St. John's 
They call it the rock. And while many of Newfoundland and Labrador’s incredible natural attractions are rocky, or part of the cliffs, the province has a ton more beauty to offer.
Credit: Product of Newfoundland/Flickr/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed
Newfoundland’s natural wonders and attractions cover the entire province. Between coastlines, National Parks, Provincial Parks, and nature reserves, are chances to see old-growth forests, mountains, tall and jagged cliffs, wetlands, beaches, and wildlife.
There are a couple of natural wonders which you might find in multiple spots around Newfoundland: waterfalls, rivers, icebergs, whales, and puffins are among some of the easiest to find.
Discovery Geopark & Bonavista
It may take up to an entire day to see all of the wonderful and unique seaside cliff formations within the Discovery Geopark. And with the highway setup, there are a few different ways to organize the trip to see it all on a DIY adventure.
Among those unique and awe-inspiring formations are the Sea Arch at Tickle Cove, the Devil’s Footprints in Keels, Haootia and fossils in Port Union, and the Chimney and Dungeon near Bonavista.
While you’re out exploring the trails near these geological sites, watch over the water for more natural wonders: there could be whales, seabirds, or icebergs.
Iceberg Alley
The eastern coast of Newfoundland, also considered Iceberg Alley, is the best place to see these frozen marvels from the shores. And the further north you go, the better the iceberg viewing is. The best time of year to see icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland or Labrador is over spring and early summer. And as you travel north, the iceberg season gets a bit longer. Destinations with viewing areas and tours include:
- St. Anthony (host an annual Iceberg Festival)
- Bonavista
- St. John’s
- Cape Spear
When: late April to early June
Cape Spear & the Eastern Most Point in Canada
There are a variety of natural wonders to take in at the Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site.
Within the site are two main trails, both of which lead to incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean and the seaside cliffs.
These trails bring you out as far east as one can go in Canada. Once out on the furthest point of the trail, and overlooking the water, there are chances to see massive icebergs, whales, or a wide variety of bird species.
During the summer months, the National Park operates tours, a café, and a gift shop.
Gros Morne National Park
Gros Morne National Park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a coastal park on the Gulf of the St. Lawrence in northwestern Newfoundland. The drive into the park gives a good preview of the natural beauty that visitors are about to take in or explore.
Camping is available as well for those who want to spend multiple days exploring.
There are many ways to fill a day: the park contains unique geological formations known as the Tablelands; boat cruises are available for seeing the park’s fjords and waterfalls; and a day-hike will get hikers to the top of Gros Morne Mountain for a view of it all!
Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve
The Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula is one of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the province.
Part of this is due to the fact that Mistaken Point is one of the world’s most significant fossil sites. The site has two public hiking trails, one of which has a bit of a climb but offers incredible views over the barren cliffs. The second of the trails closely follows the coastline and along the barrens.
The park offers guided tours and hikes as well in order to give the public a view of the fossils. A guided tour is the only way to see the fossils.
When: May-October
Terra Nova National Park
Along with being Canada’s most easterly National Park, Terra Nova is also one of the most diverse in terms of nature to see and explore. The park contains over 80km of hiking trails from where you can explore most of the wonderful nature in the park.
The park is covered by old-growth boreal forest, ponds, lakes, and is surrounded by coastline. From this, visitors can explore those expansive trails, but also the waters by boat.
These water adventures could be self-guided, or on the area’s guided boat tours. These tours get visitors out to see the coast from the water with views of icebergs, coastline, and marine life.
L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site
A visit here will reveal natural wonders but also a great deal of cultural history.
The National Historic Site is a another of Newfoundland and Labrador’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites with many things to see and do. AT L’Anse aux Meadows, we get a perfect example of how human activity influences geology, nature, and the earth.
Within the park is some of the earliest evidence of European settlement in North America. The Viking settlers had built huts topped with grass; and over 1000 years later, these remain intact but appear as grassy hills.
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve
Choose between a few ways to explore Cape St. Mary’s, the easiest-to-access seabird rookery (where birds nest and raise their young) in North America, is, of course a haven for birdwatchers and photographers.
Not only is the Cape filled with an incredible amount of different bird species, but these flocks are also nesting amongst some incredible coastal scenery.
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve offers hikes with simple trails, and more challenging hikes with higher elevation gains. The trails bring hikers to locations high above the waters.
The Ponds of Butter Pot Provincial Park
To see some of the most spectacular wetland and forest scenes in Newfoundland and Labrador, head to the Butter Pot Provincial Park- open year-round! The beauty of this natural scenery is accessible for exploring while the forests are covered in snow, or while everything is lush and green.
The park covers 2,833 hectares of wetlands and is a short drive from the city of St. John’s. The ponds and shores are accessible by hike or by paddle, with seasonal camping also available.
Butter Pot Provincial Park is a naturally diverse boreal forest with over 250 species of plants, ponds and streams, beaches, and rolling hills.
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When: camping open May-September, day use open year-round
Sandbanks Provincial Park
The coastline of southern Newfoundland is where you will find some of the province’s longest expanses of white sand beaches. Much of the area is covered by Sandbanks Provincial Park, with five separate areas of flat and sandy beach.
While exploring the beach areas, it is important to stay on the designated trails- the sand dunes are a delicate and geologically significant area.
The park offers seasonal camping with the campground off the sand and within the forested areas. While here, campers can enjoy birdwatching, photography, hiking, and paddling.
Blow Me Down Provincial Park
The natural wonders of Blow Me Down Provincial Park on Newfoundland’s west coast is a great way to see a huge variety of what the province has to offer.
The park sits underneath the Long Range Mountains and provides visitors access to cobble beaches at the lowest points or viewing areas at the park’s highest points (via hikes).
Use the Tortoise Mountain Trail for a moderate hike that brings you to stunning views of the Bay of Islands, or the Look-out Trail for a more family-friendly hike which is also the access to Governor’s Staircase (a wooden staircase built into the wall of a 450-million-year-old volcanic rock) and the cobble beach.
Another popular way to explore the park is with a kayak around the Bay of Islands.
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Arches Provincial Park
This western Newfoundland Park gets its name from the sea arches which stand tall under the large rocks. They create natural frames and viewing areas into the ocean scenery and create incredible photo backdrops.
Many of the rocky arches are also topped with bright green shrub and grass in the summers. The park also boasts a cobblestone beach and picnic areas and is an excellent place for nighttime stargazing.
Main River Waterway Provincial Park
The Main River rushes through the Northern Peninsula forests before entering the White Bay. The park and campground are where the river meets the Bay, and the start to several challenging trails. The hiking tails in Main River Waterway PP lead through old-growth forests, riverside, and to a waterfall.
The park is also busy with wildlife to be aware of like moose, black bears, beavers, or river otters.
Torngat Mountains National Park
The Torngat Mountains National Park is not the easiest to access natural wonder in the province, but it is certainly worth the trip for those who can make it. To access, visitors will need to get in by boat or by air. Additionally, Parks Canada offers seasonal excursion packages to help the public enjoy these incredible mountain views.
