Atlantic Canada road trip

Spend a day at leisure exploring Halifax. We recommend taking a water taxi across the and enjoying lunch at a waterside restaurant as you watch tall ships sailing past. Today, we've included admission to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, where you'll learn more about Canada's immigration history from 1928 in the original building where most migrants arrived in the country. We also suggest visiting the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, Halifax's famous clock and the historic properties and pubs along the water's edge.

Collect your hire car from a downtown depot this morning. All necessary insurance and an additional driver are included. We recommend a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, taking the scenic 'lighthouse route' via Peggy's Cove. Lunenburg's is home to old historic warehouses and tall ships, such as the Bluenose II, a magnificent schooner that appears on Canada's ten-cent coin. One of the town’s most popular attractions is the Ironworks Distillery, whose brandy, gin, rum and vodka have become something of an institution throughout Nova Scotia. The seafaring history is tangible in Lunenburg, even in the art and craft shops and the lovely waterfront.

Today, you'll leave Halifax and drive to Digby in the southwest of Nova Scotia. Your route will take you along the coast of the Bay of Fundy and through the small town of Annapolis Royal. We recommend stopping to explore the Historic Gardens, Port Royal National Historic Site and the apple orchards of the fertile Annapolis Valley before you reach Digby later this afternoon.

Today you'll join a whale watching cruise from Brier Island. Listen for the gentle puff of air signalling a whale coming up for air, and keep a keen eye out. In June, humpbacks arrive from their breeding areas, and you have a high chance of seeing dolphins. By mid-July, fin, minke, and blue whales are also common in the area. Experienced guides and naturalists collect data on the whales and share more about them during the journey.

From Digby, you'll take the ferry to Saint John in New Brunswick. The scenic journey takes approximately two hours to cross the Bay of Fundy, and we suggest staying close to the windows for a possible glimpse of whales. On arrival in the city of Saint John, you may like to stop for lunch at one of the local microbreweries before continuing to hug the coast to reach Hopewell Cape. Unwind after the journey in your private hot tub surrounded by the lush forests of New Brunswick.

Spend a day exploring Fundy National Park with its exceptional tides. Admission to Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park is included. Over thousands of years, the tide has created these freestanding cliffs and coves that stand on the Fundy shoreline in their distinctive, striking red hues. At low tide, it's possible to walk on the ocean floor for more than 1.2 miles (2 km) to see the rocks and coves up close. There's also a network of small trails in the area that offer different viewpoints of the spectacle, along with an interpretive facility. If you'd like to get even closer to the rocks, we can arrange a kayak tour.

Leaving New Brunswick, you continue north and cross the eight-mile (13 km) long Confederation Bridge to your next Maritime province, Prince Edward Island. On arrival in the provincial capital of Charlottetown, you'll have time to get your bearings in this small yet lively city that's credited as being Canada's birthplace. We suggest a walk along the waterfront and trying some of the fresh seafood.

Begin your time in Charlottetown by taking a lobster cruise from the dock. Your captain and his brother explain the importance of lobster fishing to the island’s economy while you head out into the ocean. Help to haul the catch from the water in the traps before continuing to anchor near the mouth of Charlottetown . Taste the freshest of freshly caught lobster as you admire the views and chat with the fishermen. The rest of your afternoon is free to explore at your leisure.

Today you have a day at leisure to explore a little further afield on the island. We recommend heading to Cavendish, home of Anne of Green Gables, and enjoying the scenic drives along the way. There are excellent beaches to explore, including North Rustico, where powder-pink beaches and fresh lobster await. Back in Charlottetown, we suggest the Government and Beaconsfield Houses for a historical appetite.

Cross by ferry back to Nova Scotia and drive along the coast onto Cape Breton Island. Your base on the island will be Baddeck, a small town where the famed Cabot Trail officially starts and ends. Spend the rest of your day at leisure. You might like to visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site or take a sailing tour on the Bras d'Or Lake.

Spend the day at your leisure exploring Cape Breton Highlands, from rugged coastal landscapes to towering highland vistas. Drive north along the Cabot Trail, a 185-mile (298 km) road that loops around the cape and is reputed to be one of North America's most scenic coastal drives. Take your time on this journey, stopping at the many viewpoints and walking trails. We particularly recommend the Acadian hiking trail for a more challenging option with the reward of panoramic views of the Acadian coastline, the Chéticamp River and the park’s highland interior.

Finish your road trip today as you head along the rugged Atlantic coast to Sydney. You'll drop off your hire car at the airport and board your onwards flight.