Certainly one of Canada’s three “Maritime Provinces”, Nova Scotia is straightforward to navigate if in case you have your personal set of wheels. However there are many transport choices so as to add spice to your journey, together with scenic ferry rides, once-in-a-lifetime helicopter charters, and world-class bicycle routes. Right here’s our information to traversing this glorious, wild area on Canada’s east coast.
Airplane
Halifax, identified to the native Mi’kmaq individuals as “Ok’jipuktuk” (Nice Harbor), is the most important Canadian metropolis east of Montreal, with each day flight connections to main cities throughout Canada and the japanese United States, in addition to direct companies to Europe (London is roughly 5 hours away.) The principle air hub, Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), is a big, full-service airport with automotive rental services, eating places, motels and a well-stocked vacationer info desk.
It’s simple to get from the airport to downtown Halifax if you happen to don’t have a automotive. There’s a ground transportation desk positioned simply after the arrivals space, the place you may ask for assist.
Your selections are a taxi or airport limousine (whether or not you are taking a cab or a limo, it’s the identical normal flat price); a public bus (Metro X Route 320), Driver Dave’s (a dependable door-to-door ride-sharing service widespread with college students and funds vacationers), and Uber.
Non-public air constitution
It sounds extravagant (and it’s) however if in case you have a gaggle of pals and some bucks to spend, a helicopter journey is an unforgettable method to expertise Nova Scotia’s oceans and islands. Halifax airport-based Vision Air Services provides a heli-picnic island escape package deal (C$500 per individual) along with personal charters, whereas Breton Air, primarily based at J.A. Douglas McCurdy airport in Sydney, supplies personal charters and transport to Cape Breton Island’s most unique lodges, retreats, and golf programs.
Take care to not confuse Sydney, Nova Scotia (YQY) with Sydney Australia (SYD) – a mix-up that happens with shocking regularity (though it’s typically vacationers who’re hoping to get to Australia that find yourself in Cape Breton, not the opposite manner round!)
Get extra journey inspiration, suggestions and unique provides despatched straight to your inbox with our weekly publication.
Ferry
One of many nicest methods to reach, or bid farewell to Nova Scotia is by sea. Large, comfortable car ferries function between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and Maine (3.5 hours); Digby, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick (2 hours, quarter-hour); and Caribou, Nova Scotia to Wooden Islands, which type a part of Prince Edward Island (1 hour, quarter-hour) – all instances approximate, and depending on climate. T
right here can also be a ferry service between Sydney, Cape Breton and two ports in Newfoundland: Port Aux Basques (7 hours) and Argentia (16 hours.)
Inside Nova Scotia, there are small automotive ferries, established for native use in locations the place a ferry is extra economical than constructing a bridge or causeway. These charming, blue, flat-decked ferries refill rapidly and take only some minutes to finish their crossing, and the fare is free. There are seven provincial car ferries all through Nova Scotia – search them out so as to add some further maritime taste to your journey.
Elsewhere, the 15-minute ferry journey between Halifax and Dartmouth is the oldest saltwater ferry in North America, costing not more than a bus fare for a return journey. Seize a entrance seat on the higher deck and take within the views. If you’re adventurous, contemplate returning on foot throughout the MacDonald Bridge.
For individuals who love touring off the overwhelmed observe, North West Arm Boat Tours runs an reasonably priced McNab’s Island ferry service utilizing a RHIB (inflexible hulled inflatable boat) and is an exciting method to discover Halifax Harbor and the Northwest Arm.
When is one of the best time to go to Nova Scotia?
Prepare
There is just one method to get to or from Nova Scotia by prepare: a VIA Rail Halifax-Montréal service, named The Ocean which takes roughly 21 hours. Lots of the former rail beds in Maritime Canada have been changed as a part of a “rails to trails” challenge. Strolling or biking alongside these trails is without doubt one of the greatest free issues to do in Nova Scotia.
Automobile or Motorbike
An in depth freeway system hyperlinks most cities and cities in Nova Scotia, making automobiles and bikes probably the most handy manner of getting across the province.
Bigger Nova Scotia highways are known as “100-series” highways (101, 103, and so on.), circumnavigating, and at instances crossing, the province. However as a sightseer, you could favor to take the “outdated street” (for instance, Freeway 1, or Freeway 3). You by no means know what you’ll discover alongside the best way, from seashores and coves to yard gross sales to vintage outlets. You would possibly even see some fruit and vegetable stands that use an “honesty field” system for fee (it’s a good suggestion to maintain some change helpful.)
Conveniently, Tourism Nova Scotia has created names for a number of the greatest scenic routes in Nova Scotia, such because the Lighthouse Route, or the Glooscap Path, each with distinct signage. These could be reliably adopted utilizing the Nova Scotia Tourism Regions Map. You may get free paper copies of this map on the airport, and Nova Scotia vacationer info facilities.
In case you’re winter driving in Nova Scotia, it’s advisable to have winter tires, and if you happen to hear a forecast for freezing rain, keep off the roads altogether. The provincial authorities publishes a helpful real-time highway report that exhibits development and roads made impassable by snow or ice.
Six wonderful street journeys in Nova Scotia
Bus
Maritime Bus is a coach service with over 50 places all through the Maritimes, favored by college students, funds vacationers, and utilized by locals as a method to ship giant packages at a less expensive price than the submit workplace. In Halifax, the Maritime Bus station is positioned adjoining to the VIA rail prepare station, steps away from the Halifax waterfront.
Inside Halifax, Halifax Transit has bus routes across the metropolis – fares are paid by money, and you will need to have the proper change.
Finest locations to go to in Nova Scotia
Taxi and Journey Shares
Halifax has a wide selection of taxi operators who use an old school meter system and settle for credit score, debit, and money. Though ride-sharing companies are widespread in different world cities, closely regulated Halifax was gradual to embrace the development. Lastly, in November 2020, ride-sharing companies have been permitted to function, regardless of protests from conventional taxi companies. It’s possible you’ll discover that “grabbing an Uber” doesn’t fairly roll off the tongue in Halifax as simply as in different cities.
Bicycle
There are a lot of methods to get round Nova Scotia on two wheels: the rails to trails system has created cycle routes such because the Rum Runners Path (Lunenburg to Halifax), The Harvest Moon Trailway (Annapolis Royal to Grand-Pré), and the Celtic Shores Coastal Path (Port Hastings to Inverness).
Whether or not you’re taking a guided tour, or a solo journey, Cycle Nova Scotia will help with journey planning, assets and GPS downloads. In Halifax, you may hire bikes and e-bikes from I Heart Bikes on the Halifax waterfront.
If you’re visiting Nova Scotia in September, you may be a part of over a thousand cyclists collaborating within the Grand Fondo, Baie Sainte Marie, a monumental journey by the Municipality of Clare in southwest Nova Scotia that ends with a lobster dinner for individuals.
Accessible transportation in Nova Scotia
Like many cities, Nova Scotia nonetheless has an extended method to go when it comes to accessibility, with few choices for accessible lodging in rural Nova Scotia. In Halifax, the waterfront boardwalk is accessible, however its downtown streets, main as much as the Halifax Citadel, are steep.
Most taxi corporations in Halifax have wheelchair-accessible vans, bookable prematurely, and Halifax Transit buses have areas for wheelchair customers (the driving force will decrease the bus for entry/exit and safe the chair utilizing straps.)
Certainly one of Nova Scotia’s most up-to-date accessible “wins” was to put in a viewing deck at Peggy’s Cove, in order that wheelchair customers can take pleasure in a close-up view of the lighthouse and rocks, In Cape Breton, Inverness Beach is aiming to develop into probably the most accessible seaside in Nova Scotia, with two seaside wheelchairs, floating chairs and sand mats that make it simpler to stroll on the sand.
Parasport Nova Scotia has a very good record of accessible parks, beaches and barrier-free fishing sites in Nova Scotia, whereas native Youtube channel, Accessible Adventurers supplies no-nonsense (and typically up shut and private) video accounts documenting the challenges of getting round in Nova Scotia as a quadriplegic.
For extra info, obtain Lonely Planet’s free Accessible Travel guide.
