From the seaside clapboard towns of the Maritimes to the wilderness of the Yukon – and everything in between – Canada’s diverse and sweeping landscapes are renowned the world over. But the second largest country in the world still has some incredible surprises up its sleeve. 

Click through the gallery for a selection of stunning images that will both surprise and delight... 

There’s never a bad time of year to visit this beautiful collection of five themed gardens, which started as a passion project for Robert and Jennie Butchart in 1904. The Japanese Garden, pictured here in spring, is an acre in size and home to 500 rhododendrons and azaleas, 74 Japanese maple trees and gentle streams.

Southern Ontario and British Columbia have long been regarded for their fine wines, but now Nova Scotia is giving them a run for their money. This beautiful vineyard produces Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling grapes. Spread over 35 acres, it’s a family-run estate and the makers believe the nearby ocean helps produce more flavourful fruit. Pop into the tasting rooms or head on a self-guided tour. 

Created by the wind and water some 12,000 years ago, the Bluffs are a geological feature of Lake Ontario. It's popular with hikers but visitors are advised to stay behind the fences on the walking trails as the Bluffs are prone to erosion. There is also a safe lookout point at Cathedral Bluffs Park, with vistas across the lake from 295 feet (90m) above.

Extending along the south shore of Lake Athabasca, these are the world’s most northerly dunes. Formed between 8,000 and 9,000 years ago, there is evidence of Indigenous use around 7,000 years ago. The primitive campsites nearby are best for seriously seasoned outdoor types.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d landed in the Netherlands or France for a second, but this Quebec museum has a windmill dating from 1836, one of only a few historic examples that remain intact. It’s a pretty spot, on its own island in the St Lawrence River, around a two-hour drive from Quebec City. While you’re there, pick up some freshly ground flour from the on-site shop.

Why bother going to Hawaii when you’ve got amazing surf on Canada's West Coast? Right next to the Pacific Rim National Park, the Pacific Sands Beach Resort on Cox Bay is the perfect place to make the most of this coastline’s beaches and waves.  

Don’t be fooled by the name, this ‘pond’ is actually a nine-mile (14.5km) stretch of water and one of Canada's finest fjords. It's located in the Gros Morne National Park and there are boat trips available in the summer months, while the area has plenty of clearly marked hiking trails for those who like to pull on their walking boots.

While Hatley Castle wouldn't look out of place in the English countryside, it has stood on Vancouver Island since 1908 and is now a National Historic Site. Once used by the military, members of the public can tour the wood-panelled rooms inside and the walled rose garden.

Canada has 47 national parks and this expanse of prairie is a walkers’ paradise, located in the south of the province, near the border with Montana. One of the most captivating walking routes is the back-country Valley of the 1,000 Devils in the East Block of the park. There are plenty of places to rest your head (and legs) when you’re done, with camping and RV parking at the Rock Creek Campground. 

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From stone castles to ice castles, these beautiful man-made constructions are built every year at Hawrelak Park with walls 10 feet (3m) thick. Depending on the weather, they’re open for tours from the end of December or early January and for as long as the season allows.

This isn’t your typical image of what are undoubtedly the world’s most famous waterfalls, but don’t worry, Niagara hasn’t actually frozen. Underneath the ice, the water still flows even in winter’s depths. Besides seeing the main event, there’s always plenty going on at the Falls. Don’t miss the Winter Festival of Lights, usually on between November and January. Highlights include fireworks on Friday evenings, the Fallsview Sound and Light Show, and guided walking tours.

Located in the Bay of Fundy, Hopewell Rocks sees the highest tide in the world – over 50 feet (152m). The time span between low and high tide is six hours and 13 minutes, which means that from three hours before low tide to three hours after you can walk on the ocean’s floor. Don’t forget to check the tide times before you go.

In the winter season you can walk along the frozen riverbed of the region’s deepest, yet still accessible, canyon. Taking in the natural ice sculptures that rise around 100 feet (30m) up the limestone walls, and are formed from frozen waterfalls, is an eerie experience.

Newfoundland is one of the best places in the world to spot icebergs, as many float south from Greenland as the weather warms. Visit during the end of June to the start of July and you’ll see a trio of delights: whales, seabirds and the otherworldly icebergs themselves. This berg was photographed just off Crow Head on North Twillingate Island.

Canada’s most famous lake has had three names: the Stoney natives called it Ho-Run-Num-Nay (meaning lake of little fishes) and it was renamed Emerald Lake by a railway worker in 1882. Just two years later, it was called Lake Louise after Princess Louise, Queen Victoria’s daughter. Whatever its moniker, the clear waters always appeal, with around 15,000 people a day visiting during summer.  

Take a look at Canada's most stunning unknown lakes

There’s a reason why skiers from all over the world flock to Lake Louise every year, as this striking shot of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise resort hotel showing the sheer scale of the runs demonstrates. Lake Louise has 4,200 acres of ski-able areas, making it one of the largest resorts in North America.

Churchill in Manitoba, on the Hudson Bay, sees an annual migration of around a thousand polar bears, making it one of the best places in the world to spot them in the wild. Most commonly observed during October and November when the big freeze hits the tundra, you might also catch a glimpse of them during spring when the cubs first emerge. You’re also likely to see Arctic foxes, wolves and Beluga whales here too.

You don’t have to head out to the Canadian wilderness to get up close to nature. In the heart of Vancouver you’ll find the aquarium teeming with sea life, as this impressive shot of jellyfish shows.

If you go down to Kelowna today… you’ll see a large sculpture of a grizzly bear. Located on Stuart Park, the bear was the result of a competition to design a new piece of public art in this city in the Okanagan Valley. The ursine artwork fits perfectly with the city’s name – Kelowna is the English translation of the Syilx First Nation word meaning 'female grizzly bear'. 

This luxury hotel, opened in 1927, wouldn’t look out of place at a European ski resort and was designed to incorporate elements of rustic and Swiss chalet-style architecture. A National Historic Site of Canada since 1992, it was originally named after the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII of England), to tempt him to stay here on a Canadian tour. However the Prince – who abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson – chose to stay at a ranch nearby instead.

The interior of the stunning Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica in the Canadian capital is sure to give you a neck ache. Both a work of art and a place of worship – it’s the seat of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Ottawa – the vaulted ceiling is covered with gold stars.  

Discover more of the world's beautiful cathedrals

Pysanka – Easter eggs decorated in folk patterns – are a popular Ukrainian tradition, but this 25-foot-long (8m) egg is a special example. It’s been here since 1974, when it was built to honour the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The annual Pysanka festival takes place in July and is a celebration of the Ukrainian settlements in the area.

The only walled city in North America, Quebec’s Old Town is brimming with French charm. One of Canada’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it offers pedestrianised streets, fabulous restaurants to sample poutine (a Canadian speciality of chips, gravy and squeaky cheese) and also the Notre-Dame-des-Victoires – built in 1688 it’s the oldest stone church in North America.

These Aspen trees grow every which way… apart from straight up. The phenomenon was first noticed during the 1940s and local legend put the unusual shapes down to everything from giant sap-sucking rabbits to a (crooked) buried lawyer. However, the trees’ contorted form is probably caused by a genetic error and as the only grove like it in Canada, visitors are asked to stay on the boardwalk to prevent damage.

Drive two hours east of Calgary and you’ll find this popular fossil hunting spot. Thirty-five different species of dinosaur have been discovered in the Badlands – the area’s gigantic stumpy rock formations. It’s also home to what is claimed to be the world’s largest model T-Rex, which welcomes you at the front of the museum.

It’s not easy to get to Fogo Island off the coast of Newfoundland: the best way is via Gander Airport, then a two-hour drive and a 45-minute ferry journey. But a stay on this 91-square-mile (236sq km) island is worth the effort. The wildlife, including caribou and foxes, are big draws but there’s also the magnificent Fogo Island Inn, a 29-suite purpose-built design hotel with a rooftop hot tub. Any profits made by the hotel are reinvested into the local community too.

Discover more of the world's most remote hotels

A well-known stop off the Alaskan Highway, the forest was started in the Second World War by a homesick GI who erected a sign post of his home town of Danville, Illinois. Today, people bring their own signs from around the world, adding to some 100,000 signs.

Mount Everest might hold the title for the mountain with the highest altitude, but the one with the most extreme vertical drop is Mount Thor at 4,101 feet (1,250m). Restrictions on climbing up or down it are in place however, as people have lost their lives to the sheer rock face.

Dawson City was at the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush after the precious metal was first discovered here in 1896. The city now has several preserved Gold Rush-era buildings. Built on a melting permafrost, many now slant. Today, the town’s economy is still reliant on gold, with mining continuing to take place – you can even have a go at panning for yourself.

No list of Canada’s must-sees is complete without featuring at least one lighthouse. From Lake Ontario to the Maritime provinces you’ll find some 750 structures around the country, with more than 100 protected by law. By their nature they’re located in often weather-beaten and remote spots and are always places to soak up stories about Canada’s seafaring history. Peggy’s Cove is regarded as one of the most beautiful.

Perhaps the ultimate recycling project, Hannah’s Bottle Village is exactly how it sounds: structures constructed from repurposed wine bottles. Entrance to this village, owned by Bonnie and Gar Gillis, is free with all donations going to charity. In addition to this lighthouse, you’ll find a glassy replica of the home of Prince Edward Island’s most famous fictional resident, Anne of Green Gables.

It’s certainly one-of-a kind: the Carcross Desert is believed to be the world’s smallest, taking up just one square mile (2.5sq km). Plus, being in one of Canada’s most remote areas in the north means it’s often surrounded by snow. Once the bed of a lake, this arid landscape is shielded from rain by the mountains, but you’ll still see a smattering of plants in the miniature sandy wilderness.

The Inuit call the area pingualuit, which means 'pimple', a fitting description of this meteoric crater that’s 1.4 million years old in the far north of Quebec province. Due to low salinity levels, it contains some of the purest freshwater found in the world. 

Banff and Lake Louise may be synonymous with skiing, hiking and hot springs, but the area is also perfect for spotting the Northern Lights, with the reflection from the area’s lakes making the display even more of a spectacle. It’s not just during winter that you can catch the aurora borealis either, as mother nature puts on a show year-round. However, the best opportunities to see the colours are usually between February and March.

More stunning images of the Northern Lights

While Lake Louise is the most famed, there are many other beautiful expanses of water in the Rocky Mountains. Bow Lake is one of the smallest and its beautiful aquamarine waters are fed by the Bow Glacier in the Wapta Icefield.

Beautiful lakes aren’t just the preserve of Alberta province either. Here, you’ll find three lakes within a straightforward six-mile (9.6km) hike. Once you reach the sparkling blue waters of Upper Joffre Lake (pictured), you’ll have the added experience of seeing Matier Glacier too.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is regularly voted one of the prettiest towns in Canada, thanks to its colourful wooden buildings and seafaring history. Wander through the old town then head out on the water for a whale watching tour or try your hand at fishing or sea kayaking.

More adorable small towns you must visit in Canada

After a brutal storm in 1928, the Pesuta was shipwrecked, ending its life on the picturesque Haida Gwaii archipelago. The remains of the Pesuta are a popular tourist attraction, with many people taking a four-hour hike through forests and beaches until they reach the wrecked ship.

More amazing shipwrecks you can visit around the world

Scattered along the St Lawrence River and straddling the border between Canada and the USA is this collection of around 1,800 tiny islands. Hop on a boat tour from Gananoque, camp on one of the grounds near the Parkway or explore the wrecks with a scuba dive at Brockville. Don’t forget your passport/ID though, as chances are on a trip to the area you’ll hop over into the USA. 

Skookumchuck means 'strong water' and this area gets its name from the twice daily tide change that switches the flow of the saltwater, reversing the direction of the rapids. To see big waves go during the 'flood tide', watch from the Roland Point viewing area, while the whirlpool activity is seen during the 'ebb tide' and can be viewed from North Point.

Tucked into the countryside of North Vancouver, this suspension bridge has straddled the Capilano River since 1889. Part of the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, other adventurous attractions here – for those with a head for heights – include a cliff-walk across cantilevered bridges and the Treetops Adventure canopy taking you through the 250-year-old Douglas firs. 

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On sunny days, the waters of this cave on the Georgian Bay shore can appear to glow. Be warned: the crystal clear waters are popular so either camp at the Cyprus Lake Campground and hike from there or make sure to book a parking space in advance.

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Do not adjust your computer – this really is a lake with spots on it. The leopard-like pattern is caused by pockets of minerals that appear as water from the lake evaporates during the summer.

As if its name wasn’t magical enough, in the middle of the lake there’s a solitary Douglas fir mysterious sprouting from the partially submerged stump of another tree. It’s also a popular place for a dip during summer with nearby camping facilities. 

The smallest of Canada’s provinces punches well above its weight when it comes to dramatic views and historic clapboard towns. Located on Prince Edward Island’s North Shore, Thunder Cove is just near Darnley, and the red sandstone cliffs are typical of those you’ll find around PEI. But these weathered sea stacks have a unique beauty that makes this beach particularly popular with locals – and their pet dogs.

Every May, the Canadian Tulip Festival springs up across the city with over a million blooming bulbs. The tradition has its roots in the Second World War. When the Nazis invaded the Netherlands, Princess Juliana sought refuge in Ottawa with her two daughters and gave birth to a third child in the city. Post-war, to thank the Canadian people for their kindness, Princess Juliana gifted the city 100,000 tulip bulbs. 

This train, which derailed in 1956 and rolled into the forest, is now a public art gallery. Near the Cheakamus River just south of Whistler, the Train Wreck Trail walking path also takes in a waterfall and suspension bridge.

This historic fishing village on the Pacific Coast is known for its spectacular sunsets. Watch the sun go down with a seafood supper from Dave’s Fish & Chips, often named by locals as the best in town. 

Niagara Falls might hold the crown as Canada's most well-known falls, but Montmorency’s waterfall is actually taller at around 100 feet (30m) higher. Thankfully there’s a cable car that will whisk you up the cliff for the walking tour. The park is an easy drive from Quebec City too.

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