Our Top Ten Nova Scotia Beaches For a Hot Summer Day
Words by Pete Heck / Photography by Pete and Dalene Heck
On mainland Nova Scotia, you are never more than 60km from the coastline. Needless to say, there are a LOT of beaches! And what better way to spend a hot summer day than plunking your beach chair and umbrella in the sand, laying out a towel, and wiling away the day.
No beach in Nova Scotia is the same. The dramatic tides of the Bay of Fundy will determine where and when you can set your towel down. The pristine white sand beaches along the South and Eastern Shores have more gentle tides, but not so much that you can’t also surf, if that’s your thing! Head north for warmer, shallower water (some of the warmest in Canada, even, thanks to the Gulf Stream).
You can pick and choose a new one every time you head out. And if you haven’t been before, we’re going to let you in on a little secret: Some Nova Scotia beaches look like they belong in an ad for the Caribbean with their aqua-blue waters.
This is why, whenever summer rolls around, we always keep our beach chairs, umbrella, and sunscreen in the back of our vehicle. Just in case we make an impulse decision to stop whatever we’re doing and declare it a beach day.
Our Top Ten Nova Scotia Beaches
There are, in no particular order… we love them all!
Acadian Shores
Mavillette Beach
It’s one of our go-to beaches on the Bay of Fundy Shore. Mavillette Beach Provincial Park is located in the Acadian Shores region, and the beach is 1.5 km long, distinguished by its fragile marram grass-covered dunes. There are boardwalks and stairs leading down from the dunes to the beach.
One thing to note about Mavillette Beach is that it’s always windy and a very popular spot for kite surfing. The wind adds a bit of a reprieve during those hot Nova Scotia summer days. And because it’s on the Bay of Fundy, expect dramatic tides. At low tide, extensive sand flats are exposed, giving way to lots of beach, perfect for long walks and shell hunting. During high tide, there will be limited space with the water nearly at the base of the dunes, so planning a visit during the right times is necessary.
South Shore
Thomas Raddall Provincial Park
Overlooking Port Joli Harbour on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, Thomas Raddall Provincial Park spans more than 650 hectares and offers a wide range of outdoor experiences. Visitors can explore 11 km of coastal and wooded multi-use trails, discover historic sites, picnic, birdwatch, and relax on its beautiful, secluded beaches. It’s also a VERY popular spot for camping throughout the summer and fall months.
The beach scenery here is some of the best in Nova Scotia. But be warned: bring bug spray, as the walk through the woods and along the beach was full of black flies. Our visit would have been intolerable without the spray.
Carters Beach
Often likened to a Caribbean escape, Carters Beach Provincial Park in Port Mouton enchants visitors with its dreamy white sand, gentle dunes, and light blue waters. The beach consists of three separate crescents of sand, each facing a different direction, allowing beachgoers to find shelter from the wind and enjoy the sun’s warmth.
It is always packed here, especially on weekends, so get here early to find a parking spot. Otherwise, go during the week, and the crowds will be significantly smaller. Unless, of course, everyone takes a beach day!
Rissers Beach Provincial Park
We’ve wiled away a lot of time on this beach! Located on the Atlantic Coast at the mouth of the Petite Rivière, Rissers Beach Provincial Park is a beautiful destination with a 1.5-km sheltered sandy beach.
It’s usually pretty quiet during the week, and we spend our time in our beach chairs or walking along the sand. A unique feature here is the boardwalk along an inland marsh, but we’ve never made it out of our chairs to experience it!
Crescent Beach
More than just a beautiful stretch of sand, Crescent Beach is a truly unique Nova Scotian experience. Along this incredible 1.5 km-long beach near LaHave, visitors can literally drive their vehicles right onto the firm sand, making for an unforgettable seaside adventure. It was an extra special experience to go for sunset.
The Hawk
The Hawk Beach, located on Cape Sable Island just outside Barrington, is a white-sand beauty spanning approximately 2.6 kilometres. The beach is famous for its “drowned forest,” where at low tide, the remains of a 1,500-year-old forest emerge from the receding waters (which we have yet to see!)
Activities here include birdwatching, beachcombing for sand dollars, photographing the distant Cape Sable Lighthouse, the tallest in Nova Scotia or just a casual walk along the lapping tide. Don’t be fooled into thinking the water is warm on a hot summer day. The Atlantic waters are typically around 15–18°C. But the vast sand flats can create shallow tidal pools that warm up comfortably under the sun.
Eastern Shore
Taylor Head Provincial Park
Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore is one of our favourite regions of the province. Occupying a rugged, wind-swept peninsula that juts 6 km into the Atlantic Ocean, Taylor Head Provincial Park offers 16 km of unspoiled coastline. Its extensive hiking trails lead to a variety of natural habitats, interesting geological features, scenic look-offs, and secluded beaches. The park also features small picnic areas and boardwalks to a beautiful white-sand beach with changing houses.
Martinique Beach
Martinique Beach on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore is one of Nova Scotia’s longest sandy beaches and one of our favourites. It takes just under an hour to drive there from Halifax, making it a perfect day trip. The beach stretches for 3.7 km, offering ample space to find a quiet spot, swim, take a long walk along the shore, and just relax.
Backed by sand dunes and featuring both open and wooded picnic areas, it’s also a significant wildlife refuge for migratory waterfowl and has a protected area for the endangered piping plover. Swimming here is fantastic, but the waves can be strong at times. Hence, it’s a popular spot to learn to surf, especially in spring and fall. We visited in September and nearly had the beach to ourselves, walking along and just enjoying the moment.
Lawrencetown Beach
A mecca for surfers, Lawrencetown Beach is well known for its consistent waves and strong currents. This 1.5 km-long beach is a popular spot for both experienced surfers and those looking to learn, with nearby surf instruction and outfitters. Supervised swimming is available during July and August, though caution is advised due to rip tides.
Surf lessons are available, but we much prefer a long walk along the beach before putting our beach chairs down to watch those surfers who are much more adventurous than we are!
Cape Breton
Inverness Beach
Inverness Beach on Cape Breton features a stunning three-kilometre coastline of fine sand and boardwalks bordering the Cabot Links golf course. The waters here are calm and inviting for swimming, and strolling along the sand and dunes to search for rare pieces of sea glass is a popular activity throughout the summer.
We loved walking along the elevated boardwalks to take in the rugged coastal scenery. And as the sun dipped below the horizon, the view delivered a spectacular, unobstructed sunset. This spot is widely considered one of the most picturesque on the island for witnessing the day come to a close.
Map of Nova Scotia Beaches
Here is a map we’ve put together of most of the Nova Scotia beaches, and some of them are still on our list to visit:
We KNOW we haven’t been to every beach, and some haven’t made our list, we’re looking at you, Dingwall Beach in Cape Breton, or Hirtles Beach, but we’ll get there eventually, and maybe they’ll make the cut.
Where to Stay to Visit the Beaches of Nova Scotia
Hotels on the South Shore
If you’re looking to stay on the South Shore and visit several beaches, we recommend two resorts. The Quarterdeck Resort is right next to Summerville beach (we’ve only visited in the winter), and White Point Resort is practically next door. We prefer White Point for the treehouse cabins that are sitting right on the water.
Hotels on the Bay of Fundy
For visiting beaches along the Bay of Fundy, we’d recommend either staying in Yarmouth or Digby. In Yarmouth, the Rodd Grand Hotel is right in the heart of downtown. In Digby, we always recommend staying at the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa. And another option is to book a stay at Cabane D’Horizon, a gorgeous Airbnb right on the Acadian shore, where the sunsets are stunning.
Where to Stay in Inverness
If there were one place we would recommend staying in Inverness, it would be the accommodations at Cabot. Whether you’re in the lodge or in one of the stunning villas, you’ll be steps away from the beach and those epic sunsets.
