When you hear Newfoundland and Labrador, what do you think of? The dog breeds? Colorful coastal cottages? Charming, hardy people accustomed to life along the sea?
Newfoundland and Labrador, the easternmost province of Canada, is a place of stark beauty and vibrant culture. The province is one of Canada’s wildest and least populated. Newfoundland and Labrador captivates travelers with its stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, rich history, and colorful local culture.
Here are five reasons to discover Newfoundland and Labrador:
1. Capture Dramatic Coastlines and Landscapes
From the rugged cliffs of the Avalon Peninsula to the serene landscapes of Gros Morne National Park, the province offers an array of breathtaking vistas perfect for landscape photographers.
Dazzling natural beauty, temperate climate, craggy mountain ranges, pristine coastal waters and waterfalls—the natural environment of Newfoundland and Labrador is as diverse as it is stunning.
The province boasts some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the world, with towering cliffs, sandy beaches, and secluded coves. The coastline is also dotted with lighthouses, many of which are still in operation today.
Newfoundland and Labrador also offer some of the best iceberg viewing in the world. These towering structures can be seen from the shore or up close on boat tours. The best time to see icebergs is from April to June, when they are most plentiful. About 90% of icebergs seen off Newfoundland and Labrador come from the glaciers of western Greenland.
The Avalon Peninsula’s Colorful Capital
North of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, but still on roughly similar latitude to Seattle and south of Paris, Newfoundland’s capitol city of St. John’s is the capital and largest city of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula and is the easternmost city in North America (excluding Greenland).
Known for its colorful row houses and vibrant arts scene, St. John’s is located on the Avalon Peninsula, home to some of the province’s most stunning landscapes. At the eastern tip of Canada’s Avalon Peninsula, St. John’s is one of the oldest and the most easterly cities in North America.
In addition to its birdlife, the Avalon Peninsula offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, tranquil bays, and historic lighthouses. Hiking trails wind through lush forests, along rugged coastlines, and past cascading waterfalls, offering plenty of opportunities for nature photography and wildlife spotting.
St. John’s Harbor, Newfoundland
Visit Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne National Park, on the west coast of Newfoundland, is the second largest national park in Atlantic Canada and host to Newfoundland’s second-highest peak, a freshwater fjord sheltered by towering cliffs, the highest waterfall in eastern North America, sandy beaches, sea stacks, and sea caves.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site of incredible beauty spans more than 1800 square kilometers. It features deep, glacial fjords like Western Brook Pond and surrounding marshlands rich with unique flora, including orchids and pitcher plants. Caribou and bald eagles inhabit the park’s inland boreal forests. The park’s UNESCO World Heritage Site designation recognizes its exceptional natural beauty and outstanding examples of major stages in the earth’s geological evolution.
Gros Morne National Park provides a rare example of the process of continental drift, where deep ocean crust and the rocks of the earth’s mantle lie exposed. The park’s landscape was created by the grinding action of glaciers on the ancient Long Range Mountains. The park’s diverse geological features, from ancient rock formations to dramatic waterfalls, offer countless opportunities for exploration and photography.
In 2019, the Government of Canada invested $4.2 million in Gros Morne National Park to improve aquatic habitats and restore the Atlantic salmon population.
Gros Morne National Park is also culturally significant. The park is a combination of a protected area and small coastal communities. These communities have a rich tradition of fishing, logging, and a relationship with the land in terms of subsistence, but also artistic as well.
Pre-European culture in the area dates from 2500 BC when the Maritime Archaic peoples inhabited the area. Dorset and Beothuk cultures followed. European contact was established with the arrival of Jacques Cartier in the adjacent Gulf of St Lawrence (1534); European settlement did not occur until the late 1800s.
2. Witness Abundant Wildlife
The waters surrounding Newfoundland & Labrador are teeming with marine life, making it a premier destination for whale and wildlife watching. The region is home to the world’s largest concentration of humpback whales, offering visitors the chance to witness these magnificent creatures up close. In addition to humpbacks, there’s also the chance to spot a further 21 species of whale and dolphin. On land, the province’s lush forests and sprawling wilderness areas are home to a variety of wildlife, from caribou to bald eagles.
Humpback whale
Spectacular Whales and Marine Life
The province’s nutrient-rich waters attract a variety of marine life, including the world’s largest concentration of humpback whales. There’s also the chance to spot a further 21 species of whale and dolphins, including minke whales, fin whales, and orcas. Boat tours offer the opportunity to see these magnificent creatures up close, while coastal hikes and viewpoints provide land-based viewing opportunities.
The Avalon Peninsula is one of the most spectacular whale watching destinations in the world. Newfoundland and Labrador’s winding coastline hosts the largest humpback whale population in the world every summer.
Between May and September, 10,000 whales grace these waters as they arrive from their breeding grounds in the Caribbean.
© Eddy Savage
Atlantic Puffins in Birdwatcher’s Paradise
Birdwatchers will also be in their element in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Avalon peninsula is known as “The Seabird Capital of North America,” hosting over 35 million seabirds.
The largest puffin colony in the western Atlantic, with 225,000 pairs, can be found at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, located 20 miles south of St. John’s.
Other bird species spotted in Newfoundland and Labrador include the bald eagle, northern gannet, and various species of owls, hawks, and songbirds. Witless Bay Ecological Reserve also hosts the world’s second-largest colony of Leach’s storm petrels, with more than 600,000 pairs nesting annually.
3. Enjoy Thrilling Outdoor Activities
Newfoundland and Labrador’s diverse landscapes offer a wealth of outdoor activities. The province is a playground for nature enthusiasts, offering opportunities for wildlife watching, hiking, biking, and kayaking in stunning natural settings.
Whether you’re an avid hiker looking to explore the province’s numerous trails or a wildlife enthusiast hoping to catch a glimpse of the abundant marine life, Newfoundland and Labrador has something for everyone.
4. Discover the Rich History of the Region
Norse Settlement of L’Anse aux Meadows
On the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site is the only authenticated Norse site in North America.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site provides proof of a landing that Norse sagas celebrated for centuries, but this was only confirmed here when a small cloakpin was discovered in 1968. The Vikings, the first Europeans recorded to reach the New World, landed at L’Anse aux Meadows over 1,000 years ago. Subsequent archaeological discoveries proved Leif Erickson and crews of Norse explorers settled here in Newfoundland and Labrador (or Vinland as they called it).
Visitors can now explore the ancient settlement, learn about the Viking way of life through interactive exhibits, and see reenactments of daily Viking life. This historical site offers a unique opportunity to witness a piece of early North American history.
L’Anse aux Meadows
See Historic Red Bay, Labrador
Red Bay is a fishing village in Labrador, notable as one of the most precious underwater archaeological sites in the Americas. Between 1530 and the early 17th century, it was a major Basque whaling area. Several whaling ships, both large galleons and small chalupas, sank there, and their discovery led to the designation of Red Bay in 2013 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site provides the earliest, most complete, and best-preserved testimony of a pre-industrial whaling station.
An interpretive centre in Red Bay shares that history with guests. Local legends of Red Bay make reference to a hidden treasure buried in a body of water known as Pond on the Hill at the foot of Tracey Hill by the infamous pirate Captain William Kidd.
Red Bay is a natural harbour surrounded by red granite cliffs. The sheltered harbour was also used during World War II as a mooring site for naval vessels.
Red Bay, Labrador
5. Experience Colorful Local Cultures
Newfoundland and Labrador’s coastline is dotted with serene seaside villages, each with its unique charm. These communities offer a glimpse into the province’s fishing heritage, with colorful houses perched on rocky shores and fishing boats bobbing in the harbors.
Stroll along the waterfront, visit historic lighthouses, and enjoy fresh seafood at a local restaurant.
The language used to describe the region can be rough and stark: brutal storms, raging seas, whipping winds, etc. When it’s calm, it is not just quiet but haunting, isolated, and desolate.
The people are warm and friendly, possessing humor sometimes off-color as much as their houses are colorful.
In the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries’ NL Reads competition, the public voted Bobbi French’s novel The Good Women of Safe Harbour the must-read book of 2023.
When asked what made her choose Newfoundland as the primary setting, author Bobbi French said:
“Safe Harbour was conjured up as a stand-in for any of the seaside communities that form our culture, a culture famous for vivid storytelling and lively, funny characters (of which I hope this book is a good example). And I suppose this province we love (and sometimes hate) is probably even more famous for its rough glory. The landscapes and ways of life that are as beautiful as they are harsh are much like this story. So, a more fitting backdrop would be hard to find.”
To discover Newfoundland and Labrador’s beautiful, harsh landscapes, history, and culture for yourself, join Nat Hab’s new trip launching in 2025.
