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You won't have any problems filling your travel itinerary in Notre Dame Bay. Within a ten minute drive, you have access to tourism activities that run the gamut - iceberg and whale watching tours, endless kilometers of hiking trail, festivals and theatre, museums and craft stores. This area has many private tour operators and other tourism infrastructure to ensure your trip is one of indelible memories.
We're here to help you plan a memorable trip. If you require more information on the area, visit the Road to Isles section of the Kittiwake Coast Tourism Association site at www.kittiwakecoast.com or the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Government's site at www.gov.nf.ca/tourism
Whales
Perched on the tip of the northeast Atlantic, where the sweeping northern Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream intermarry, Notre Dame Bay is a gathering point for a wide breadth of sea oddities; all the better for the visitor with a keen eye turned to the ocean.
From May to August, we host an unusual oceanic conference, with 22 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises counted among the delegates. Over 5,000 humpback whales - a Newfoundland cultural icon - visit the coast every year. Those who have witnessed a breaching humpback know how it feels to be belittled. When 35 tonnes of seafaring juggernaut lift out of the water and send a plume of saltwater skyward, its back craggy with barnacles, its skin gleaming like polished gypsum, and its fin waving an awkward hello, your place in the foodchain, right next to plankton, seems reaffirmed.
Notre Dame Bay is a refuge for a number of rare and endangered species including harbour porpoises, blue whales, right whales, sei whales, beluga and beaked whales.
Berg Watching
There's a good reason our coast is nicknamed Iceberg Alley. Quite simply, it's the world's greatest place to view these 10,000 year-old leviathans of ice. Approximately 40,000 medium to large-sized icebergs calve annually in Greenland and thousands of those drift by our home in the spring and early summer.
Icebergs are mostly white because the ice is full of tiny air bubbles. The bubble surfaces reflect white light giving the iceberg an overall white appearance. Ice that is bubble free has a blue tint which is due to the same light phenomenon that tints the sky.
Besides estimating the iceberg's size and shape there are many features which may be noted. Coloured streaks, caves and tunnels, old and new waterline notches, even objects such as boulders or birds are seen on icebergs. Even more spectacular is the occasion of an iceberg calving and rolling which can often be heard from a good distance.
Icebergs are comprised of pure fresh water. There may be some dust embedded in the ice and salt water may be on the surface but it does not penetrate the ice. Iceberg ice is quite safe to consume.
Sea Kayaking
Sea Kayaking is undoubtedly the best way to see the sea without being of the sea. If you haven't tried it, there's no substitute for a paddle on the Atlantic with juggernaut bergs, whales and circling oceanic birds as a backdrop. This is a surging part of our tourism sector, and with good reason - the experience will last a lifetime.
Museums
We invite you to explore our rich, colorful history during your stay - and there are literally dozens of museums, parks and interpretation centers to serve as your guide. From the Beothuck Indians to restored homes to dinner theatre to guided winery tours, there's something to fit all of your interests.
Festivals
Newfoundlanders are characterized by our love of song, dance and celebration - and we invite you to join in. Our summer calendar is peppered with soirees - ranging from seafood celebrations to community festivals. The Fish, Fun and Folk Festival is held the last full weekend in July at Twillingate, and is one of the largest and longest running folk festivals in the province. The event is a true celebration of Newfoundland culture with music, great food and an extraordinary line-up of entertainment. Whether you want to kick up your heels to a traditional jig or kick back and take in a play, there is plenty to see and do.
Hiking
From leisurely coastal strolls to intensive hikes, Notre Dame Bay has boundless opportunities to explore by foot.
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