishebert based himself on its south shore in 1755. Combine it with a drive along the coast and allow half a day.
Cocagne Bay lies north of Shediac on the Acadian coast. Photo: Phil284, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Bouctouche is another Acadian coastal community, known for hosting the largest Tintamarre parade, the noisy celebration of Acadian identity held around National Acadian Day. Even outside August the area suits a slow coastal drive, and it pairs well with a morning in Cocagne.
Bouctouche is an Acadian community known for its large Tintamarre parade. Photo: P199, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lobster is the obvious order, and a lobster roll is the easiest way to try it, served in a toasted bun with the meat dressed lightly. Dockside restaurants at Pointe-du-Chêne and bistros along Main Street both serve fresh seafood.
Ask also for Acadian home cooking. Poutine râpée is a boiled potato dumpling with a pork filling, usually served with a little sugar or maple syrup, and it is often a holiday dish, so you may find it only at certain restaurants or events. Fricot is a comforting stew of chicken, potatoes and onion, sometimes with dumplings, and its name is so rooted in Acadian life that the call to the table is "Au fricot!" Visit in July and lobster tends to dominate every menu.
Popular dishes to try in Shediac
Downtown Shediac suits travellers who want to walk to restaurants, shops and the main road. Several bed and breakfasts and small inns sit along Main Street in older houses, which gives a quieter, more personal stay, though summer traffic can be noisy.
Pointe-du-Chêne is the choice for beach people. It is close to Parlee Beach and the wharf, and the surrounding cottage communities make it feel like a classic seaside summer area. Expect it to fill quickly in July and August.
Moncton works well if you plan to see more of the region, arrive by air or train, or want a wider choice of lodging. It is about 20 kilometres west, so Shediac is a short drive away, though you will need a car or taxi to get to the beach each day.
Where to stay in Shediac
Shediac is a summer destination. Parlee Beach Provincial Park is open from late May to early October, lifeguards are on duty from the first weekend of June, and sea temperatures peak in July and August. This is also when the lobster festival, wharf restaurants and cruises are at their liveliest.
Crowds are heaviest in the middle of summer, especially on hot weekends. Early June and September are quieter, with easier parking and a calmer pace, although some seasonal businesses may shorten their schedules. Outside the summer months the town is much less active because it is mainly a tourist community, so confirm that restaurants and attractions are open before making a special trip.
Most visitors fly into Greater Moncton International Airport in Dieppe, about a fifteen-minute drive from Shediac. The Via Rail station in Moncton is similarly close, and Maritime Bus runs a daily service from Moncton along the coast.
Driving is the easiest option. From Moncton take Route 15 east, the fast highway, or Route 134 for a more scenic drive. From northeastern New Brunswick, follow Route 11 south. From Nova Scotia, take the Trans-Canada Highway to Route 15 east in Moncton.
Once in town, you can walk or cycle along Main Street. A car helps for Parlee Beach, Plage L'Aboiteau and the surrounding bays, and summer parking near the beaches fills early, so arrive in the morning.
Arrive from Moncton and photograph the giant lobster at the town entrance. Walk Main Street, then have lunch at a bistro. Spend the afternoon at Parlee Beach and finish with dinner on the Pointe-du-Chêne wharf.
Take a morning cruise on Shediac Bay, then visit Plage L'Aboiteau for a quieter swim. In the evening, try Acadian dishes such as fricot at a local restaurant.
Drive up the coast to Cocagne Bay and Bouctouche, stopping at wharves and fishing communities. Return to Shediac for a last seafood meal, or continue north on Route 11.
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