Newfoundland and Labrador may look like a mid-sized island on a map, but in actuality, it’s a vast place with lots of open country. Approximately 29,000 kilometres of shoreline wrap around our communities, trails, forests, parks, and historic sites. Just keep in mind that it’s a big place, so you can’t wake up in St. John’s and have breakfast in Gros Morne National Park. You’ll need to plan your way.
Here’s what you need to know about our province: there are two parts to the province, Newfoundland is an island, and Labrador is part of mainland Canada and borders the province of Quebec.
To give you a better idea: it’s more than three times the total area of the Maritime Provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island) and would rank fourth in size behind Alaska, Texas, and California if it were one of the United States. It’s almost one-and-three-quarters times the size of Great Britain.
When planning a trip here, remember: while there are many ways to travel around the province, it takes planning and forethought. Book far in advance and plan your itinerary, as demand is high for car rentals, accommodations and ferry services during peak season.
Newfoundland and Labrador is served by both scheduled airlines and charter services, and can be reached via national and international connections.Our province is home to two international airports – located in St. John’s and Gander – as well as domestic airports in Deer Lake, Stephenville, and St. Anthony in Newfoundland, and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Churchill Falls, and Wabush in Labrador. These airports are destinations for many major airlines, including Air Canada, Westjet and Continental, You’ll want to book your next flight here early.
Find airlines flying into Newfoundland and Labrador.
Marine Atlantic operated superferries between the Island of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. These superferries carry hundreds of vehicles and passengers to two entries points on the Island of Newfoundland. There is a year-round, daily service between North Sydney and Port aux Basques (in southwestern Newfoundland), and a June to September service between North Sydney and Argentia (a 90 minute drive from St. John’s in the Avalon region).
Marine Atlantic
Telephone Toll Free: +1 (800) 341 7981
Fax +1 (902) 564 7480
Email: resmar@marine-atlantic.ca
Website: www.marine-atlantic.ca
A coastal passenger and freight vessel also sails along the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence from Natashquan at the end of Quebec Route 138 to Blanc Sablon on the border between Quebec and Labrador. From Blanc Sablon, you can continue your journey to Labrador or travel further to visit the Island of Newfoundland. To tour Labrador, travel on Route 510 all the way to Happy Valley – Goose Bay, then continue on Route 500 to Labrador City and Wabush and connects to Quebec Route 389. To visit the Island of Newfoundland take the Strait of Belle Isle ferry from Blanc Sablon to St. Barbe on Newfoundland’s west coast.
Relais Nordik
Telephone +1 (418) 723 8787
Telephone Toll Free: +1 (800) 463 0680
Fax +1 (418) 722 9307
Email: info@relais.nordik.desgagnes.com
Website: www.relaisnordik.com
Rail service between Sept Iles, Quebec and western Labrador is provided by Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. Passengers must make arrangements to be picked up and dropped off at Emeril Siding, 60 km east of Labrador City where Route 500 meets the rail line. For information call 866-962-0988 or 418-962-5530 (Sept Iles, QC) or 418-585-233 (Schefferville, QC).
It’s one of the most popular ways to visit Newfoundland and Labrador. Each year tens of thousands visit ports around the province to see eye-popping sights like Saglek Fjord and Gros Morne, experience the adventure of sea kayaking or river rafting, and to enjoy Celtic-style fiddling, music from the French Shore, or the stirring beat of Aboriginal drummers.
Standing on the deck of a cruise ship is the best way to see the coast, and we do have a lot of it to see - 29,000 kilometres of bays, guts, headlands, harbours and coves. Hundreds of small communities dot the shoreline. Step ashore; let those sea legs drain away and spend a few hours along a coastal trail while keeping an eye out for humpback whales and whirling seabirds. Hop a tour boat to 10,000 years old icebergs. Call at ports where Basques fishermen processed whale oil for the lamps of Renaissance Europe. Trek along the paths of L’Anse aux Meadows where the Vikings walked 2,000 years ago. Steam along the astonishing cliffs of the South Coast, stopping for tea and biscuits and a good yarn – and the warmest welcome possible.
Visit cities where history and modern conveniences offer the best of the old and the new. Visit a museum to see how our people lived in olden times or drop by a gallery to see the current generation of visual artists. Take in a concert of local music or a dinner theatre featuring local fare and grand tomfoolery.
From the capital city of St. John’s north to Labrador, south past beautiful Bonne Bay to Corner Brook and on to a little bit of France – St. Pierre and Miquelon – there are dozens of ports of call that offer a glimpse into a different way of life.
Cruising is a popular way to discover Newfoundland and Labrador. For information on cruise lines and ports of call, please visit the Cruise Newfoundland and Labrador website.
Making your own way is sometimes exactly what’s called for, especially if you’re interested in finding –or losing –yourself along the way. But if you’re interested in travelling here without having to worry about the details, there are many package tour operators to bring you to Newfoundland and Labrador.
For tour operators in Newfoundland and Labrador.