Central
Newfoundland
Where icebergs tower above fishing boats, humpbacks breach in island bays, and Fogo Island rises from the sea like the edge of the world. The most wildly beautiful stretch of Atlantic Canada.
of The Rock
Icebergs, Islands
& Wild Ocean
Central Newfoundland is the region that most surprises first-time visitors. Stretching from Terra Nova National Park in the south to Twillingate and Fogo Island in the north, it contains some of the most dramatic coastal scenery, authentic outport communities, and extraordinary natural experiences in the province.
At its crown is Twillingate the self-declared Iceberg Capital of the World where ancient Arctic icebergs drift past the cliffs every spring in breathtaking procession. Just east lies Fogo Island, the province’s largest offshore island, a place of striking architecture, deep Irish and English heritage, rugged hiking trails, and the otherworldly Fogo Island Inn built on stilts above the North Atlantic.
South toward Clarenville, Terra Nova National Park offers 50+ km of trails through boreal forest and along the shores of Bonavista Bay with sea kayaking, wildlife encounters, and some of the finest camping in the province. And at the region’s centre, Gander forever etched in history by Come From Away serves as the gateway hub to all of it.
Twillingate
Where Icebergs
Meet the Shore
No other destination in Newfoundland perhaps no other place in the world combines such extraordinary natural spectacle with such authentic community character as Twillingate. Perched at the end of a causeway-connected series of islands on Notre Dame Bay, the town sits directly in the path of Iceberg Alley the stretch of Atlantic coastline where ancient Greenlandic icebergs drift south every spring.
Between late May and early July, icebergs the size of office buildings drift past Twillingate’s cliffs, viewable from hiking trails, the famous Long Point Lighthouse, and from zodiac boats that take you within metres of their glittering walls. Some years bring dozens of visible bergs at a time; in peak years, the horizon is punctuated by white giants as far as you can see.
Beyond icebergs, Twillingate rewards visitors with whale watching from late May through August, the beloved Fish, Fun & Folk Festival every July, excellent seafood, and the warmth of a genuine Newfoundland outport community where everyone you meet has a story worth hearing.
Whales, Icebergs
& Seabirds
Central Newfoundland delivers some of the most dramatic wildlife encounters in eastern Canada. Every spring and summer, thousands of humpback whales migrate through the waters off Twillingate, Fogo Island, and Musgrave Harbour breaching, bubble-net feeding, and surfacing close enough to hear them breathe.
Twillingate Adventure Tours and Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours take visitors by zodiac directly to the icebergs and whale feeding grounds. On the same trip, you’ll encounter gannets, murres, and kittiwakes diving around the boat, with the occasional seal surfacing alongside. It’s the kind of 90-minute experience that changes how you see the ocean.
For land-based whale watching, the Long Point Lighthouse Trail at Twillingate offers clifftop views over Notre Dame Bay where humpbacks are regularly spotted from the headland free of charge, any time of day.
Fogo Island
At the Edge of
the World
Fogo Island describes itself as sitting at one of the four corners of the Flat Earth. The claim is whimsical but the feeling is genuine. Newfoundland’s largest offshore island sits in Notre Dame Bay about 45 minutes by ferry from Farewell, and it feels genuinely remote: a place where time moves differently, where Elizabethan English and Irish dialects still echo in conversations at the wharf, and where the landscape is so elemental it realigns your perspective.
Fogo Island is known internationally for the Fogo Island Inn an internationally acclaimed design hotel built on stilts above the shoreline but the island’s charms run far deeper. Walk the Brimstone Head Trail to one of the supposed four corners of the Earth. Explore the six communities dotted around the island. Watch icebergs and humpback whales from the coastal walking trails. Visit the craft studios and artists-in-residence.
The neighbouring Change Islands a 25-minute ferry ride from Farewell preserve an even quieter, more intimate outport experience, with granite outcroppings, colorful fishing stages, a Newfoundland pony refuge, and some of the most atmospheric scenery in the central region.
The Best of Central Newfoundland
From Canada’s wildest national park to a lighthouse perched on the Iceberg Capital of the World these are the experiences that define a Central Newfoundland journey.
One of the oldest and most iconic lighthouses in Newfoundland and the finest land-based viewpoint for iceberg and whale watching in the region. The trail to the lighthouse passes over rugged headland with dramatic views over Notre Dame Bay.
Canada’s easternmost national park 400+ km² of boreal forest, saltwater fjords, and pristine wilderness 2 hours from St. John’s. Over 50 km of hiking trails, sea kayaking in Bonavista Bay, abundant wildlife including moose and black bear, and excellent family camping.
Gander’s extraordinary act of hospitality on September 11, 2001 when it took in over 6,500 stranded airline passengers inspired the hit Broadway musical Come From Away. Visit the North Atlantic Aviation Museum, see the murals, and experience the warm welcome Gander is now famous for worldwide.
Activities in Central Newfoundland
From iceberg zodiac tours to backcountry camping the Central Region has more to offer than most visitors realise.
Twillingate Adventure Tours and Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours run zodiac boats directly to the icebergs and whale feeding grounds of Notre Dame Bay. One of the most extraordinary 90-minute experiences in Atlantic Canada book in advance for June and July.
May–July · Book AheadThousands of humpback, fin, and minke whales feed in the waters off Central Newfoundland from May through August. Best operators: Twillingate Adventure Tours, Twillingate Island Boat Tours, and Iceberg Quest Ocean Tours. Land-based watching at Long Point Lighthouse is free.
May–AugThe Central Region has over 65 hiking trails ranging from 30-minute walks to multi-day backcountry routes. Highlights: the Long Point Lighthouse trail (Twillingate), Terra Nova National Park’s Malady Head Trail, Brimstone Head (Fogo Island), and the Ochre Hill Trail (Terra Nova).
All Levels · Year-RoundSea kayaking in Terra Nova National Park’s sheltered fjords is one of the finest paddling experiences in Atlantic Canada. Rock Adventures Canoe and Kayak Tour offers guided excursions through the park’s spectacular inlets. In Twillingate, kayaking among icebergs in June is available weather permitting.
Jun–Sep · Guided AvailableThe ferry to Fogo Island from Farewell is itself an experience crossing the open waters of Notre Dame Bay with the island’s dramatic silhouette growing larger on the horizon. The Change Islands stop offers a brief, beautiful glimpse of one of Newfoundland’s quietest outport communities.
Daily · Farewell Ferry TerminalTerra Nova National Park offers some of the finest camping in the province Newman Sound Campground with over 300 sites and coastal walk-in tent sites along Bonavista Bay. Gander River, Catamaran Park, and Deadman’s Bay Provincial Park are excellent alternatives with more wilderness character.
Book at nlcamping.caThe Exploits River, Gander River, and dozens of central Newfoundland lakes and ponds offer outstanding Atlantic salmon and brook trout fishing. Licensed outfitters operate throughout the region. The Gander River is considered one of the best salmon rivers in North America.
Salmon · Brook TroutThe region’s heritage runs deep: the North Atlantic Aviation Museum (Gander), the Beothuk Interpretation Centre (Boyd’s Cove), the Tilting National Historic Site (Fogo Island), the Miners’ Museum (Baie Verte), and the Dover Fault Interpretation Site one of the most geologically significant places in Newfoundland.
Year-RoundCentral Newfoundland’s beaches are among the most beautiful and uncrowded in the province: Eastport Beach, Lumsden Beach, Cape Freels Beach, Musgrave Harbour Beach, and Sandy Cove. Eastport, near Terra Nova, is the most popular for summer swimming.
Summer · FreeGander
Where the World
Came to Land
Gander is unlike any other small town in Canada. In the early days of transatlantic aviation, it was the most important airport in the world the refuelling hub where every flight between North America and Europe landed. Its aviation history is extraordinary and celebrated at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum.
But Gander’s greatest moment came on September 11, 2001, when US airspace was closed and 38 planes carrying 6,579 passengers were diverted to Gander International Airport. The town’s population essentially doubled overnight. Ganderites opened their homes, their churches, their community centres feeding and housing strangers from around the world for five days. That story became the hit Broadway and West End musical Come From Away, beloved worldwide.
Come From Away The True Story
The hit musical is based entirely on real events in Gander. Many of the residents portrayed in the show still live in Gander and warmly welcome visitors who come to experience the town that changed the world’s view of Newfoundland hospitality.
7 Days in Central Newfoundland
A perfect week exploring Twillingate icebergs, Fogo Island, Terra Nova, and the highways of the wild central region.
Arrival · Gander
Fly into Gander (YQX), pick up your rental car, visit the North Atlantic Aviation Museum and Come From Away murals. Drive the Gander River valley. Dinner downtown.
Terra Nova National Park
Drive south to Terra Nova. Morning: Malady Head trail through black spruce forest. Afternoon: sea kayaking in Newman Sound. Camping overnight in the park.
Twillingate Drive · Arrival
Drive north via Route 330 through central Newfoundland wilderness. Evening arrival in Twillingate walk the Long Point Lighthouse trail at sunset for first iceberg views.
Iceberg & Whale Watching
Morning zodiac iceberg tour with Twillingate Adventure Tours (book in advance). Afternoon: Long Point Lighthouse trail and cliffside whale watching. Fish, Fun & Folk Festival in July.
Fogo Island Arrival
Drive to Farewell ferry terminal. Cross to Change Islands (25 min) explore the quiet outport village. Continue to Fogo Island ferry (50 min). Explore Fogo Island communities, evening at the coast.
Fogo Island Full Day
Hike Brimstone Head (Four Corners of the Flat Earth). Visit Tilting National Historic Site. Afternoon: coastal walking trails watching for whales and icebergs. Evening: local seafood dinner.
Grand Falls-Windsor · Departure
Ferry back to mainland. Drive through Grand Falls-Windsor (Salmonid Interpretation Centre, Beothuk Interpretation Centre). Return to Gander for evening departure flight.
How to Reach Central Newfoundland
Fly directly into Gander the region’s hub or road-trip from St. John’s along the Trans-Canada Highway.
🧊 Time Your Visit for Icebergs
Late May through mid-June is the peak of iceberg season in Twillingate and along the central coast. Combine with early whale watching activity for the most spectacular possible Central NL experience. Check icebergfinder.com for real-time sightings before you go.
⛴️ Fogo Island Ferry No Reservations
The Fogo Island ferry from Farewell does not accept reservations arrive at the terminal early, especially on summer weekends. The crossing is approximately 50 minutes to Fogo Island or 25 minutes to Change Islands. Check the ferry schedule at gov.nl.ca/ti/ferryservices.
🚗 Rent a Car Mandatory
There is no public transit in Central Newfoundland beyond Gander’s minimal town bus. A rental car is absolutely essential. Book early for summer inventory at Gander Airport can get tight from June through August.
🦌 Watch for Moose
Central Newfoundland has high moose density particularly along Route 330 north toward Twillingate and on secondary roads. Drive cautiously at dawn, dusk, and night. Moose are a serious road hazard throughout the region.
Tips for Your Central NL Visit
Get the most from Twillingate, Fogo Island, and the wild central region with these locally sourced recommendations.
Book Iceberg Tours at Least a Week Ahead
Twillingate Adventure Tours and Iceberg Quest fill up in June and July sometimes days in advance. Book your zodiac iceberg tour online before you arrive, especially if you’re visiting in peak iceberg season (late May–early June).
Check Icebergfinder.com Before You Go
Real-time iceberg tracking is available at icebergfinder.com updated by community sightings. Check it a few days before your visit to see what’s currently visible near Twillingate and along the coast. Not every year has the same number of bergs.
Fogo Island Deserves Two Nights
Many visitors do Fogo Island as a rushed day trip. The island reveals itself slowly spend at least one night (ideally two) to experience the quiet evening atmosphere, walk the coastal trails at dawn, and have time to explore all six communities at a relaxed pace.
Don’t Skip Terra Nova on the Way Through
Travellers between St. John’s and Central NL often pass Terra Nova National Park without stopping. At minimum, do the Malady Head trail a 6 km loop through mature black spruce forest to a headland viewpoint over Newman Sound. One of the finest short hikes in the province.
Visit Gander’s Come From Away Sites
Beyond the Aviation Museum, Gander has a Come From Away mural trail and the “Plane People” commemoration sites that bring the 9/11 story to life. It’s a powerful addition to any Central NL trip that takes just an hour and leaves a lasting impression.
The Drive to Twillingate Is Half the Experience
Route 330 north from Gander to Twillingate is one of the finest coastal drives in Newfoundland wooded hillsides giving way to broad ocean inlets, the Atlantic seeping into every bay and cove. Take the scenic coastal alternatives when they appear. Stop at Musgrave Harbour for the beach.
Common Questions About
Central Newfoundland
Everything you need to plan your central region adventure.
Central Newfoundland Guides
Dive deeper with our locally written guides to the Central Region.
Chase the
Icebergs
Plan your Central Newfoundland adventure from Twillingate’s iceberg tours to Fogo Island’s wild trails and Terra Nova’s ancient forest. Let us help you build the perfect itinerary.