Central Region - Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

A person with a backpack walks on a rocky terrain near a calm body of water. A red wooden house is reflected in the water. In the background, a few more houses are visible under a clear blue sky.

Welcome to the

Central Region

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Central Region

Hiking & Walking

Whale Watching

Iceberg Viewing

Plan & Book

Right in the heart of Newfoundland, the Central region contains some of the best outdoor experiences to be found in the province. It's where you can visit Iceberg Alley – the stretch of coastline along which towers of ancient ice majestically float down from Greenland – and where 22 species of whales gather in large numbers to feed, play, and people-watch.

A man and woman walk near a historic lighthouse with a red roof and white building under a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by grass and rocks. The lighthouse tower is red and hexagonal.

About the

Central Region

As you explore, you'll see clapboard houses atop rocky coasts, and working wharves that testify to the continuing importance of the centuries-old fishing industry. Most of the people living here are descends of English fishermen who settled the shores more than two centuries ago. There is also a rich Indigenous history that includes the Beothuk and Dorset peoples.
Central is a perfect place to take a boat tour, or for both sea and river kayaking. It's also worth visiting Terra Nova National Park while you're here – 400 square kilometres of boreal forest and coastline, ideal for nature viewing, hiking, golfing, and camping.

Twillingate and Fogo Island are the perfect places to enjoy watching for whales and icebergs. No words can truly capture the experience of coming face-to-face with either of these ocean giants. There's a certain sense of awe that accompanies these encounters.

Popular Places in the Central Region

Two hikers walk across a rocky landscape with patches of green, overlooking a vast forest and distant water under a partly cloudy sky.

Terra Nova National Park

A row of colorful boats is lined up in calm water, leading to a small red shed on stilts over rocks. The sky is clear and blue, with a horizon of distant land and additional boats visible in the background.

Fogo Island & Change Islands

A person stands on the edge of a grassy cliff overlooking a large, rugged rock formation surrounded by choppy ocean waves. The sky is overcast, creating a dramatic coastal scene.

Twillingate

Gander

Two hikers with backpacks walk along a grassy trail beside rocky terrain and a blue ocean. The sky is clear, and the scenery is natural and serene with waves lapping against the rocks in the background.

Experience

Hiking & Walking

With 65 hiking and walking trails to explore in the Central Region, you can quite literally spend your entire journey on your feet. Terra Nova National Park, near Clarenville, is home to more than 50 kilometres of trails, including Malady Head – a serene walk through a mature black spruce forest carpeted by moss.

Central Region Hiking & Walking Trails - Random Order

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Central Region Hiking & Walking Tours - Random Order

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A whale's tail emerges from the water, with droplets cascading off the edges against a soft, golden sky. The ocean surface is calm, reflecting the warm light of the setting or rising sun.

Experience

Whale Watching

Every spring and summer, thousands of humpback whales return here on their annual migration. Discover these 40-odd tonne gentle creatures from the deck of a tour boat, the side of your sea kayak, or a seaside trail.