Vacation rentals in Newfoundland and Labrador

Canada’s province of Newfoundland and Labrador is one big place, spanning more than 405,000 square kilometres (157,000 square miles) of rocky coastline, dense forests, and maritime landscapes. Newfoundland is an island between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean, while the more remote Labrador borders Quebec on the Canadian mainland. The province didn’t become part of Canada until 1949, and it can still feel like a different country, with its distinctive accents, music, and quirky local customs — you’ll want to get “screeched in” as an honorary Newfoundlander.

Outdoors, you can spot massive icebergs along “Iceberg Alley,” go whale watching or seabird scouting, and explore the dramatic fjords of Gros Morne National Park. There are scores of hiking trails and many days’ worth of road-trip adventures.

Labrador has a significant Indigenous population, with Innu and Inuit communities offering various experiences for visitors. You can even visit France — the French islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon are just an hour by ferry from Newfoundland’s south coast.

Most travellers to Newfoundland and Labrador visit between late spring and early autumn. Peak season for viewing the icebergs that pass through Newfoundland’s waters is late May and early June (there’s even an Iceberg Festival held in June at the island’s northern tip), although icebergs can be visible in various areas between April and August. For whale watching, visit between May and September. Newfoundland’s maritime climate is relatively temperate, with average temperatures of 16 degrees Celsius in summer and 0 degrees Celsius during the winter. Labrador’s weather is more extreme: much hotter in the summertime and much colder in winter.

St. John’s

With colorful row houses along its narrow streets and terraced into the hills, the provincial capital and largest city, St. John’s, makes a good starting point for a Newfoundland trip. Tour its historic sights, visit its small museums, and raise a pint in the pubs.

Twillingate

While Newfoundland has plenty of places where you can see icebergs, whales, and seabirds, Twillingate, a five-hour drive north of St. John’s, is one of the more accessible areas. Book a boat tour, take a whale-watching cruise, or go kayaking. Take in the views from the top of the Long Point Lighthouse, follow the hiking trails along the coast, and check out the local winery, which blends its fruit wines with iceberg water.

Gros Morne National Park

Explore the mountains, fjords, sandy beaches, and unusual Tablelands of Gros Morne National Park, which extends across 1,805 square kilometres (700 square miles) on the Western Newfoundland coast. The park has more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) of hiking trails through rugged wilderness terrain, and you can kayak on inland lakes, through the waterways, and along the bays.