Nova Scotia - Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island - page 128

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Digby Neck
Craning out to take a peek into the Bay of Fundy, Digby Neck is a giraffe's length strip
of land that's a haven for whale- and seabird-watchers. At the far western end of the ap-
pendage are Long and Brier Islands, connected by ferry with the rest of the peninsula.
Plankton stirred up by the strong Fundy tides attracts finback, minke and humpback
whales and this is the best place in the world to see the endangered North Atlantic right
whale. Blue whales, the world's largest animal, are also sighted on occasion, plus you're
almost certain to see plenty of seals.
Bring plenty of warm clothing (regardless of how hot a day it seems), sunblock and
binoculars; motion-sickness pills are highly recommended.
Getting There & Away
Two ferries connect Long and Brier Islands to the rest of Digby Neck. The Petit Passage
ferry leaves East Ferry (on Digby Neck) 25 minutes after the hour and Tiverton (on Long
Island) on the hour; ferries are timed so that if you drive directly from Tiverton to Free-
port (18km) there is no wait for the Grand Passage ferry to Westport (on Brier Island).
Both ferries operate hourly, 24 hours a day, year-round. Round-trip passage on each ferry
is $5.50 for a car and all passengers. Pedestrians ride free.
Long Island
Most people head straight to Brier Island, but Long Island has better deals on whale-
watching, as well as a livelier community. At the northeastern edge of Long Island,
Tiverton is an active fishing community.
The Island Museum ( 902-839-2853; 3083 Hwy 217; 9:30am-7:30pm Jun-Oct)
, 2km west of the Tiverton ferry dock, has exhibits on local history and a tourist informa-
tion desk.
One of the best whale-watching tours in the province is found just near the Tiverton
ferry dock. Ocean Explorations Whale Cruises ( 877-654-2341, 902-839-2417;
www.oceanexplorations.ca ; half-day tours adult/child $59/40; Jun-Oct) , led by biologist Tom
Goodwin, has the adventurous approach of getting you down low to whale level in a Zo-
diac. Shimmy into an orange coastguard-approved flotation suit and hold on tight! Good-
win has been leading whale-watching tours since 1980 and donates part of his proceeds