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Trips/Eastern Canada/Sydney to Moncton

Trip chapter 08

Sydney to Moncton

Back through Nova Scotia with a Pictou waterfront wander, a tidal-bore view room at the Rodd Moncton, and a day trip to walk the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks.

Drive timeHalf-day drive back through Nova Scotia
Tilly on the wharf deck in Pictou with the harbour beyond
FromSydney
ToMoncton

After a few days in Sydney, we moved on to Moncton, New Brunswick, with a stop in Pictou, Nova Scotia along the way.

Wandering Pictou

Pictou was a really cool little town to wander around. We walked around the wharf, past the Hector Heritage Quay and its colourful waterfront buildings, and the Trans Canada Trail leads out from downtown towards Browns Point.

There were a couple of patios where I saw dogs sitting: Harbour House Ales & Spirits and the Nook and Cranny Pictou. We did not eat at either, but they are worth noting for a return visit.

Tilly on the wharf deck in Pictou with teal chairs and the harbour beyondThe Hector Heritage Quay building on the Pictou waterfrontA metal canoe sculpture on the Pictou waterfrontA giant Come Sit With Us chair overlooking the water in PictouColourful Hector Heritage Quay buildings with solar panels by the water
Pictou's wharf, from the Hector Heritage Quay to the giant chair.

Arriving at the Rodd Moncton

When we arrived in Moncton, we stayed at the Rodd Moncton. They have two parts, a hotel part and a motel part, and we stayed in the motel part — it was awesome. We had a reasonably big room, which looked out onto Bore Park. You could see the tidal bore from the window. It was a short walk from the riverfront walk, with easy access to everything downtown.

You can walk all along the river through Riverfront Park, which we made good use of during our stay.

Downtown Moncton at dusk from Assomption BoulevardShaun and Tilly relaxing in the Rodd Moncton roomThe Petitcodiac River from the Moncton riverfrontThe Moncton riverfront boardwalk by the Petitcodiac RiverA lamp post and trail along the Moncton riverfront park
The Rodd Moncton room, downtown and the tidal river right outside.

Hopewell Rocks day trip

From Moncton we made a day trip out to Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park on the Bay of Fundy. We timed our visit for low tide, so we could walk right out on the ocean floor, underneath the flowerpot rocks that the world's highest tides have carved out of the shoreline.

Dogs are permitted on leash, and the park had me read and sign their pet policy before we went down. Tilly loved it down there — a leashed wander across the seabed with the rock formations towering above.

Tilly on a leash on the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks, with the flowerpot rocks and the Bay of Fundy behindFlowerpot rocks at low tide at Hopewell Rocks, with the Bay of Fundy and forested cliffs beyondA flowerpot rock with a sea arch on the ocean floor at Hopewell RocksTilly looking up at the Hopewell Rocks flowerpot formations from the ocean floor
Walking the ocean floor at low tide under the Hopewell Rocks.

Downtown Moncton

Downtown we visited a couple of places. Tide & Boar Brewing welcomed Tilly on their patio. We also stopped at Kept on Main — now called Good Day Gifts & Housewares — though I'm not sure if they still allow dogs since the name change.

Worth pulling over for

Stops along the way

Stop 01 / Pictou, Nova Scotia

Pictou Wharf and Trans Canada Trail

A really cool little town to wander: the Hector Heritage Quay wharf, colourful waterfront buildings, and the Trans Canada Trail leading out towards Browns Point.

VisitedSummer 2025

Best forA waterfront wander with patio options

Dog accessOutdoor wharf and trail

Patios seenHarbour House Ales & Spirits; Nook and Cranny Pictou

RouteSydney to Moncton

For the dog

The wharf and trail made a great wander with Tilly. There were a couple of patios where dogs were sitting: Harbour House Ales & Spirits and the Nook and Cranny Pictou.

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Stop 02 / Moncton, New Brunswick

Rodd Moncton

An awesome motel-part stay with a reasonably big room overlooking Bore Park — you can watch the tidal bore from the window, a short walk from the riverfront.

VisitedSummer 2025

Best forA tidal-bore view room steps from the riverfront

Dog accessMotel-part rooms; Riverfront Park outside the door

RouteSydney to Moncton

For the dog

We stayed in the motel part and it was awesome. The room looked out onto Bore Park, with the tidal bore visible from the window, and it was a short walk from the riverfront walk with easy access to everything downtown.

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Stop 03 / Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick

Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park

A day trip from Moncton to walk on the ocean floor at low tide, underneath the flowerpot rocks on the Bay of Fundy. Dogs are permitted on leash — we read and signed the pet policy at the gate, and Tilly loved every minute down there.

VisitedSummer 2025

Best forWalking the ocean floor at low tide

Dog accessLeashed dogs on the trails and the ocean floor; pet policy to sign at entry

Tide tipTime your visit for low tide to walk the seabed under the flowerpot rocks

RouteSydney to Moncton

For the dog

Dogs are permitted on leash, and the park asked me to read and sign their pet policy before we went down. Tilly loved being down on the ocean floor with the rock formations towering above.

View full guide →