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Nfld. & Labrador

Beaches to visit in Newfoundland and Labrador this summer

Count down the best beaches this province has to offer.

We have a lot of sandy beaches. Who knew?

Ariana Kelland · CBC News ·
Lumsden is on the tip of a sandy peninsula near communities like Musgrave Harbour and Newtown. It's about a four and a half hour drive away from St. John's. (Submitted by Tracy Robbins)

Newfoundland and Labrador is known for many things — rugged coast lines, glacial fjords, colourful houses and much more. But you hardly hear talk of beaches.

Maybe it's about time we add it to the list. 

If you're looking to be a tourist at home, or if you want to visit Canada's most easterly province, here are some beaches you can check out. 

[Disclaimer: We know this isn't ALL of the best beaches in this province, but it's a good sample. Thanks to everyone on CBC Newfoundland and Labrador's Facebook page for contributing.]

Lumsden

Windmill Bight Park, Lumsden. Turn at Gambo or Gander and head to Bonavista North. (Submitted by Heather Goobie)
Gibson, the Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, hanging out at Lumsden North beach last summer. (Submitted by Brenda Crane)

Often considered the best beach the province has to offer, Lumsden is home to long stretches of white sand.

If you're heading out from the capital city of St. John's, you're about four and a half hours away. 

Sandbanks Provincial Park, Burgeo

Sandbanks Provincial Park is located near Burgeo, on the south coast of Newfoundland. (Submitted by Victoria Cole)

Sandbanks Provincial Park is located near Burgeo on the south coast of Newfoundland. It's about a three hour drive from Corner Brook.

Mike and Kathy Madigan, who submitted this photo of Sandbanks Provincial Park, says it's five kilometres of white sand with hardly anyone around. (Submitted)

"The park is named for its undulating sand dunes and long expanses of flat, sandy beaches," according to Tourism Newfoundland and Labrador. 

St. Vincent's Beach

St. Vincent's Beach, located on the Irish Loop, is a cobblestone beach where you may just get a glimpse of a whale. (Submitted by Jennifer Stamp)

Located on the Irish Loop of the southern Avalon Peninsula, in St. Mary's Bay, St. Vincent's Beach has larger rocks but an even bigger draw — whales!

Middle Cove Beach

Middle Cove Beach has a mix of rocks and fine sand. It's located about 15 minutes outside the capital city of St. John's. (Submitted by Ashley Eden)

Middle Cove Beach in Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove is known as a hot spot for campfires and capelin catching. What this beach lacks in fine sand, it makes up for in rugged beauty.

It's located just 15 minutes outside of St. John's.

Bottle Cove, Lark Harbour

Bottle Cove Beach on the south side of the Bay of Islands is known for its beautiful sunsets. An added bonus: you'll pass several scenic fishing communities along the way. (Submitted by Brittany Young )

Bottle Cove Beach in Lark Harbour, near Corner Brook, is known for its Instagram-worthy sunsets. It's also a great destination because there's lots to see on the way there. 

Sandy Cove Beach, Eastport Peninsula

Sandy Cove Beach on the Eastport Peninsula is home to white sand and shallow water in parts, which makes it great for swimming. (Submitted by Alex Matchim)

Like its name suggests, Sandy Cove Beach is good on the toes with soft, fine sand. It's also a good spot for swimming because of its shallow water along parts of the coastline. 

Point Lance, Cape Shore

Point Lance, near the Cape St. Mary's bird sanctuary, is home to this beautiful, vast sandy beach. Cory Pye, who submitted this photo, says he discovered it by accident while on a driving excursion four summers ago. (Submitted by Cory C. Pye)

Point Lance, with a population of about 100 people, sits on the southern edge of the Avalon Peninsula's Cape Shore.

Western Brook Beach

Western Brook Beach is located in Gros Morne National Park. (Submitted by Jessica McGinn)

Those who visit Western Brook Beach in Gros Morne National Park say the walk in to the sandy beach is just as pretty as the waterside itself. 

Grand Bay West Beaches

Grand Bay West beach, with its salt marshes and shorebirds, is located just west of Channel-Port aux Basques. Take a different turn when you get off the ferry. (Submitted by Kelly Hogan)

Grand Bay West Beaches, located just west of Channel-Port-aux-Basques, is another example of an incredible sandy beach.

Kelly Hogan, who offered this spot up as one of the best in the province, on CBC Newfoundland and Labrador's Facebook page, says, "Take a picnic and pack your swimsuit and spend a sunny day hiking from Port-aux-Basques to J.T. Cheeseman's Provincial Park along the beach."

North West River Beach

North West River Beach in Labrador. (Submitted by Tonia Pilgrim)

North West River Beach is located in the town of North West River in central Labrador. It plays host to the Beach Festival each year, bringing in live entertainment and activities.

Salmon Cove Sands

Salmon Cove Sands is located in Conception Bay North. (Submitted by Megan Curtis Tuttle)
Salmon Cove Sands has fine grey sand and a second swimming area fed by a river. (Submitted by Jav Abe)

Located in Salmon Cove, in Conception Bay North, this beach is filled with fine, grey sand. It's just an hour-and-15 minute drive from the St. John's metro area.

Musgrave Harbour Beach

Musgrave Harbour Beach is known for its long sandy beaches that line the Kittiwake Coast. (Submitted by Kayla Hicks)

Given what we know about Lumsden's famous sandy beach, we shouldn't be surprised that Musgrave Harbour has coastlines with the same beauty, along the Kittiwake Coast.

Bellevue Beach

Danette Downey submitted this photo of her pooch at Bellevue Beach.

With a mix of rocks and sand, Bellevue Beach is a great spot to visit, nestled at the bottom of Trinity Bay.

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