Halifax
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Positives
- Great hurricane swells
- Break quality and diversity
- Minimum crowds
- Unspoilt coastline
Negatives
- Icy water temps
- Harsh weather
- Inconsistent summer
- Rising localism
- Thick wetsuits
Halifax surf travel guide
Nova Scotia belongs to the Maritime Provinces of Canada, where it is impossible to be more than 56km away from the sea. Only a narrow isthmus connects Nova Scotia to mainland Canada and the Atlantic Ocean surrounds a coastline ranging from bays, inlets and cliffs to gravel or sand beaches. On the Eastern Shore, to the West and East of the capital Halifax, rugged shoreline provides a wealth of pointbreaks, offshore reefs and plenty of beachbreaks, with a huge variety of wind and swell combinations for surfing Nova Scotia. Further afield exploration potential beckons.
Surf spots in Halifax
Research the 16 surf breaks in Halifax and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 16 breaks in Halifax.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Halifax
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Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Halifax.
Travel Information
General
- Current Time
- Tourists
- 2,200,000
- Population
- 971,395
- Tourist Info
- Tourist Info
Security
Health
Money
- Currency
- CAD
- Exchange rate
- $1 = 1.17 CAD CAD
Cost of living
Communication
- Dialing in
- +1
- Dialing out
- 011
- Emergencies
- 911
- Language
- English, French
Electricity
- Plug Type
- ab
Visas
No Visa for stays of up to 6 months - Must have a valid passport
Getting There
Halifax airport (YHZ) is the Atlantic Canadian flight hub. Most flights come from Boston, Newark, and London. US and Canadian highways join the Trans Canada Highway from New Brunswick into Nova Scotia. Greyhound buses connect with Acadian Lines in Nova Scotia. Lawrencetown is a 20 min drive from Halifax.
Getting Around
The Lawrencetown area is about a one-hour drive from Halifax International Airport, which is 3 hours from the South Shore and 4-5 hours from Cape Breton. Renting a car is almost essential, since the surf spots are spread out along the rural, fjørdlike coastal terrain, where getting from point A to point B is seldom direct. For real searching (e.g. in the Cape Breton region), a 4x4 may be an asset, although many breaks are easily accessible. Renting a car in Halifax cost under $300/week for over 25’s. Highways numbered from 100 to 199 are efficient but provincial roads can be narrow. Nova Scotia has 10 "Scenic Travelways" including the Lighthouse Route going along the south shore from Halifax, and the Marine Drive along the eastern shore.
Accommodation
The historic capital city of Halifax offers an energetic nightlife with one of the highest ratios of bars per capita in North America. Hotel rooms can be hard to find in the city, especially during summer and early fall. For this peak tourist season, booking a room ahead of time is a good idea. Bed and breakfasts are an option outside of the city, but they can be expensive. A cheap summer solution is to use the numerous campgrounds scattered throughout the province. The Moonlight Beach Inn in Lawrencetown ($120/dble) or Eastern Passage B&B ($72/dble). In Port Joli, check the T.H. Raddall Park campground or the Emsik Beach House. White Point Beach Resort is $130/dble. Try the famous lobster.
Activities
Spot whales, seabirds and other marine creatures from the scenic, coastal routes. Halifax is a lively city with top restaurants and good nightlife. Check the Bay of Fundy’s tidal bore.
Hazards & hassles
Only the Lawrencetown-Cow Bay pointbreaks actually suffer from localism. Water quality is good at most spots due to the lack of coastal development. Booties are essential protection from rocks and cold.
Handy Hints
Longer, floatier boards help carry the necessary extra thick rubber. Several surf shops like Dacane Sports in Halifax, Rossignol in Port Joli and Happy Dude’s in Seaforth. The first two offer lessons and rentals ($45/d board and suit). There are thousands of other spots to be found away from the main coastal towns.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.