Kayaking in Iceberg Alley, Twillingate

Kayaking in Iceberg Alley out of Twillingate Newfoundland
Kayaking in Iceberg Alley

If you think kayaking with icebergs sounds bucket list worthy, then head to Iceberg Alley, a section of coastline that stretches from Labrador, south along the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. Iceberg Alley is one of the top places in the world for viewing icebergs and Twillingate is one of the few towns in Newfoundland where it’s easy to safely access a kayaking in Iceberg Alley experience. Prime iceberg viewing time in Twillingate is May, but icebergs can linger into July. Kayaking in  Iceberg Alley is an exciting way to experience the icebergs.

Every year is different, depending on how many icebergs calved off the west coast of Greenland and how quickly they move. You can check the location of icebergs in advance of your trip by consulting IcebergFinder. Prime time for kayaking with icebergs is June and early July but that varies by year. 

I had the pleasure of a half day trip where we kayaked with icebergs and circumnavigated a couple of islands from Twillingate.

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Grant - our guide pointing out the route
Grant – our guide pointing out the route

Looking at the route through Iceberg Alley

What Grant our local guide tells me before we head out is this:

“What is amazing about paddling with icebergs is the context it provides. Here you are – paddling with 15,000 ice behemoths, sculptures of the land, who themselves are gradually sculpted by the sea. It’s hard not to feel small, insignificant and sometimes that is good and refreshing.”

A chart of the Twillingate area
A chart of the Twillingate area

A perfect day for kayaking in Iceberg Alley

Winds were light, seas were calm and the sun was shining – a perfect day for Iceberg Alley kayaking. I was joined on this trip by my friend Judy. Both of us have loads of west coast of BC kayaking experience in all conditions, some of them gnarly (the polite description) and dangerous.

Interestingly, for the second time in 48 hours, as two middle aged women, our skill set was not so much called into question, as it wasn’t initially considered. Oh the joys of getting older.

Grant the guide came around with time. Not only did he show us Twillingate’s Long Point Lighthouse and numerous icebergs up close but we became his second group EVER to circumnavigate Burnt Island. And that was a real treat, and not the least bit difficult in our opinion.

Kayaking towards our first iceberg out of Twillingate
Kayaking towards our first iceberg out of Twillingate
Getting closer to the iceberg than I care to be
Getting closer to the iceberg than I care to be

Magical paddling at eye level with icebergs

Icebergs are powerful and unpredictable.  They’re incredibly beautiful and each one looks very different. Icebergs can rollover on a dime, taking you with them if you get too close.

They can also calve without warning and send a wave that can flip you. But if you keep a respectable distance away – either twice the height or the length of the iceberg then you should be safe.

Iceberg Alley is straight ahead
Iceberg Alley is straight ahead
Boating in Iceberg Alley out of Twillingate Newfoundland
Try to time your visit to Twillingate to coincide with the icebergs
Our guide loving the Iceberg Alley experience as much as we are
Our guide kayaking in Iceberg Alley and loving the experience as much as we are
This iceberg is stable we're told - until it's not
This iceberg is stable we’re told – until it’s not
Growlers are the smallest icebergs
Growlers are the smallest icebergs

Kayaking around Burnt Island

Heading around Burnt Island was a real highlight for us. The island is deeply incised by long channels on the north side – with towering multi-coloured cliffs.

We kayaked down one L-shaped channel and entered a calm area surrounded by cliffs, a perfect place to go to contemplate the meaning of life.

Kayaking in Iceberg Alley out of Twillingate Newfoundland
Kayaking in Iceberg Alley in sight of a growler on the back side of Burnt Island

Once we made it to the backside of the island, the waters calmed considerably. There are beautiful beaches that would certainly beckon me to camp on if I lived nearby – for what could be better than a beach with an iceberg view?

From Burnt Island we headed back to Twillingate – a very attractive town from the water.

The backside of Burnt Island
The backside of Burnt Island
Getting as close as we dare to an iceberg
Getting as close as we dare to an iceberg
Heading back towards Twillingate
Heading back towards Twillingate
Twillingate from our B&B - after kayaking & dinner
Twillingate from our B&B – after kayaking & dinner

Tour companies for kayaking in Iceberg Alley and the Twillingate area

Adventures Newfoundland  They have various locations around Bay of Exploits and Lawrence Harbour in Central Newfoundland.

PH; (709) 424-0423 or  (709) 541-6242 or email info@adventuresnl.ca

According to their website you can ” Kayak in the Bay of Exploits in Notre Dame Bay to experience 12,000-year-old icebergs, humpback whales, historical resettled fishing villages, and secret natural attractions. Paddle through sheltered bays filled with islands. Enjoy the trip of a lifetime with gourmet traditional Newfoundland meals and professional local guides. Select from a series of single-day and multi-day kayak trip options to top destinations like Exploits Islands and Twillingate.

Happy Adventure Tours  – located in Terra Nova National Park in Central Newfoundland. 

Ph: (709) 677-2233 and (709) 728-1105 or email chuck@happyadventuretours.com.

This is the company to check out if you want to kayak Terra Nova National Park and Bonavista Bay. It’s worth noting “they do kayaking tours out of Terra Nova National Park, Happy Adventure, and they’ll soon be offering kayak tours out of their new location in the scenic community of Salvage.

Rock Adventures – 34 Main Street, Twillingate 

Ph: (709) 884-9801 and email kayak@rockadventures.ca/.

According to my Newfoundland Tourism friends “you’ll launch from one of the beaches near Twillingate and quickly find yourself observing stunning coastline, historic outpost communities, wildlife and depending on the time of year, plenty of icebergs and whales.

Eating in Twillingate

We didn’t get off the water till about 7 PM and so we were both famished. Between three plus hours of kayaking and several hours of hiking we had burnt off some calories – a good thing because we ate them all back.

For dinner in Twillingate, head for Canvas Cove Bistro. We came as close to heaven as you can get with a lobster salad that was nothing but lobster and a partridgeberry crumble. It was one of the top two meals we ate in Newfoundland.

The reward at the end of a hiking & kayaking day - lobster salad
The reward at the end of a hiking & kayaking day – lobster salad
Partridgeberry crumble
Partridgeberry crumble – a real treat after kayaking in Iceberg Alley

Where to stay in Twillingate

If you need a place to stay in Twillingate try Paradise Bed and Breakfast. Not only do you get friendly hosts, including Fred – one of the local hiking guides, but you get some of the best views of Twillingate. And in the morning Mildred serves to die for molasses buns with partridgeberry jam.

Other suggestions include The Old Salt Box – Gertie’s Place on the beachfront. It’s rated as fabulous. 

Toulinguet Inn & Suites – with a seaview, is also rated fabulous. Some rooms have kitchenettes.

The Old Salt Box – Daisy’s Place, located 8 km from Twillingate in Merritt’s Harbour is also rated superb.

Kayaking when there aren’t icebergs

Even if the icebergs have melted, the Twillingate area is a fun place to explore by kayak. No matter what the day, you can count on wearing a wetsuit but bring along a fleece jacket, raincoat, sunscreen and sun hat as well. 

If you’re just not that into kayaking, then head for the trails around Long Point Lighthouse. You could easily spend a solid day hiking kilometres worth of trails. Here’s a teaser of a photo.

Multiple icebergs in Iceberg Alley at the end of June
Multiple icebergs in Iceberg Alley at the end of June

Twillingate was one of the highlights of my trip to Newfoundland. I really wish I had allowed for at least one more full day.

Further reading on things to do in Newfoundland

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

Kayaking in Iceberg Alley out of Twillingate, Newfoundland

Thank you to Adventure Central Newfoundland for organizing part of this trip – and for helping to make it possible.

 

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