Ancient Giants: Iceberg Viewing in Newfoundland & Labrador

A striking aquamarine iceberg floats near the rocky Newfoundland shore with a red-roofed heritage building, highlighting how icebergs can be viewed from land at coastal villages.

From shore, visitors can watch icebergs drift past historic fishing communities—and during May and June, spot humpback whales, dolphins, and puffins alongside the ice. Photo credit: Tourism Newfoundland and Labrador/Barrett and MacKay

Quick Summary

The expanse of waters stretching from the coast of Labrador to northeastern Newfoundland is aptly known as Iceberg Alley—one of the best places in the world to see ancient giants gently floating southward. These massive icebergs are towering slabs of 12,000-year-old ice ranging from snow white to deep aquamarine, each with its own unique shape and story.

Quick Facts

Location: Iceberg Alley, Newfoundland & Labrador
Iceberg Age: 12,000 years old
Peak Season: May and June (spring and early summer)
Viewing Methods: From land, boat tours, kayak tours
Bonus Wildlife: 22 whale species, dolphins, puffins, gannets

A massive white iceberg floats past a historic lighthouse on the rugged Newfoundland coastline, showcasing the dramatic scale of Iceberg Alley during peak viewing season.

Icebergs drift past the Newfoundland and Labrador coast, where 12,000-year-old glacial ice meets historic lighthouses along Iceberg Alley. Photo credit: Iceberg Quest

Iceberg Viewing Experiences

Ways to See Icebergs

Take in the icebergs from land, from a boat, or up close in a kayak. Each offers an incredible perspective of these natural wonders and will leave you with memories for a lifetime. Imagine watching rivulets of icy water pour from crevasses, and catching the blue-green flashes of submerged corners just below the water line.

From Land: Multiple coastal viewpoints along Iceberg Alley
By Boat: Guided boat tours for up-close encounters
By Kayak: Sea kayak adventures (Stan Cook Sea Kayak Adventures)

Sea kayakers paddle through calm waters near towering icebergs off the Newfoundland coast, demonstrating the intimate up-close experience available through guided kayak tours.

Kayaking offers an intimate perspective on these glacial giants, letting paddlers observe blue-green ice beneath the waterline and hear the ancient ice crack and shift. Photo credit: Stan Cook Sea Kayak Adventures

Iceberg Products & Local Treats

If you're lucky, the crew might gather small chunks of iceberg and throw them in your drink. Newfoundlanders have made good use of the icebergs for Iceberg Water, iceberg spirits like Iceberg Vodka, Gin and Rum, and of course Iceberg Beer brewed in St. John's at the famous Quidi Vidi Brewery. You can sample Iceberg products year-round in picturesque St. John's.

A tour boat approaches an enormous iceberg arch formation, with passengers visible on deck for scale, illustrating the office-tower size these ancient ice structures can reach.

Boat tours bring visitors close enough for crews to gather small iceberg chunks for guests' drinks—a uniquely Newfoundland experience. Photo credit: Iceberg Quest

Bonus Wildlife Viewing

As you cruise the waters in search of ice, you might also encounter playful dolphins, majestic humpback whales, and a variety of birds like gannets and the fan-favorite puffins. Consider the wildlife viewing a bonus. Twenty-two species of whales and dolphins swim in the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast, including the world's largest population of humpbacks.

Best Viewing Locations

Twillingate: Known as the "Iceberg Capital of the World"
Quirpon Island: Historic 1922 lighthouse perched above Iceberg Alley, Quirpon Lighthouse Inn
St. John's: Cape Spear (North America's most easterly point), 20 min from capital
L'Anse aux Meadows: UNESCO World Heritage Site, iceberg and whale views
Ferryland: Lighthouse picnics with iceberg views

Tour Operators

Iceberg Quest (boat tours)
Stan Cook Sea Kayak Adventures (kayak tours)
Various local operators throughout Iceberg Alley

Visit the Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism website

Follow-Up Questions

When is the best time to see icebergs in Newfoundland?
Can I kayak near icebergs in Newfoundland?
Where is Iceberg Alley located?
What is Iceberg Beer and where can I try it?
Can I see whales while viewing icebergs?

Associated Entities

Newfoundland and Labrador, Iceberg Alley, Labrador, Newfoundland, Atlantic Ocean, Iceberg Quest, Stan Cook Sea Kayak Adventures, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Iceberg Beer, Iceberg Vodka, Iceberg Water, St. John's, Twillingate, Quirpon Island, Quirpon Lighthouse Inn, Cape Spear, L'Anse aux Meadows, Ferryland, humpback whales, puffins, gannets, dolphins, Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism, Destination Canada

Sources & Registry

Destination Canada – Ancient giants: iceberg viewing in Newfoundland & Labrador: https://travel.destinationcanada.com/en-us/things-to-do/ancient-giants-iceberg-viewing-newfoundland-labrador

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