Battle Harbour is on Battle Island and part of the archipelago accessible by sea on Labrador's southeast coast. The Big Land known as Labrador is part of Canada's newest province, Newfoundland and Labrador, and visitors can travel by road, or more conveniently by air and road, from all parts of Canada.

The town of Mary's Harbour is your gateway to Battle Island and the National Historic District of Canada known as Battle Harbour. An independent firm operates between Mary's Harbour and Battle Harbour twice daily passenger ferry service . The ferry leaves from Battle Harbour's private wharf at our "Visitor Information Centre & Ferry Terminal", Grenfell Mission wharf, Main Street, Mary's Harbour at 11am and 6pm daily returning from Battle Island at 4pm and 9am.

Depending on the season, travellers can view whales, icebergs, dolphins, seabirds and seals during this one hour, narrated boat ride across the St. Lewis Inlet.

There is a very useful "driving database" posted by the provincial department of transportation that can be used to estimated driving times at posted speedlimits between most communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Information is available for both "miles per hour" and "kilometers per hour" as well as in miles and kilometers. See http://www.stats.gov.nl.ca/DataTools/RoadDB/Distance/

You can check out the weather and road conditions in many parts of Newfoundland and Labrador on the provincial government's Road Conditions website http://www.roads.gov.nl.ca/

You can also check out the current, forecast and past weather conditions at Mary's Harbour, Labrador from Environment Canada's website. http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/nf-29_metric_e.html

Weather on Battle Island can be signifantly different than that experienced in Mary's Harbour but then again, on hot muggy days in Mary's Harbour the black flies are out while there is usually a breeze on Battle Island and NO black flies!

Battle Harbour's weather is somewhat moody... sun can turn to cloud and then to showers fairly quickly. Best to bring layers of cloths and a water resistant jacket, ideally with a hood. Tuck a pair of gloves in your pocket too so that you can stand outside on the passenger ferry deck and enjoy a before breakfast walk in the coolish temperatures at dawn and dusk.

One of the key reasons for settlement on Battle Island was the safe harbour offered by its location across a tickle of water from the protective profile of Great Caribou Island. Battle Harbour continues to offer safe dockage, and basic marina services, to pleasure boaters. Cruise Guides are available for Labrador waters at http://www.puffin-press.com/

Boaters unfamiliar with provincial waters will also find the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Harbour Authorities list helpful in planning voyages. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sch/HA-AP-NF_e.asp