Explore Our Communities
From riverfront towns and inland communities to fishing villages and remote coastal outports, the Exploits Region is home to places shaped by history, culture, industry, and the surrounding landscape.
Communities to the North
Leading Tickles
Leading Tickles is a traditional fishing community where ocean views, sandy beaches, and coastal trails shape the visitor experience. Spend time at Oceanview Park, explore local heritage sites, or visit the Jack Ward Memorial Heritage Centre overlooking the harbour.
Point Leamington
Point Leamington is a peaceful waterfront community with scenic trails, wildlife viewing, and easy access to Notre Dame Bay. Hike Rowsell’s Hill and Jacob’s Ladder for sweeping views, follow the boardwalk around Otter Pond, or launch a boat for a day exploring the coast.
Peterview
Peterview is a welcoming coastal community known for the beaches at Silver Cove and Wigwam Point and the scenic walking trail at Riverside Park. Visitors can enjoy views from the observation tower, explore local stories at the Heritage Centre, or join in community celebrations such as Peterview Day.
Botwood
Botwood has long served as an important gateway to central Newfoundland. Its story is closely tied to logging, lumber, and more than a century of international newsprint shipping, while today the community offers visitors welcoming accommodations, dining, and local attractions.
Bishop’s Falls
Bishop’s Falls is a riverside community whose story was shaped by the railway, logging, and the former Albert E. Reed pulp mill. Its historic trestle—the longest east of Quebec—remains a striking reminder of the town’s industrial past and enduring connection to the Exploits River.
Grand Falls-Windsor
Located along the Exploits River in the heart of the island, Grand Falls-Windsor blends rich industrial and Indigenous history with some of the region’s best-known attractions. Visitors can explore museums and nature trails, see Atlantic salmon up close, experience the river on a raft, or even try ziplining!
Badger
Set where Badger Brook, the Little Red Indian River, and the Exploits River meet, Badger is shaped by its logging and railway heritage. Travel the Trans Canada Trailway, enjoy scenic river views and salmon fishing, and explore local history at the Constable Moss Memorial and Ted Patey Heritage Park.
Millertown
Surrounded by boreal forest, the Gaff Topsail Plateau, and Beothuk Lake, Millertown is a former logging community with easy access to the outdoors. Visitors can explore Beothuk history at Indian Point, enjoy Mary March Wilderness Park, or take in panoramic views from the Mountain.
Buchans
Set along the shores of Beothuk Lake, Buchans is a close-knit community shaped by its rich mining and sporting heritage. Visitors can explore that history at the local museum, then head into the surrounding wilderness for fishing, ATVing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and wildlife viewing.
Communities to the South
Milltown-Head of Bay D’Espoir
Set along the waters of Bay d’Espoir, Milltown–Head of Bay d’Espoir offers scenic views, welcoming local businesses, and easy access to outdoor recreation. Visitors can walk the Southwest Brook Trail to Trout Hole Municipal Park or explore Mi’kmaq culture and heritage at the Mi’Kmaq Discovery Centre.
St. Alban’s
In the heart of Bay d’Espoir, St. Alban’s is a vibrant community shaped by hydroelectric development, aquaculture, and a history reaching back to the mid-1800s. As the largest community in the area, it offers visitors scenic coastal surroundings, essential services, and a strong sense of local pride.
Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi, First Nations Reserve
Located in Conne River, Miawpukek Mi’kamawey Mawi’omi is a vibrant Mi’kmaq community with deep cultural roots. Visitors can learn about its heritage, traditions, and important place in Newfoundland and Labrador’s First Nations history.
McCallum
Accessible only by ferry, boat, or air, McCallum is a remote south coast community nestled within a sheltered harbour. Its fishing and maritime heritage remain central to daily life, offering visitors a rare glimpse of one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s isolated coastal communities.
Gaultois
Accessible by ferry and almost entirely car-free, Gaultois offers a peaceful escape on Long Island’s scenic south coast. Visitors can explore forested trails and harbour views, hike to Lampoid’s Lookout, or enjoy the community’s annual summer music festival.
Hermitage-Sandyville
Set between Hermitage Bay and Connaigre Bay, Hermitage–Sandyville is a south coast community shaped by the fishery, logging, and aquaculture. Visitors can hike to Western Head, stroll Sandyville’s beach, enjoy the annual Rum Runners Festival, or catch the ferry to Gaultois and McCallum.
Seal Cove
Seal Cove is a small, close-knit coastal community with roots in fishing, logging, and generations of life by the sea. Today, its peaceful surroundings and strong community spirit continue to define the town. Visitors can enjoy a quiet glimpse of Newfoundland’s south coast and the resilience of a community that has adapted through changing times.
Harbour Breton
Harbour Breton is a picturesque coastal community known for its beaches, scenic trail system, and rich local heritage. Visitors can explore historic sites, tour the Sunny Cottage Heritage Centre, or experience local culture during the annual Tradition by the Sea Festival.
St. Jacques – Coomb’s Cove
Made up of six coastal communities, St. Jacques–Coomb’s Cove is rich in fishing heritage and south coast character. Visitors can explore quiet trails and sandy beaches, visit the Parks Canada heritage lighthouse, and take in sweeping views across the surrounding bays.
Belleoram
Nestled between steep hills and the sheltered waters of Fortune Bay, Belleoram is a historic outport with a character all its own. Explore local landmarks, experience the Ironskull Folk Festival, or hike Ironskull Mountain for sweeping views of the village and coastline.
Pool’s Cove
Overlooking Fortune Bay, Pool’s Cove is a quiet coastal community shaped by generations of fishing and today’s aquaculture industry. Its peaceful seaside setting and surrounding landscapes invite visitors to slow down and explore, while the local ferry provides a connection to Rencontre East and Bay L’Argent.
Rencontre East
Accessible only by ferry, Rencontre East is a close-knit south coast community where dirt roads, ATVs, and harbour views shape everyday life. Visitors can explore the pond boardwalk, enjoy local fishing and swimming spots, and experience the warm welcome and lively spirit of Rencontre Day.