Newfoundland & Labrador Holidays

Best time to visit Newfoundland & Labrador

The best time to visit Newfoundland and Labrador depends on your interests. If you are looking for warm weather and outdoor activities, the best time to visit is during the summer months (June-August). However, the summer months can also be crowded and expensive. If you are on a budget or prefer to avoid the crowds, the best time to visit is during the shoulder seasons (May-June and September-October). The weather is still mild during these months, and there are fewer tourists.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the best time to visit Newfoundland and Labrador for different activities:

• Iceberg viewing: Late spring and early summer (June-July) is the best time to see icebergs in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Whale watching: Whale watching is possible year-round, but the best time to see whales is during the summer months (June-August).
• Hiking and camping: The best time to go hiking and camping is during the summer months (June-August), when the weather is mild and sunny. However, it is important to be prepared for unpredictable weather conditions at any time of year.
• Fall foliage: The best time to see fall foliage in Newfoundland and Labrador is during the fall months (September-November).
• Cultural events: Newfoundland and Labrador has a number of cultural events throughout the year, such as the St. John's International Regatta (August) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival (August).

No matter what time of year you choose to visit, Newfoundland and Labrador is a beautiful province with something to offer everyone.

Highlights of Newfoundland & Labrador

What is Newfoundland & Labrador famous for:

• St. John's
• Gros Morne National Park
• Twillingate
• L'Anse aux Meadows

Swipe left or right to learn more about each destination.

St. John's

St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, is a vibrant city with a rich culture and history. It is also a popular tourist destination, known for its colourful houses, stunning harbour views, and friendly people.

Here are some of the things you can do in St. John's:

• Visit the Battery: The Battery is a historic neighbourhood in St. John's with colourful houses and stunning views of the harbour. It is a great place to wander around and take in the sights and sounds of the city.
• Explore Signal Hill: Signal Hill is a national historic site and one of the most iconic landmarks in St. John's. Visitors can hike to the top of the hill for stunning views of the city and the surrounding coastline.
• Visit The Rooms: The Rooms is a museum and cultural centre that houses a collection of artifacts and exhibits on Newfoundland and Labrador's history, culture, and natural environment.
• Take a whale watching tour: St. John's is a great base for whale watching tours. Visitors can see humpback whales, minke whales, and other species of whales from the comfort of a boat.
  
• Enjoy the nightlife: St. John's has a vibrant nightlife scene, with a variety of bars, restaurants, and music venues to choose from.

St. John's is also a great place to try some of the local cuisine. Some popular dishes include fish and chips, Jiggs dinner (salt beef, cabbage, and potatoes), and Newfoundland blueberry pie. If you are looking for a lively port city stunning views, St. John's is the perfect place for you.

Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne National Park is a Canadian national park and World Heritage Site located on the west coast of Newfoundland. It is known for its dramatic scenery, including mountains, fjords, and waterfalls. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including moose, caribou, and whales.

Here are some of the things you can do in Gros Morne National Park:

• Go hiking: There are over 160 km of hiking trails in Gros Morne National Park, ranging from easy to challenging. Some of the most popular trails include the Green Gardens Trail, the Tablelands Trail, and the Gros Morne Mountain Trail.
• Take a boat tour: There are a number of boat tour operators that offer tours of Western Brook Pond, a fjord that is home to waterfalls and wildlife.
• Go camping: There are several campgrounds in Gros Morne National Park, where you can camp under the stars and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.
• Visit the Discovery Centre: The Discovery Centre is a great place to learn about the park's geology, history, and wildlife.
• Go whale watching: Gros Morne National Park is a great place to go whale watching. Humpback whales, minke whales, and fin whales are all commonly seen in the area.
  

Gros Morne National Park is a beautiful and unique place to visit. With its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, and variety of activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Twillingate

Twillingate is a town located on the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is known as the "Iceberg Capital of the World" due to its proximity to icebergs that drift down from Greenland during the summer months. It is a popular tourist destination for people who want to see icebergs up close, go whale watching, or fish for cod. The town also has a number of historical sites, including the Twillingate Lighthouse and the Durrell Museum.

Here are some of the things you can do in Twillingate:

• Take an iceberg tour: There are a number of tour operators that offer iceberg tours. Visitors can see icebergs up close and learn about their formation and history.
• Go whale watching: Twillingate is a great place to go whale watching. Humpback whales, minke whales, and fin whales are all commonly seen in the area.
• Go fishing: Twillingate is a popular fishing destination for cod and other species of fish. There are a number of charter companies that offer fishing tours.
• Visit the Twillingate Lighthouse: The Twillingate Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse that offers stunning views of the surrounding coastline.
• Visit the Durrell Museum: The Durrell Museum is a museum that houses a collection of artifacts and exhibits on the history and culture of Twillingate.

Twillingate is a beautiful and charming town with a lot to offer visitors. With its stunning scenery, abundant wildlife, and variety of activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

L'Anse aux Meadows

L'Anse aux Meadows is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, Canada. It is the site of the first known Viking settlement in North America. The settlement was discovered in the 1960s by Helge and Anne Stine Ingstad, a Norwegian couple who were searching for evidence of Viking exploration in North America. The Ingstads found the remains of eight buildings, including three longhouses, a forge, and several workshops. They also found a number of artefacts, including iron nails, pottery shards, and bone tools.

The artifacts found at L'Anse aux Meadows are similar to those found at Viking settlements in Greenland and Iceland. This suggests that the people who lived at L'Anse aux Meadows were Norse Vikings. The Vikings lived at L'Anse aux Meadows for only a few years, probably between 990 and 1000 AD. They may have been exploring the area or establishing a trading post. Whatever their reason for being there, they left behind a valuable record of their presence in North America.

Today, L'Anse aux Meadows is a popular destination. Visitors can explore the reconstructed longhouses and learn about the Norse Vikings who lived there. There is also a museum on site that houses a collection of artefacts from the settlement. L'Anse aux Meadows is a significant archaeological site because it provides evidence of the first European contact with North America. It is also a reminder of the Norse Vikings' exploration of the North Atlantic.

Things to do in Newfoundland & Labrador

Once you step foot in Newfoundland & Labrador, you will understand why people have visited this beautiful province since the Vikings arrived over 1,000 years ago. Appreciate its unique Norse history and discover what life was like for these explorers at L’Anse aux Meadows. Other great historical sites to visit include the spot where the first trans-Atlantic cable was laid down at Heart’s Content Cable Station, which transformed the little sea-port town into a global communications hub and the first wireless station to receive and relay the Titanic’s distress signal: the remote Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre.

To experience the diverse flora and fauna that can be found in Newfoundland and Labrador head to Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve to see puffins and humpback whales, or Gros Morne National Park for the spectacular moose and caribou. Set along 18,000 miles of pristine coastline, visitors have plenty of walking trails to choose from ranging from half-hour strolls to multi-day hikes, with trails for all abilities. For those seeking a holiday challenge, you can climb the Tablelands, a mountain of flat-topped rock which was once only found deep inside the earth’s crust.

Remember to set aside some time to do absolutely nothing at all. Newfoundland & Labrador is one of the best places in the world to view icebergs so just sit and view these 10,000-year-old glacial giants from many points along the northern and eastern coasts. As the days draw to a close, embark on a culinary adventure in one of the province’s many restaurants and enjoy traditional dishes you have probably never heard of – doughboys, salt fish and brewis, and toutons to name only a few.

With one of the Top 10 Friendliest Cultures in the World according to MacLean magazine, the local people will welcome you into their community and ensure your holiday in Newfoundland & Labrador is a memorable one.