Nova Scotia boasts of being Canada’s ocean playground. It’s a slogan that’s even listed on their license plates. It’s located in the Maritimes and has over 13,300 kilometers of coastline to explore that includes several lighthouses, rugged beaches, hidden coves and charming fishing villages. We've been a couple times before, but were eager to return in the fall to catch a glimpse of the fall colours.
Author: WanderingCanadians
We’re a couple of Canadians who enjoy hiking, camping, diving, and spending as much time outdoors as we can. We hope our stories can help as you plan for your adventures.
https://wanderingcanadians.com
Ottawa
Ottawa offers a nice balance of history, culture and nature. There are several museums, a world-renowned art museum and many important federal institutions. The city itself is surrounded by many public green spaces. It’s the capital of Canada and is reputed to be one of the coldest capitals in the world. Good thing we were visiting in the summer!
Quebec City
With its cobblestone streets and colourful, quaint shops, Quebec City has a distinctly European look and feel to it. It’s the only walled-in city in Canada and it contains one of the most iconic hotels in the country. With it’s charming architecture, rich history, vibrant culture and high walkability factor, Quebec City is as close as we can get to Europe without having to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
La Mauricie National Park
La Mauricie National Park is located in the Laurentian Mountains in Quebec. It protects a portion of the Canadian Shield and contains a series of interconnected lakes, forests and rolling hills. It is also home to an abundance of wildlife, including beavers, snowshoe hares, moose and black bears. The park is open year round and there are an array of activities depending on the season.
The Cabin – August 2025
We haven’t gone anywhere since returning from New Zealand in May. We’ve been staying close to home, spending time with friends and family, gardening and doing stuff around the house. But summer was ending and we wanted to make the most of our time with M before she started daycare in September. We planned a short one week road trip to Quebec and decided to spend the weekend at the cabin since it was somewhat along the drive.
Thames
Five weeks ago we flew into Auckland and embarked on a road trip across the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Our trip was quickly coming to an end so we were making our way back to where we started. But first we had a day to spend in Thames, located at the southwestern end of the Coromandel Peninsula.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
A glowworm is not actually a worm, but rather the larvae of a fungus gnat. They are commonly found throughout New Zealand, often in caves, forests and other sheltered, damp areas. They produce blue-green bioluminescences and beautiful silk threads to help capture prey. Waitomo Glowworm Caves is known for its extensive cave system and is reputed to be one of the best places in the country to view glowworms and to see some really beautiful cave formations.
Hamilton Gardens
Nearly every city and town in New Zealand has a botanical garden. They are typically free to visit, are exceptionally well-maintained and feature a mix between native and exotic plants and flowers. The Hamilton Gardens charge an admission fee, but they are reputed to be the crown jewel of botanical gardens in the country. It consists of 18 enclosed gardens with themes and inspiration from around the world.
Hobbiton
Hobbiton is a charming little village in the Shire where Bilbo and Frodo lived in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. It was brought to real life as a movie set on a family-run sheep farm near Matamata, New Zealand. At first temporary, the movie set was later made permanent. With a variety of tours, visitors can experience the magic of Hobbiton, learn more about how the movie set was built and see many adorable little Hobbit holes.
Rotorua
Rotorua is located in the North Island of New Zealand and is known for its dramatic display of geothermal wonders. It boasts of having one of the most active geothermal fields in the world. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the colourful landscape that is alive with steaming hot pools and bubbling mud pots.