Escape Beneath the Stars in New Brunswick – Trendy Nights in Nature

Canada’s east coast is fast becoming a destination for stargazers looking for the ultimate view of the universe. Trendy travellers will love the forthcoming series of Star Fest events in New Brunswick; weekend-long programmes of camping and stellar stargazing, being held across Provincial parks, in association with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, this summer.

New Brunswick, in Atlantic Canada, is home to three Dark-Sky Preserves – Kouchibouguac National Park, Mount Carleton Provincial Park and Fundy National Park – areas with no artificial lighting, which showcase nature in its truest form to allow visitors to witness spectacular views of the night sky. Star Fest events will be free of charge and accessible to those with a Parks Pass, if required, or campers at selected campgrounds on the selected dates.

Kouchibouguac Star Fest

10^th – 12^th June and 30^th September – 2^nd October, 2016

Kouchibouguac National Park stretches along the Acadian coastline and offers stunning views of the cosmos. The park’s name has Mi’kmaq roots and means ‘river of the long tides’; fitting for this region filled with sand dunes, lagoons and marshes.

This is where the first Star Fest event will kick off, from 10^th – 12^th June, followed by a second event from 30^th September – 2^nd October 2016. Revellers at Star Fest will enjoy a weekend of hiking and camping under the stars with astronomers from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and will have the opportunity to meet with other stargazing enthusiasts, hear talks from the experts and share an incredible dark sky experience. Families welcome. Find more about the Star Fest event at Kouchibouguac National Park here.

Kouchibouguac National Park offers many popular camping options, from serviced and un-serviced sites to equipped camping grounds and self-sufficient cabins. Find more about camping here.

Mount Carleton Astronomy Weekend Star Fest

29^th – 31^st July, 2016

Over 42,000 acres of Acadian woods make up the pristine wilderness of Mount Carleton Provincial Park, which will host another Star Party in the series. This area is popular among hikers who seek to climb the mountain after which the park is named, Mount Carleton, which is also the highest mountain in the Maritimes. The provincial park is arguably the darkest accessible place in Atlantic Canada for stargazing.

Star Fest activities, including a Telescope Clinic teaching amateur telescope owners how to maximise their view of the stars, will take place at campsite two. Tent camping and tent-campervan plots are available for visitors and each site comes with its own fire pit; perfect for cooking or toasting marshmallows before lying back and taking in the exceptional night sky views, as the fire embers die out.

Find more about camping here.

Fundy National Park StarGaze

2^nd – 4^th September, 2016

Designated as a Dark-Sky Preserve in 2011, Fundy National Park is home to the Bay of Fundy which boasts the world’s highest tides. Visitors can explore these at The Hopewell Rocks, where they can walk around the famous ‘flowerpot rocks’ at low tide and then watch them slowly disappear as the tide rises. Alternatively, more active travellers may choose to walk a few miles of spectacular coastline along the Fundy Trail Parkway, part of two UNESCO designated sites: the Fundy Biosphere Reserve and the Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark.

Find more about the Fundy Dark Sky Preserve here.

StarGaze at Fundy National Park will offer the same activities as the previous Kouchibouguac and Mount Carleton events. However, for different type of camping experience, those visiting Fundy National Park can book their very own Yurt; a traditional tent dwelling from Asia and a fun alterative for those who prefer to stargaze at their own pace.

Find more about camping here.

For more information about visiting New Brunswick please visit www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca

Media contact:

For further information please contact Sophie Kelk, Grace Christie and Rebecca Peters at atlanticcanada@brightergroup.com 020 7326 9880.