Arrive in Halifax and collect your car before heading downtown for an overnight stay in Nova Scotia’s lively capital. Brimming with maritime heritage and Atlantic charm, Halifax offers fine dining, fascinating museums, and a vibrant harbourfront lined with shops and seafood restaurants.

Follow the scenic coast through Peggy’s Cove, stopping to admire its famous lighthouse perched on granite rocks, before continuing to the colourful UNESCO town of Lunenburg. Pause in Kejimkujik National Park for lakeside walks or a peaceful canoe paddle, then arrive in historic Annapolis Royal for two nights beside the Bay of Fundy. From nearby Digby Neck, embark on a whale-watching cruise in nutrient-rich waters where humpbacks, finbacks and minkes gather to feed. Back on land, explore Annapolis Royal’s heritage buildings and the 17th-century Fort Anne.

Drive to Digby and board the ferry across the Bay of Fundy to Saint John for an overnight stay. The city is home to the fascinating Reversing Falls Rapids, a natural tidal phenomenon where the mighty Fundy tides cause the Saint John River to change direction twice each day.

Travel the Fundy Trail Parkway, stopping at ocean viewpoints, cascading waterfalls and the Big Salmon River suspension bridge. Visit the remarkable Hopewell Rocks to walk among the towering flowerpot formations at low tide or kayak beneath them at high tide. Continue to Moncton for the night, perhaps pausing at Magnetic Hill to witness its curious optical illusion.

En route to Prince Edward Island, stop in Shediac, the “Lobster Capital of the World,” before crossing the 13-kilometre Confederation Bridge — Canada’s longest — into a land of rolling farmland and red-sand beaches. Spend two nights in Charlottetown, exploring the island’s peaceful landscapes. Discover the beaches, dunes and cliffs of Prince Edward Island National Park and visit Green Gables Heritage Site, the inspiration for Anne of Green Gables.

Take the Wood Islands ferry back to Nova Scotia and travel via Pictou’s historic shipbuilding quay to Cape Breton Island. Arrive in Baddeck, overlooking the tranquil Bras d’Or Lake, for a two-night stay. Drive the legendary Cabot Trail, one of North America’s most scenic routes, as it winds through Cape Breton Highlands National Park with sweeping ocean vistas, rugged headlands and dramatic coastal lookouts.

Leave Nova Scotia for the final time aboard the ferry from Sydney to Port Aux Basques in Newfoundland. Two nights on the island’s west coast will allow you a full day to explore Gros Morne National Park’s gargantuan glacial valleys, sheer-sided fjords and striking Tablelands.

Drive to Twillingate, the “Iceberg Capital of the World” for an overnight stay. Join an afternoon cruise to spot towering icebergs, whales and seabirds along the stunning Iceberg Alley coastline before returning to shore to enjoy the town’s small-harbour charm.

Head southeast via Gander’s North Atlantic Aviation Museum to the Bonavista Peninsula, where dramatic cliffs meet historic fishing villages. Stay three nights in the pastel-clad harbour of Trinity. Hike the scenic Skerwink Trail, visit the Bonavista Lighthouse and Ryan Premises, and view the replica of John Cabot’s ship Matthew. Back in Trinity, explore narrow lanes, join the lively open-air Trinity Pageant, or climb Gun Hill for panoramic views of the harbour and rugged coast.

Drive to St. John’s via Brigus, one of Newfoundland’s prettiest heritage towns, before arriving in the island’s colourful capital — one of the oldest cities in North America — for a two-night finale. Discover Signal Hill, Cape Spear and the fishing village of Quidi Vidi, where you can enjoy Iceberg beer brewed from pure iceberg water. Visit The Rooms museum and art gallery before dropping off your car at the airport for your return flight.