Things to Do in Twillingate, Newfoundland: Icebergs, Hiking, and More

Twillingate is known as the iceberg capital of the world and is a popular stop for road trips across Newfoundland. Located on a pair of rocky islands in the center of the province, this tiny town is full of history, culture, hiking trails, and yes, icebergs. I’ve been there THREE times, so I’ve got lots of picks for things to do in Twillingate.

Along with Trinity and Bonavista, Twillingate is one of the most popular old fishing towns to visit in Newfoundland. However, unlike the former two, Twillingate has a different feel. I think geography plays a big part in that – the town sits at the edge of an archipelago of tiny islands that was dotted with tiny water-access-only fishing villages before roads were built in the 1950s and 60s.

The landscape is also more rugged and windswept in Twillingate. There are fewer trees and more areas of barren open coast. I find so much beauty in the jagged landscape. It’s also easy to explore since there are so many hiking trails here. I actually spent most of my last visit to Twillingate hiking!

This guide to things to do in Twillingate, Newfoundland includes:

• Twillingate things to do at a glance: a quick list of my top picks for things to do, when to go, and more
• Map of Twillingate that includes all the places I mention in this post.
• Best things to do in Twillingate: An iconic lighthouse, icebergs, hikes, historic buildings, and lots more.
• Where to stay in Twillingate: My picks for the best hotels, B&Bs, and camping.
• Where to eat in Twillingate: The restaurants and cafes I recommend for seafood, coffee, sandwiches, and more.
• Twillingate travel tips: How to get there? How long to spend? Best time to go? What’s the weather like? And lots more.

Planning a trip to Newfoundland? I’ve got a big list of the best things to do Newfoundland plus lots of travel tips for the province.

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Twillingate Things to Do at a Glance

Best known for: Icebergs, rugged coastal scenery, hiking, Newfoundland outport town culture

Best time to go: Late May through early September

Best time for icebergs: May and June

Best time for whales: late June through August

Best time for hiking: July through early September

How long to spend: 1 to 2 days (but more if you’re a hiker)

Best hike: Spiller’s Cove for coastal scenery and sea stacks

Getting there: Gander International Airport is a 1.5-hour drive. A rental car is the easiest way to explore the Twillingate area.

Twillingate Map

Twillingate is spread across several islands and includes a few neighbouring villages. To help you find your way around, I made this custom Google Map of Twillingate for you. It shows where you can find hiking trails, restaurants, accommodations, and major attractions.

Best Things to Do in Twillingate

Look for Icebergs

Twillingate is known as the iceberg capital of the world. You can often see icebergs from land (especially at Long Point Lighthouse on the Rockcut Trails), but the best way to see them up close is to take an iceberg boat tour.

For the best chances of seeing an iceberg, visit in May and June. But it is still possible to see bergs later in the season. Even if there are no icebergs around, you can usually see whales and sea birds from the boat tours.

On my first two visits to Twillingate, I didn’t see any icebergs. The first time it was late August and they were gone for the season. The second time it was early June but it was a weird year and there were no icebergs in Twillingate. But on my third visit, we hit the jackpot! We spotted a spectacular iceberg from one of the trails and took a boat tour with Iceberg Quest to see even more icebergs.

If seeing icebergs is on your bucket list, be sure to book an iceberg boat tour. It’s the best way to get iceberg sightings since they will take to wherever the bergs are hanging out. We did our tour with Iceberg Quest and had a great experience. It’s a larger boat with indoor space and bathrooms, so it was comfortable.

However, there are other iceberg tour operators in Twillingate who run smaller tours on open Zodiac boats. It’s a bumpier ride and you’re exposed to the elements, but on the upside, you can go faster so you can get to more iceberg locations.

What about whales? If you visit in July and August, all of the iceberg tour boats turn into whale watching boats! In June you might see both whales and icebergs on the same trip.

Explore Downtown Twillingate

The best things to do in downtown Twillingate include local arts and craft galleries, walking along the waterfront, visiting historic buildings, and enjoying the quaint scenery.

The Twillingate area is quite spread out since it includes several small fishing villages in tiny coves. But the main part of the town is clustered around the bridge over Shoal Tickle that separates North Twillingate Island from South Twillingate Island. There are great views from the bridge as well as various places along the waterfront.

It’s worth wandering along Main Street on North Twillingate to check out some of the local shops. Artisan Market near the bridge was my favourite. It has tons of local quilts, art, books, jewelry, and housewares. They also sell Twillingate Rockcut Trails merch, and as avid hikers, we had to get a hat and a sweatshirt.

Other good galleries include the Ted Stuckless Driftwood Gallery, Scot’s Pencil Art, and the Twillingate Museum and Craft Shop. They are all on Main Street. Scot’s Pencil Art also has a giant lobster trap you can climb inside for a fun photo op.

Twillingate has a couple of notable historic buildings. The Masonic Hall on the south side of the bridge and Saint Peter’s Anglican Church are both worth a look. If you’re interested in history, you can take the free self-guided TwillQuest walking tour that visits 12 historic buildings in town. Each stop has a digital info online with historical photos and other ephemera.

In some other tourist-focused Newfoundland towns things felt too carefully restored and sanitized (I’m looking at you Trinity), but in Twillingate, things felt more real. People actually live and work here. It was interesting to see the subtle ways that Newfoundland culture is different than the rest of Canada.

Long Point Lighthouse

The historic Long Point Lighthouse sits on the northern tip of North Twillingate Island 10 minutes drive from the town of Twillingate. It’s a prominent landmark that you can see from kilometres away – we spotted it from Fogo Island in the east and Brighton in the west.

Built in 1876, the lighthouse still has one lighthouse keeper to manage the light, horns, and associated instruments. The lighthouse still provides guidance for the local fishing fleet. There are exhibits inside about the history of Twillingate and you can also take a tour. The gift shop near the parking lot has the usual souvenirs, but they also sell fudge.

The views from the lookout platform next to the parking area are spectacular. You can look 300 feet down the rocky shoreline below, west along the craggy coastline and north to the open Atlantic Ocean. If you’re lucky (I wasn’t) you can also spot icebergs and whales.

Explore Crow Head

The small village of Crow Head is few minutes up the road from Twillingate on the road to Long Point Lighthouse. We stayed at a B&B here on our third trip to Twillingate and loved the quaint setting. It’s a tiny village of colourful houses set on a headland overlooking the wild ocean.

It’s worth following the short, grassy trail out to the end of Crow Head Lookout to enjoy the views. Since it faces west, it makes a great sunset spot.

Have a Beach Boil up with Wild Island Kitchen

I’ve been to Newfoundland four times, and the evening I spent at a beach boil up dinner with Wild Island Kitchen in Twillingate is among my most memorable experiences. We met chef Crystal Anstey on a remote beach where she already had a fire going.

Over the course of the evening we watched the sun slowly set while she served a salad and then cooked up an appetizer of scallops over the fire on an adorable minute cast iron pan. Next, she scooped up a huge pot of sea water and set lobsters boiling over the fire. It was one of the biggest and juiciest lobsters I’ve ever had! She was kind enough to cut it up a bit before serving since it was tricky to eat on our picnic blanket. The dinner finished with delicious partridge berry jam tarts.

Throughout the meal Crystal chatted with us about Newfoundland’s unique food culture and the ways that harvesting local foods like lobster and partridge berries ingrained in local life. She’s passionate about food, sustainability, and small town Newfoundland living and her passion was infectious.

If you’re looking for one special experience to book in Newfoundland, book a boil up with Crystal – it’s definitely a bucket list experience.

Hike the Rockcut Trails

The Rockcut Trails are a set of community-maintained hiking trails on the east side of South Twillingate Island. The network of paths leads out to the coast from several trailheads and there are even some opportunities for backcountry camping. Most trails are short and only take a few hours, but if you want a longer hike, you can connect several of them together.

On my second trip to Twillingate we fell in love with the Rockcut Trails, so when we returned for our third visit, hiking was the focus. I love these trails so much that I bought a Rockcut Trails sweatshirt to support the local trail society… and to have a memento of my hikes. I also included several of the Rockcut Trails in my guide to the best hikes in Newfoundland – it has hikes all over the province!

There are 15 Rockcut Trails. To help you choose, I’ve got a quick guide to the Rockcut Trails that I recommend below!

Nanny’s Hole Trail

Distance: 1.5 km out-and-back

Difficulty: Easy (except for the stairs)

Time Needed: 30 to 45 minutes

Long Point Lighthouse is also the start of several great hiking trails. If you want a short hike, try the hike to Nanny’s Hole. The trail starts at the Long Point Lighthouse Parking lot and is actually part of the longer Lower Head Trail.

The path takes you along the top of a rocky bluff with several viewpoints and then steeply down the slope with the help of sets of wooden stairs. At the bottom, you can stroll through meadows and along the headland out to the coast to Nanny’s Hole, a roiling cauldron of seawater trapped between narrow fingers of rock.

If you want to venture further, you can follow the Lower Head Trail south to Sleepy Cove and then to the village of Crow Head.

French Head

Distance: 2.6 km loop

Difficulty: Easy

Time Needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour

We loved the hike out to French Head. The trail starts near the village of Durrell on South Twillingate Island at French Beach. It’s a gorgeous stretch of sand that would be lovely for a swim on a warm day.

From there, the trail heads out to a series of beautiful viewpoints on a headland. The trail makes a loop around the headland before heading back to the beach. If you want to hike further, you can connect with the trail to Spiller’s Cove. (More about Spiller’s Cove below.)

Spiller’s Cove Trail

Distance: 3.5 km loop

Difficulty: Moderate (there are lots of ups and downs)

Time Needed: 1.5 to 2 hours

When I was researching hikes in Twillingate, I found out that’s there is a Spiller’s Cove Trail in Twillingate and a Spillar’s Cove Trail in Bonavista. Now that I’ve hiked them both, I can say that they both have incredible rugged coastal scenery with sea stacks.

We loved the rugged coastline along this trail – it felt like there was a new view around every corner. I also liked the boardwalk sections through a bog that let us make a loop back to our car. There are several different trailheads for this hike so you make it a bit longer or shorter. There is also a tent platform on this trail if you want to backcountry camp.

Smith’s Lookout

Distance: 2.2 km out and back

Difficulty: Easy

Time Needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour

We stumbled on Smith’s Lookout by accident and I haven’t seen it recommended anywhere else. But we loved this viewpoint. It’s a short (but steep) 15-minute walk up a gravel path from Smith’s Lookout Road at the north end of Twillingate village. At the top, there is a fishermen’s memorial and incredible views of the town and Twillingate Harbour.

Smith’s Lookout is actually part of the much longer Northside Hiking Trail that leads from Old House Cove in the town of Twillingate north along the rugged coast.

Lower Little Harbour and Jones Cove

Distance: 4.5 km loop

Difficulty: Moderate (there are lots of ups and downs)

Time Needed: 1.5 to 2 hours

We hiked the Lower Little Harbour Trail to Jones Cove because we heard it had the best views of a big iceberg… and it didn’t disappoint! The views of the iceberg from the beach were so good that we returned two days in a row to see it. It was amazing how much different it looked after a day of waves and melting!

But the hike itself is worthwhile even if there is no iceberg. It follows the tops of headlands and bluffs with constant coastal view… which was great because we could still see the iceberg through the mist. The path works its way down a steep bluff and over to a natural rock arch. It was cool to see the waves breaking on the tiny beach.

From the arch, we followed the trail down into Lower Little Harbour. This used to be an isolated fishing village, only accessible by boat, but today the old houses are holiday cabins for locals who drive in via a rugged ATV route.

Top of Twillingate Trail

Distance: 2.7 km loop

Difficulty: Moderate (You have to climb a hill!)

Time Needed: 1 to 1.5 hours

The Top of Twillingate Trail goes to the highest point on Twillingate Island.. a whopping 327 feet (100 meters) above sea level. When I saw the sign I literally laughed.

However, since it is the highest point around, it does have great views. The trail has four lookout platforms, each facing a different direction, as well as a wooden observation tower at the top that you can climb to the lofty height of about 105 metres about sea level. On the way down, you can also detour to make a loop around Low Mist Pond. We were lucky enough to spot a cute muskrat swimming!

More Things to Do in Twillingate

Despite making three trips to Twillingate, I haven’t done everything in town yet! Here are a few things that are on my list for next time!

Museums and History

The Isles Wooden Boat Museum: This museum has exhibits about the hand-built wooden boats that were once the lifeblood of Newfoundland’s coastal communities. They also have interactive boat-building demonstrations.

Prime Berth Twillingate Fishery and Heritage Centre is one-part museum and one-part unabashed tourist trap. Owned and operated by local fisherman David Boyd, it includes all kinds of fishing artifacts and memorabilia, whale skeletons, a gift and snack shop, and both fishing and iceberg tours.

The Beothuk Interpretation Centre is a Provincial Historic Site that has exhibits and displays about the Beothuk, an Indigenous group that died out sometime between the 1800s and early 1900s due to pressures of European settlers and the introduction of infectious diseases. The museum protects a Beothuk village site from 300 years ago. It is located in Boyd’s Cove, about 35 minutes from Twillingate, so I recommend visiting on your way in our out of town.

Live Entertainment

Twillingate New World Island Dinner Theatre: Experience traditional Newfoundland music, comedy, and storytelling while you eat a big seafood dinner.

Grand Old Shed Party Show: A couple staying at the same b&b raved about this mother-daughter duo doing traditional Newfoundland music performances out of their shed on Fridays and Sundays.

Wildlife Watching

Whale watching: If you visit in late June, July, and August, all of the iceberg tour boats convert to doing whale watching tours.

Food and Drink

Great Auk Winery: You probably don’t think of wine when you think of Newfoundland, and I didn’t either. It certainly But the wines at Great Auk Winery are made with local fruits and berries. The winery is near Durrell, which is a 5-minute drive from Twillingate on South Twillingate Island.

Doyle Sansome and Sons: If you are looking to splurge on a lobster dinner, I’ve heard good things about a 15-minute drive away on New World Island. The restaurant is part of the local lobster pool, which is a holding tank for live lobster, so you know what you eat will be really fresh. They also have a gorgeous deck right on the ocean.

Where to Stay in Twillingate

The first two times we visited Twillingate we camped. But on our third visit we stayed in a b&b in Crow Head. Here are my recommendations for hotels, b&bs, and camping in Twillingate.

Best B&B: Broadview House B&B: We loved our stay at this b&b in Crow Head. It had incredible views of the ocean from its hill top location. It also had a turret-shaped common room with big windows that was a chill place to hang out in the evenings. Each morning, Ruth, the owner, served a hot breakfast. Check rates.

Best in town hotel: The Anchor Inn is right in Twillingate. It has great views from the rooms and the restaurant since it is across the street from the harbour. Check rates.

Best waterfront inn: The Toulinguet Inn sits right on the water in South Twillingate. It has private rooms and a great pebble beach. Check rates.

Best vacation rental: Gertie’s Place in South Twillingate is one of many renovated old fishermen’s homes to rent. It has an old-school Newfoundland outside with a modern and renovated inside. Check rates.

Best camping with facilities: Dildo Run Provincial Park is the closest provincial park to Twillingate. It’s a 20 minute drive away and has oceanfront campsites with flush toilets, showers, and laundry. The suggestively hilarious name is a great bonus. (For context, a dildo is a wooden oar peg and a run is a stretch of water between islands.)

Best free camping: Sleepy Cove is a free, informal camping area near Long Point Lighthouse, sometimes known as Sea Breeze Park. It has no facilities and no washrooms, so it is best for RVs with their own toilet.

Where to Eat in Twillingate

Twillingate is a great place to eat fresh seafood. But there are lots of other delicious options as well. Here are the restaurants and cafes I recommend:

Annie’s Harbour Restaurant: Their airy dining room has a great view of the harbour. They specialize in seafood, so we had the cod tongues as an appetizer and I loved them. They are a bit like calamari – chewy and deep-fried. The cod and scallops we had for dinner were perfectly cooked. And the Newfoundland-shaped shortbread for dessert was fun too.

The Wharf: This little waterfront building is the tasting room for Split Rock Brewing, but they also have a limited menu including absolutely incredible lobster rolls. Perhaps the best ones I’ve ever had. They have lots of picnic tables outside to enjoy the view while you eat.

Stage Head Pub: We had a great relaxed meal of a burger and some fish and chips at the Stage Head Pub. They have lots of local Newfoundland beer on tap.

Crow’s Nest Cafe: This cute cafe sits on a steep hill in the town of Crow Head on the way to Long Point Lighthouse. They make excellent coffee and offer soup and sandwiches at lunch.

Blue Barrel Gallery Cafe: This is another great little coffee shop, right on the water. They also have lots of cute art and gifts for sale.

Twillingate Travel Tips

Best Time to Go to Twillingate

Summer is the best time to visit Newfoundland, so I recommend going to Twillingate between May and late September. The weather is the warmest and dries at this time of year. It’s also a great time to see whales. If you want to see icebergs, plan your visit for May and June (although icebergs are possible later in the summer too).

If you plan to visit in May, June, or September, check the opening hours of businesses. Most places will be open but may be running at reduced hours until the summer rush in July and August. We visited in early June and a few places were just opening up for summer.

How Long to Spend in Twillingate

I recommend spending at least one day in Twillingate. Since it is a long drive to get there, it makes the most sense to stay overnight. If you are a keen hiker, I would recommend an extra day since Twillingate has some of the best hikes in Newfoundland.

Twillingate is also a great place to stop for the day if you are planning to visit nearby Fogo Island, one of my favourite places in Newfoundland.

How to Get to Twillingate

Twillingate is located right in the middle of Newfoundland’s north coast. The town is split between North and South Twillingate Islands, which themselves are part of a larger group of islands separated by winding channels and connected by bridges and causeways.

If you’re flying in, Gander is the closest airport at 1.5 hours away by car. St. John’s is a 5-hour drive and Corner Brook is a 4.5-hour drive. Since it is right in the middle, Twillingate is a great stop on a Newfoundland road trip.

There is no public transportation to Twillingate so you will need to rent a car in Gander, St. John’s, or Corner Brook. You will also want to have a car to get around in Twillingate since most attractions are not within walking distance.

Twillingate Weather

While the summer months are the warmest and sunniest, this is still Newfoundland. Prepare for rain and fog at any time. Pack a rain jacket and a warm jacket like a fleece or lightweight puffy jacket, just in case.

Typical summer temperatures in June, July, and August are between 10 and 20°C (50 to 68°F). Since Twillingate is in the north along the ocean, it also is often very windy, so it can feel colder than it actually is.

History of Twillingate

Twillingate is the traditional territory of the Beothuk and Mi’kma’ki. English fishermen first settled in the area in the 17th century. Twillingate’s location was an important trading centre for the northern shore and Labrador cod fisheries, so the town prospered.

When the cod fishing moratorium came into effect in 1992, the economy of Twillingate suffered, just like almost every other fishing town in Newfoundland. Over the years, Twillingate has pivoted to focus on tourism, capitalizing on its reputation as the iceberg capital of the world.

Final Thoughts

Twillingate doesn’t have the quaint step-back-in-time atmosphere of Trinity or the deep history of Bonavista, but I think it’s worth a visit to experience the unique island life of central Newfoundland. And of course, the incredible hiking and the chance to see icebergs are great too.

READ NEXT:

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• 18 Best Things to Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland
• 10 Things to Do in Bonavista, Newfoundland
• 12 Things to Do in Trinity, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
• Things to Do in Gros Morne National Park
• 16 Best Hikes in Newfoundland