A new kind of travel experience is taking shape – one that invites visitors to look up. Astrotourism is the practice of travelling to places where the night sky remains dark enough to see the Milky Way. Southern New Brunswick is poised to become one of the brightest (and darkest) destinations in Canada.
Light pollution has dimmed the stars for most of the world, but 85 per cent of New Brunswick is forested, offering vast areas of natural darkness. Just 25 minutes from Saint John Airport, the Irving Nature Park stands as Canada’s first Urban Star Park – proof that even near a city, the stars can still shine.
Even more exciting is the proposed Fundy Dark Sky Corridor, right next to YSJ. Once complete, it will feature the world’s highest concentration of certified dark-sky sites – six within 180 kilometres – forming the largest coastal protected area in the Americas.
For visitors arriving through YSJ, this corridor opens easy access to Fundy-St. Martins, the Fundy Trail and beyond. Stargazing beside a lighthouse or capturing the Milky Way above a covered bridge isn’t just memorable – it encourages longer stays and fuels local economies.
Astrotourism blends science, culture and sustainability. It’s immersive, low-impact and deeply connected to place. Protecting our night skies could well be one of southern New Brunswick’s brightest opportunities for growth.
With thanks to Stéphane Picard, an award-winning astrotourism leader in Canada and founder of Cliff Valley Astronomy, for capturing the remarkable photo accompanying this piece – featuring Air Canada’s evening Toronto flight taking off from YSJ last month. Stéphane also thoughtfully provided analysis and insights on which this article was based.