La Dune de Bouctouche (Irving Eco-Centre)

A Protected 12 Km Sand Dune On The Northumberland Strait With A 2 Km Boardwalk And An Interpretive Centre Run By The Irving Eco Centre, A Nature Education Body. The Dune Shelters Piping Plover Nests; Walking On The Dune Is Restricted. Warm Water On The Strait Gives A Pleasant Beach In Summer. Seasonal. · Bouctouche, New Brunswick

La Dune de Bouctouche is a protected sand dune about 12 km long on the Northumberland Strait coast of eastern New Brunswick, near the Acadian town of Bouctouche. The Irving Eco-Centre, a nature education body, looks after it, and since 1999 it has run an interpretive centre and a boardwalk of about 2 km (confirm the length) that crosses the dune so you can see it without damaging it. The dune shelters piping plover nests, an endangered shore bird, so walking on the dune itself is restricted and parts of the beach may be fenced off in nesting season. The water on the strait is shallow and often the warmest in the Maritimes, which makes for a gentle summer swim. It suits families, birders and anyone wanting a quiet beach day who does not mind driving: there is no transit, and the nearest city, Moncton, is about an hour away. Allow two to four hours, longer if you add the town. The centre is seasonal, and jellyfish can appear in late summer.

Long sand dune and boardwalk on the Northumberland Strait coast near Bouctouche in eastern New Brunswick, with an interpretive centre, a boardwalk, a beach and shore-bird viewing, Bouctouche, New Brunswick, Canada

The site is seasonal, with the main season running from late spring or early summer to early autumn. The interpretive centre and staffed areas keep set daily hours in season (confirm the current dates and times), and the boardwalk and beach may be reachable when the centre is closed though services such as washrooms and supervision are not guaranteed. Outside the season the site is largely closed, winter weather is harsh on this open coast, and access can be limited. Plover nesting restrictions can close beach sections without notice, and tides and wind affect conditions. Check the Irving Eco-Centre listing before travelling, especially in May and September.

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