One of the reasons I fell in love with Nova Scotia after my first visit (in 2018) is the abundance of pretty beaches. While I stayed on the South Shore I had no shortage of beaches to choose from. Then with my road trips around Nova Scotia I found that every region of the province has beautiful shorelines to explore.
Returning to Nova Scotia to spend a year exploring this beautiful maritime province during 2021 and 2022 I now have the opportunity to visit the gorgeous beaches of Nova Scotia once again.
Today I’m sharing the best beaches on the Eastern Shore region of Nova Scotia.
Best Beaches Eastern Shore Nova Scotia
Whether it’s your first Nova Scotia summer or you’re a local you have to admit that the Eastern Shore boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Nova Scotia.
Let’s explore Nova Scotia Eastern Shore beaches starting with one of the most popular surfing beaches.
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Lawrencetown Beach
Probably the top pick for best surfing beach in Nova Scotia is Lawrencetown Beach, about 35 – 45 minutes’ drive from Halifax.
Even though I don’t surf I love walking on the beach and watching the surfers ride the waves.
I’ve also seen people doing ocean SUP (stand up paddleboard) at Lawrencetown. It looks like fun and maybe it’s a little easier to learn than surfing? I may have to give it a try!
Ocean paddleboarding at Lawrencetown Beach
Lawrencetown beach has a sandy beach and a section of rocky beach with big smooth beach rocks that can be a bit of a challenge to walk on.
When the tide is going out the beach stones make a lovely symphony of sound when the waves roll back. It’s mesmerizing to watch the ocean waves at Lawrencetown.
If you want to do a lovely hike or bike ride you can hop on the Atlantic View Trail right from the parking lot at Lawrencetown beach.
Lifeguards on duty in summer months. Also during warmer months there are change rooms, bathrooms, and a snack shop on the boardwalk at Lawrencetown.
A popular surfing beach near Halifax Nova Scotia is Lawrencetown Beach
Rainbow Haven Beach
Rainbow Haven Beach Provincial Park in Cow Bay near Cole Harbour is a lovely white-sand beach with a long boardwalk from the parking lot to the beach.
Rainbow Haven is only a 30 – 40 minute drive from Halifax so expect it to get busy on sunny summer days, especially on weekends. If you get there earlier in the day your chances of getting parking are greatly increased.
Lifeguards on duty in July and August. Change rooms and bathrooms with flush toilets available from around May long weekend to Thanksgiving weekend.
Rainbow Haven Beach at Cow Bay – Photo credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Dean Casavechia
Martinique Beach
The longest beach in Nova Scotia is Martinique Beach and it’s also one of the most popular surfing beaches.
Martinique Beach is 5 km (3 miles) of white-sand beach for you to enjoy a nice long walk, beachcombing, surfing, or have a picnic lunch on the beach.
Looking for the perfect spot for a family day at the beach? Martinique is the right place for a fun day of building sand castles, relaxing on the beach, and enjoying the sunshine.
How about a surfing lesson? East Coast Surf School offers surfing lessons at Martinique Beach, along with surfboard rentals and wetsuit rentals at reasonable prices.
Lifeguards on duty in summer months at Martinique Beach. Change rooms and bathrooms open during summer season.
With 5 km (3 miles) of shoreline and awesome surfing waves you’ll have a perfect day at the beach at Martinique
Clam Harbour Beach
Clam Harbour Beach is a spectacularly gorgeous beach on the Eastern Shore, and surprisingly it wasn’t busy when I visited in early autumn.
I imagine summertime is a lot busier at Clam Harbour Beach since it’s a provincial park and also features hiking trails along the coast.
Maybe Clam Harbour is a little further than most Haligonians are willing to drive to get to the nearest beach but it’s certainly worth the effort.
A beautiful sunny day at the beach – Clam Harbour on the Eastern Shore
Taylor Head Beach
So far, Taylor Head Beach is my pick for the number one prettiest beach on the Eastern Shore. I think it’s one of the most beautiful places in Nova Scotia!
If you’re in Halifax and searching “beaches near me” I suggest you expand the search to places within 90 minutes to 2-hour drive of Halifax/Dartmouth area. Once you get onto Hwy 7 East it’s a scenic drive to Taylor Head Provincial Park.
You can make it a day trip or spend a whole weekend at one of the nearby campgrounds or cabin rentals. Besides the jaw-dropping gorgeous white-sand beach you can enjoy coastal hikes with stunning views along the rocky shoreline.
You’ll find one of the most picturesque locations on the Eastern Shore at Taylor Head Beach
More Eastern Shore Beaches
Since I haven’t yet visited all the beaches on the Eastern Shore I do have a list of beaches I will visit this spring and summer.
Port Shoreham Beach
At the top of my list of beaches to go to when the weather turns a bit warmer is Port Shoreham Beach on Chedabucto Bay. This will be a nice road trip from Musquodoboit Harbour, maybe a weekend getaway since it’s a longer drive from the Halifax region.
Dollar Lake
Surprisingly, I missed visiting Dollar Lake during summer and fall. I suppose with so many ocean beaches I overlooked this lovely lake beach near Musquodoboit Harbour. It’s on my list for a beach day soon!
How about you? Where do you like to spend time at the beach on the Eastern Shore?
More fun things to do in Nova Scotia
Kayaking at Blue Rocks Nova Scotia
Walk on the Ocean Floor at Bay of Fundy
9 Great Hikes Cabot Trail Cape Breton
10-Day Nova Scotia Road Trip Itinerary
60+ Cool Places to See in Nova Scotia
Barbara Butler
Saturday 15th of November 2025
When we were in the Cole Harbor area, we found a beach which had hard packed sand. We have found very few like it in our travels. My husband used a wheelchair, most beaches were a NO GO! We were able to drive onto the beach, it was terrific.
Thank you for your comments and photos of other beaches.
Barbara Butler, Ottawa