Martinique Beach

Quick Facts

About Martinique Beach

Martinique Beach is the longest sandy beach in Nova Scotia, running 3.7 kilometres along the Eastern Shore near Musquodoboit Harbour, about 56 km, roughly 50 minutes, from Halifax. The scale is the draw: even on a busy summer Saturday, walkers who head north along the sand quickly leave the crowds behind. The beach sits inside Martinique Beach Provincial Park, a protected area that also guards the back-dune terrain and the piping plover habitat behind it. The southern end is where most families set up, and it is well set up for them. A boardwalk carries visitors over the dunes from the parking area, and the park has washrooms, change rooms, and picnic tables. Lifeguards supervise the swim area daily from July 1 to August 30, 10 AM to 6 PM. The surf here is moderate, gentler than Lawrencetown to the west, which is exactly why it works for mixed groups: surfers catch clean waves on the outside while children swim in the shallows. August water temperatures around 18°C feel pleasant after a warm spell. Surfing, long walks, and family beach days are what the beach does best, and dogs are welcome on leash. Parking is free, though the lot fills by midday in July and August. Access is partially wheelchair accessible via the boardwalk section. In The Coast's Best of Halifax 2026 readers' awards, Martinique took silver for Best Beach, behind Crystal Crescent and ahead of Rainbow Haven — a strong result for the Eastern Shore's longest stretch of sand. Tourism Nova Scotia's 2026 season dates for the park ran May 17 to October 14, with lifeguards on the supervised swim zone through July and August.

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Location & Directions

GPS: 44.693600, -63.138900

Region: Eastern Shore | County: Halifax | Near: Musquodoboit Harbour

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