Miramichi

Miramichi is a town in the Miramichi River Valley, and the largest town in northern New Brunswick.

Understand

Miramichi is a sprawling municipality formed by the merger of the towns of Newcastle and Chatham with three villages. The two town centres are across and down the river from each other, about 13 km (15 minutes by car) apart.

Miramichi bills itself as "Canada's Irish Capital", and is home to an annual Irish festival. It is one of the most Irish cities in Canada.

Get in

The nearest major airport is at Moncton, some 100 minutes south by car.

Get around

See

• Middle Island. The island is open May-Aug. The museum is open M-F 9AM–4PM. The restaurant (burgers, poutine, fish and chips, sandwiches) is open M-Sa 11AM–7PM, and Su 10AM–7PM. This small island in the Miramichi is where Irish immigrants were quarantined when they got sick crossing the Atlantic to escape the potato famine in the late 1840s. Free. (updated May 2017)
• MacDonald Farm. A National Historic Site. This is on the north side of the river, about 11 km (7 miles) downstream from the Centennial Bridge. Made of stone from Scotland, this farmhouse was built by Colonel Alexander MacDonald, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. Guides in period costumes explain the various exhibits. Transportation to the home, which lies in the banks of the Miramichi River, close to where the Bartibogue River joins it, is by horse drawn wagon. just off the shore is Bartibogue Island. (updated May 2017)
• The Enclosure, Route 8, Derby. Where the Northwest Miramichi joins the Southwest Miramichi, makes for an interesting stop. This small Provincial Park contains the graves of the earliest Scottish and English settlers on the Miramichi, including the resting place of William Davidson, the first permanent European settler. (updated May 2017)
• St. Michael's Basilica, 10 Howard St., Chatham. In the former Chatham neighbourhood, this is the most dramatic building in the Miramichi Valley. This imposing neo-Gothic structure is built on a hill and dominates the former town of Chatham. Until Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949, it was the largest church in Canada, east of Quebec City. (updated May 2017)
• French Forte Cove. A nice playground and walking trail with a boat launch! 
• Beaverbrook House (The Old Manse), 518 King George Hwy, Newcastle, ☎ [phone]. June-Sept M-Sa 9AM-5PM; Su 1PM-5PM. Off season, please call for an appointment. The childhood home of Lord Beaverbrook is a beautifully restored 1877 Second Empire style house. $5. (updated May 2017)

Do

• Miramichi River Tubing Co., 41 Kersey Lane, Rte 118 HWy Doyles Brook, ☎ [phone]. A river tubing company located on Route 118 Hwy. It offers 1½-2½ hour and 3-4 hour tubing trips on the Main Southwest Miramichi River. The trip is a mix of lazy river and, at times, rapids rush. 
• Twin Pine Lodge (Absolute Outfitters), 48 Kersey Lane, Rte 118 Hwy, Doyles Brook, NB, ☎ [phone]. Hunting and Miramichi salmon fishing at an outfitters lodge. 
• Miramichi River Boat Tours, Ritchie Wharf (just off Rt. 8 in Newcastle Miramichi), ☎ [phone]. daily. Discover the river's fascinating history with a colourful Acadian Captain and 90-minute interpretive tours. Licensed bar. Bilingual. $15. 

Buy

Eat

Drink

• O'Donaghue's Irish Pub, 1696 Water St, Chatham, ☎ [phone]. Opens at 11AM; closes Su-W at 9PM, Th at midnight, F Sa at 2AM. 
• The Rail House, 4 Johnson Ave, Chatham, ☎ [phone]. Th-Sa 4PM-10PM. Nightclub in an old train station. 

Sleep

• Days Inn, 457 King George Highway / 201 Edward St., Newcastle, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Pets welcome Doubles from $110, breakfast included. (updated May 2017)
• Rodd Miramichi River, 515 Water St.. Newly renovated. (updated Aug 2017)

Connect

Go next

Routes through Miramichi

Rimouski ← Bathurst ←	W  E	→ Moncton → Halifax
END ← Bathurst ←	N  S	→ Jct W → Fredericton
Bathurst ← Caraquet ←	N  S	→ Shédiac → END