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30 March 2023 by Ben Harding
The likes of Antarctica aside, when it comes to viewing icebergs, Canada's Newfoundland & Labrador is king. During spring and summer, these 10,000-year-old glacial giants are visible from many points along the northern and eastern coasts, especially on clear, sunny days. Utterly spectacular, these icy giants come in every conceivable shape and size, with colours ranging from pure white to deepest, richest blue. And, despite their ephemeral nature – they arrive fresh from the Arctic every spring, then disappear just a few months later – it's fair to say that they never fail to impress.
Icebergs are edges of glaciers that have broken off and slipped into the ocean, with roughly 90% of of those seen off Newfoundland & Labrador coming from the productive glaciers of western Greenland. The rest originate in the Canadian Arctic. To check the latest iceberg activities, there's even a handy website – IcebergFinder.com – so you can assess the conditions before heading out. They're also sometimes spotted by satellites in outer space, while at other times simply by someone taking a stroll along a sliver of Newfoundland & Labrador's 29,000-kilometres coastline.
Where to watch icebergs
Iceberg Alley stretches from the coast of Labrador to the southeast coast of Newfoundland. Some of the more popular places from shore, or from tour boats, are (from north to south): St. Lewis, Battle Harbour, Red Bay, Point Amour, St. Anthony, La Scie, Twillingate, Fogo Island, Change Islands, Bonavista, St. John's / Cape Spear, and Bay Bulls / Witless Bay. All of these locations are accessible by road. The first four, which are on the coast of southern Labrador, can be accessed by car ferry from the island of Newfoundland year round. The further north, the longer the iceberg season.
The best time of year for viewing
The icebergs pass through Iceberg Alley between spring and early summer, though as you move north, the season becomes a bit longer. April and May are the months when the bergs are at their most plentiful, but there's also the chance that they may still be locked up in sea ice, so we suggest late May and early June for best viewing opportunities.
The best ways to watch
While the coast itself provides some seriously spectacular viewpoints, the best ways to watch icebergs has to be by boat or kayak, bringing you right up close. At Wexas, we can arrange tours designed to show you the icebergs at their finest, often combining a visit with the chance to encounter Newfoundland & Labrador's migratory whales and numerous sea birds.
