During a holiday to Newfoundland and Labrador, you can witness some of the most phenomenal sights on the planet. Walk on exposed mantel, forced out from beneath the Earth’s crust at Tablelands. Look out from the most easterly point of North America at Cape Spear Lighthouse. Sail across the blue waters of the North Atlantic, where icebergs drift among humpback whales, orcas and polar bears. And turn your eyes skywards to see puffins, petrels and bald eagles nesting in the cliffs above.

Collect prehistoric fossils, or wander the rediscovered homes of North America’s oldest European settlers. Visit picturesque Bonavista, where John Cabot first sighted the “New World”. Or find solitude along Terra Nova’s quiet coastline by kayak or canoe – or on skis, in winter. Elsewhere, you can hike through the abandoned fishing villages of the East Coast Trail to see a natural sea geyser, The Spout. Or get truly off the beaten track in the Torngat Mountains, where there are no roads or signposts.

A vibrant working harbourfront, St John’s is the capital city of Newfoundland & Labrador. You can stroll past colourful houses and explore narrow alleyways of Jellybean Row. Meander along Water Street, the oldest main street in North America. Browse the city’s shops, grab a bite in a local seafood restaurant, or take a drink with a view.

Fancy some history? Climb to the 19th-century Basilica of St. John the Baptist, and the Anglican Cathedral of the same name. Explore the past and the present of the province at The Rooms. This striking hilltop museum showcases exhibitions of wildlife, natural history, aboriginal finds, contemporary art, history, culture, and more.

In summer, make sure you check out Harbourside Park, where there are often outdoor shows. Enjoy a leisurely meal on a sunny terrace, or dance all night on traffic-free George Street, where the curfew never comes.

Hike, climb, sailor or camp around the fjords, forests and mountains of Gros Morne National Park on Newfoundland’s Great Northern Peninsula and discover a landscape like nowhere else on Earth. You can walk on exposed mantle, which has burst from a mile beneath the planet’s surface at Tablelands.

Uncover prehistoric fossils from the ancient layers of the seabed, which have been thrust upwards into cliffs at Seapoint.

Make sure you also head north to L'Anse aux Meadows. It’s the only known Viking settlement in the “New World”, and showcases some of the oldest European history in North America. Or cross the Strait of Belle Isle to Red Bay, where you can uncover the whale bones and shipwrecks at the 400-year-old former Basque whaling site. And gaze across the waters of Iceberg Alley, where enormous ice structures float side-by-side in the Labrador Sea.

July and August is the best time to visit Newfoundland & Labrador. Temperatures during this short summer can rise to 30°C, and huge chunks of ice float along Iceberg Alley on the province’s east coast. And there’s an abundance of local wildlife, both on land and at sea. Festivals occur every weekend throughout summer – particularly in the capital of St. John’s – and all the tourist attractions are in full swing.

September and October are cooler, but still offer plenty of adventures. And the changing colours of the trees bring new beauty to every part of the region. Winters are harsh. Temperatures often drop below freezing with regular rain, wind and snow – but hardy visitors will find plenty of opportunities for skiing and snowmobiling. Attractions usually open in May, but the weather can be unpredictable throughout June – so it’s best to pack for all seasons, if you decide to travel during this time.