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In Canada, each province provides its residents with a health card. The images on the cards, for the most part, are not very exciting. For instance, Quebec's health card depicts a blurred sunset, Ontario's that of the trillium flower, and British Columbia's is simply striped blue and red. My favourite health card image is the one from New Brunswick which displays the famous Flower Pot Rocks.

The Hopewell Rocks have long been a must see destination for anyone visiting our province. In fact, there are throngs of tour buses on site almost every day of the summer. It's no surprise given that the Bay of Fundy boasts the highest tides in the world, rising and falling up to 50 feet, depending on the time of the year.

Twice a day, powered by the moon's pull, the water swells towards the coastline, reaches its crest, then recedes. The entire cycle of low water to high water and then back to low water again takes 12 hours and 25 minutes. The tides are created by the gravitational forces of the moon on the Earth, with the highest tides being in the spring, when the moon and the sun are in line with one another, creating an even greater force.

The Flower Pots have been formed as a result of erosion over thousands of years. The rocks on the coast of the Bay of Fundy are made of sandstone and sedimentary conglomerate. With the large volume of water flowing in and out daily, the base of the rocks is eroded at a faster rate than their upper portions, resulting in unusual yet fascinating shapes.

The rocks are further reshaped every winter. As water freezes in the cracks, it expands and breaks the stone further, giving rise to new shapes. This is how the famed 'Elephant Rock' lost its trunk a few years ago, leading in turn to the necessity of a new picture on the New Brunswick health card!

There are two ways to experience Hopewell Rocks: walking on the ocean floor and kayaking at high tide. Having done the former on previous trips, this time, I decide on the more adventurous route and head for the water.

After being handed a very wet kayak skirt and life jacket, I begin to have my doubts, but nevertheless, forge ahead. The water is cold, yet the winds are modest, creating medium sized waves.

"When it's really windy, the waves can get as high as 30 feet. We don't take people out on those days," says our guide.

This is reassuring news.

After some preliminary instructions, we head into the ocean. Given that no experience is necessary, there are several children in the group, some as young as seven. I note though, that for the most part the children don't actually paddle. They just hold their oar, more as a prop than anything else, and smile from ear to ear while their parent in the back does all the paddling. It is easier to smile when you don't have to do any work!

Moving deeper into the bay, zigzagging amidst the towering flower pots, we pass through the lover's arch and by the famous elephant rock. I notice for the first time, the mass of tourists crammed along the staircase and balconies along the shore. They start waving as our sunflower yellow canoes go by and I take a break from paddling to wave back. One of the little boys turns to his mother and says, "I'm so glad we're in the water and not just standing there!"

Easier for him to say given that he hasn't paddled, I think to myself. Nonetheless, I couldn't agree more with his statement.

* Lili Nasseri, a family doctor, enjoys travelling and writing in her free time. Her Maritime Travel column appears the first Saturday of each month in Travel & Leisure.