Canada's Best Beaches - International Traveller

Great stretches of sandy beaches is not anywhere but Canada right? Not quite, ex Toronto Star travel editor Jim Byers reveals Canada’s best beaches.

Canada is edged by vast stretches of coastline along both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as surrounding the Great Lakes and countless other freshwater lakes and rivers.

All this adds up to glorious beaches from one side of Canada to the other, for a substantial part of the year (and in some cases year-round).

Grand Bend, Ontario

Lake Huron, the second-largest of the Great Lakes after Lake Superior, features a series of long, white-sand beaches that stretch along the ‘west coast’ of the province of Ontario.

The beaches here offer glorious sunsets, beach volleyball, fishing and, when wind and waves are right, even a bit of surfing.

Just a few hours’ drive from Toronto is Grand Bend, which features a nice stretch of sand as well as ice-cream outlets, surf shops and a much more Californian vibe.

Shediac, New Brunswick

Shediac is a short drive from Moncton, one of New Brunswick’s three major cities.

The sand dunes are pretty and the water comfortable in summer thanks to the Gulf Stream, which sends lovely warm water up from the coast of Florida.

Stop at Lobster Deck for a lobster roll and a mound of hot New Brunswick French fries.

And be sure to have your photo taken with the giant crustacean on the edge of town; kind of a restrained, Canadian version of Larry the Lobster in Queensland.

Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia

This is one of the finer surf spots in Canada.

The water’s on the cool side, so even in summer most folks wear wetsuits.

Storms in the fall can mean gnarly waves up this way, so keep an eye on the weather forecast.

You’ll find a long, deep beach with a nearby marsh area that’s great for kite surfing or kayaking. And you’re less than a half-hour from the charms of downtown Halifax.

Toronto

There are several fabulous beaches right in the city. Just east of downtown is The Beaches neighbourhood, with a lovely boardwalk and a protected beach area that goes on for several kilometres.

There are several beaches on the Toronto Islands, including a family-friendly spot on the south side near a pier that juts into Lake Ontario and also on the west side at Hanlan’s Point, where you’ll find a legal nude beach.

In the city itself, Sugar Beach is in a commercial/industrial area right on the harbour. You can’t swim but there’s a fun sand box with pink umbrellas.

Gimli, Manitoba

This is a Canadian beach town with a north Atlantic/European flair, as Gimli town has a number of Icelandic immigrants.

Located about an hour north of Winnipeg, they put on an Icelandic Festival every year in early August.

If you miss the festival, there are still cute restaurants, boutiques and an Icelandic heritage museum to check out.

They show films on a screen suspended near the lake every summer as part of the Gimli Film Festival. Folks flock to the Beach Boy Restaurant for burgers or fresh pickerel.

Magdalen Islands, Quebec

Some of Canada’s finest (and often emptiest) beaches are found in the Iles-de-la-Madeleine, which are located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence east of Prince Edward Island but form part of the province of Quebec.

In addition to great food and French/Maritime culture, you’ll find long, lonely beaches that go on just short of forever, with golden sand and pretty dunes.

One of the best for walking or swimming is Old Harry, near the far northern tip of the island.

Probably the prettiest is at Cap Alright, with huge cliffs backing a small stretch of sand.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

What’s that you say? Saskatchewan is a prairie city that’s as close to the ocean as Alice Springs?

Yes, but there are several lovely beaches along the broad, sweeping South Saskatchewan River. There’s a small beach right in the centre of trendy Saskatoon.

A few miles outside of town is a fine beach where folks often doff their duds and sunbathe in the nude.

The official name is Paradise Beach, but many locals know it as ‘Bare-Ass Beach’.

Sandbanks Park, Ontario

Another fine spot on Lake Ontario, just a couple of hours east of Toronto.

The sand dunes here look more like the Sahara Desert than anything you’d expect in Canada; giant, golden mounds of sand that slope down to warm-water beaches.

There’s a great provincial park for camping, or you could stay at a local B&B or the trendy Drake Devonshire hotel in nearby Wellington.

Sandbanks is in Prince Edward County, which has become a trendy food and wine area.

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Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward Island

There’s a fantastic boardwalk that snakes its way through lovely dunes dotted with sea grass that will take you from the car park to the ocean.

The beach is a wide, long affair that sweeps along a small headland, with soft, beige-brown sand.

You can cycle the nearby Gulf Shore Way or try a canoe or kayak in the ocean or one of the parks many ponds.

Dalvay by the Sea is a lovely, old-style hotel-resort where Prince William and Kate stayed a few years back.

Red Deer, Alberta

Another landlocked province, but with plenty of lakes to tempt beach goers.

The water isn’t so warm until maybe August, but you can stroll the 1.6-kilometre-long beach at Sylvan Lake for a good deal of the year and still enjoy the fresh air and lake views.

It’s a popular summer spot for sailing, volleyball, canoeing and more.

Surfing Canada?

Read our story on surfing Torfino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

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Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Canada’s best beaches: no, it’s not all ice and snow