Newfoundland, Canada – A Photo Essay
Words by Dalene Heck / Photo by Pete Heck
I am proudly part Newfoundlander. I’ve kissed the cod and been “screeched-in”. My Grandfather lived in Newfoundland all of his life and I was very fortunate to be able to visit this unique part of Canada quite often. The province has some amazing photography-worthy-scenery and a lot of humour too.
Cape Spear
Torbay, Newfoundland – A foggy day just outside of St. John’s.
St. John’s, Newfoundland – The capital of the province. The cannons that remain in place once protected this city from unwanted ships entering the narrows.
The Narrows – You can see here how little room ships had to enter here while under cannon fire. Cargo ships still pass through this narrow strip of water and the harbour is still one of the most important to Canada.
Cabot Tower, Signal Hill – One of the iconic symbols of Newfoundland. Built in 1897, it is in honour of Sir John Cabot (commemorating the 400th anniversary of the discovery of Newfoundland). In December 1901 it was here that the first transatlantic wireless signal was received from England.
Downtown St. John’s – Colorful buildings line the main streets of the capital (pictured here – Duckworth Street)
Gander, Newfoundland– Golf at Gander Golf and Country Club. In the background is Gander Lake.
Gros Morne National Park – One of the most treasured parks in the province and the country.
Twillingate, Newfoundland– Known as the iceberg captial of Canada, Twillingate offers tours in the spring and early summer around the harbour to marvel at the numerous icebergs (most of which have migrated from Greenland). This berg reminded us of a half-pipe.
Twillingate, Newfoundland– A fishing boat appears to be dangerously close to an iceberg. <Insert appropriate “Titanic” verbage here>
Dirty Newfoundland – If you have a dirty mind (well even if you don’t), then you can appreciate some of the town and street names that have been adopted. Other juicy ones that we do not have photos of include: the town of “Come by Chance” and”Conception Bay”.
These pictures are fabulous! They help me realize there is much to do and see right here in North America. You really don’t have to travel far to experience amazing places. Thanks for sharing these.
Thanks Debbie, I know what you mean about exploring our own backyards. One of our goals is to buy a Westfalia and drive around our own country and explore every corner. So many amazing places. Cheers!
I never knew Newfoundland was so pretty… or so dirty-minded. 😉
And yes, when I saw that photo of the iceberg a corny Titanic joke popped into my head, but I won’t subject you to it here.
Maybe “dirty” is the wrong word…how about “loving? 🙂
Part Newfie are ya! You need to check out http://roatanvortex.com/2010/10/06/coffee-and-croissants/
Bobbi French is from the “Rock” and set off to find herself in France. With a last name like that… of course she did!
I remember reading that one awhile back! 🙂
Hey guys, I’ve heard allot about Newfoundland over the years, but I’ve never mad it there. The photo’s of the ice bergs really make me want to visit, and the town of St John’s also looks like a pretty chilled out place. I love to travel to places like these, get away from it all and just cruise around and see what I can find.
Thanks Jason. It truly is a wonderful province. The people, the scenery, the food, and yes the bergs are spectacular. STJ is totally chilled out, probably one of the few capital cities I love being in due to it’s laid back atmosphere.
Awesome pics! I’m planning a trip up to Newfoundland in the summer – can’t wait, it looks gorgeous!
Thanks Claire, you’re right it is gorgeous there, and when you go you will love it. If you go early enough in the summer you might get to see the icebergs if you venture up that way. Cheers!
Looks pretty awesome…Newfoundland has been on my list for a long time…it’s just…so far away. I’ll get there someday, I know.
The whole of Atlantic Canada is worth a good long visit! (We love Nova Scotia a lot too)!
Woohoo, my home and my passion! Been here for 24 years, born and raised, glad you love it! Check out my blog for more Newf stories…I’m planning a trans-Labrador trip for this summer, can’t wait to see the other half of the province.
You are a lucky girl Candice! We love your province and have debated making it “home” as well. If it wasn’t for the damn harsh winters…
great photos! I’ve been living in St John’s almost 2 years now, and have a fabulous view of the narrows from my windows that I never get tired of… I think I may have to travle up to twilinggate this spring for some icebergs! (didn’t see any this past year 🙁 But did spot some beauties when I first moved here!)
We got to Twillingate at the tail end of iceberg season, so were lucky to see what we saw. They said that in two more weeks, they would have been completely gone! You live in a very beautiful corner of the world!
We visited Newfoundland about five years ago, and your photos of the colorful houses in St. John’s, Cape Spear, and Signal Hill particularly brought back some great memories for me. I’m a big fan of lighthouses, puffins, and rocks, so I’m sure you can imagine that the lights, birds, and geology in Newfoundland fascinated me.
We even ended up on the weather channel in Newfoundland when we visited Signal Hill on a particularly foggy day. We’d driven out from Michigan in a bright yellow Aztek…and when we came back to our car from visiting the visitors’ center at Signal Hill, we found a reporter with a television camera by our car. Guess he wanted to know who was crazy enough to drive out from Michigan to visit Signal Hill on such a dark day. And when we went back the next day to take photos at Signal Hill on a sunny day, one of the rangers saw us (and the car) and told us he’d seen us on television the night before talking about how much we enjoyed our visit, in spite of the weather!
Great place. I hope we can return for another visit one of these days!
Too funny that you were on the weather channel, and didn’t even know it! Although the weather stunk, it is an experience being in that fog isn’t it?!?! I am glad that you got to see it with a sunny day as well. It truly is fascinating how much this province has to offer.
I didn’t get to see any ice bergs when I was there so I definitely have to go back! 🙂
Nice photos! This makes me want to go there!
Thanks Christy! Us posting the pics makes us want to go back very soon too! So many good memories.
really cool, these are some amazing pictures too. Never been there but just looking at what is there makes me want to grab a flight and go.
It is definitely worth a visit! Actually, all of Atlantic Canada is worth a good, long visit!
So ashamed to say that even though I’m from the East Coast I still haven’t been to Newfoundland!
SHAME on you! Haha, well, add it to your to-do list!
I’ve seen those photos before, but they looked so darned pretty, I had to peek again.
Did you play around with them at all?
Yup Pete did! Wanted to spice them up a wee bit!
The photos are absolutely amazing and just how I imagined Newfoundland would look. I think that just goes to show how great the writing is in The Shipping News. (Hope that cliche doesn’t offend the Newfies).
I read that book and you’re totally right – I think the book does do it justice.
Nice to have a local’s perspective on this fascinating place. I love the weird place names that history lands new colonies with — so much for ancestors being prudes…
No kidding, hey? Have to wonder what was on their minds when they landed on those names! Okay, well, don’t have to wonder TOO hard…haha
These are great photos. I especially like the ones with the icebergs. They really make me want to visit.
Thanks Steve. The bergs are pretty amazing to see in person, especially if you can get on a boat and get close to them.
That Torbay picture looks awfully familiar ….. I know I will never tire of that scenery or the fog !!! Great job on advertising NL as a good travel spot.
Thanks Karen!! Yes, I figured you might especially like this one 😉 It is one of our favorite Newfoundland pictures. NF is my motherland, of course it’s gonna get props!
Hey Guys,
I second the Torbay picture seeing it from our deck. Cant wait to see you guys down this way again. Good job on promoting the province. Take Care..
Thanks Tom! Next time we’ll be sure to take pictures of Yellow Dory’s in Balls Bay for another post. 🙂
If you go back to Newfoundland, I would recommend checking out Fogo Island. You have to take a ferry from Farewell but it is so worth it. It is a place where a sense of community is overwhelmingly evident and a trip to the island will be filled with undisturbed views of landscape and exposure to a culture that resists the mainstream. Recently, an initiative called the Artist Residency Program has been implemented to bring international artists to the island. More on that here: http://artscorpfogoisland.ca/ (Full disclosure: my father is from Fogo Island so it holds a special place in my heart).
Thanks Travelling Bittie. It is not a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’ we go back to Newfoundland and for certain we will check our Fogo Island. My heart aches to get back. I am hoping that the tourism board will take notice and want to bring us out 🙂 How funny that the article was in the Vancouver Sun yesterday!!